Arabs have played a prominent role in the rise and expansion of the superyacht industry, defining the gigayacht size decades ago as we know it today. Throwing back in time, we can recall the El Mahrousa Egyptian ownership yacht of 1865, at 146m, and only later Al Said at 155m, Issham Al Baher at 116m, and many more built before the recent decades. The Arabic Nation has also always been chartering large yachts, requesting accommodation for over 12 guests suitable for families and staff and an exquisite array of entertainment amenities, demanding to pitch in the PYC-compliant Superyachts of today. This is how the father of megayachts, Andreas Liveras, decided to build Annaliese and Alysia in the Millennium.
According to the industry’s data, Arabic Ownership is in the top ten nationalities, with the majority of the megayachts belonging to Arabs and 80% of them to Gulf residents. Data are sourced from the superyacht intelligence agencies, which define and classify the ownership origin, identifying UAE in the top ten superyacht owners’ origins.
Arabs also drive the demand for services and products provided by different related industries, such as yacht renovation, refurbishment, annual maintenance, and other technical services. It is actually an Arabic habit to acquire pre-owned yachts and do a total makeover by redesigning parts of the yacht. The demand for these services mobilizes multiple professionals and businesses, including shipyards, naval architects, interior designers, fabric traders, machinery workshops, a workforce with expertise per section, painting units, technology traders, etc., across multiple sectors of the global economy and in diverse geographical locations, including Europe and Asia, principally.
The concentration of luxury superyacht Ownership amongst Arabic nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region together with the associated market potential are the fundamental factors in our decision to establish Arabiya Restoration Time (ART), a technical station for superyachts that belong to Arabs.
Our project is to provide multiple services available through a network of industry professionals and Environmental and technology Organizations for engineering appliances and safe materials set on board like sophisticated waste management units to turn garbage in a cap of gray water, PET plastic crushers, various composters, lithium batteries, hybrid electric systems to allow fewer fumes in the environment, appliances to minimize the polluting footprint on the environment, thus turning the yachts to Green Yachts, and making them compliant with Green policies.
Arabs own seven of the world’s top ten superyachts, and within this compilation chart, it is noticed that 30 owners originate in the Arabic World. If we extend the list of the 200 largest yachts on the planet, statistics prove that 2/3 ownership of is held by Asian continent owners, with the majority of shipyards/builders in Europe.
Suez is the crossroads, with lots of Arabic Superyachts operating charters in the Med and then would love to winterize in UAE, the new alluring yachting destination.
YACHTDNA.ART is working with investors in GCC to structure the missing link of quality winterization through the premium Technical Station. It is our mission to serve both the international superyacht industry and the Arab clientele by connecting regional demand with international expertise in luxury yacht management and technical and renovation services, and, moreover, to be able to convert a Superyacht into an environmentally friendly one. We seek the authorities and Governmental leads to implement into a unique project for the nation.
The first constructions of a mega or giga-size yacht have been for Arabs. The first compilation of mega yachts was owned by Arabs, some of them Saudis. The charter operation of the mega yachts was 90% by Saudis, following statistics and records of mega yachts like the ex-Annaliesse and more.
Swimming pools, sauna rooms, submarines, helipads, and quarters for a crew of 80 to serve every possible need, satisfying the ostentatious demands of the few, is no easy task.
But the whole industry in order to accommodate these requests competed in mega-size constructions to satisfy firstly the owners’ needs and secondly the charter operations. Now, more than ever, UAE seems the ideal terrain for dedicating a large yacht shipyard offering a sophisticated service including green retrofitting.
Who charters Superyachts? Arabs do. There is high ratio of superyacht ownership by the Arabs. Moreover, the Chartering of Mega Yachts is dominant in the list of the world’s’ top superyachts by Arabs. It is after Ramadan that Arabs start their yacht vacation with an itinerary in the Mediterranean. Autumn finds them extend periods either in Baleares or at the Red Sea, or other seas and oceans, like the Indian Ocean; rarely in the Caribbean.
Why the statistics do not mention Arabs chartering their yachts? It is not a secret that Oligarchs and Prime Ministers enjoy time on these yachts and usually seal a deal. Yachts perform charter operations discreetly with Very Important Persons on board, in a safe environment media may not harass them. Such a charter process goes through agencies with expertise, specialized to accomplish the legitimate agenda with the correct delivery to the Charterers, flying under radars. It is a common practice of Ownership to maintain a very discreet status from the market. Therefore such activities are hardly recorded in the media. On the contrary, all parties implemented, including local authorities and marine agencies, are committed to a binding Confidentiality Agreement.
