SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY RALLIES BEHIND
SEAKEEPERS SOCIETY

Responding to their own concern, in part fueled by the enormous amount of recent media attention around the issues of global warming, collapsing fisheries and deteriorating marine health, members of the yachting industry are rallying in support of the programs and overall mission of the International SeaKeepers Society.


In 2006 six prominent yacht builders – Feadship, Christensen, Benetti, Lürssen, Trinity, Delta – joined Oceanco as official yacht partners in the Society. Oceanco pioneered the yacht partnership program by agreeing in 2005 to install SeaKeeper 1000® ocean monitors on every new launch. Besides providing critical financial support, the Yacht Partner program gives the Society important access to potential new private members. The program also provides both the organization and its partners the ability to create small, effective marketing opportunities where SeaKeeper members can meet with their peers, typically aboard the new vessels launched from Yacht Partner shipyards. As part of its SeaKeepers partnership, Feadship has also agreed to design the Society’s exciting new SeaKiosk (see concept drawing and description, page 3). Likewise, Benetti has broadened its basic support by inviting SeaKeepers to its annual yacht captain’s seminar and to contribute a major article about the important work of the organization in its glossy in-house magazine.

“This is a win-win-win for everyone,” said Don Tomlin, SeaKeepers Chairman. “As members we get to meet new yacht owners, which is always a great personal pleasure. As an organization we get to share our message and meet potential donors to support our important work. For our partners, this program provides an opportunity to show their concern for the declining condition of the sea while at the same time developing the long-term relationships critical to success in the superyacht industry.”

SeaKeepers has long enjoyed a close relationship with ShowBoats International magazine, now owned by CurtCo Media. ShowBoats and SeaKeepers continue this successful partnership through the annual Bal de la Mer charity gala, held each June in Monaco under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II during the ShowBoats Rendezvous. As part of its broader outreach to the yachting community, SeaKeepers has been invited by Boat International magazine to help nominate and judge potential honorees for its annual environmental award presented at the World Superyacht Awards.

In addition, other magazines including SeaSpray Australia and SeaSpray New Zealand, have agreed to write regular columns from material provided by SeaKeepers to keep their readers informed about marine-related environmental issues.

At the invitation of YachtVision 2008, SeaKeepers is discussing participation with the organizers of this exciting, well-attended program held every three years in New Zealand, to help educate the industry about core environmental issues of particular concern to the yachting community.

The antipodean connection with the superyacht industry continues in Australia, where principals of SuperYacht Base Australia are actively working with SeaKeepers to develop stronger ties with local scientists and government agencies that hopefully will lead to important new monitoring programs in Australian waters using SeaKeeper 1000 systems.

“We're a small organization with strong connections to a global industry,” said Jim Gilbert, Board President. “That means we have a unique opportunity to increase mankind’s understanding of critical ocean issues, and thus make significant contributions to the enormous challenge of healing our planet and oceans. As a small Society, it also means we can’t live up to our enormous potential without the help of our friends and associates who share our concern for the plight of the seas.”

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