Essential reading: T. Skračić, Waypoint, English Textbook for

Maritime Students, Pomorski fakultet, Split 2010, Units 22-28

T. Trappe & G. Tullis, Intelligent Business, Longman 2005, Units 12-14

Tomislav Skračić, MA

Undergraduate English Undergraduate English Course forCourse for

MARIMARITIME MANAGERSTIME MANAGERS5th Semester

MARINA DESIGN TRENDS- part 2

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

VIEW No. 1A BIG PIECE OF CAKE (by Head of The

Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association)

About 25 per cent of mega yachts (boats in excesse of 100 feet) are used for private purposes, while the others operate in charter.

They are not registered as yachts but as commercial vessels, and this is how they are treated by the legislation of certain countries, Italy for instance.

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

They navigate in international waters, most of them have a full-time professional captain on board, and crew members must comply with international regulations, just like seafarers navigating on large ships.

Croatian regulations do not follow new trends, large yachts are not treated as commercial vessels.

Croatian laws should be harmonised with the EU legislation in order to allow the entry of a larger number of mega yachts into Croatian waters.

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

Another problem is the port infrastructure. Croatia needs berthing places at selected destinations with diversified and expensive amenities.

Mega yachts are a luxury world; people navigating on them are rich and spending a lot. This is the most demanding clientele in the world.

Until new berths are built, Croatian maritime authorities should consider the possibility to open the public traffic ports for the accommodation of mega yachts.

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

VIEW No. 2QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY (Assistant to the Minister

of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development)

Croatian legislation and port infrastructure should adapt to the market demands.

According to Croatian regulations, a yacht is a floating craft transporting up to 12 passengers; everything larger than that is a ship. There is a big difference between yachts entered in the Croatian registers and mega yachts.

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

Croatia needs berths for mega yachts, but building marinas intended for mega yachts is a complex issue. We should analyse well whether they are necessary and where, and how to dimension them.

The sustainable development of nautical tourism in Croatia will focus on quality, strict environmental protection and a further increase in navigation safety.

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

VIEW No. 3LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES (Director of four

ports on the French Riviera)

New marinas need to be built and the dimensions of the vessels to arrive there should not be limited.

However, it is very important to respect the heritage and to avoid any over-saturation. Don't repeat our mistake. As we all know, the French Riviera has been overexploited in the last fifty years.

THREE VIEWS ON BRINGING MEGA YACHTS TO THE ADRIATIC

We lost the Riviera when we covered it with concrete. We are somewhat envious of what you have.

Croatia is a Mediterranean pearl. Do not allow the same thing happen to you too. Remain true to your requirements; do not bow to the pressure of the market.

Development is necessary, but a sustainable development.

EXERCISES

1. Answer the following questions:

a) How are large yachts treated by Italian legislation?b) Do you think Croatian regulations on yachting should

change? Why / Why not?c) What is the advantage of bringing large yachts to

Croatian shores?d) Is there any drawback to bringing mega yachts into

Croatian waters?e) What is the official Croatian policy regarding building

ports for mega yachts?f) Is it better to build new ports or to use the existing ports

for the accommodation of mega yachts? Explain.g) What happened to the French Riviera?

2. Translate the following sentences into English:

a) Električna energija (power) u marinama za mega jahte je znatno porasla u jačini (electric current), naponu (force / voltage), snazi (power) i složenosti.

b) Prosječna mega jahta obično ima preko 100 stopa (is usually in excess of 100 feet).

c) Izraz yachting se odnosi na (refers to) plovidbu i gospodarenje mega jahtama.

EXERCISES

d) Marine koje udovoljavaju njihovim potrebama i željama ubrzo postaju popularne u tom segmentu tržišta (market niche).

e) Bilo je potrebno dosta vremena (it took time) da se shvati da se propisi za velike jahte ne odnose i na (do not apply to) male.

f) Grad Šibenik, Nautički centar Prgin, predsjednik uprave Dogus Grupe i potpredsjednik IGY-a potpisali su ugovor o gradnji marine za megajahte vrijedan 100 milijuna eura.

EXERCISES

3. Choose some of the following elements and make sentences of your own:

a boom in, is due to, ever-increasing, be considered by,a farsighted approach, generate revenue, was regarded as, according to, casual, her view on, on the occasion of, must comply with, grant permits, accommodation of,envious of

EXERCISES