Joe – Manta Maritime

Head Office expansion supports growth

Joe — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 15:48:00 +0000

As Manta’s team continues to grow so too must our office space! We’ve recently completed an extensive refurbishment of our head office at historic Botley Mills.

Nestling along the River Hamble, Manta Maritime’s picturesque home is in the Grade II-listed former flour mill. Built in 1750, incredibly the milling tradition has been evident on this site hundreds of years earlier, and is even mentioned in The Doomsday Book.

Perhaps it’s not surprising therefore, that modernising our office space around such notable industrial heritage took a considered approach. However, we are spectacularly proud of the results and now have a larger workspace which, whilst contemporary, is sensitive to its historic surroundings.

Owners representative for a 47m yacht new build

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:03:35 +0000

We were approached by a large and well known maritime law firm who recommended our services to a client that was about to sign a contract for a 47metre composite yacht to be built in Turkey.

This was the first new yacht for the client, and only the second yacht that the yard had built, so we were involved from the specification review all the way through to delivery and arranging its registration.

We advised the owners on technical matters, negotiated change orders, monitored quality, and assisted with the selection and purchasing of owner-supplied items including tenders. We also provided counsel on regulatory matters.

We tailor our services for each client and project, and in this instance we visited the yard on average twice a month during the bulk of the construction period, and then full time for the last month – this provided the best combination of input and outlay for the client.

The yacht is owner-managed, but Manta supplies the yacht’s Mini ISM documentation and provides ad-hoc advice to the owners and crew. We also support the family’s other yachts in a similar capacity.

Facilitating the provision of a loading computer

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:03:08 +0000

A relatively common issue for yachts when they are first delivered is an inability to fill their fuel oil, lube oil and fresh water tanks whilst remaining compliant with the relevant stability criteria. This is especially the case with semi-production yachts, where an owner has added additional weight via change orders that must be mitigated by a reduction in the overall deadweight.

In one such instance we recommended to a client that they install loading and stability software to help ensure that the yacht wasn’t overloaded or the stability compromised. We researched and recommended the most appropriate option and then oversaw the installation of the software and relevant hardware.

Whilst loading computers are increasingly common on very large yachts we also see that they can be used to great effect on many other class of yachts, especially as the cost is so low.

Manta’s 10 Year Anniversary

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 14:50:17 +0000

In celebration of Manta Maritime’s 10 year anniversary directors Anthony Gradwell and Ken Appleby held a fabulous party at Heston Blumenthal’s world renowned Fat Duck restaurant. Whilst Heston wasn’t there in person, he was very much present in each of the 16 courses of molecular gastronomy. Highlights included cocktails prepared in liquid nitrogen, hot and cold rabbit tea, and after-dinner treats dispensed from a £150,000 model sweetshop.

Since its humble beginning in March 2006, Manta has diversified from solely providing maritime regulatory advice to the large yachting industry, to a full range of management and consulting services including surveying, new-building supervision, and the full management of large yachts and passenger ships.

Current non-management projects include providing technical superintendency services to a 134m passenger yacht, and new-build support to a 116m passenger yacht.

I am very proud of what Manta has achieved and how we’ve developed over the first 10 years, but now the real work begins – building our fleet of managed yachts, and expanding our products and services. Here’s to another 10 years of challenges and growth!
Anthony Gradwell (Managing Director)

Performing Port State control pre-inspections on motor and sailing yachts

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:02:40 +0000

In January 2011 the Paris Memorandum on Port State Control (the body that regulates port State inspections in European coastal waters and the North Atlantic basin) introduced the New Inspection Regime. Under the NIR the Paris MoU member States took a joint responsibility to inspect all eligible vessels, including all commercial yachts over 24metre in length, rather than just the older merchant vessels.

In response to this legislation, Manta introduced its Port State Control pre-inspection service to help prepare yacht owners, operators and crews for real inspection.

These popular mock inspections have provided invaluable training to numerous crews, helping them to prepare for the real thing – but in a safe environment. As former PSC officers ourselves we aim to make these sessions as realistic as possible – but not at the expense of being friendly to the crew! Whilst not always a pleasant exercise, we more often than not find at least one detainable deficiency, which can then be put right with no consequences before a real PSC inspection.

Management of 107m explorer yacht

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:00:20 +0000

We provide full management, including ISM and ISPS services, to a novel azipod-driven passenger yacht recently built in Norway for a very experienced yacht-owner.

This long-standing client specifically approached Manta as they required a more personable and ‘boutique-style’ service, which they felt they wouldn’t receive from a larger yacht management company.

In addition to the services commonly included in full management, we were also integral in addressing various technical pre- and post-delivery technical issues, providing advice to the client’s site and operations team.

Technical management of 130m diesel-electric motor yacht

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:00:50 +0000

Manta was directly approached for technical support by the owner of a very large passenger yacht, having been recommended by the team overseeing the build.

With an exceptionally complex vessel which required significant shore-based assistance for maintenance and repairs, the owner wanted first-hand assurance that a technically strong individual would be readily available to assist with this.

We were able to demonstrate this and our expert was quickly on hand to organise spare parts, repairs, modifications and refits, as well as managing insurance claims and advising on the technical aspects of various legal matters – all to the owner’s satisfaction.

Ken Appleby appointed as DPA

Joe — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 14:51:14 +0000

We are delighted to announce that Ken Appleby has joined Manta as Designated Person Ashore and Company Security Officer.

Ken brings with him many years experience in the yachting sector having worked with owners, builders and designers on countless diverse projects.

I am delighted to have already contributed to the development of our safety management documentation and to have been awarded our Document of Compliance for yachts and passenger ships from the Cayman Registry, said Ken.
… and I look forward to leading the yacht management arm of Manta where I will work closely with captains and crews to ensure that our yachts are operated to the highest levels of safety.

Before joining Manta, Ken worked for the Cayman Registry, helping to establish it as the largest superyacht registry. He was at the forefront of the introduction of both the MCA and PYC Codes and, in recent years, was involved with the design and construction of the world’s largest yachts.