August 01, 2008
Press Releases San Diego CAChinese Ship-Builder Tours San Diego Megayacht Facilities
Chinese Ship-Builder Tours San Diego Megayacht Facilities Visit to Strengthen Relationship Between San Diego and Wuhan, China
(SAN DIEGO, Aug. 1, 2008) – A major Chinese ship-builder was hosted recently by leaders of the San Diego Superyacht Association, with the goal of strengthening the bond between San Diego and the burgeoning yacht industry in China.
“We were honored to welcome our Chinese counterparts to San Diego,” said Paul Daubner, President of the San Diego Superyacht Association (SDSA), a coalition of San Diego yacht repair/refit firms, brokerages, marinas and related companies. “This is the first step toward creating an on-going exchange of business ideas and projects between our two cities.”
Ted Wang, CEO Wuhan Nanhua High-speed Ship Engineering Co., Ltd., was the featured guest, along with five of his top executives. Mr. Wang’s firm, which ranks among China’s largest ship-builders, is also an emerging leader in that country’s luxury yacht-building industry. In addition, Mr. Wang is owner/operator of a yacht club and marina in the Central China city of Wuhan.
During his visit, Mr. Wang toured three prominent yacht repair/refit firms: Knight & Carver YachtCenter in National City, Marine Group Boat Works in Chula Vista and Driscoll Boat Works on Shelter Island. He also toured two private, full-service megayacht marinas located on San Diego Bay – Island Palms Marina and Kona Kai Marina – as well as two leading marine supply outlets, San Diego Marine Exchange and West Marine.
“Mr. Wang made it clear that China intends to be very active in serving the international yachting market,” said Daubner, a San Diego-based broker with Fraser Yachts Worldwide. “For example, there are nearly 60 new first-class, mega-yacht marinas under construction in China right now, with many more to come.”
Located on the Yangtze River, the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan has a population of more than nine million and is regarded as the financial, cultural and recreational center of central China. The city’s history dates back more than 3,500 years.
About the San Diego Superyacht Association:
Founded in 2008, SDSA is a non-profit coalition that promotes San Diego as the premiere yachting destination for the West Coast of the U.S. The group’s 16 founding firms include representatives from yacht brokerages, yacht-repair firms, marinas and other leading yacht-industry entities.
Contact:
Paul Daubner, San Diego Superyacht Association
(619) 225-0588 ◦ paul.daubner@fraseryachts.com
