Drydocks accepts first superyacht for repairs

A new chapter in the history of Malta Drydocks started last week when the 'yard opened its Dock 3 to accept its first superyacht for repair in its joint venture with Palmer Johnson.

The 122-metre-long superyacht Alexander, the second biggest privately-owned in the world, is the first to make use of the superyacht repair and refurbishment facility, known as Palmer Johnson Malta and which will be formally launched around May.

The facility is a 50/50 shareholding between the drydocks and the US company Palmer Johnson.

The Alexander's contract, described by the 'yard as being of "substantial-value", is for paint, engineering and electrical works and is estimated to last between 10 and 12 weeks. Work has already started and an average of 40 'yard employees are working on board at any one time.

One of the world's most prestigious and renowned superyachts, the Alexander offers luxury yacht charters to the discerning elite.

Extensively refitted in 1985 and again in 1998, its elegant design provides comfortable and well-appointed accommodation for up to 60 guests, whose every whim is catered for by 53 crew members.

The extraordinary boat was built in 1965 by Lubecker Flender, Germany, and has a cruising speed of 16.5 knots.

Its accessories, according to the charter publicity, include two 10-metre Sunseekers, as well as other tenders. As one would expect from a boat this size, there is also a cinema, swimming pool, jacuzzi dip pool, gymnasium, discotheque, children's playroom, hospital, helipad and beauty salon.

The Alexander's owner, John Lastis, counts Prince Charles among his friends and has even permitted the king-in-waiting to use the yacht for family cruises, both with the late Princess Diana and Camilla Parker-Bowles.

The superyacht, formerly a cruiseship, frequents the French Riviera and Greek islands and charters for $100,000 per day, leading yachting magazines say.

Drydocks chairman John Cassar White said yesterday the 'yard had been working on the Palmer Johnson venture for the past six months. A total of 13 workers from the 'yards' workforce of 2,600 were sent for training at the Palmer Johnson facilities in Savannah and US instructors would soon be coming over to continue training the workers.

He hoped the necessary training and skills would be developed for this to be a niche that would generate more work for the 'yard.

Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said that another yacht would be taken into the Dock 5 at the 'yard tomorrow. This was a good beginning and augured very well for the 'yard, he said, adding that all docks were filled at present.

Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who chairs the 'yards' task force, said this was another step towards making the 'yards viable.

The restructuring plan was becoming reality and the joint venture with Palmer Johnson was one of the diversification strategies. The 'yard was also willing to go into joint ventures with others.

The Palmer Johnson Malta site was also getting new offices in buildings alongside Dock 3 in a bid to transform the whole area into a modern superyacht facility.

The facility will include the erection of a lightweight retractable cover over the whole dock so that work on the largest yachts could be carried out under cover, which was essential to create the correct conditions expected by the owners and management companies of super and mega yachts. This tent was arriving in Malta at the end of March and would be installed in April following the departure of Alexander.

In the absence of this tent, work on the Alexander would still be done under cover but only parts of the yacht would be covered as necessary.

Once the permanent tent was put up, Malta's would be the largest covered facility in the Mediterranean.