Atoll Yachts, a Brunei company established in March this year intends to design and produce world class yachts and enter the multi-billion dollar luxury ship building market. Atoll Yachts will produce the first Made-in-Brunei brand of yachts, utilising the country’s abundant forest resources. Using locally found hardwood, selangan batu and meranti, the company is already constructing a 111-foot wooden yacht called Atoll III.
Atoll Yachts new 111ft yacht Atol III – The new superyacht builder in Brunei
Constructed with the help of a New Zealand shipwright, a Swedish systems engineer and a team of regional craftsmen, Atoll Yachts plan to produce yachts capable of competing at international standards.
Atoll Yachts Chief Executive John Mallory Bromage said he found the Sultanate had the finest boat-building material in the world, after consulting various overseas experts. “Brunei could make its mark in the economy not just in the oil and gas industry, but also with yachts.”
Atoll Yachts of Brunei
Atoll Yachts has been providing maintenance services for vessels around Southeast Asia since it formed earklier this year and according to Bromage, the market for yachts in Southeast Asia is expanding, with 53 marinas being built in the region.
Atoll Yachts will start off with building and selling smaller yachts regionally before exporting bigger and more luxurious superyachts.
Addressing environment concerns, the company is reportedly prepared to make a commitment to Brunei’s rainforests, for every tree they take to build a yacht, they would “put two back”.
Atoll Yachts would also be looking into starting apprenticeship programmes, drawing skills from local vocational and technical schools.
According to Atoll Yachts, Brunei has significant advantages in the yacht building industry, including no acid rain, no typhoons, a long dry season whic runds from March to October, a stable business, political and social environment as well as good security. In addition, there are duty-free imports of boat equipment, engines, electronics and low taxation and government charges.
