Port Authority today coordinated an on-water operation to load a number of luxury yachts onto a special purpose built semi-submersible ship bound for New York.
The cargo ship called Yacht Express came from Brisbane to pick up the yachts from Sydney and will now take the vessels to their new owners in New York via Hong Kong.
The cargo ship works by submerging into a ‘floating marina’ that allows for easy loading of the yachts. When all yachts are moored in their reserved position, the yacht carrier rises back above the waterline.
This unique operation takes months of preparation and involves the coordinated efforts of many marine services starting with a Harbour Master's Instruction that outline conditions of entry and placement of vessel within the harbour.
Operations today began with the Port Authority Pilot boarding the cargo ship at the Pilot Boarding Ground, 4 nautical miles east of Hornby Lighthouse at Watsons Bay, and safely navigating the vessel onto Point Piper Buoy.
Once moored, inspections occurred every two hours to ensure the mooring configuration remained safe. It took a total of 30 hours for the entire operation to be complete.