The trend towards so-called shadow yachts is not entirely new. For around ten years now, some owners have had their yachts followed by supply ships that transport large tenders, submarines or other equipment that absolutely have to be taken on voyages but do not fit on the mother ship. Prominent examples include the "Al Said" (155 metres), which is followed by the 164-metre-long "Fulk Al Salamah" - it is designed to park ten cars in the military hospitals, for example.
cars in the lazarette - or "Ace" (87 metres), which is supported by the 67-metre-long "Garçon". However, as impressive as these convoys may be, their owners are very shy. Publications or foreign visitors? No, thank you.
"That didn't make the sale any easier for us," says Victor Caminada from Amels, whose parent company Damen, one of the largest shipyard conglomerates in the world, supplied the "Garçon", for example, but also the very similar "Umbra" and "Pursuit", "Intrepid" and "6711". For around six years, Amels and Damen have been active as market leaders in this niche market, in which offshore supply vessels and Coast Guard ships are customised and equipped for the yacht market. In the absence of a showpiece, the Dutch company made the famous move last summer and delivered "Fast & Furious", a show supply vessel without an owner, which was presented to potential customers at the trade fairs in Monaco and Fort Lauderdale. While it had to be somewhat subordinate to the general hustle and bustle and novelty hype in the Principality, it really stands out under the Florida sun.
The crane on deck alone is a statement - it rises 19 metres (!) into the air and has the capacity to lift a maximum of 5.5 tonnes when extended.
You can read the full article in BOOTE EXCLUSIV 1/2017 by clicking here: http://www.delius-klasing.de/zeitschriften/BOOTE+EXCLUSIV.19459.html
