S'pore to play host to major boat expo<\/p>\n
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Singapore<\/p>\n
The morning sun was bright and the wind was blowing gently when
\nthe M.S. Columbus cruise ship left Marina Keppel Harbor here for
\nthe nearby Sentosa Cove, the venue for the upcoming Boat Asia
\n2004 exhibition.<\/p>\n
The 94-year-old Netherlands-made charter cruise ship, which
\nhas hosted royalty and heads of states in Europe, was taking a
\ngroup of local and regional journalists for a preview of the expo
\nlast weekend.<\/p>\n
Boat Asia 2004, which will take place from April 15 to April
\n18, is a showcase of yachts, powerboats, super yachts, marine
\nequipment and accessories. After being a predominantly indoor
\nexhibitions for many years, Boat Asia 2004 will have an on-water
\nvenue for the first time in the show's history.<\/p>\n
A highlight event is Marine Week, from April 10 to April 18,
\nwhich will feature, among other things, a dive show, water sports
\nexhibition and an underwater wedding.<\/p>\n
A three-day dive exhibition will follow starting on April 16
\nat the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre.<\/p>\n
Boat Asia 2004 is expected to draw some 8,000 visitors, not
\nonly from Singapore, but also from Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong
\nKong, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Australia.<\/p>\n
\"Our message to all is loud and clear: Look no further than
\nAsia for a boating and cruising lifestyle par excellence,\" Warren
\nBuckley, chief executive officer of the event's organizer, Suntec
\nIntegrated Media, said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that Asia is still largely underdeveloped as a
\nboating region despite its undisputable potential.<\/p>\n
Unlike Europe or North America, the region has beautiful
\nmarine resorts that have not yet been fully explored for boating
\npotential, while the weather allows people to go boating all year
\nround.<\/p>\n
About 70 participating companies from around the world will
\ntake part in the expo, targeting both traders and boat
\nenthusiasts. A number of yachts will also be on display.<\/p>\n
A series of seminars will also be held aboard M.S. Columbus
\nduring the event to introduce newcomers to the boating lifestyle
\nand to provide a forum to debate and discuss the development of
\nmarine recreation in Asia.<\/p>\n
Even though boating is enjoyable, it is not as popular as
\nswimming or diving. Many people are hesitant to go boating
\nbecause they consider it to be a costly and dangerous hobby.<\/p>\n
\"Boating can be suitable for anyone. We want to encourage
\nthose who merely dream of a marine lifestyle to go for it and
\nmake Boat Asia 2004 their destination,\" said Tammy Gouldstone,
\nsenior project manager for the event.<\/p>\n
Boating has gained popularity in Singapore over the past
\ndecade, following the development of the country's first marina
\nin 1992, according to YP Loke, managing director of Spinnaker
\nInternational in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Along with the growing interest in the sport, a sailing class
\nis offered as an extracurricular activity at some high schools.<\/p>\n
Currently, there are about 2,000 privately owned boats of all
\nsizes in Singapore. All of them must be registered with the
\ngovernment and a license is needed to sail them.<\/p>\n
\"Almost all yacht clubs here offer a driving course,\" Loke
\nsaid, adding that there are five yacht clubs in Singapore.<\/p>\n
The SAF Yacht Club, for example, offers a course for S$231 for
\nmembers and S$315 for nonmembers. Students learn general theory,
\nthe rules of sailing, basic boat handling tips, and practical and
\ncoastal navigation.<\/p>\n
To take a cruise, Loke said, one does not need to be able to
\nswim or dive. But it is very important to check the safety of the
\nboat and to make sure that life jackets are available.<\/p>\n
A luxury yacht may cost hundreds of thousands or even millions
\nof dollars, but Loke said that for several thousand dollars, a
\nboat enthusiast can purchase a small craft about three meters in
\nlength.<\/p>\n
To park a small yacht on land, one will have to pay about
\nS$200 a month, while larger yachts that must be kept in the water
\nwill require a monthly docking fee of some S$500.<\/p>\n
The maintenance of a yacht is not too expensive as long as you
\ndo it yourself. \"It becomes expensive if you hire someone to do
\nthe job, for example, if you hire someone to clean it,\" Loke
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Alessandro Diomedi, managing director of Ferritti
\nGroup Asia Pacific, the annual maintenance fee for a luxury yacht
\nis about 10 percent of the price of the vessel.<\/p>\n
The price of a Betram yacht built in the Miami shipyard by the
\nFerretti Group, one of the participating companies in the expo,
\nstarts at US$498,000.<\/p>\n
Diomedi said that last year the group enjoyed a turnover of
\n340 million euro, with less than 10 percent of that coming from
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
He is optimistic of improved yacht sales in the region given
\nits potential. \"The Indonesian market is quite interesting. We
\nhave sold several boats over there the past year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Some Betram boats, he said, could be found at Pantai Mutiara
\nor Ancol in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He hopes that more Indonesians will become interested in
\nbuying boats, especially as the economic and political situation
\nin the country becomes more stable.<\/p>",
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