MPI Group who administer the IIMS Marine Surveying Diploma courses are pleased to announce a 10% discount on courses until the 31st March 2008.

Yacht & Small Craft Surveying is available for a career developoment loan. Other discounts on all IIMS surveying courses are available through The Marine Society, PYA, IIMS

MPI Group who administer the distance learning Diploma in Superyacht Operations, are pleased to announce that the course has been endorsed by the Marine Society and Sea Cadets.

The Diploma in Superyacht Operations is in partnership with the PYAand has been developed to provide the knowledge necessary for aspiring yacht’s crew members. The course recognises the value of the various MCA Certificates but aims to fill the significant gaps in terms of practical knowledge for someone with a Class 4 Certificate and teach the skills required for the crew of a superyacht.

The second MYBA Brokers Seminar taking place on 28th - 30th April 08 in Nice, France is rapidly filling and it is advised that your place is reserved as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Brochures and application forms can be downloaded from MPI Group, the organisers website or contact Kate Parry +44(0)1252 732227 kate.parry@mpigroup.co.uk

Announcing the 3rd

Future of Superyachts Conference
Monday 9th –Tuesday 10th June 2008
Nixe Palace Hotel, Palma de Majorca, Spain 

To register for attendance www.quaynote.com

Now in its 3^rd year, The Future of Superyachts is an established international event for anyone involved in the management or operation of superyachts. 

Taking place this year in Palma de Mallorca, Day One of The Future of Superyachts will discuss issues of global importance, such as tackling crew shortages and the lack of marina berths worldwide, as well as issues specific to the Balearics such as Spanish Matriculation Tax, and its impact on chartering in Spain.

Day Two of the conference will focus on the legal and financial issues involved in owning a superyacht such yachtbuilding contracts, registration, VAT, obtaining finance, insurance, safety compliance, yacht management, chartering and fractional ownership. 

Chaired by: Paul Miller, Underwriting Risk Services

Other speakers include:

Diego Colon de Carvajal, Association Espanola Grandes Yachts (Large Yacht Association) * Jaime Tomas-Vetera Alba, Lawyer, Iberforo * Marta Iglesias, Charter Director, Merrill Stevens * Tierry Voisin, MYBA * Pat Bullock, Network and AEGY (Association Espanola Grandes Yachts / Large Yacht Association) * Nick Entwhistle, Company Secretary, Pinmar, Roger Horner, Group Managing Director Benjamin Maltby, Director, MatrixLloyd SL * Keefer Archer, Pantaenius * Captain John Percival, John Percival Marine Associates, Hoylake Sailing School, Council Member, PYA * Jonathan Syrett, Camper & Nicholson / CNI Palma de Mallorca * Paul Jackson, Director of Standards, MCA * Wayne Lowery, Marketing Director, Island Global Yachting (IGY) * Remco Immink, Ciris Capital * James Lawson, Hill Dickinson * Steve Malley, Director, Fortis Intertrust Services (IOM) Ltd Yacht & Aircraft Group * Michael Kurtz, Managing Director, Pantaenius * Alex Chumillas Amat, Economista - Gestor Administativo * Roby Scalvini, Marine Survey Bureau * Peter Hurzeler, CEO, Ocean Independence *, E3 Group Geoff Bound, Minton Treharne Davis * Jonathan Greennall, Sloane Helicopters Mallorca

Official Supporting Organisations : PYA and ECPY – Delegate discounts are available for members

Sponsored by Association Espanola Grandes Yachts (AEGY)

Refreshment breaks sponsored by Pinmar and E3

A full conference programme and registration details can be seen on the conference website www.quaynote.com  or email  alison@quaynote.com to request a conference brochure PDF.

Alison Singhal
Quaynote Communications

Tel: 44 (0) 20 8531 6464

Extra-large yachts can bring thousands of dollars to the cities where they drop anchor.

To yacht broker Tom George, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg means one thing: boats, big ones, and lots of them.

The race attracts dozens of uber-wealthy yachtsmen eager to strike nautical poses and glimpse the racetrack without ever having to step on dry land. To meet the demand, George and other mega-yacht brokers arranged to have a private floating dock set up near the track with slips starting at the discount price of $5,000 per boat. More at St. Petersburg Times >>

Transocean Inc. today announced the award of a 689-day contract by a consortium headed by Marathon International Petroleum Indonesia Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation, for the ultra-deepwater drillship GSF Explorer to drill a series of exploration wells in a deepwater province in Indonesia. The Makassar Strait Explorers Consortium (MSEC) comprises Marathon International Petroleum Indonesia Ltd, Anadarko Popodi Ltd, ConocoPhillips (Kuma) Ltd, ENI Bukat Ltd, Statoil Indonesia Karama AS and Talisman (Sageri) Ltd More at Transocean Inc. >>

Hellenic Carriers Limited, an international provider of marine transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, today announces that it has entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to acquire the 1997-built 74,000 dwt Panamax bulk carrier built in Tsuneishi, Japan, M/V Orchid Star, charter free, for a purchase price of US$70.0 million. In addition, the Company expects to invest up to a total of US$0.5 million to upgrade certain aspects of the vessel in advance of its next scheduled intermediate survey, which is expected to occur by mid-2010. The vessel is expected to be delivered between March and May 2008. More at Hellenic carriers >>

There was no fear of daring in the ship owners of Beverley, the Benetti Classic number 11 launched by the Business Unit in Viareggio on Tuesday 29th January, who wanted a black hull for their boat, the first ever to be delivered by the Viareggio shipyard. More at Benetti >>

Top UK yacht builder Oyster Marine has been sold to UK based private equity fund Balmoral Capital for an undisclosed sum. The company was founded in 1973 by current Chairman Richard Matthews.

Oyster yachts have a worldwide reputation for quality and performance and are recognised throughout the sailing world for their distinctive Deck Saloon configuration. Oyster has twice been awarded the Queen’s Award for Industry. More at Oyster Marine >>

SEACOR Marine LLC christened its first CrewZer Class vessel, the SEACOR CHEETAH, in Galveston, Texas on Tuesday.

Joyce McCall, wife of nearly fifty years to offshore industry pioneer Norman McCall, acted as the vessel’s sponsor in recognition of her life-long contribution to the McCall legacy.

The SEACOR CHEETAH was designed to provide customers a faster and more stable delivery platform than the industry standard. After examining various hull types, SEACOR chose the Catamaran’s twin-hull design for its ability to reach top speeds in excess of 40 knots while increasing passenger comfort and safety. More at SEACOR Marine LLC >>