It seems that ever since yacht owners and yacht spotters alike saw the little yellow submarine that Octopus totes, this deep-diving craft has become a focus of increasing interest. Small subs were nothing new, having been used commercially as tourist and research vessels for many years, but the concept of it as a distinctive watertoy led several owners to instruct their project-management teams to explore the possibilities. Today Mine Games is among the megayachts toting them, and Roman Abramovich is repeatedly rumored to be having one built for his new superyacht.
Of course, a personal sub is a lot different than a RIB, PWC, or other tender, requiring special training to operate. Related to this is the issue of safety; after all, there are the inevitable questions of “what if” when descending several hundred feet and upwards of 3,000 feet below the surface. Indeed, David Reams, the fleet manager for Camper & Nicholsons, told me last year that his company was working with sub builders, flag-state representatives, and others in the industry to establish standards for operation and carrying these subs aboard yachts.
So it’s no coincidence that Camper & Nicholsons recently announced a partnership with SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation, a manufacturer of two- and three-person subs. The goal is to help educate owners, captains, and other project representatives, and to find sub solutions that meet their desires and yachts’ capabilities.
The partnership actually began at last fall’s Monaco Yacht Show, where SEAmagine, a fellow member of the International Superyacht Society, displayed one of its Ocean Pearl models (above). The Ocean Pearl is a two-person sub that’s also its smallest and lightest vessel, measuring about 15 feet long and weighing 7,100 pounds. The two companies collaborated again at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and have decided to continue their joint efforts for this year’s major superyacht shows.
SEAmagine, founded in 1995, builds all of its subs to ABS classification–specifically, +A1. ABS inspects materials and construction while the subs are being built, it oversees tests of the various systems, and it repeats the inspection prior to delivery. SEAmagine says its Ocean Pearl and Triumph (its other model) subs have performed 10,000 dives to date.
Jillian Montgomery, CEO of Camper & Nicholsons, says her company was impressed with SEAmagine’s expertise in the sub market. “With their lineage of seven generations to refine and hone the product, SEAmagine’s models and reputation for design excellence, safety and reliability exactly mirror the pinnacle of the very superyachts we build and manage for owners and charters,” she explains. William Kohnen, founder of SEAmagine, adds that he and his team were proud to be approached by Camper & Nicholsons. “With the increasing length and complexity of superyachts, there is no doubt that the market for personal subs has expanded in the past several years. To be able to unite our resources with an industry leader such as Camper & Nicholsons provides both companies an unparalleled approach to marketing these vessels.”
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