Yacht-builders Adapting Well to the Covid-19 Era
Like the rest of the world, the global yachting scene has been scrambling to adapt to the impact and effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the first time in its 35-year history, The Palm Beach International Boat Show is moving off the docks and on to digital screens with an online show on May 14 featuring nearly 450 exhibitors.
Hosted on its own web platform, the show will include new boats, marine gear, toys and technology worth a total of over $1.2 billion. The COVID-19 outbreak has also seen leading superyacht building yards instigate a myriad of new working practices to cope with the challenge of infection.
Yards around the world have adopted a series of measures to prioritise the health and safety of employees and minimise disruption to underway projects, including setting up dedicated “crisis management teams” specifically to manage the task. Changes to working patterns have introduced alternate shifts for yard workers to minimise human contact with many yacht builders implementing a rotational week for office staff so that they are split between the office and home. As yet there have been no reports of yards scaling back production with operational plans experiencing only minimal disruption. At present, there are no plans by major yards to lift any of the restrictions that are in place to limit the social and economic impact of the disease - citing employee wellbeing as paramount.
Yacht builders are keen to stress that they are “open for business” with client projects are the forefront of daily operations whilst production areas simultaneously focus on working hard to minimise the impact and spread of the virus. Significant investment in digital technology across the yachting building industry has ensured it is well-placed to stay connected, work remotely and maintain excellent client relationships during the pandemic - a smarter way of working in a sector with vast global reach. Industry experts remain quietly confident that once travel restrictions are relaxed and confidence is restored the travel sector may well be busier than ever with chartering, or buying a yacht the ideal to get away from the crowds.
Changes to yacht-building practices:
rotational shifts so that fewer craftsmen work together
safe working measures to keep employees around 2m apart
office workers based in split of office/home shifts
switch from face-to-face meetings with colleagues to virtual meetings
client meetings now conducted on digital platforms
tours of project progress using new apps and software
continued investment in digital technology for great virtual experience
