Technology advances increase unabated - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 31 Aug 2023 23:00 BST
Vision Marine Technologies sets new speed records at the Lake of the Ozarks © Vision Marine Technologies
An announcement by Vision Marine Technologies at the iconic Lake of the Ozarks this week was amidst an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. Their cutting-edge electric powerboats shattered the existing speed records not once, but twice, solidifying their commitment to pushing the boundaries of maritime innovation.
In an awe-inspiring display of performance and engineering excellence, their team managed to achieve a record-breaking speed of 111 mph during the first attempt. But they didn't stop there. Demonstrating the sheer power and capabilities of electric propulsion technology, they went on to set an even higher bar with an astonishing 116 mph during the second attempt. These accomplishments underscore their dedication to revolutionizing the boating industry while staying true to their core values of sustainability and eco-consciousness.
As we emerge from winter in Australia, the largest marine trade show is getting ready in Europe. The METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, 15 to 17 November 2023, unites the world's leisure marine brands and businesses in the world's largest B2B exhibition of marine equipment, systems and materials. This year, organisers confirm there will be 1,300 exhibitors from 49 countries, estimated to attract around 17,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany will again attend in partnership to showcase the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company, vdL Composites GmbH. vdL Composites GmbH offers lightweight construction solutions to many of Europe's leading boat builders and design houses.
Our marine associations continue to be active. This week BIAV President Scott O'Hare and CEO Steve Walker caught up with Minister for Recreation (Boating) Sonya Kilkenny at her East Melbourne Office. The meeting was an opportunity to recognise how far we have come in recent years, and to focus in on some key advocacy areas. A glance at the Better Boating Victoria website will reveal a power of work that is going on in Victoria to improve things for boaters. Over 20 current boat ramp projects, is just one great example.
This is all off the back of there being a Boating Minister, the formation of Better Boating Victoria, the setting up of the Better Boating Fund ($35MIL p.a), BBV's Recreational Boating Strategy, and the Katherine Grech driven annual plan of infrastructure and related projects. This is all great news, straight from the BIAV advocacy wish list, over recent years.
Meanwhile the Marina Industries Association (MIA) is pleased to announce that marina management software provider, Harbour Assist Pty Ltd has stepped forward as a Bronze Sponsor, furthering its commitment to growth and innovation of the marina industry. Harbour Assist is a leading cloud-based management software supplier delivering innovative software solutions to marinas, yacht clubs, and boatyards worldwide. With a wealth of experience in the maritime industry, Harbour Assist offers cutting-edge software platforms designed to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and elevate the overall efficiency of marina management.
Harbour Assist's decision to become a Bronze Sponsor of the MIA reflects the company's commitment to growing its distribution and support in the Australia and the Asia Pacific regions. MIA CEO Suzanne Davies commented, "We welcome Harbour Assist's commitment to supporting the activities of the Association. It's important for marinas to be aware of new solutions that have the potential to improve their operational efficiencies and sponsorship and engagement through the MIA is a great way to ensure that."
Twenty-one Australian industry representatives travelled to Port Denarau, Fiji to participate in the third annual Australia-Fiji Rendezvous sponsored by Benetti Yachts and held on August 25th. Ten superyachts were in attendance on the day, however due to the busy season in Fiji a total of 19 superyachts were engaged during the three days that included the locally organized Superyacht Gathering. All vessels were eager to receive updates on visiting Australia, with most planning on travelling to either Australia or New Zealand for maintenance and refit work in the next two months.
Australia was well represented at the Rendezvous with marine industry experts attending including Rivergate Marina & Shipyard, Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, Southport Club, Carter Marine Agencies, Quality Marine Clothing, Pantaenius Yacht Insurance, Crew Pacific, Jones Bay Marina, Aurora Yacht Logistics, Fliteboard, Coral Sea Marina, Marina Mirage Marina and The International SeaKeeper Society.
New Partnerships include Cyclops Marine. Cyclops has announced a collaboration with Arcus Wire Group, a leading supplier of stainless steel wire rope and fittings. They were proud to introduce Arcus Wire Group as exclusive distributor in Australia as they strive to increase sailing performance for sailors of all levels. With nearly 60 years' experience, Arcus Wire Group is an industry leader in the supply of quality wire rope and hardware solutions for the marine, industrial, and architectural sectors.
Now, thanks to the partnership, their top-of-the-range hamma® rigging solutions can be paired with cutting edge Cyclops load sensor technology that delivers optimal performance - empowering sailors everywhere to achieve their goals and push the boundaries.
And Stella Marine, a cutting-edge design, engineering, and manufacturing company servicing the marine industry has purchased Australian Davits & Cranes (ADC). This strategic move reinforces Stella's commitment to innovation and expands the company's product offering. The addition of Australian Davits & Cranes' expertise and product range complements Stella's existing portfolio, creating a broader suite of premium marine equipment and services to Stella's local and international customers.
Gary Cooper, Founder and Director of Stella stated, "We are thrilled to bring Australian Davits & Cranes product range under our brand and welcome John Berg (Owner and Founder of ADC) and his team into the Stella family."
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com