Throughout 2010, activity at the SEEDA owned Hythe Marine Park has increased significantly. Last year, SEEDA (assisted by their managing agents CB Richard Ellis) and in conjunction with Yacht Project Associates, created ‘Solent Refit’, a unique refit and repair facility for large superyachts.

Located in Southampton Water on the South Coast, Solent Refit provides waterside and undercover facilities for the repair and refit of superyachts. Constructed in the 1950’s for the British Navy, the site now forms part of Hythe Marine Park, one of the area’s most successful marine business parks, home to Palmer Johnson UK and a host of other UK marine companies.

Solent Refit was set up in order to maximise the use of the unique facilities offered on the site, which includes a ship lifting facility capable of handling superyachts up to 70m long, together with extensive working deep water berths, moorings and lay-up areas for even larger vessels.

Solent Refit operates across a large part of the 12 acre specialist marine industrial park and there have been various vessels which have been slipped, or worked on within this facility over the last few months.

Recent activity has included the successful launch by Yacht Project Associates of superyacht PJ 170 – PJ-501, the first Palmer Johnson Sportsyacht built in the UK, within one of the industrial units on the site over the last two years. The new PJ 170 – PJ-501 launched by Palmer Johnson with a length of 52m and a weight of 320 tonnes, was manoeuvred across the site, positioned on the specialist rail system and launched via the heavy slipway in July.

The Palmer Johnson PJ 170 PJ-501 superyacht launched at Solent refit Facility

The Palmer Johnson PJ 170 PJ-501 superyacht is the first of three PJ 170 sportsyachts to be built.

“This significant launch certainly cements Palmer Johnson’s Sportyacht concept by passing the 50 meter benchmark and further confirms the appeal of the Sportyacht genre.” said company President Mike Kelsey. PJ-501 Motor Yacht, as she is known will cruise the Mediterranean over the coming months.