The Industry loses a legend - Australian MarineBusinessWorld newsletter
by Peter Rendle 2 Jul 2020 22:00 UTC
Ian Alexander McAndrew © BIA
It was with much sadness that I read the news of Ian McAndrew's passing. Ian was an industry legend who always had a positive word of encouragement when the going got tough. Our condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends.
Ian was elected to the BIA Board of Directors in December 1988. He was elected Vice President in December 1991 and served as President from April 1992 until May 2006. It was a record 14 consecutive years and post-presidency he remained on the Board serving as Immediate Past President. Ian also represented Australia on the International Council of Marine Industries Association (ICOMIA) as well as The International Marinas Committee.
Most people are aware of the problems that are currently facing the Victorian State Government as Covid-19 cases increase daily. However, with no international travel on the horizon for some time to come, Australians are looking into alternatives to 'holiday at home' in 2020. Current restrictions present the Australian domestic superyacht industry with a huge opportunity to increase market penetration in Australia for term charters. This opportunity is further enhanced by the international cruise industry also being unable to operate in this current climate. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), in 2018, 1.35 million Australians went on a cruise, representing over 5% of the total population. Comparatively, 3.7% of the USA's population took a cruise and 3% of the UK's population. The USA has been the long-standing leader in cruise market penetration for many years until Australia took over in 2013.
Overseas Niels Klarenbeek, the new show director of the Marine Equipment Trade Show, METSTRADE, has been a part of the METSTRADE team since early April. Klarenbeek joined the team in a difficult time. The threat of the COVID-19 virus remains in place even today, and the team is still working from home. The challenge of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is not only a challenge for METSTRADE, but also a challenge for the entire leisure marine industry. For Klarenbeek this challenge is also a personal one: "I have a profound love for boating. The industry is very dear to me and I wish to support the industry in these difficult times."
Preserving traditional boat building skills a significant wooden boat rebuild is under way at Denman Marine in Kettering, Tasmania, reviving the 32-foot double-ended ketch known as "Te Rapunga", and shining a light on the incredible life and philosophy of German-born seafarer and "citizen of the world", George Dibbern. Meaning "Longing for the dawn" in the Maori language, Te Rapunga was discovered in an Auckland front yard in 2018, after two decades out of water and bought by a Bruny Island tourism group and fellow sailing enthusiasts with the vision of restoring her to original shape. But as Andrew Denman explains "Survey found she was too far gone and would require a complete rebuild. So, she was brough back to Tassie for the rebuild with the help of a team of shipwrights and the advice of author, Erika Grundman, who researched and wrote George's biography, 'Dark Sun: Te Rapunga & the Quest of George Dibbern'."
New products this week includes the new SIMRAD NSSevo3S chartplotter and fishfinder, boasting unrivalled performance, features and connectivity. The next level in on board functionality Available in 9-, 12- and 16-inch models, the SIMRAD NSSevo3S allows users to experience unprecedented levels of built-in functionality under all conditions using charts, radar, sonar, and more. Every NSSevo3S system supports a variety of sportfishing and powerboating activities. With a built-in GPS receiver and high-performance echo sounder, upgraded charting, support for HALO® dome and open array radars, as well as an industry-leading range of Simrad autopilot systems, all your on-water activities are covered.
And a new trimaran was revealed this week. NEEL Trimarans has unveiled its highly anticipated new compact trimaran, the NEEL 43. The Lombard-designed addition to the range is even more innovative and impressive, featuring a marked move towards the use of bio-sourced and recyclable materials. More compact than her big sisters, the NEEL 47, 51 and 65, the new 43 will still have a high freeboard and a very similar pod in terms of design. The trimaran boasts a striking and voluminous interior design optimising panoramic views and comfortably accommodates up to ten passengers yet is easily handled by a small crew.
There's much more industry news on our website www.marinebusinessworld.com/australia and if you wish to publicise your latest achievements, news of employee appointment or new products, send us the information and we'll post the news to the website subject to suitability.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com