Super SuperYacht Session at METS TRADE

On Wednesday 20 November, KNVTS organised the discussion platform SuperYacht Session at METS TRADE in Amsterdam for the fourth year in a row. This year, we did so for the first time in cooperation with KIVI Martec, a powerful partnership to promote the sharing of knowledge and insights within the maritime industry.

Full house

With an engaged audience of over 110 yacht building professionals, the hall was packed this afternoon. The fact that the interest in this session was so high proved to be fully justified. After a brief welcome speech by Eric Schiphorst, Ralph Dazert of SuperYacht Times painted an introductory picture of the Refit market. This set the framework for the discussion on the opportunities and challenges in the ‘Fit for Refit’ development of Superyachts (download the slides here).

Fit for Refit discussion

Moderator Rosanne van Houwelingen of NMT then took the panel and the audience by the hand by successively asking Niels de Vries of C-Job Naval Architects, Pier Posthuma de Boer of Feadship, Wim Verhoeff of Oceanco, Kristian Pascoli of Pascoli International and Haico van Roeden for their views. This created an open discussion, first on stage and then with the audience, on how to develop Superyachts that are future-proof. From the different perspectives of customer requirements and design, current and future developments in technology and laws and regulations, set against the reality of yacht retrofitting, the topic was highlighted.

The conversation continued

Five-quarters of an hour actually proved to be too short. Fortunately, after Deniz de Koningh’s vote of thanks, there was still room to continue the discussion while enjoying a snack and a drink. Afterwards, a select group of fifty people gathered at Il Cavallino restaurant to continue the discussion in a relaxed atmosphere, while enjoying a delicious Italian meal.

Thanks to Oceanco for sponsoring the event and to Caro Ulloa Parra, Lisa Ricci of KNVTS, Matthis de Lange and Bob van de Graaf of KIVI Martec for organising it, to Annette Kuiper, Patricia Becker and the rest of the METS TRADE team who literally and figuratively gave us space, and to Van Storm for supporting us.