Largest Yacht Tender - By Dag Pike



A 60-foot motor yacht is considered to be a sizeable craft, but when you get a 60 footer designed as a tender for a superyacht, it sounds like the realms of fantasy. However, this is now the realm of reality with delivery of what is probably the world's largest yacht tender, scheduled for the end of the year.

It is being built by the French yard Guy Couach and not only is it large for a tender, but it is also fast, with a projected speed of 45 knots. This comes from twin MTU diesels of 1300hp which are coupled to SDS surface piercing drives.

The hull is moulded in advanced composites and the design has been developed from the Guy Couach experience of building high performance patrol boats. Guy Couach has also recently completed two large open sports cruisers with a similar speed potential.

This yacht tender will have the appearance of a full motor yacht with an enclosed pilot house and a flybridge. The accommodation is expected to follow the luxury style which has become the hallmark of Guy Couach yachts.

Although most details of this new design remain secret, it is thought that this new tender is destined to be carried on board a large expedition yacht nearing completion in Germany. It will sit alongside a similar sized sail boat on the deck. An important feature of these tenders has been developing the lifting system so that they can be crane-launched.

For further information:
Guy Couach, France
Tel: 33 55 6223550
Fax: 33 55 6660820

Yantai Raffles Wins Biggest Ever Build Orderr



The build order ever placed has been won by China's privately owned Yantai Raffles shipyard. Up to 40 casino ships, the largest passenger ships ever at 450,000 GT each will be built over the next 20 years at a unit cost of $2Bn. In an exclusive report to Fairplay, a spokesman for the owner, Casino Vegas Del Mare of the Bahamas, revealed that the company has signed an initial multi billion dollar contract with the yard for three of the ships.

The deal includes options for 17 units with a potential for a further 20. Each ship will have 21 decks, measure 430 m long and accommodate 9,600 passengers in 3,000 suites. In addition, each will be able to board another 10,000 day-passengers. Last August, Fairplay revealed that Yantai Raffles had been gearing up for a potentially massive project by improving its facilities, culminating in the recent completion of a huge 430 X 120 m dry-dock. Bureau Veritas has been appointed to supervise the construction which, if all options are exercised, will create up to 50,000 jobs for the Chinese shipbuilding industry over 20 years.

The first ship is scheduled to enter service in 2003.