The International Superyacht Society (ISS) is once again extending its partnership to Wilfred Sultana & Associates in introducing the Superyacht Industry Seminar: Malta, a Better Destination for Superyachts! The event will take place in Malta, on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.
Malta, a Better Destination for Superyachts 2013 Seminar, September 11 - Photo Credit: Palumbo Malta Superyachts, Ltd
This is the third in the Malta seminar series, marking the ongoing cooperation between ISS and Wilfred Sultana (the initial seminars being held in 2009 and 2011). Content is consistently related to superyachts in general and the Malta yachting industry in particular. Given the ongoing success of the program, it is now being offered on a biennial basis.
“The support and collaboration of the International Superyacht Society goes beyond the nomination and presentation of its respected speakers. ISS involvement also gives the activity a more global exposure through its esteemed marketing network,” says Wilfred Sultana, the seminar’s host. “Recognized as the sole organization serving and representing the large yacht industry worldwide, Society members are individuals and companies who are recognized for their leadership and dedication in raising the standards of design construction, maintenance, repair and operation of large yachts. As such, ISS’s support of a destination like Malta lends credibility the world over,” he continues.
Further international standing is made available by the participation of the authoritative Professional Yachting Association (PYA), the global professional body for yacht crew, having established an international regional network with representatives in Australia, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Caribbean, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.
The Malta Seminar Structure
Dr. Chris Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business—with responsibility for maritime affairs in general—will be the main speaker at the September 2013 Seminar. “Dr. Cardona’s presence is significant as it will be an appropriate occasion to be enlightened of ‘new’ Government perspectives and projections for the coming years with regards to the yachting industry in Malta,” remarks Sultana. The Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business is the Distinguished Patron of the event as well.
A programme highlighting the topics to be presented and their respective speakers is to be announced shortly. Relevant topics related to legal and fiscal incentives, refit and repair, crew training, chartering, policies shortfalls and other interrelated issues will be presented and discussed.
The seminar will now include a 30-minute open discussion by a panel of three experts who will have the opportunity to offer their topic-related points immediately following a number of presentations by guest speakers.
Seminar Support and Sponsors
Malta, a Better Destination for Superyachts! features the support of Transport Malta—the regulator for all modes of transport in Malta and which has been exceptionally instrumental to promote policies in favour of the industry in the past—who, once again, is also collaborating in the Seminar’s organization.
The sponsors of this third Yachting in Malta Seminar are Kirton & Co Ltd, Medcomms Ltd, Melita Marine Group, Palumbo Malta Superyachts Ltd, S&D Yachts Ltd., the International Yachting Management Ltd, and the Grand Hotel Excelsior.
Malta Seminar History
For the 2009 Seminar, the first ever seminar of its kind in Malta, the ISS presented two speakers, Douglas Sharp, Managing Director, of Douglas Sharp Yacht Design, Inc., USA, a Director and former President, and Capt. AJ Anderson, Managing Director, Wright Maritime Group, LLC, USA, another ISS Director.
For the 2011 Malta Seminar, the ISS presentation was made by Board Member Bransom Bean, founder and CEO of the business/management consultancy Fine Focus Ltd., Isle of Man.
While the previous two Seminars (2009 and 2011) were held in April, in 2013, General Elections in Malta held in March made the decision to move the seminar back more efficient. Of note, at the end of February, Wilfred Sultana & Associates took the initiative to organize a Pre-Election Forum, entitled The Yachting Industry in Malta – The Future?, where representatives of the island’s three political parties made presentations on their respective Party’s outlook and plans for the yachting industry in Malta.
Wilfred Sultana & Associates introduced ‘Yachting in Malta’, the Directory to Malta’s yachting services and facilities way back in 1976. Last November the 10th Edition in the Directory’s series was published for distribution throughout 2013-2014.
