Dear superyacht owners, captains, crews & superyacht lovers and enthusiasts of all breeds,
Welcome to Singapore!
Welcome to the Superyacht Singapore Association (SSA) website!
As SSA’s first Chairman I am proud and very privileged to wish you a warm welcome to our website.
As a superyacht owner myself (“Hye Seas I”, an 80-foot Ferretti and “Hye Seas II”, an 116-foot Azimut), I have observed with great interest the development of the superyacht scene in our tropical Island-Country in the last few years.
Superyachts are nothing new in Singapore. For many years, successful local businessmen have indulged in large yachts. “White Rabbit”, “Sinbad”, “Seashaw” and “Asean Lady” are internationally known superyachts, owned by fellow Singaporean businessmen. It is worth mentioning that Singapore owners are actually both very knowledgeable and daring. “White Rabbit 4” is a truly amazing tri-hulled superyacht. “Asean Lady” is another pioneering design icon in itself, while “Sinbad” is a pure expedition yacht. I may sound very conservative with my “classic” Italian semi-displacement hull designs. Well, I love speed…
When I am in Singapore, I use my yachts quite often, almost weekly, either for business meetings or for cruising, each cruise lasting 3 to 7 or even 10 days. I recently went to Tioman, a beautiful Malaysian island, for a long diving weekend with some friends and regularly take the yachts to Phuket (Thailand), the Anambas Archipelago (Indonesia), the Riau Archipelago (Indonesia) or simply to the Southern Islands (Singapore). My fellow superyacht owners are well known for much longer spells outside of Singapore and it sometimes takes over 6 months for some of them to get back to our shores. Australia is one of their common destinations a long overdue cruising destination for me! No, my Darwin and Gold Coast friends, I have not forgotten you!
However, it is very interesting to highlight that in the last few years, we have seen more and more locally based superyachts owned by foreign expatriates. If I am not wrong, up to 4 new foreign-owned superyachts are making Singapore their home in 2008. That will raise the total footage of locally based superyacht to 1,551 feet with an average of 141 feet in length. Quite an impressive progression, shall I say. Of course, this can be directly explained by the significant surge in private wealth being relocated in Singapore lately and the fact that many High and Ultra Net Worth Individuals have considered that Singapore is a great place altogether to call home. In addition, one must mention that with the burgeoning of the luxury chartering market in Singapore, some of these new yachts, once properly registered (see Regulations section of this website) will be put to good use for that specific market niche.
The growth of superyacht visiting traffic is another very significant change in the local superyacht scene. In 2006, we estimated that 10 cruising superyachts stopped/visited Singapore. That number grew to 19 in 2007. By June 2008, traffic already exceeded 2007 number, well in line for our target of 38 visiting superyachts for the year. That’s a 90% and 81% year-to-year growth. Once again, quite impressive.
Here again, the reasons are quite easy to identify and I will just mention three of them:
Firstly, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia all the way to Australia) is simply becoming a more reachable destination for a fast growing number of newly released superyachts; meaning here ocean cruising enabled megayachts and gigayachts. “Third Destination”, indeed, it is!
Secondly, Singapore is becoming an attraction in itself, given its financial hub status and growing number of internationally renowned events and attractions, and of course its immense charm, hospitality and uncompromised security.
Thirdly, Singapore lately greatly improved its superyacht berthing capabilities thanks to the efforts of its existing marinas such as Raffles Marina and RSYC (see our “Marinas and Superyacht Berths” section) and new ones, namely “Marina at Keppel” and “ONEº15 Marina Club” (I own the latter, I did my part!). Now, depending on superyacht sizes, Singapore can host up to 28 to 30 superyachts at any single time. Of course, that has never happened yet. But I am determined to see that happen very soon!
There is so much to say. It is such a passion and such an exciting time. As SSA’s Chairman, I can only press upon you to consider Singapore as one of your next destinations. My fellow SSA board members and SSA members are all here to make your next stay as enjoyable as possible.
Cordially yours,
Arthur Tay
SSA, Chairman