Cape Town’s dynamic boatbuilders on show in Miami

Cape Town’s boat builders are making waves at this year the Miami International Boat Show with a large contingent representing South Africa at one of the world’s leading boating exhibitions.

The city’s boat building known the world over for their excellent craftsmanship and innovative designs. South Africa, of which Cape Town is the largest boatbuilding city, is the second largest producer of recreational catamarans, after France.

Some key facts:

• Cape Town’s boat building industry grew by 28.8% annually year on year since 2012.
• The city exports 90% of product produced and attracts a positive trade balance of around US$73m annually.
• The 40 plus boatyards and 3500 specialist staff produce global award-winning super-yachts.
• Cape Town has boutique boatbuilders who will custom build your boat with world-class artisanal craftsmanship.

Built at the tip of Africa, the Cape of Storms, Cape Town’s boats are made for all sailing conditions.

Our manufacturers are easy to deal with as one-stop-shops and help their clients get the maximum return on investment.

South Africa’s marine manufacturing industry is primarily based in Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. Cape Town and the Western Cape make up the most significant boat building centre, generating over R1 billion in 2014 in export revenue.

The city is home to 70% of South Africa’s boat builders. Other smaller towns, like Knysna, George and Saldanha, also contributes to the province’s dynamic boat building community.

This year you can see five of the top boatbuilders from South Africa at the Miami International Boat Show. Companies like Phoenix / Xquisite, Royal Cape Catamarans, St Francis Catamarans, Knysna Yacht Company and Robertson & Caine are all on Pier 9 at the Miami Marine Stadium.

Invest Cape Town

Invest Cape Town partnered with the South African Embassy and the South African Boatbuilders Export Council (SABBEX) to showcase some of the best manufacturing from Cape Town and South Africa on a water float.

The City of Cape Town’s Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, says Cape Town’s boatbuilding industry is strategic to the city’s economy as a sector that attracts a positive trade balance and creates thousands of jobs.

“We encourage all festival goers to meet our Invest Cape Town team. They work with local entrepreneurs, SMEs and multinationals to facilitate investment into Cape Town.

The 2019 Miami show showcases more than 1400 boats and 1100 exhibitors, welcoming  100 000 visitors.

So what makes Cape Town’s boatbuilders different?

If you ask Clinton Johns from Phoenix Marine or Mark Delany from Two Oceans Marine they will both agree with “boatbuilding and navigating the seas are part of Capetonians’ DNA”.

The country has 3000km of coastline, and since 2014 South Africa has secured investments worth R30 billion and created over 7000 direct jobs in the oceans economy.

The investments have been mainly in infrastructure development, marine manufacturing, aquaculture, and the oil and gas sector.

It is expected investment in the Oceans Economy over the next five years is estimated at R3,8 billion by the government and R65 billion by the private sector.

These investments are expected to create over 100,000 direct jobs and more than 250,000 indirect jobs.

A steady pipeline of skilled labour

Cape Town has a steady stream of young qualified artisans entering the boat building industry. Training colleges work hand-in-hand with the industry to offer a three-year, full-time course, with six months of each year provided at the academy and the following six months spent in the industry for industrial experience or work placement.

Students learn a wide range of disciplines including design, marine joinery, fibreglass or polymer composite fabrication, metalwork and welding, marine systems, computer-aided drawing (AutoCAD), and boat building standards.

Phil Berman, president of Balance Catamarans, says: ‘What is great about South Africa for boatbuilding is you have a lot of skilled people, who have been doing it for a long time, and you have great procurement, you can get anything to build the boats with, good marine infrastructures,(and) a nice mix of skilled and unskilled labour”.

Related articles:

South Africa’s biggest composite catamaran is launched Employment in Cape Town continues to rise while the City invests in sectors that yield jobs & spur economic growth V&A Waterfront joins Cape Town Air Access partnership The next growth frontier: Africa to play a significant role in the future of luxury Catching up with Cape Town’s Consular Corps

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