BBC Chartering has opened a new sales division in Amsterdam that will focus solely on the transport of yachts. With that, the German shipping line has entered into direct competition with Spliethoff Group affiliate Sevenstar, which is also based in Amsterdam.

The new cargo division of the company operates under the name BBC Yacht Transport and has the largest multi-purpose fleet in the world at its disposal.

Through the new office, BBC Chartering aims to expand its position in the yacht transport segment. ‘We have always transported yachts, but in the past we often did so on behalf of third parties including competing shipping lines’, says director Bas Bos in an interview with Project Cargo Journal. ‘As a result, we would only receive a small part of the total freight fare.’

Consistent growth

According to Bos, yacht transport is an attractive market which has shown a constant increase in
total turnover over the past ten years. ‘Even during economic downturns’, he says.

The market consists of charter companies, manufacturers and private owners with the first two creating a constant demand. ‘Depending on the season, charter companies often move their fleets between the Mediterranean
and the Caribbean and manufacturers frequently need their yachts to be delivered to the buyer’, Bos
says. Additionally, professional sailors often use ships to transport their yachts to or form major race events.

Bos notes that the private market is also performing well. ‘Most yacht builders are completely filled until’, he says. The choice for Amsterdam makes sense: the Netherlands is one of the largest (luxury) yacht builders in the world.