Megayacht News — 2008 June

Last month when I explained that the International Superyacht Society (ISS) was amending its annual awards for outstanding megayacht projects, I briefly mentioned how two new honors were being added. One is in recognition of innovation by individuals or companies, while the other acknowledges a person or business demonstrating excellence over the past year.

Why am I bringing them up again? Simple: You get to submit nominations.

That’s right, your vote counts. Instead of having submissions come solely from the board of directors and ISS’ members (of which, full disclosure, I’m one), the ISS is opening the floor to anyone and everyone involved in the industry. That means whether you own a yacht, run one as a crewmember, or even run the payroll department of a davit company, you can–and should–speak up.

To me, it’s a sign that the nearly 20-year-old Society recognizes those of you in the trenches, so to speak, could very well have a better handle on what’s going on in this business and can make the broader membership more aware as a result. And what better way for the ISS to continue fulfilling its primary goals: fostering dialog as well as strengthening and growing the industry as a whole.

The specifics of each award are:

Excellence in Innovation
Open to every aspect of the industry–from crew training to technological advances or environmental stewardship–the Excellence in Innovation award will be given to an individual or business that has demonstrated innovation in their endeavours. Nominations will come from the industry, and ISS board members will vote to determine finalists.

ISS Person or Business of the Year
The ISS Person or Business of the Year will be awarded to those demonstrating excellence in their area of superyacht expertise within the previous year; nominations will come from both the industry and the ISS board, with the board making finalists selections.

Nominations are due by September 15, either via fax to (954) 525-4325 or via e-mail.

I urge you to give the nominations serious consideration. There’s easily someone you encounter on a regular basis whose name deserves to be put forth. When you’re ready, make your voice heard, and make sure the unsung heroes of this business get the recognition they rightfully deserve.

Bubbly Breaks on Burger’s Biggest

Five thousand twenty-five square feet. That’s how much space is inside Ingot, the 153-footer that Burger Boat Company christened last weekend. And for the record, there’s 4,150 square feet of exterior deck space.

There are also 104 round pillars made of Honduras mahogany, all inlaid with maple burl. And there are probably more curved, molded, and radiused wood details throughout the yacht than you can shake a stick at.

Intricate details like this, both design-wise and tech-wise, go on and on. As a result, the megayacht is both the biggest and most complicated that Burger has ever built.

It’s partly because the 153-foot trideck started out as Time for Us, for an experienced American owner who held the bar high for Burger. And it’s also because Burger not only pushed itself to meet those demands, it decided to complete the yacht despite the owner parting ways with the team a few months into construction. (Howard Meyers, the yard’s owner, and his wife presently own the yacht. She and yard president Jim Ruffolo are in the great action shot at top, smashing the champagne across Ingot’s bow.) I’m glad Burger went ahead with completing the boat, because judging from my conversation earlier this month with Marnix Hoekstra, sales director/naval architect at Vripack, which collaborated on the naval architecture, she’s an impressive accomplishment.

The design brief called for a yacht capable of world cruising on her own bottom and equipped with commodious, comfortable accommodations for guests and crew alike. There are four king-size (yes, king-size) guest staterooms on the lower deck, each with heated marble soles in their baths, as well as four double crew staterooms on the same deck, all with en suite baths, too. (The captain’s stateroom is aft of the wheelhouse.)

I plan to get a first-hand look at these and more in the coming weeks, before Ingot departs the yard to head to the Med and begin serving as an ambassador for the craftsmen’s capabilities.

By the way, “ingot” means a metal that’s cast into shape for storage or transport so that it can be additionally processed later on. It’s a fitting name for an all-aluminum yacht that will be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, where no doubt she’ll attract interested buyers. Asking price: $39.75 million.

Vote Early, Vote Often

Bubbly Breaks on Burger’s Biggest