The Palma International Boat Show 2024 (PIBS) opened its doors this morning, marking the 40th anniversary of the annual Spanish boat show. PIBS kicks off the Med show season and runs from today until 28 April 2024 in Palma’s Moll Vell, on the island of Mallorca. A record 295 exhibitors will be participating in this year’s event, an increase of 24 companies compared to the previous edition. There are 260 boats on the water, compared to 252 last year, with the overall lengths remaining the same. Around 32,000 visitors are expected during the show. Palma Superyacht Village The Palma International ..read more

Dutch custom superyacht builder Royal Huisman has unveiled details of Project 411, Noir, an 81-metre sailing yacht with the tallest sloop rig in the world. When completed, Noir will rank among the world’s top ten largest sailing yachts and will feature the world’s tallest sloop rig, rising to 93 metres, with the yacht’s air draft exceeding the current tallest rig by about 4 metres. M5, designed by yacht designer Ron Holland, is currently the largest single-masted yacht ever built, with a height of 88.5m at the top of its carbon mast. Noir sailing yacht Noir’s Malcolm McKeon design will feature ..read more

Twin Vee PowerCats, a US manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of power boats, has hired Thomas Morford as its national sales director. “As director of national sales, Tom will play a crucial role in recruiting, leading, and supporting new Twin Vee dealers in all new territories,” says Joseph Visconti, CEO and president of Twin Vee PowerCats Co. “Additionally, he will be a key resource for our current dealer network as he works with them to provide training, sales advice, and marketing strategies. Tom has a strong background in recreational marine sales, which gives him a fundamental underst ..read more

Italian shipyard Wider has appointed Greater Bay Yachts as its exclusive dealer for Singapore and Hong Kong. The agreement encompasses the distribution of Wider’s entire serial line, including the 18.9-metre all-aluminium WiLder models. Greater Bay Yachts, which is based in Hong Kong, will be the primary point of contact for clients in Singapore and Hong Kong who want access to Wider’s models. “We are thrilled to partner with Greater Bay Yachts as our exclusive dealer for Singapore and Hong Kong,” says Marcello Maggi, head of W-Fin Sarl, the holding company that owns Wider. “Their reputat ..read more

Boatcare, a boat maintenance company founded by UK marina operator Boatfolk, has partnered with marine tech firm Sleipner. Sales and service of Sleipner’s products and technology are now available at Boatcare’s outlets within all 11 of Boatfolk’s marinas across the UK. Boatcare says this partnership will offer sales and servicing of Sleipners’ thruster, stabiliser steering, and anchor windlass products nationally. Customers can select the most suitable equipment from various pumps, cylinders, and accessories, ensuring a tailor-made solution for their boat’s specific requirements. “By joining f ..read more

The city of Baltimore has sued the operator and owner of the container ship Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, causing the four-lane bridge to collapse and killing six construction workers. Baltimore claims in a federal lawsuit that the ship had “an incompetent crew” and set sail despite receiving warnings, according to court documents filed on Monday (22 April). The city claims Singapore-flagged Dali was “clearly unseaworthy” and is accusing the owners and managers of negligence. The ship’s parent company, Grace Ocean Private Ltd, and its operator, Synergy ..read more

The South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show, one of the largest regional boat shows in the UK, concluded its three-day event on Sunday (21 April 2024) at MDL’s Ocean Village Marina in Southampton. The Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Southampton, Cllr Valerie Laurent, officially opened the show while underscoring its importance to the businesses it attracts. With the increasing footfall and popularity of the show, Tim Mayer, sales and marketing director of MDL, comments: “The best bit of the show for me is speaking to businesses that have been coming from the start and have seen their businesses grow ..read more

Nautor Swan has appointed yacht sales and service company Simpson Marine as its dealer and agent for the Asia market. Nautor is a Finnish producer of luxury sailing yachts based in Jakobstad. Hong Kong-based Simpson Marine, which is marking its 40th year of business in 2024, has recently started a new chapter after being acquired by Italian boating giant Sanlorenzo. Following this change, Simpson says it wants to expand beyond Asia and continue operations as a multi-brand dealership with an updated brand portfolio that includes Sanlorenzo, Bluegame, Fairline, and now Nautor Swan. Nautor Swan ..read more

Yacht retailer MarineMax has expanded to Rowlett, Texas, with the grand opening of its newest location, MarineMax Lake Ray Hubbard, situated at Sapphire Bay Marina. “This expansion marks an exciting chapter for MarineMax as we set our sights on Rowlett and the promising community of Sapphire Bay,” says Kevin Chapman, general manager. “We’re eager to bring our exceptional lineup of boats and services to this vibrant area.” MarineMax Lake Ray Hubbard will offer a selection of boat brands, including Aviara, Boston Whaler, Harris, MasterCraft, Premier and Sea Ray. This new location is situated at ..read more

Following an investment round via crowdfunding site Crowdcube, Archipelago Yachts has hit 157 per cent of its funding target. The funding round went live on 22 March and was live for 20 days. The successful funding round consisted of 174 investors, raising a total of £236,996 of a set target of £150,000. Archipelago says the funds will be allocated towards expanding its footprint in both Europe and the US. The British power catamaran builder recently announced Oaksmith Yachts as its first US dealership, located in the Pacific Northwest. Archipelago informed interested investors of its aim to b ..read more