In the last years, upon delivery of a superyacht fleet to the Emirates, the owners support the regional economy by principally enjoying their state. If you need some Statistics in New Buildings of 45m+, then 232 Motor yachts delivered and to be delivered in sizes over 45m with Lurssen, Oceanco, Feadship, Abeking & Rasmussen, Heesen Nobiskrug, Benetti, Icon Yachts, Pride Yachts, Turquoise Yachts, and RAV to build in 70+ sizes. A new generation of 80-120m yachts is to be delivered within the forthcoming 3 years. Guess how many belong to Arabs? Is it a good time to consider the PYC-compliant yacht construction with a capacity for over 12 guests up to, i.e., 36 guests?
PREMIUM TECHNICAL STATION ART
What is the Premium Technical Station ART? The Technical Station offers two services:
1. Convert the preowned yachts to ecological ones (no soot, no pollution to the marine environment) in collaboration with a Dutch engineering team, or convert the preowned Superyachts to be compliant with the IMO TIER III with intervention in the engine room (valid as of 1.1.2021 and compulsory in the USA and Baltic Sea).
2. Winterization with sophisticated quality services to large yachts equally to the EU ones.
The Superyacht industry is a magnificent terrain with so many beautiful sectors to constantly develop, educate, and share the essence of luxury from any view while also rapidly changing for the better. Shipyards, naval architects, engineering teams, and non-profit environmental foundations including Arabic Governmental foundations work hard and use the latest science and data figures to come up with more sustainable energy options. This is all done in order to minimize the footprint of carbon dioxide and prevent the recession of fossil fuels.
As a result, this project will ensure that the yachting industry is on the right path for a better future, not to mention that the yachting and marine industry in the Arab world could set an example for the rest of the world on how things should be from now on, just like they have always done in the yachting industry.
Meantime, our Premium Technical Station provides already a wide range of services such as Consultancy, Supervision and inspection services to the Superyacht industry, Superintendence. Based in Greece we travel globally to support our Clients. We are completely independent, allowing us to give our clientele the best possible unbiased advice.
The Technical Station ART is a project to embrace devoted R&D to perform its research through dozens of traders and beyond the existing patented and customized solutions, before reaching out to work one-on-one with the owner in an effort to be a part of this change in emerging new technologies to achieve sustainable goals. We’ve discussed with renowned leaders in the world of sustainable energy, as well as marine engineers and traders, the options available for more sustainable solutions.
The journey towards a better future will be tough, and there will be endeavors, however, we are determined to be part of the future in ethos and prestige. Yachtdna ART is launching these services to help create a better future for the youth and the generations following. With this initiative, specifically, our Arab clientele will be part of immortalizing their efforts in the industry of sustainable energy and Superyachting. This goes in line with the R&D segment in development within our Technical Station ART, which will reinforce and embed the world of green energy in superyachts in collaboration with market leaders and modern technology. Doing this early on will help the industry move forward, which will actually create more opportunities for business leaders as well as the working sector.
Pitch: https://ecodna.art/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MARIA-K.-BAKALAKOU-CV-2023-REFERENCES.pdf
The contemporary Technical Station ART shall provide a wide range of technical services, superintendence, consultancy, and condition surveys.
By appointing to us the Technical Administration we care for the daily Operations, by working on administering everyday mundane business such as client consultation, budgeting, daily operations, and Captain’s support. In short our mission concerns:
- Emissions, NOx2 and Noise Reduction
Consultancy, Study, Systems & Installation - Compliance with IMO TIER III
- One-stop contact point
- Daily Operations
- Budgeting
- Captain’s Support
- Superyacht Refit Refinery
- Superyacht Technical Administration
- Innovative Technology applicable to Superyachts
- Enrichment of the local and international job market
- Better Green Deals: Green Superyachts compliancy
- Less carbon footprint
- The preservation of the Arabic Superyacht culture and heritage
- Establishing the ART Retrofitting with temporary technology as a liaison for funding, budgeting, and creating new projects that concern Superyachts in the Superyacht industry