Industry news from our region dominates this week - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 3 Jan 10:00 AEDT
Christopher Boyle, Executive Chair, Fabrum (left) with Will King, Founder, King Watercraft (right) and H2Ocean © Fabrum / King Watercraft
Happy New Year to all our readers. We continue to bring you the latest news from our industry and this week the spotlight is on our regional neighbours.
In New Zealand, companies Fabrum and King Watercraft create the world-leading zero-emission high-performance hydrogen-powered RIB boat H2Ocean in Christchurch, 'The Hydrogen City of New Zealand'. Fabrum, a New Zealand company leading the world in zero-emission transition technologies, has collaborated on the design and build of a zero-emission hydrogen-powered boat H2Ocean with King Watercraft, a developer of sophisticated New Zealand made rigid inflatable boats.
In Southeast Asia and over the past year, the Palm Beach Motor Yachts' state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia has undergone major renovations, adding an impressive 31,000 square meters (approximately 334,000 square feet) to the existing 51,000 square meter facility. With this development, their total factory footprint will reach an incredible 80,000 square meters (about 861,000 square feet), equivalent to 20 acres of covered workspace. This strategic expansion is a crucial component of the Palm Beach Motor Yachts' factory-direct experience, providing yacht owners with unparalleled service and an array of customization options.
Aquila Power Catamarans continues its ambitious global expansion with the announcement of two new international dealers, strengthening its presence across Europe and Asia. This strategic growth follows recent dealer partnerships in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Aquila expands its global presence with the appointment of Selestiboat as its dealer in France. In Thailand, the company welcomes Primus Marine, which will operate from locations in Phuket and Bangkok, strengthening Aquila's position in Southeast Asia's expanding marine sector.
Excess has announced the appointment of Primus Marine as the brand's new exclusive dealer for Thailand, a step further to consolidate Excess Catamarans' presence in Asia Pacific. Primus Marine represents the whole collection of Excess Catamarans in Thailand. "I am pleased to announce the exclusive appointment of Primus Marine as the representative for Excess in Thailand. This partnership taps into the potential of the Excess Catamaran in South East Asia, and I believe Primus Marine will excel in this role. Despite being a newly established dealership, their team, led by Howard, brings a wealth of experience and is highly motivated to deliver an exceptional customer journey. I am confident that Primus Marine will represent Excess at its best in Thailand." said Cosmas Grelon, Excess & Lagoon Catamarans Asia-Pacific Sales Manager.
After several years of planning, SUPERYACHT BASE company is pleased to announce the award of the new Kobe Marina project to its consortium, known as SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE. The consortium consists of seven principal investors - GLION Group, Plan Do Sea, Horizon Yachts, Setouchi Brand Corporation, Creation Co., Ltd, SYL Monaco and SYL Japan. SUPERYACHT BASE KOBE MARINA will start construction in April 2025 with a full service opening for yachts in 2026 and a full opening with surrounding infrastructure in 2027. The facility is part of the Kobe harbour and waterfront regeneration, where previously industrial spaces close to downtown Kobe are being reimagined for public enjoyment. This includes the Glion Arena Kobe, an indoor-sports complex adjacent to the marina site primarily for basketball, but which can also hold shows and concerts, etc.
Back in Australia, the Freedom Boat Club, the world's largest membership-based boat club, has announced the grand opening of its newest location in Brisbane, Australia. Representing the 10th location in Australia, Freedom's newest location is situated at Rivergate Marina, a premium site providing members with exclusive, direct access to the Brisbane River, one of the city's most picturesque and iconic waterways. This announcement marks Freedom Boat Club of Brisbane's second location, owned and operated by seasoned franchise partner Brett Bolton, who brings over 26 years of expertise in the marine industry.
We will continue to bring you the latest marine industry news during 2025. If you have news that your company would like to share on www.marinebusinessworld.com/Oceania email me at the address below.
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Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media