Auckland-based Orams Marine has had one of its refit projects nominated for a World Superyacht Award in the refit category. The awards are organised by Boat International to recognise the design, engineering and construction achievements of the global superyacht sector the past 12 months.
Orams Marine was included in the nomination for the work it carried out on the 45-metre yacht Latitude which underwent an extensive refit at the yard. The work included a full repaint, engineering work and major structural alterations.
Prior to the refit, which was completed in 184 days, Orams Marine’s Craig Park flew to Copenhagen to meet with the captain.
“The captain, Sean Meagher, explained to me the plan for a modernised, more usable flybridge area. After a series of preliminary onsite sketches, the concept was sent to a naval architect who turned that sketch into construction drawings. Once the yacht arrived in New Zealand, our project managers and tradesmen turned Captain Meagher’s vision into an entirely new space on the vessel,” said Park.
The work involved removing the interior of the flybridge so that the structure and joinery could be remodelled and a new bar and jacuzzi added. The structure was rebuilt in composite which reduced the weight of the upper deck of the yacht and future-proofed the additional structure against corrosion.
The refit also saw the two main engines rebuilt, two complete generator replacements, shaft seal and bearing replacements, hydraulic system overhaul, bow thruster overhaul and watermaker overhaul as well as other projects.
This is the second time that the New Zealand yard has been nominated for a World Superyacht Award. In 2010, it was a finalist in the awards for its work on a refit of the 44 metre Shenandoah of Sark.
The winners of the 2018 awards will be announced in May at a ceremony in Florence, Italy.