IMG New Zealand reports on a successful period for visiting superyachts. New Zealand has recently benefited from the introduction of a 24-month temporary import entry for visiting luxury yachts. Superyachts are now able to stay in the country for up to two years, undertaking a mix of charter work, owner cruising and maintenance – most of which qualifies for exemption from the local 15% Goods and Services tax.
Auckland Superyachts
‘The team at IMG are thrilled to report a record refit season with larger yachts, and more of them heading to our shores than in previous seasons. The team capped off 2015 with work on a 140-metre Fincantieri vessel Serene – the largest superyacht to visit New Zealand. 60-metre charter yacht Senses sought out IMG for an extensive refit which extended into 2016, as did work on a 91-metre Oceanco vessel.
The IMG team has been pleased to see repeat yachts, such as 73-metre Dragonfly, as well as 33-metre Claasen Classic, Shamoun, return to use their services. “Yacht refit size has been trending up,” says IMG’s managing director, Mark Wightman. “We have to be ready collectively as an industry to cope with the challenges of larger vessels, different code compliance requirements and their more complex maintenance requirements; often working to a tight timeframe with no margin for error.”
“Dragonfly is an extremely busy yacht which operates without the limitations of seasons and schedule, of course this brings much freedom to the owner and a high expectation of readiness upon the crew,” says Fleet Captain Mike Gregory of M/Y Dragonfly. “In order to achieve this constant readiness, we need expert assistance when released for maintenance periods in order to remain on time and budget.”
Gregory adds to this in saying, “IMG have assisted us multiple times now and have always met our high expectations, often exceeded them. We cannot recommend the team at IMG highly enough.” “In terms of vessel size and refit complexity, this season has been one of our most challenging but also the most enjoyable,” says IMG’s refit manager, Dave Low.
“As our relationship and trust with our clients past and present grows we are beginning to see more of them make their refit base here in the Pacific; safe in the knowledge they have an ongoing and reliable place to service their yachts to the high standard they expect.”
