Around The World With Peters & May

By Heather Collier

For over 45 years, Peters & May have provided a premium superyacht transportation service that remains at the heart of the yachting industry. With a team behind first-class superyacht solutions, working around the clock and across the globe, Peters & May are committed to transporting the world’s most luxurious vessels with unrivalled care and attention.

Their services include yacht shipping, racing yacht support, superyacht transportation, commercial cargo transport, global freight forwarding, corporate express couriers and project cargo transport. With the trust of superyacht owners, captains, and management companies around the world, and custom lifting and cradling systems precision-engineered for the weight and dimensions of every superyacht, it’s clear why they continue to play such a monumental role in the yachting world.

Technical Director at Peters & May, Paul Elsom, spoke to Superyachts.com on how the company continues to revolutionise superyacht transportation.

What makes Peters & May stand out from your competitors?

With the majority of their loadmasters acquiring over 30 years of experience in maritime logistics, Peters & May have also invested in bringing younger loadmasters onboard, who are mentored in line with a career matrix, with promotion to a higher level on completing core targets of ability experience and knowledge.

PE: “This future proofs and seals in the standards expected by our clients. Regular attendance at many of the main yachting capitals of the world has allowed the local port workers and stevedore teams to work with us with confidence that they have an experience leader onboard. We have Loadmasters based in the principal hubs of USA, UK and Italy; other ports are just a flight away."

Alongside experienced, dedicated Loadmasters, their services also offer bespoke cradling and lifting equipment specifically adapted for each project.

PE: "As opposed to other forwarders that rely on limited types of cradling that are adapted to fit, our cradling is bespoke to Peters & May. We stock hundreds of cradles, many of which have much larger cushioned supports to provide a larger area of contact and support to the hull."

Selection of the correct cradle from their extensive inventory, combined with use of their modular rig system allows full adaptability that creates the ultimate bespoke solution, and has result in not a singled failed voyage.

With an extensive inventory of lifting beams, slings, shackles, and equalising assemblies all of which are maintained, examined, and regularly certificated, will complement the extreme beams required for lifting superyachts that will already be on board a vessel.  

How do you help clients overcome issues within transportation?

PE: "Our loadmasters attend practically every load and discharge and work hard to build an honest and reliable rapport with the clients and crews. We try to have the same loadmaster attend both ends of an operation, so the client sees a familiar, trusted face. In many cases, clients request a particular loadmaster with future work."

Peters & May are committed to fulfilling their customers’ desires and encourage each client to talk their tech team to understand the lifting and loading steps and to acknowledge and discuss any concerns that they may have. 

To ensure as smooth a process as possible, each team is trained to guide customers through all steps of the planning and shipping process. Clients are made aware well in advance of what is required from their side regarding paperwork for customs clearances, yacht drawings and all other major requirements. They ensure that approved agents in ports assist with them with their needs, so clients never feel as though they are left alone. 

How do you ensure ease and flexibility?

Experienced in delivering door-to-door solutions, Peters & May work closely with companies to arrange skipper deliveries to the port of loading, from the port of discharge; berthing; boat cleaning and customs clearance formalities.

PE: "Full technical packs, Transport Portfolios and Transport Manuals are prepared in advance to allow everyone from Loadmasters, Ships crews, Surveyors and insurers to be comfortable about what needs to be achieved. Lifting, stowing, lashing and cradling & cribbing plans are created. Our operations teams also engage the other essential support services such as Divers and Hot works teams."

Due to weather or port congestions, loading or discharge times may vary and by offering to arrange the delivery on behalf of the Captain or Yacht Owner, they can rest assured that all run smoothly, allowing them to go ahead and book their travel arrangements in advance.

Do you offer any special products/services?

PE: "We can assist in the design and fabrication of temporary cradle solutions for one off shipments. Alternatively, a client may decide to purchase their own tailor fitted cradle for permanent use."

As well as providing services for superyachts, their experts also specialise in global yacht shipping and racing yacht transportation to destinations worldwide – and while their knowledge is predominantly born from daily experience, there is nothing routine about their approach. Customers can purchase Flat-Rail/Cat-cradle, Flo-Flo shipments, and gain full access to their worldwide network of offices, agents and shipping destinations.

Peters & May provide bespoke, comprehensive proposal – outlining how the operation will run and demonstrating the specialist equipment they will use. They always provide the optimum solution for your destination, timescale, and budget, and remain at the forefront of yacht transportation. Everything is fine-tuned, from dockside to delivery.

With demand within the superyacht industry at an all-time-high, combined with impeccable, personal services, we look forward to the many milestones that Peters & May will continue to achieve.

"Regular attendance at many of the main yachting capitals of the world has allowed the local port workers and stevedore teams to work with us with confidence that they have an experience leader onboard."

Paul Elsom, Technical Director, Peters & May

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"Regular attendance at many of the main yachting capitals of the world has allowed the local port workers and stevedore teams to work with us with confidence that they have an experience leader onboard."

Paul Elsom, Technical Director, Peters & May
By Heather Collier