YACHT TRANSPORT

3continued from page 10 have transformed the performance of boats.

Thanks to breakthroughs in composites, modern yachts are coming up bigger, but lighter, often with quirks in the hull designs. These vessels can be easily damaged if not handled correctly and carefully and that is why Peters & May has adjusted its methods over the years. Peters & May’s expert team of loadmasters are knowledgeable on sourcing and advising the most appropriate cradles and lifting gear.

Lifting equipment, cradles, slings, belts and everything in between have seen many adaptations over the years. The company routinely uses wider and stronger lifting belts (and more of them) to provide that extra bit of security for its client’s yachts. In the past, loading a yacht may have only required one belt or sling at each end, whereas now, due to the variety of shapes and weights of boats, there is the need for multiple belts at each end and further still, the width of the belts often needs to be wider. This ensures the safe and even distribution of the weight of the yacht. When using multiple belts, lifting gear needs to be designed to equalise the load on the lifting sling, thus avoiding point loading to the hull.

Cradles have been modernised and now feature larger cradle pads measuring 60 x 40 cm, with additional cushioning, again to provide extra support and avoid any hull punctures. Peters & May possesses the most variations of cradles in the industry and prides itself in using appropriate and specific cradles to fit each boat and hull type, as opposed to manipulating a cradle to fit. Renowned for making several of its own innovations, Peters & May set up Bespoke Load Solutions in 2017 to bring innovation and simplification to cargo handling, both within and beyond the marine sector, with successfully proven solutions such as the Cat Cradle and Flat-rail innovations. Owning exclusive rights to the Flat-rail patent, this Veritascertified system enables loadmasters to load out-of-gauge cargo weighing up to 34 tonnes and 16.50 metres long on a single container base, improving shipping opportunities to more inaccessible areas of the world at little or no added cost to the customer.

YSS inaugurated

In 2021, the inauguration of Yacht Stevedoring Solutions (YSS) took place. Launched by Peters & May and based in Fort Lauderdale, it specialises in yacht and breakbulk loading solutions. Its terminal handler’s licence allowed YSS to assist its customers with Less than Container Load (LCL) work in its Port Everglades terminal. Whether it is loading smaller boats to flat racks or discharging them from containers. Its first-year licence only granted business brokered by Peters & May, but it has recently been granted an extension into a ten-year nonrestrictive licence, allowing YSS to grow past yachts and pursue more business within Port Everglades.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the ‘Yacht capital of the World’ and so makes perfect sense for Peters & May to evolve the business in Port Everglades, although the leisure yachting business in Florida and beyond has suffered a period of headwinds. A combination of the Covid-19 pandemic, tariffs on luxury goods from the US and the strength of the dollar affected the number of day boats, sport cruisers and runabouts being exported from the country, but this decline proved temporary and Peters & May confidently reports a slow but steady rise of these shipments once again.

Both European and Asian-built boats are noted to be particularly popular within the US. In its experience, Peters & May has found the US from Europe to be a particularly popular route too, as well as seeing a trend of many US boat-owners cruising the Caribbean for multiple seasons, whether that be aboard charter yachts or racing yachts being shipped ready to take part in events.

“Transatlantic routes have traditionally been, and remain to be, very busy routes,” confirmed Simon Judson, CEO of Peters & May. “Historically, we have shipped from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean and in recent years we have seen an increase in the return of these shipments too.”

It’s safe to say the last five decades has brought its fair share of tests for Peters & May and the industry as a whole, with many market pressures still ongoing. From recessions and Brexit to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic and Russian-Ukrainian war, the industry suffered vessel seizures and quarantining, cargo and labour shortages, port closures/ congestions, fuel and transport price increases, and not to mention the inevitable backlog of traffic once said restrictions were lifted.

The next 50

As Peters & May look forward to the future, Simon Judson stated: “We go into 2023 with strong optimism. With our extensive experience, our team and the structure we have in place I am certain we can continue to grow and tackle any future obstacles head on.

“It wouldn’t be a surprise to us if the industry soon saw a shortage in the availability of suitable cargo vessels to meet the demands of shipping. A vast number of the ships available to the market today are ageing and with that, insurance and maintenance costs and demands will be inevitable, hard and expensive. The production of new vessels is slow, with hurdles of increased production costs and new building regulations and standards, and so there is a gap in the industry that could potentially prove to be a challenge in the coming years, albeit one that we already have strategies in place for.”

Environmental concerns are growing apace too, with companies being pushed to align themselves with sustainable green movements and support the transition to a blue economy. With the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) having set a target goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry by 50% by 2050, this could bring some further complications and demand additional considerations for those in the industry. Cleaner shipping is likely to increase costs that will need to be managed.

After 50 years honing its craft, Peters & May is in a strong position to consolidate its market-leading position over the next 50.

Peters & May info@petersandmay.com www.petersandmay.com