A recent media release from Dockwise Yacht Transport, which specializes in the maritime transport of private luxury yachts, spelled out in some detail the nature of its service and the global routes its semi-submersible “float-on/float-off” and “lift-on/lift-off” ships cover.
Dockwise was quick to point out that, whether owners wished to transport 50-foot sport fishing boats or 250-foot luxury yachts, its ships can give clients access to many of the world’s major shipping port, which in turn lead to some to of the most desirable travel destinations around the globe.
As an example, it noted its 556-foot ship “Super Servant 4” started its annual passage late last year from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and after making stops in Le Marin, Martinique, Port Everglade, Florida and Golfito, Costa Rica; it arrived in Brisbane, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. After delivering and picking up vessels in each port, the ship is now headed back to Golfito and Port Everglade before it goes trans-Atlantic.
The DYT media release describes the routes for its semi-submersible ships as the U.S. East Coast, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Pacific West Coast – B.C. Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico only – and the South Pacific, including Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia. Hawaii, however, is not mentioned.
When asked about this omission a DYT representative responded, “Although we have called on Hawaii in the past, we have not offered any (recent) voyages to Hawaii as there isn’t enough demand to this region. We focus on the regions that are the most lucrative for us, which are trans-Atlantic shipments from the East Coast of the U.S. (Port Everglades, Florida and Newport, RI) to the Mediterranean (Genoa and Taranto, Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Toulon, France; Marmaris, Turkey) via the Caribbean (St. Thomas and Martinique).”
Perhaps Hawaii’s severe geographical isolation may account for this lack of demand by yacht owners, but that may be somewhat aided and abetted by the extreme lack of the facilities high-end yacht owners require. Whatever the case, it appears Matson will not be having competition from Dockwise anytime soon.
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