Superyacht influx propels dreams of local blue economy job creation
Cape Town’s share of the world’s superyacht traffic looks set to increase with news of an African Superyacht Working Group that could bolster efforts to establish a local superyacht maintenance and repair sector.
The Working Group is scheduled to be a topic of discussion at the upcoming African Boating Conference at the V&A in October – the first major international boating conference on the African continent. Global boating stakeholders will gather in South Africa’s boating capital at a time when many see huge growth potential in the local maritime economy and associated job creation.
The steady increase in local superyacht visits is prompted largely by ongoing security jitters in the Red Sea. However, advances in digital boatbuilding technology are also pushing superyacht traffic further south.
Local maritime stakeholders believe superyacht service and repair is a niche sector with encouraging potential. Cape Town already has ship repair infrastructure and is a regional boatbuilding hub. An increasing number of superyachts would provide additional work opportunities to these service providers.
Superyacht service and repair would also add impetus to the local hospitality sector. The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa estimates an average spend of R300 000 for each cruising yacht visiting our shores. A superyacht visit would contribute considerably more. A superyacht that visited Cape Town in 2024 spent R10m on a diesel refill, the Sunday Times reported.
Superyacht Cape Town director Veda Pretorius says South Africa is well placed to take advantage superyacht growth, with discussions around the Superyacht Working Group already well advanced. “We’ve already been in preliminary discussions with key role players,” Pretorius told International Boat Industry news earlier this month. She said the aim was to gather “people who are really committed and who will take action”.
“When we say region we include the Indian Ocean islands, and from the Maldives right along the coast.”
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has plans to create a dedicated superyacht quay with associated superyacht service facilities. The City of Cape Town is also actively promoting a local superyacht sector via its Ocean Economy promotion group BlueCape, a joint venture with the V&A and private sector stakeholders.
South Africa also provides a steady pipleline of trained superyacht crew, with multiple local companies offering superyacht training courses. These services would also benefit from the increased superyacht traffic.
It’s not just the Cape looking to cash in on the passing superyacht traffic. The KwaZulu-Natal government recently entered into a boatbuilding partnership agreement with Italian company Navigo, with a view to boosting marine manufacturing in that Province. Provision of superyacht facilities forms part of the project which, if successful, would add momentum to Government’s Ocean Economy ambitions.
The growth of a local superyacht sector is an example of a niche sector with potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. The Western Cape has witnessed impressive growth in other niche sectors, such as creative design and the green economy.
Derryn Brigg
Deputy President of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry