The “double whammy” of fewer orders and the New Zealand dollar’s 26 percent gain the past four years has made it tough, said Tony Hambrook, chief executive officer of Auckland-based Alloy Yachts, which won its category at the 2014 World Super Yacht Awards for the 128-foot motorboat CaryAli.
Rival shipyards in Europe “have sharpened their pencils dramatically and reduced their margins,” said Hambrook, who has cut his workforce to 212 from about 450 in 2011.
Alloy is being urged to do more repair and refit work by the owners of boats it has built, and is in talks to open a facility in Auckland’s harbor that has the necessary deep-water access, Hambrook said.
Melnichenko’s superyacht “A” -- named after his wife Aleksandra -- arrived in Auckland in September for maintenance before the owners and their pet flew in on March 10.
Quarantine Facility
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries approved the yacht as a transitional quarantine facility and deployed a vet to stay on board for the 10-day containment period, using its discretion to allow for special arrangements.
Melnichenko, the world’s 81st wealthiest man according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, met all the costs, the ministry said in a statement.
“They came for three weeks and stayed for five because they loved it so much,” said Jeanette Tobin, owner of Asia Pacific Superyachts, an Auckland-based ships’ agent that handled the Melnichenkos’ requirements.
Other luxury vessels to visit Auckland last summer included the 290-foot Nahlin, owned by British inventor James Dyson, and the Ethereal owned by Sun Microsystems co-founder Bill Joy, the New Zealand Herald reported. Alucia, owned by Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, spent four months in Auckland last year for a refit
Lodge Visits