Technical

Döhle Yachts work with the owner’s team, designers and shipyards to help ensure that a client’s vision is not lost during the design phase of the project, whilst achieving compliance with international regulations.  We have experience with building yachts all over the world, as well as working with yachts from every major shipyard; expertise we can feed back into new projects.

ADVICE ON REGULATORY AFFAIRS, REGISTRATION AND OPERATIONS

The regulatory framework, including the flag, registration type and classification society, must all be matched to meet the owner’s needs, use, and company structure. These all vary depending on the owner’s wish to have the vessel available for charter or to register it commercially for financial implications.

OPERATIONAL SAFETY AND FEASIBILITY

From the thousands of risk assessments received by our compliance team running International Safety Management (ISM) systems on board our fleet, we can identify where vessels can be designed better.  This can range from the protection of crew, to the flow of guest services, to freeing up crew to better service the owner and guests whilst on board, thus ensuring that solutions work for the vessel as an operational platform and not just an aesthetic one.

ENGAGEMENT WITH CLASS AND FLAG ON SPECIALIST DESIGN FEATURES

Through the varying yacht code equivalence procedures such as the REG Yacht Code or the SOLAS ‘Alternative Design and Arrangements’, we have a track record of gaining approval for designs that are outside of the prescriptive regulations.  This allows for the best design or engineering solution to be taken advantage of to provide a truly unique vessel to the owner.

Our offices are located within a short drive of the head offices of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry, the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Lloyds Register, as well as regional offices of DNV-GL and RINA, all of whom we have excellent working relationships with.  With each project and indeed feature being different, we can help you to manage the successful approval of these types of equivalences where the prescriptive regulations are not strictly met.

We work with clients to help develop their concept during the pre-project phase to provide best practice and smart solutions to meet the owner’s ultimate vision.

We work in cooperation with the designers, shipyards, class and flag to turn the owner’s vision into reality, whilst ensuring the finished yacht complies with the prescriptive requirements of the various regulations and statutory codes.

We have experience in the development of technical specifications and have considerable practical knowledge to assist in the development and agreement of this vital aspect of the tendering and building process, ensuring the yacht is capable of operating as the owner requires.

Once construction begins, we can dovetail our pre-project work into the build. Whether this is overseeing the plan approval and inspection work or simply fitting in with your team to offer best practice, guidance and support.

We can also take on specific aspects of the build or projects, as well as the management and control of change orders.

On delivery, we work to ensure that all as-built drawings, test protocols and documentation are identified and provided to ensure a smooth handover to the operating team.

If required, we can also provide full after-delivery warranty management to ensure a successful outcome to warranty claims with minimal disruption to the new yacht’s operation.

A refit or major maintenance period can be an expensive and time-consuming venture.

Döhle Yacht’s technical team can support the owner and crew with the initial planning, through the project and with after-project warranty management.

Our extensive experience in refit and major maintenance periods has taught us that, unless carefully planned and managed, the time and funds invested in a refit/major maintenance period frequently do not produce the results, or value for money, the owner hoped for.

To ensure a positive result, Döhle Yacht’s team take a structured approach to planning and managing a refit/major maintenance project using their market knowledge and first-hand experience to guide the owner’s team in both the scope of work and who is most suited to undertake it.

We liaise with shipyards, sub-contractors, class societies, flag administrations and specialists throughout the project to identify and manage risks, avoid costs escalating and achieve on time redelivery of the yacht for the owner.

After redelivery we can manage warranty claims to achieve a successful outcome for the owner and the repair of the warranty defect, whilst minimising any possible disruption to the yacht’s schedule.

Our team of experienced technical yacht managers provide effective and knowledgeable support to the owner’s team and crew during normal operation, when there is a problem and during major maintenance periods.

Whether it is providing assistance to solve a stand-alone technical problem, assessing an equipment upgrade, ordering a spare part or dealing with an incident, we are available to assist with our technical expertise, knowledge and experience.

Our team have many years’ experience working worldwide with all sizes of yachts and with all types of technical support, including incident support.  We understand what is required to effectively assist an operational yacht and her owners.

