S'pore to play host to major boat expo
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Singapore
The morning sun was bright and the wind was blowing gently when the M.S. Columbus cruise ship left Marina Keppel Harbor here for the nearby Sentosa Cove, the venue for the upcoming Boat Asia 2004 exhibition.
The 94-year-old Netherlands-made charter cruise ship, which has hosted royalty and heads of states in Europe, was taking a group of local and regional journalists for a preview of the expo last weekend.
Boat Asia 2004, which will take place from April 15 to April 18, is a showcase of yachts, powerboats, super yachts, marine equipment and accessories. After being a predominantly indoor exhibitions for many years, Boat Asia 2004 will have an on-water venue for the first time in the show's history.
A highlight event is Marine Week, from April 10 to April 18, which will feature, among other things, a dive show, water sports exhibition and an underwater wedding.
A three-day dive exhibition will follow starting on April 16 at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Boat Asia 2004 is expected to draw some 8,000 visitors, not only from Singapore, but also from Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Australia.
"Our message to all is loud and clear: Look no further than Asia for a boating and cruising lifestyle par excellence," Warren Buckley, chief executive officer of the event's organizer, Suntec Integrated Media, said.
He acknowledged that Asia is still largely underdeveloped as a boating region despite its undisputable potential.
Unlike Europe or North America, the region has beautiful marine resorts that have not yet been fully explored for boating potential, while the weather allows people to go boating all year round.
About 70 participating companies from around the world will take part in the expo, targeting both traders and boat enthusiasts. A number of yachts will also be on display.
A series of seminars will also be held aboard M.S. Columbus during the event to introduce newcomers to the boating lifestyle and to provide a forum to debate and discuss the development of marine recreation in Asia.
Even though boating is enjoyable, it is not as popular as swimming or diving. Many people are hesitant to go boating because they consider it to be a costly and dangerous hobby.
"Boating can be suitable for anyone. We want to encourage those who merely dream of a marine lifestyle to go for it and make Boat Asia 2004 their destination," said Tammy Gouldstone, senior project manager for the event.
Boating has gained popularity in Singapore over the past decade, following the development of the country's first marina in 1992, according to YP Loke, managing director of Spinnaker International in Singapore.
Along with the growing interest in the sport, a sailing class is offered as an extracurricular activity at some high schools.
Currently, there are about 2,000 privately owned boats of all sizes in Singapore. All of them must be registered with the government and a license is needed to sail them.
"Almost all yacht clubs here offer a driving course," Loke said, adding that there are five yacht clubs in Singapore.
The SAF Yacht Club, for example, offers a course for S$231 for members and S$315 for nonmembers. Students learn general theory, the rules of sailing, basic boat handling tips, and practical and coastal navigation.
To take a cruise, Loke said, one does not need to be able to swim or dive. But it is very important to check the safety of the boat and to make sure that life jackets are available.
A luxury yacht may cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, but Loke said that for several thousand dollars, a boat enthusiast can purchase a small craft about three meters in length.
To park a small yacht on land, one will have to pay about S$200 a month, while larger yachts that must be kept in the water will require a monthly docking fee of some S$500.
The maintenance of a yacht is not too expensive as long as you do it yourself. "It becomes expensive if you hire someone to do the job, for example, if you hire someone to clean it," Loke said.
According to Alessandro Diomedi, managing director of Ferritti Group Asia Pacific, the annual maintenance fee for a luxury yacht is about 10 percent of the price of the vessel.
The price of a Betram yacht built in the Miami shipyard by the Ferretti Group, one of the participating companies in the expo, starts at US$498,000.
Diomedi said that last year the group enjoyed a turnover of 340 million euro, with less than 10 percent of that coming from Southeast Asia.
He is optimistic of improved yacht sales in the region given its potential. "The Indonesian market is quite interesting. We have sold several boats over there the past year," he said.
Some Betram boats, he said, could be found at Pantai Mutiara or Ancol in North Jakarta.
He hopes that more Indonesians will become interested in buying boats, especially as the economic and political situation in the country becomes more stable.