Prometheus Marine, Singapore’s top luxury yacht dealer, has been offering marine consulting services that have culminated in a nautical extravaganza developed to present a new blend of Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskey.
57m three-masted sailing yacht Montigne
‘Odyssey’, which is described as a “triple malt inspired by the golden era of sea travel”, has been developed by master blender Jim Beveridge using Sir Alexander Walker’s hand-written notes. The new blend has been introduced to selected customers across the Asia Pacific region by brand ambassador Tom Jones on board superyacht ‘Montigne’, a beautiful 57m three-masted sailing yacht that was sourced by Prometheus Marine specifically for ‘The John Walker & Sons Voyager’, an ambitious charter project.
Prometheus Marine has been involved with Diageo, the premium consumer goods business that produces some of the world’s leading brands, including Johnnie Walker, since October 2011, when the company was contacted to find a suitable yacht for the project. Then, in March of this year, the company was hired to provide Diageo with consulting services on “all matters nautical” pertaining to the regional tour.
The challenges involved in the project have been considerable. Prometheus Marine has completed a reconnaissance tour of all the ports that Montigne yacht will be visiting, in order to secure suitable berthing arrangements for her, and to streamline all administrative procedures for the boat’s arrival in each port. Some of the issues have included using commercial docks with significant tidal ranges (which present considerable issues for such a low freeboard yacht as ‘Montigne’), fabrication of a special gangway for these types of commercial berth, together with special fendering arrangements to protect the expensive yacht. There have also been numerous administrative challenges; notably in Shanghai, China, which has had almost no visits from sailing boats such as Montigne, and so most arrangements have been ‘firsts’.
In addition, luxury yacht Montigne has undergone a number of cosmetic changes, specifically for the Voyager charter. These have included the creation of additional entertainment facilities, cabin refits, special on board branding for Diageo, and even a temporary “name change” for the boat. The result is a luxurious floating venue for the unique new whisky blend in which every space tells a story about its creation as well as Johnnie Walker’s brand heritage.
Says Craig Marcombe, General Manager of Prometheus Marine and marine consultant in charge of the project, “Prometheus Marine is delighted to be involved in this prestigious project. Although our bread and butter work in the field of marine consulting lies principally in marine and marina feasibility studies and project management, our engagement in ‘The John Walker & Sons Voyager’ tour reflects the diversity of our experience and expertise as marine consultants in the widest possible context.”
Craig Marcombe
Sailing yacht Montigne will travel from Shanghai to Mumbai over a period of 6 months. Other countries to be visited in this extravaganza include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines and Vietnam, plus Singapore in early January 2013.