Our aim is to use this experience to maximise a yacht’s availability whilst minimising costs and preserving the value of the yacht asset.

Döhle Yachts is able to help with any aspect of the design, build or operation of the vessel, whether practical or regulatory.  Unlike most consultants, we have the advantage of drawing from our experience of the full life cycle of yachts through our various offered services.

We can work on standalone projects and support the existing onboard and shore-based team for a discreet project, operation, refit or task.  Additionally, our team of naval architects, chief engineers and project managers are able to provide services for vessels in operation during design, build or refit.

Our consultancy services are available to anyone, even those not currently contracted with Döhle Yachts for any other services.  This enables everyone to take advantage of the industry experience Döhle Yachts has to offer.

The ongoing maintenance and upkeep of a yacht requires substantial investment, particularly during the five-yearly statutory service period.

Our experience is that owners often have many questions on where and when it is best to invest funds, such as:

• How long should my paintwork last and should I pay for a repaint now or later?
• Are the upgrades being proposed really needed and how will this investment effect the yacht’s value?
• Should I invest in all of the maintenance period worklist presented or only parts of it?
• How often should my yacht be in a shipyard or under survey and how can I avoid these periods conflicting with my cruising plans?

In order to address these questions and ensure the yacht’s maintenance is funded in a planned and controlled manner, Döhle Yachts can provide an outline five-year maintenance plan and budget. In addition, we can review the proposed maintenance worklist for each maintenance period and provide comments and options to the owner and crew on the proposed works.

This approach provides a clear view of a five-year period of the yacht’s availability, outlines maintenance costs and clarifies the major investments required to ensure the yacht remains operational and in compliance with all regulations.

The team at Döhle Yachts are specialists in the sector and recognised as such through their continued contributions to industry events as speakers, panellists and hosts, contributing to varying online and print publications and providing trainers for industry body training courses.

Döhle Yachts and its senior team are members of the following groups and organisations:

• Chairman – International Standards Organisation (ISO) Large Yacht Sub-Committee
• Co-Chairman – International Superyacht Society Technical Committee
• Member (Ex-Chairman) – Red Ensign Group Yacht Code Working Group
• Member – Cayman Islands Shipowners’ Advisory Council and Yacht Committee
• Member – Isle of Man Superyacht Forum
• Member – Isle of Man Maritime
• Member – Marshall Islands Advisory Committee
• Member – Superyacht UK Technical Committee

Döhle Yachts has provided expert witness reports in the design and operation of large yachts, as well as providing advice to legal counsel in disputes.

• A service provided by Döhle Yachts to improve the environmental efficiency of operational and new build yachts.
• Reducing a yacht’s impact on the environment by improving the physical, legislative, and operational environmental efficiency.

Do you need it?

• Mankind’s impact on the environment is becoming more and more of a concern for both the public and our governments.
• Worldwide governments, corporations and individuals are making changes to reduce their impact on the environment, both due to legislation and public sentiment.
• It is becoming socially and legislatively unacceptable not to consider the environment in our activities.
• The yachting industry can reduce its impact on the environment by proactively becoming more environmentally efficient before public opinion and legislation forces us to!
• Therefore, we believe yachting DOES need to become environmentally efficient.

What are the benefits?

• The yacht will reduce its impact on the environment by improving environmentally efficiency.
• It can increase the resale value of the yacht. As the environmental impact of yachts becomes more of a focus, it is likely that environmentally efficient yachts will be at a premium to ‘normal’ yachts at resale.
• It will likely improve the yacht’s attraction to charterers, to whom reducing the impact of their activities on the environment is becoming more of a factor in their purchase decisions.
• There can be reductions in the cost of operation (reduced maintenance costs through condition-based maintenance, rather than pre-planned maintenance). Operational changes can result in a reduced cost of operation.
• Reduction in the risk of negative publicity, as the yacht will be certificated as having taken proactive steps to reduce the impact it has on the environment and can carry independent certification to prove this.
• Reduce the risk of future restrictions on the yacht’s ability to cruise in current or future ‘Special Areas’ (environmentally sensitive areas, special marine areas etc.).

How do I get it?

• Contact subject specialist, Piers Flood, via info@dohle-yachts.com