The Customer
Yachting Developments is a well established builder of performance composite sailing vessels. They are located in Auckland, New Zealand and specialise in the construction of fast cruising and racing yachts for the international market.

Project Background
The latest Phillipe Briand designed Super yacht “is to be the largest composite sloop to be constructed in New Zealand to date. Yachting Developments successfully won the bid for construction which began in February 2006. At 120’ (37 metres) “ is a lightweight, low profile sloop, sleek in design, with a black hull and ultra modern light foam core interior. The Yacht is to be launched November 2007.

The latest Phillipe Briand designed Super yacht “” is to be the largest composite sloop to be constructed in New Zealand to date. Yachting Developments successfully won the bid for construction which began in February 2006. At 120’ (37 metres) “ is a lightweight, low profile sloop, sleek in design, with a black hull and ultra modern light foam core interior. The Yacht is to be launched November 2007.

The Challenge
The challenge for the engineering team at Yachting Developments is to install the tube for systems into the vessel within a very tight time frame.

The availability of tubing, fittings and installation equipment will have a direct effect on the “critical path” work flow for this project. All of these systems must be installed quickly and efficiently with the minimum rework of tubing and of course be 100% leak free. All fittings and tubing used on this vessel must meet a recognised survey standard.

Our Solution
Swagelok Tube Fittings, Stainless Steel tube, and Valves from Swagelok New Zealand were chosen for this project. Swagelok’s proven history as a reliable supplier of fluid fittings and system components to the marine industry was one of the major factors considered when choosing them as a supplier.

Swagelok New Zealand was able to offer a “one stop shop” for SS tube and SS fittings. All tube was supplied from stock and all fittings supplied within a few weeks of the order being placed. Swagelok NZ provided all of the required Mill Material Certificates for SS tubing and copies of the relevant Survey Approval Certificates for fittings. Sizes used varied from ¼” to 1-1/4”.

The loan of a large electric tube bender for the over 1” tube sizes and a smaller mechanical bender for the ½” to 1” sizes helped reduce the capital expenditure required to complete the project. In addition Swagelok NZ ran an Installation and Tube Bending training seminar for the marine engineers involved. The training ensures that all of the fittings were installed correctly and also helps improve the tube bending skills of the engineers involved. This reduces the re-work required, eliminating leaks and helping to reduce the overall labour cost.