on 24 Apr 2023
The Southeast Asia Yachting Conference will feature panels discussing the future of yachting and superyacht tourism in the region
Organisers of the Singapore Yachting Festival have announced the programme and speaker list for the upcoming Southeast Asia Yachting Conference, being held on April 26 at ONE 15 Marina, Singapore. The Singapore Yachting Festival starts April 27 and runs until April 30 at ONE 15 Marina.
The conference comes as Covid-19 restrictions have come to an end across the Asia-Pacific, and international travel is reaching pre-Covid levels.
ICOMIA President Darren Vaux will be the keynote speaker. Vaux became president of ICOMIA in December 2022 and has been the Australian delegate to ICOMIA since 2011. He owns and operates Empire Marinas Group, with locations in Sydney and Lake Macquarie, Australia. ONE 15 Marina Chairman Arthur Tay will welcome the delegates to the day long proceedings and Wicky Sundram, a well-known veteran of the Asian yachting industry, will be MC.
The morning session focuses on Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, with experts discussing immigration policies and procedures, cruising regulations, marinas, marine infrastructure, shipyards and refit facilities, yachting events, conferences, festivals, and regattas.
The speakers for the morning session are (from top left): Ditapong Thitadilok, Scott Finsten, Alvin Teh, Kent Tan, Sazli Kamal Basha, Prakash Reddy
The speaker line up for this session includes: Ditapong Thitadilok of the Thai Yachting Business Association; Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Jomtien; Alvin Teh Wei Loong, Association Of Marine Industry Malaysia (AMIM); Sazli Kamal Basha, Cruise Marine Tourism Association of Malaysia and Sail Malaysia Rally; Prakash Reddy, Marina Manager, Nongsa Point Marina; Kent Tan, GM of Catalano Shipping Services Singapore; and Ruurd van Putten of Marinetek.
Read: Superyacht visits to Singapore low due to sanctions
The afternoon sessions will feature four, moderator-led panel discussions focusing on four topics: Superyachts, Charter, Yacht Management, and Technology.
Superyacht Panel
YH Fang, Yachting Singapore
Capt Goh Thye Hock, Superyacht Captain
Capt Andrew Meyer, Superyacht Captain
Moderator: Ewa Stachurska, Simpson Marine
Charter Panel
Benjamin Tabuteau, ASIAMARINE
Kirsten Ringing,YACHTZOO
Julian Chang, Burgess and International SeaKeepers Society
Quek Wee Teck, Association of Boating Charters Singapore
Moderator: Wicky Sundram
Yacht Management Panel
Hilda Loe, Maritime Cook Islands
Nazimi Topcuoglu
Capt Clive Parton, Galileo Maritime Academy
Nazimi Topcuoglu, Fema Marine
Moderator: Colin Dawson, Howden/The George Group
Technology Panel
Joerg Kalisch, Dexmarine
Chris Thompson
Moderator: Darren Vaux
The Singapore Yachting Festival will be the first major boat show in Singapore since the Singapore Yacht Show was held in April 2019.
To register for the Southeast Asia Yachting Conference and/or the Singapore Yachting Festival, please go to the ticketing link at: https://singaporeyachtingfestival.com/visitor-registration/