Dockwise Yacht Transport (DYT), the
world's only float-on/float-off yacht transport service, has launched its
newest ship, which will provide yacht owners with faster and more frequent
delivery of their luxury power and sailing yachts across the Atlantic
Ocean.
The 685.7-foot (209 meters) Yacht Express, built at the Yantai Raffles
Shipyard in China, has an official delivery date of May, 2007. It will be
the largest vessel of its kind in the world, purpose-built with a
semi-submersible dock bay that allows yachts of any size to be safely
floated on and off as cargo. Yacht Express will join four other dedicated
yacht carriers, all semi-submersible, in the existing liner service of DYT.
"Most amazing is that this ship is designed to have a service speed of 18
knots", said DYT President Clemens van der Werf. "This means that a
transatlantic voyage with this ultra modern yacht carrier can be reduced
by nearly 50%, from 15 to 8 days." Van der Werf added that Yacht Express
also will feature amenities not found on the other DYT ships such as
complimentary cabins for ride-aboard crew, an atrium with swimming pool,
conference, media and fitness facilities, allowing for added comfort and
entertainment during transit.
The launch of the Yacht Express is a major milestone in the development of
the yacht transport industry. With a beam of 106 feet (32 meters) and deck
space of 55,060 feet (5,115 square meters), the vessel has a carrying
capacity of 5,000 metric tons, which allows Yacht Express to accommodate
more yachts on regularly scheduled trips to and from Florida and the
Mediterranean.
"The addition of this new yacht carrier to our fleet is an important step
forward by DYT to improve the quality of services to our clients --
services that are based on safety, regularity and reliability," said Van
der Werf.
Following sea trials in mid-May, Yacht Express will mobilize through
Australia and New Zealand and to Florida before making a special
appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, 2007.
Since its maiden voyage in 1987, DYT has transported over 8,000 motor and
sailing yachts to various destinations around the globe, offering owners
and charterers safe and easy access to many of the world’s premier
cruising grounds. Dockwise Yacht Transport is specialized in the maritime
transports of luxury (mega) yachts and is a group company of Dockwise
Transport B.V., the global leader in maritime transports of extremely
large and heavy cargos. DYT is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and with a
fleet of four dedicated yacht carriers is the world's leading provider of
yacht transportation on a regular liner service.
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