News - 消息

Howden Group has purchased the business portfolio of Hong Kong-based Expat Marine Ltd., well known in yachting circles thanks to its principals, Peter McTavish and Colin Dawson. Howden Group is a UK-based broking house with operations in 45 territories and over 9000 employees. The transfer took effect as of December 1, 2021. The deal for Expat was agreed and signed with Howden Insurance Brokers (HK) Limited, part of Howden Group Holdings and which has been in Hong Kong since 1994.

Dawson, who has partnered with Expat Marine for the past 12 years handling Expat’s yacht insurance business of over 250 yacht clients, says that he will continue the partnership with the Howden Group.

Howden Group Holdings is the largest independently owned insurance group in the world, with a large marine business, mostly focused on commercial shipping. Howden worldwide places US$11 billion in premiums to the insurance market each year. Dawson says that this will “make it easier when discussing risks with insurers.”

“This partnership will allow us to benefit from Howden’s reach in the market, have access to insurers we previously didn’t have and join with a network of Howden offices, enabling us to improve our offering to clients. It also allows teams at Howden to access my 25 year’s specialist experience with yacht insurance, assisting them give greater value to their clients,” Dawson said of the new tie up.

Dawson and his team’s contact details will remain the same while Expat merges into the Howden group. Dawson stressed that day-to-day operations will not change. He added that he expects to be able to offer even better service to his clientele.

“With a broader reach, I am confident this change will allow us to present a more complete package to yacht owners and the surrounding yacht industry, allowing us to offer better value to them,” Dawson said, adding that he hoped to offer “better and more stable programmes” for his clients in what is now a very difficult yacht insurance market.

Dawson said that the Howden Group has a large office in London and has three other recent acquisitions in the UK and the South of France that specialise in insurance for yachts of all sizes. The company was founded in 1994 and has become one of Europe’s largest insurance broking businesses.

www.howdenhk.com

www.expathk.com/marine

Dear Members,

The HKBIA council wishes you a Happy New Year!

2021 has been a remarkable year for the vast majority of sectors in the boating industry and we hope this will continue through 2022.

Please refer to the 2020/2021 overview to learn more about what the HKBIA has done this year and what we have planned for 2022.

DOWNLOAD LINK BELOW:

HKBIA OVERVIEW.pdf

Asia Yacht Services joins HKBIA as a Standard member!

Asia Yacht Services, “AYS” was founded in 2004 to offer a bespoke range of services to yachtsmen and yachtswomen in Asia waters including yacht sales, yacht charters and yacht support. Over time we had close relationships with well known brands such as Grand Banks, Salona and Williams jet-tenders as well as representing famous Dutch shipyards Jongert, Moonen and Royal Huisman. The company is located in the Gold Coast Yacht & Country Club with its award winning 340 berth marina and we became the go to agents for visiting yachts and super yachts offering a reliable and economical service during their visits.

2008 was a game changing year when AYS acquired the franchise to represent Northrop and Johnson in Asia. N&J were the first global brokerage house to open shop in Asia and our joint venture quickly grew to a thriving yacht brokerage with some 10 sales and charter brokers spread over the area. For 10 years Norhtrop and Johnson Asia was the leading international yacht brokerage with a successful business selling, chartering and managing large yachts in the HKG and South East Asia yacht arena. The pinnacle of this era was the sale of Sea Eagle 2, an 81M custom built Mega Sailing Yacht built by Royal Huisman in the Netherlands.

With the unexpected global pandemic, recreational boating in Hong Kong had a gangbuster 2020 and a new team saw the value of the brand Asia Yacht Services and changed its dormant status into a pro-active yacht company once more. Their efforts were awarded with the exclusive appointment as dealer for Grand Soleil Yachts made in Italy.

Executive Director Sytske Kimman who also runs My Yacht Moments, an active yacht charter company with bespoke charter services in Hong Kong and beyond, has moved forward to recreate some of the core services in AYS including two prominent dealerships and is preparing to support the visiting super yachts that will return to Hong Kong waters soon.

www.asiayachtservices.com

Azimut Yachts HK has joined HKBIA as a Gold Member!

Azimut Yachts is the Italian boat builder known for unparalleled quality and authentic style. We are proud to introduce you to the Azimut Yachts world, offering new and used boats and adding our experience and the highest levels of service quality.

www.azimutyachts.hk

Ferreti Group Asia Pacific joins HKBIA as a Platinum Member!

Ferretti Group is the world leader in designing, building and marketing luxury motor yachts. Our exclusive portfolio consists of some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Riva, CRN, Custom Line and Wally. Ferretti Group yachts are distinguished by their excellent quality, safety, performance at sea, and design. Each brand in Ferretti Group has its own unique charm which makes it immediately recognizable. Ferretti Group’s global presence throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific regions are supported by a sales and distribution organization with an exclusive network of 60 carefully selected dealers and yacht brokers who market our luxury yachts for sale in over 80 countries.

Ferretti Group Asia Pacific services the markets from Japan to Australia/New Zealand with its sales and service center headquarters in Hong Kong, as well as several representative offices and sales centers in Shanghai and other locations in China, as well as dealership presences in fourteen countries.

www.ferrettigroupasiapacific.com

Dear Members,

2021 continues to be a strong year for the industry as people turn to water sports for leisure whilst travel is still restricted.

Since the start of the year, the HKBIA council has been working hard towards hosting the first Hong Kong Boat Show at Lantau Yacht Club (LYC). We believe an industry led Boat Show will showcase the positive impact the boating industry has to our economy and community in Hong Kong. Talks with LYC had started early in the year, followed with months of preparation and planning. Due to the uncertainties of Omicron, the dates of the show will be announced later.

In the meantime, the council will continue to plan for the show – stay tuned for further updates.

More information can be accessed from the link below:

HKBIA Boat Show Overview.pdf

Asia Marine joins HKBIA as a Platinum Member!

With over 20 years' experience in the yachting industry, ASIAMARINE is headquatered in Hong Kong, with offices in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore. ASIAMARINE sells new and pre-owned yachts and manages them for their owners. We are the pioneer in the Luxury Yachts Rental in Hong Kong since 2013, ASIAMARINE operates a fine fleet of modern luxury yachts available for rental. Our core business covers:

Sales: new and brokerage yachts

Luxury Yacht Charter: Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea etc. 

Yacht Management: Providing exceptional management service in Asia - Pacific region

www.asiamarine.com

Absolute Yachts joins HKBIA as a Gold Member!

Absolute Spa designs and builds luxury yachts from 47 up to 73 feet in the Navetta, Flybridge and Coupé ranges. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Podenzano, Piacenza (Italy).

Absolute is independent both financially and in management. The different phases of studying, planning, and production are developed internally thanks to ourunique combination of experienced professionals in the yachting industry. Absolute is renowned internationally thanks to our network of dealers working hand-in-hand with the company and being committed to its principles.

Absolute is the symbol for experience, innovation, and practicality with yachts appreciated all around the world. Today, the company has solidified its place inside the yachting industry globally by winning several international awards for the design and architectural characteristics of our models.

www.absoluteyachts.com

Reminder Letter - Class IV Vessels VHF Requirement.pdf

A Webinar on “Career Opportunities of the Local Vessel Sector” (「本地船舶業的工作機遇」) organized by the Maritime Services Training Board of VTC will be conducted on 24 November 2021 (Wednesday) from 2:00pm to 3:30pm.  

Interested parties may use this link or scan the QR code below for online registration on or before 17 November 2021.  Those who have registered to the event will receive the link for access to the Webinar two days in advance.   For details of the event, please refer to the e-leaflet below.   Thank you.