Handle with Care! Peters & May exclusively ships yachts. A customer profile

When the final race weekend of the 2019 Formula One season begins in Abu Dhabi at the end of November, racing enthusiasts won’t be the only ones gathering there. The rich and the beautiful will also be convening in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which is located right on the Persian Gulf. While fans of more modest means will have to content themselves with a spot along the race circuit, the best views will be reserved for those who can watch the spectacle from their yachts in the Yas Marina.

“For us, the time before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is always very labour-intensive,” says Jack McCarthy, Operations Manager at the Peters & May office in Dubai. The global company specialises in the transport of yachts, shipping some 4,000 of them around the world each year. No yacht is too large for them: The biggest superyacht has been 65 metres long, and the heaviest weighed in at a whopping 1,000-plus tonnes.

“Yachts represent a special challenge in shipping – simply because they’re so valuable,” the 28-year-old continues. “One boat costs between several hundred thousand and several million US dollars.” More than anything, it is important to have sufficient lead time and on-site expertise: In addition to precisely planning the loading of the boat from the water onto the ship as well as its positioning and fastening once there, the cranes in the terminal have been checked. If the crane there cannot handle the boat’s weight, a floating crane must be ordered. “We pride ourselves on the safe delivery of yachts,” McCarthy continues. “So, we especially fly our loadmasters in from all round the world to load and discharge them.” On top of that, divers are needed to ensure that the slings are in the correct position to guarantee a safe lift. Surveyors are also present to monitor the entire process as an independent party. And it’s also important to have trained personnel on board who can professionally moor the boats.

At Peters & May, McCarthy is responsible for pricing, booking and executing shipments. “My goal, of course, is to always find the best value for the money, especially during the high seasons,” he says. Hapag-Lloyd is not the most important shipping company for Peters & May, he adds, saying: “Other container liner shipping companies simply have more experience with our transports.”