Essential Information on Transporting a Luxury Yacht
Couple Ships 45ft Catamaran to Europe, Avoiding Cape of Good Hope and Conflict Zones
Terysa Vanderloo and her partner Nick made the decision to ship their 45ft Seawind catamaran to Europe in August 2023, choosing the shipping company Sevenstar for the task.
The preparation for shipping involved several tasks, including stowing away and securing everything, shutting down the boat, and protecting exterior surfaces from saltwater and dirt. Specific tasks included removing headsails, securing the dinghy with drain plug removed, and stowing all loose items inside and outside the boat.
Two weeks were spent preparing the boat for shipping, similar to getting ready for a long voyage and leaving the boat unattended for six weeks. The boat was then craned onto the cargo ship, and once secure, the ship's crew took over with the handling of the boat. It is advisable not to book onward travel until the boat is actually loaded onto the ship due to unforeseen and unavoidable delays in shipping schedules.
Upon unloading, the boat was caked in salt and dirt, requiring a good few days to clean every exposed inch. The boat also experienced rust damage, particularly on the underside of the hull and the back of the boat, which required chemical removal. The boat's owners are now in the process of resolving the rust damage with the shipping company.
Shipping their catamaran had several advantages, including avoiding significant wear and tear, avoiding the need to fit out the boat for ocean crossings, and potentially avoiding breakages. The costs of shipping their catamaran range from $100,000 to Sydney, $85,000 to North America (west coast), and $93,000 to Europe, with a 20% increase for routing around the Cape of Good Hope.
Initially, the couple had planned to sail their catamaran to Europe but had to abandon this plan due to the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. They considered sailing around the Cape of Good Hope as an alternative, but decided against it due to the lengthy journey and specific passage requirements.
A 45ft catamaran is usually over the length of a standard 40ft container but cannot fit inside one container without special arrangements; often, yachts this size are shipped on flat racks or specialized yacht transport vessels, which can be priced similarly or slightly higher. Shipping prices fluctuate with market demand, fuel costs, and seasonal capacity adjustments; rates reported rose about 14% recently but still remain below last year's peak.
For a ballpark figure, expect to pay in the range of $3,500 to $5,000 or more depending on exact shipping method, whether it’s a container flat rack, yacht carrier, and the ports involved. Additional costs may come from handling, customs, insurance, and transport to/from ports. The typical cost to ship a 45ft catamaran from Asia to Europe by container shipping is approximately $3,300 to $4,000 per Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU), though rates can vary depending on demand, season, and shipping conditions.
Terysa Vanderloo and Nick, having given up their initial plans to sail their catamaran due to the Middle East conflict and the lengthy journey around the Cape of Good Hope, opted for shipping it instead as a more feasible lifestyle choice for their travel. Now that their catamaran is back from Europe, they're engaging in sports activities during their leisure time, as the ship's journey allowed them to avoid significant wear and tear, which otherwise could have occupied their time with maintenance.
