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Dockwise Yacht Transport Rings in New Year with New Destinations

Dockwise Yacht Transport (DYT), the world's only float-on/float-off yacht transport service, is ringing in the 2007 New Year with two new ports of call: Stockholm, Sweden and Freeport, Bahamas. The destinations embellish the Ft. Lauderdale-based shipping company's many route offerings on its regular liner service to and within Europe and to the Caribbean. (The company also services the Pacific West Coast of North America and the South Pacific.)

"Since DYT is the only shipping company devoted exclusively to the maritime transport of luxury yachts, we constantly study the migration habits of both power and sailing yachts of all sizes," said DYT President Clemens van der Werf. "With the Stockholm stopover added in August to our regular stops in Marmaris (Turkey) and Palma de Mallorca (Spain), owners and captains can go back and forth between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, which especially enhances cruising options. Freeport supplements our Caribbean routes for boating enthusiasts who go south for the winter. It will be a direct DYT destination from Newport, Rhode Island, at the end of October, making it convenient to get to Florida and the Bahamas for the winter."

Van der Werf added that although some yachts are able and willing to make such trips on their own keels, many do not have the range to reach the world's most inviting cruising areas and international playgrounds. Others, especially charter yachts, simply cannot risk being delayed on their point-to-point passages by adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances. The added benefit is less wear and tear on engines, equipment and crews, who also can take much-needed work breaks once their yachts are safely tucked away for passage aboard a DYT ship.

DYT also has important advantages when compared to other shipping options. "It's like catching a train," said Van der Werf. "The DYT schedule is dependable, as opposed to shipping with other carriers that can be delayed in their departure for various reasons. The float-on/float-off loading process is safe and more convenient than lifting a yacht with a crane to get it aboard a carrier, and there is no limitation on the weight of the yacht being transported."

DYT operates a fleet of four dedicated semi-submersible yacht carriers, originally designed for shipping heavy structures for the oil and gas industry, including drilling platforms and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea. Modified to specifically transport luxury yachts, the vessels become "floating marinas" when they submerge to a draft required for loading their yacht cargo. The yacht floats onto the ship, and with the support of divers customized supports are placed under it. The ship rises out of the water again, basically dry docking all the yachts individually. Seafastenings are secured and the ship is on its way to a new destination where the process is reversed for offloading.

"It's an amazing process," says Captain Phil Alloway, who has trusted his command -- the136-foot custom motor yacht Adler and its predecessor of the same name -- to over 35 voyages with DYT. "It flows well, and the possibility of anything happening to the detriment of the yacht is greatly reduced." Alloway has worked 14 years for the owner of Adler and as many with the DYT staff and crew, who provide personalized service every step of the way, from planning to delivery.

In 2007, DYT will start operating the world's first purpose-built semi-submersible yacht carrier. The new yacht carrier, named Yacht Express, is scheduled for delivery in May, in Yantai, China. At 685.7 feet (209 meters), it will be the largest vessel of its kind in the world, providing boat owners with fastest-ever delivery of their luxury power and sailing yachts across the Atlantic Ocean.

Since its maiden voyage in 1987, DYT has transported over 8,000 motor and sailing yachts to various destinations around the globe, offering owners and charterers safe and easy access to many of the world’s premier cruising grounds. Dockwise Yacht Transport is specialized in the maritime transports of luxury (mega) yachts and is a group company of Dockwise Transport B.V., the global leader in maritime transports of extremely large and heavy cargos. DYT is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and with a fleet of four dedicated yacht carriers is the world's leading provider of yacht transportation on a regular liner service.

For more information please contact:
Dockwise Yacht Transport
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Catalina Bujor (PR/Marketing Officer)
Telephone: +1 954-525-8707
E-mail: pr@dockwise-yt.com

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Yacht transportation by Dockwise makes sense – image.