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The Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss)
SYBAss, playfully pronounced as ‘seabass’, is a non-profit international trade association, registered in the Principality of Monaco, representing shipyards building custom and semi-custom superyachts. The criteria for these shipbuilders to become member is to be in business for more than 10 years and having successfully delivered 3 yachts over 40 metres in length in the past 10 years. SYBAss is a truly global organization with currently 23 members based in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.

History
SYBAss was founded in 2007 by representatives of Benetti (Italy), Feadship (The Netherlands) and Lürssen (Germany). Monaco, also known as the capital of yachting, was chosen as neutral ground to register the association. The aim was to counteract what its members perceived as neglect of the specific needs of their industry in favour of the international maritime leisure and professional marine industries. Activities of SYBAss were divided over its three main pillars: promotion, regulation and professionalism.

Promotion
One of the main objectives of founding SYBAss was to regain the central position the superyacht builders used to have at the major yacht shows and to facilitate its members in connecting with potential customers. This became visual at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2009 when 12 of its 21 members were clustered at the central T-jetty of the show. This area in the show became dedicated to the new build section of the yacht industry. The following year this cluster was turned into "SYBAss Avenue". Meanwhile another cluster of SYBAss members is initiated on the Quay des Etas-Unis side of the show.

Also at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) members receive support of their association to better connect with and serve their clientele. Special VIP invitations and services were introduced at the 2007 edition of the show to fulfill this wish. Also at this event the objective of SYBAss was to cluster their members in one central area. This resulted in the premium location of the show: the builders' tent. Since the show of 2011, most exhibiting SYBAss members moved to a new outside cluster on the water. In this way the superyacht builders were right where their products are.

At both Monaco and Fort Lauderdale boat shows the concept of "sunset events" was introduced. The first Florida Sunset event took place in 2010 and two years later it reached Monaco. SYBAss members have the opportunity to invite their VIP guests for a special on-invitation-only evening opening of both shows, generating an even more exclusive and yachting like atmosphere.

Three additional events are endorsed by SYBAss: Dubai International Boat Show, Hainan Rendezvous and the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS).

Regulation
The second main objective of founding SYBAss was to gain more grip on regulations developed for the broader maritime industry, of which the superyacht industry is a substantial part. The superyacht builders recognized that their specific interests were not sufficiently represented and therefore not taken into account when new regulations were developed.

IMO
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the the United Nations responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships, has recognized SYBAss as representative of the superyacht building industry. After a period as 'observer' and later with the 'provisional consultative status', SYBAss' active participation in the work of IMO has resulted in permanent 'consultative status'. SYBAss is actively involved in topics such as ship stability (SLF), marine environment protection (MEPC) and onboard crew facilities (MLC). With data provided by member shipyards, SYBAss is able to test potential effects of proposed regulations and provide alternatives to optimize the desired effects of the new regulations.

MCA
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), a UK based agency responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy, is one of the partners SYBAss actively cooperates with to improve the maritime regulatory field and its effects on the superyacht industry. Early 2012 MCA has introduced a new version of the Large Yacht Code (LY3). This is a code of practice for the Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels. Yachts are qualified as commercial when these are used for charter, different safety regulations are then applicable compared to when a yacht would be privately owned. The SYBAss secretariat, supported by input from many SYBAss members, has played a decisive role in this development of the most recent LY3.

ISO
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has a special Technical Committee (TC) 8, Sub Committee (SC) 12, for the development of standards for the large yacht industry. In various working groups standards are being developed for Fire Protection, Deck Equipment, Mechanical Systems and Coatings. Representatives of SYBAss member shipyards are involved in these working groups.

Paris MoU
The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (PMoU) exercises port state control asstipulated by the relevant shipping instruments, covering the waters of the European coastal states and North America. Private yachts are not subject to port state control, commercial yachts are. PMoU proposed to determine whether a yacht is private or commercial the presence or absence of a Loadline certificate. Together with other associations SYBAss has objected to this approach to MCA and PMoU, explaining that it would discourage voluntary loadline compliance by private owners and therefore lead to less safe vessels. Following these protests, the PMoU has reconsidered their guidance foreligibility of yachts to Port State Control. Now the Certificate of Registry is the prime document to determine if a yacht is used private or commercially.

Professionalism
The third main objective of founding SYBAss is to make the superyacht industry more professional and improve the industry structure. This has resulted in multiple projects initiated by SYBAss.

Compensated Gross Tonnage
To prove how substantial the superyacht industry is, SYBAss conducted a study in cooperation with the Delft University of Technology. An accurate Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT), a commonly used factor in the commercial shipbuilding to measure the economic activities of shipyards, has been calculated to make the output of the superyacht building industry comparable to other ship building industries. This CGT factor is still of great value in the lobby activities of SYBAss. This report is publically available on www.sybass.org/fields-of-interest/professionalism.

Convention on Recycling of Ships
Together with Auto Recycling Nederland (ARN), in 2011 SYBAss published a study on the Hong Kong Convention for the ‘safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships’, which would require builders to deliver an Inventory of Hazardous Materials for each of their new to build yachts. This report is publically available on www.sybass.org/fields-of-interest/regulation.

SYBAss Annual Statistics and Economic Reports
Every year SYBAss publishes its statistical and economic reports for members only. The statistical report contains information provided by the members as well as by Boat International Media on the global superyacht production numbers, the geographical distribution of superyacht ownership and the pre-owned yacht market. The report provides members an accurate impression on their industry. The economic report is developed in conjunction with the Boston Consulting Group and provides members with the status of the world economy, the position of the Ultra High Networth Individuals, and how this would affect the potential demand for superyachts in the future. With these two reports SYBAss facilitates its members to be up-to-date on both the industry and their clientele to better make strategic decisions.