Big travelift up and running

HEAVY LIFTING: The 100 tonne Cimolai MBH100 travelift has arrived at Oceania Marine's new Port Whangarei Marine Centre (PWMC). PHOTO/ SUPPLIED

The new 100-tonne Cimolai MBH100 travelift has executed its first haulout at the Oceania Marine's new Port Whangarei Marine Centre (PWMC).

The 100' Broward Superyacht was lifted by the Cimolai MBH100 without a hitch and is now on hardstand at the marine centre for a maintenance stop to be completed by Oceania Marine. The 30m yacht Celebration has come from Opua for annual maintenance.

Jim Loynes, client liaison and marketing manager for the company said the local yachts are usually done and on the water before the overseas yachties land in early December.

The centre, at the South Shipyard, would now be swinging into full gear, said PWMC general manager Brad Hall.

The formal ribbon cutting for the lift takes place on Friday, December 4 and also launches the marine centre, which has a sealed hardstand, refit shed space and client facilities and caters for sail and motor yachts up to 100 tonnes.

The 10m beam capacity of the travelift combined with spacious hardstand was suitable for catamarans and multihulls.

The 100 tonne Cimolai MBH100 travelift is just part one of works to expand the operations of Oceania Marine.

Stage two involves the installation of a larger travelift dock with a capacity of 560 tonnes - a Cimolai MBH560, which is in the final stages of design with plans for it to be operational for the 2016 season.

The yard was expecting a number of large yachts around Christmas and was nearing the completion of a 55m conversion project on a Superyacht Shadow Vessel at the North Shipyard, which was serviced by a conventional 800-tonne slipway.

The ship refit and repair yard, which is based on Fraser St in Whangarei, also took over Specialist Marine Interiors, (SMI), the superyacht interior manufacturing company on Hewlett St in October.

SMI was a key sub-contractor and so the acquisition of the interiors factory was just another step in the company's Port Rd growth.