Ship Full of Yachts – A Breakdown of the Yacht Transportation Business

Ship Full of Yachts – A Breakdown of the Yacht Transportation Business

As strange as it may seem, yacht transportation is big business. There is always demand when it comes to moving around yachts and other large boats – and yacht transportation companies are poised to take advantage of market growth, and a strong economic climate.

As a matter of fact, it’s estimated that the year-over-year growth rate for yacht transportation in 2018 was around 4.9% – and the CAGR (Combined Annual Growth Rate) of yacht transportation is forecasted at around 4% between 2019-2022.

But what is yacht transportation? How does it work, and why would yacht owners choose to have their boats transported on a larger vessel? In this article, we’ll go over all of the details, and help you understand the basics about this specialized shipping & logistics industry.

What Is Yacht Transportation?

As the name implies, yacht transportation refers to the field of loading, moving, and shipping yachts to their intended destinations, usually using enormous cargo ships. Rather than having a yacht piloted across an ocean or to a particular destination, yacht owners can commission a yacht transportation company to take their vessel to its intended destination.

While there are some cargo companies that also offer yacht transportation, the majority of players in the industry, such as United Yacht Transport, are specialists, and focus exclusively on moving yachts and other similarly-sized watercraft.

There are a number of reasons that a yacht owner may want to use a yacht transportation company – to move a superyacht to a new location at the start of yachting season, to handle rough seas that may be dangerous for even the largest yachts, or even to move a yacht when it is sold to a new owner.

How Does Yacht Transportation Work?

First, a yacht owner will have to select a yacht transportation company. Then, the vessel must usually be left at a cargo facility, where it will be taken out of the water or dry docked, and held for transportation.

Then, the cargo ship that will carry the yacht will arrive, and the yacht must be carefully loaded onto the vessel using a crane. This is a very delicate operation and requires specialized expertise, due to the high value of superyachts, and their enormous size.

Once it is on-board the cargo vessel, the yacht will be tied down and secured to the deck, and prepared for its trip. Once it arrives at its destination, it will be unloaded, and the job is complete.

What Are the Benefits of Yacht Transportation?

There are a few reasons that yacht transportation is preferable to simply piloting a yacht across the ocean.

• Lower overall costs – Hiring a yacht crew to pilot a vessel across the ocean is very expensive, so many yacht owners who wish to move their vessels quickly and affordably choose a yacht transportation service.

Less wear and tear on mechanical components – A long ocean journey can strain mechanical components like the engine and other parts of a yacht. Choosing to move it with a yacht transportation company results in less overall wear and tear.

• Always have a yacht ready at travel destinations – A yacht owner who would like to sail in the Mediterranean, but has a yacht in California can schedule it to be moved and prepared for their trip once they arrive at their destination, which is much more convenient and saves time, compared to having the vessel piloted to its destination.

Yacht Transportation Gets Yachts to Any Destination, Worldwide!

Those looking to explore the world from their yachts commonly use yacht transportation business companies to get their yachts to their destinations, save time and money, and make the most of their vacation time – and as consumer boat purchases continue to grow, so will the yacht and boat shipping industry.