Safe Harbor Marinas, the world’s largest owner and operator of marinas, has added Savannah Yacht Center to its fold. The shipyard has the largest-capacity superyacht-specific graving dock, shiplift, and rail system in the United States.
In the city of Savannah, Georgia, Savannah Yacht Center has been catering to the world’s largest megayachts for seven years. It is on the site of a long-standing commercial shipyard that originated in 1946. Among the large-yacht amenities, the facility has a 3,240-ton shiplift. This makes it the only stateside superyacht-specific shipyard capable of catering to multiple yachts exceeding 197 feet (60 meters) simultaneously. Additionally, it is the only U.S. East Coast-based refit yard capable of handling yachts up to 459 feet (140 meters).
Besides the shiplift, Savannah Yacht Center has more than 1,200 feet (366 meters) of floating docks for in-water service. In fact, those floating docks can accommodate eight 262-footers (80-meters) simultaneously. The shipyard further has a dry dock measuring nearly 460 feet long (140 meters). It can service not just some of the largest power yachts in the world, but also sailing superyachts, given the 24-foot (7.32-meter) draft in the dry dock. Finally, Savannah Yacht Center is an active Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ). This special designation means customs duties are either lower or eliminated for work performed on site, and yachts offered for sale while berthed there are duty-exempt, too.
“The world’s largest vessels have historically been forced to cross the Atlantic for certain services,” notes Baxter Underwood, Safe Harbor Marinas’ CEO. “This facility allows us to serve them with excellence here in the United States and inside the Safe Harbor network.”
The family-run private company Colonial Group sold the shipyard to Safe Harbor Marinas. “While it was a great experience building this business, I did not believe we were best positioned to allow it to reach its full potential,” explains Christian Demere, its president and CEO. “I am confident that it will reach new heights as part of Safe Harbor Marinas.”
Savannah Yacht Center savannahyc.com
Grant I. Robinson
Its good to see the develop further and have support of an international organization. I’m proud to see the 4yrs I was the naval architect/engineer in development of the yard along with a great team, lead by Jim Burelis.
Grant Robinson NA.