Marine industry coping with stop, start instructions - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 27 Jan 2022 14:00 PST
55 Metre Oceana prepares for haul out © D Nowak
As we appear to be getting on top of Covid and its variants, industry leaders are having to second guess what actions our state politicians will decide to take as the pandemic environment changes. Fortunately for the marine segment most affected by the rules, charter and tourism, the way forward is beginning to unravel.
The Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) is set to welcome more international vessels as Queensland's quarantine requirements are removed. After almost two years of uncertain boarders and intense requirements, GCCM is excited to welcome back international superyacht and pleasure craft crews. Fully-vaccinated travellers arriving by sea are no longer required to undertake the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Instead, they must complete a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test within the first 24 hours with a negative result.
This exciting news comes after the Queensland quarantine restrictions were lifted for international air travel on 22 January 2022. Those arriving by boat and unvaccinated, while still required to quarantine, can breathe a bit easier as well. The 14-day quarantine period will still be mandatory but time at sea since the last international port may be counted towards the crew member's quarantine period.
As mentioned in several previous newsletters we are keeping a close eye on technical developments that will affect the way the marine industry develops in the future. While propulsion alternatives get most of the headlines, navigation aids are joining the debate. The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co, and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co, have successfully completed a demonstration test of the world's first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large car ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushuu City, on January 17.
This demonstration was part of MEGURI 2040, a project promoting the development of fully autonomous vessels supported by The Nippon Foundation. This test demonstrated the world's first fully autonomous navigation system, on a 222-meter ferry, with autonomous port berthing and unberthing using turning and reversing movements and high-speed navigation of up to 26 knots. Other new technologies included in the advanced fully autonomous operation system including sensors to detect other ships using infrared cameras, a remote engine monitoring system, and a sophisticated cyber security system. These advances in fully autonomous ship navigation are seen as a significant step toward safer and more efficient coastal shipping.
John Curnow, editor of Sail-World and Powerboat.world, reports on developments at one of the world's largest engine manufacturers, mtu. He writes, "mtu deliver power in the form of high-speed Diesels, gas turbines, hybrids, and also generators across a massive array of the marine sector. mtu 2000CR engines are made solely for marine use, where things like power to weight, reliability, service life, and physical dimensions are cornerstones. The pistons are sodium filled alloy with chrome-ceramic rings. The conrods are forged alloy. They are all heat-treated and ceramic coated, and this all goes to long service life and running as cool as possible.
"I was amazed just how compact it could be given all the work it has to do. mtu power plants are always at the lower end of the mass spectrum for their class, but excel in terms of power, torque and fuel efficiency. The two very clever elements that stood out were the serviceability and modular nature of the beast."
New boats to become available in Australia include the Aquila 28. The Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran is truly a versatile boat that amplifies your boating lifestyle. The impressive stability and formidable ride, along with the large aft and forward cockpits, make the 28 Molokai ideally suited for offshore fishing with family and friends, tournament competition, and even professional charter sportfishing. And, although the Aquila 28 Molokai is primarily designed as a fishing platform, family-friendly features abound.
And a new model from Beneteau, the Grand Trawler 62, has arrived in Hong Kong. Characterized by its exceptional cruising range, spaciousness and comfort, the Grand Trawler motor yachts range project, that was first announced during boot Düsseldorf 2020, has been proving Groupe Beneteau's expertise in manufacturing modern luxury yachts. The first model of the range, Grand Trawler 62, will be proudly presented in Hong Kong in April 2022, marking the first one in Asia Pacific.
Capitalizing on the iconic Swift Trawler range's strengths, the Grand Trawler 62 takes matters a step further by combining practicality, spaciousness, long-distance, and modern and elegant design. The meticulous design of full displacement hull helps to optimize the passage maker's cruising range and efficiency. She is fitted with two MAN i6 730 hp engines with a cruising range of 900 nautical miles, offering a high autonomy at sea and a perfect option for long cruising with families and friends.
We do not need to be reminded of the turmoil that has plunged the world into massive disruptions over the past two years. While we seem to be getting a grip on the worst effects of the pandemic, uncertainty still abounds and with six state and two territory leaders whose views vary according to what expert advice they are listening to, the path forward is far from being clear. The industry is presented with a paradox in so much as demand for water craft has never been so high, yet supply chains are constantly disrupted by staff shortages and border regulations.
It also means that the boat show program for 2022 is still uncertain, not only in Australia but Europe and North America also. This makes planning for shows much more difficult. We will convey all the latest news from our industry associations and boat show organizers to ensure that we keep the industry abreast of the latest developments. Watch this space.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com