2:28pm Tuesday 8th September 2009
By Gareth Lewis
IT’S the most exclusive parking space in Southampton – complete with a heli-pad next door.
Port bosses hope to attract the likes of billionaire Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and his multi-millionaire mates by earmarking a berth especially for their superyachts.
Traditionally more Monte Carlo than Southampton, superyachts may soon become a familiar sight in Southampton Water if the plan is successful.
City shipping agents are hoping that Berth 49, next to the newly-opened Ocean Terminal for cruise ships, near the city centre and with easy access for helicopters will prove an irresistible lure, especially with the upcoming Olympics and the close proximity of Southampton to major airports.
It’s the brainchild of Orchard Place-based Suyperyacht Agency, which is an offshoot of well-known city shipping firm Wainwright Bros & Co.
They hope to turn a trickle of recent superyacht visits in the city into a flood.
Tim Wainwright, managing director of Superyacht Agency, said: “Already we are getting requests for a good berth in an attractive location near the city centre. They want good facilities, water and electricity and parking for drop offs and this berth has all that, is near the Ocean Cruise Terminal and there’s a helicopter landing pad for them too.
“A prime location berth will attract more superyachts to the city and we are in the process of marketing it. We see this as a growing business and something we are looking to develop with our contacts in the superyacht industry.
“Every other major port has many more of these vessels but we don’t have many in Southampton and we want to improve that by working with ABP. It is difficult to say how many more we might get but we have had a couple this year so maybe next year we might get between five and 10.”
It’s the latest link the region has with the glamorous world of superyachts, traditionally understood to be more than 50m long. Already the region is a hub for the naval architecture of these boats, and is home to many craftsmen who specialise in fitting them out.
Hampshire in particular has a long association with superyachts, with some of the biggest privately-owned vessels in the world, such as the Maltese Falcon, Mirabella V and Samar, having been either designed or built in the area.
Already Southampton has hosted several vessels belonging to Roman Abramovich, with his floating pleasure palaces Pelorus and Ecstasea both worth more than £70m.
Another of his former yachts Le Grand Bleu, 114m long and valued at a cool £75m – a recent gift from Abramovich to business partner Eugene Shvidler – visited here in July.
Sir Donald Gosling, who made his fortune from the NCP car parking business, is also a regular caller at the city with his vessel Leander, Britain’s most expensive charter ship at more than £280,000 a week.
The £36m playboy’s toy T6 has also called in Southampton several times this year as brokers try to sell her on behalf of one of New Zealand’s richest men.
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