abandoned yachts for sale south africa

CAPE TOWN FOR CAPETONIANS

Abandoned for two decades, this ‘cursed’ superyacht is finally going on auction

The story of the Bella T, the abandoned superyacht, has all the components for a riveting story – millionaires, a sudden death, and a curse that it just can ‘ t seem to shake. 

The luxurious yacht was built in 1976 at the request of the famous American industrialist named Roy Carver, arriving in Cape Town 20 years ago. Since its arrival, it has spent the last two decades gathering dust and rust near Sturrock Dock in Cape Town but will finally get a new lease on life thanks to a court-ordered auction, reports Business Insider . 

Despite its bland exterior, the yacht has a colourful history. Originally designed by renowned naval architects, Arthur de Fever and Doug Shark, Carver put his millions to use by enlisting boatbuilders Maritima de Axpe in Bilbao, Spain, to construct a yacht that was originally based on de Fever and Sharp ‘ s design. 

However, for all Carver ‘s millions, it could not buy him patience. The industrialist found the shipyard’s progress too slow and turned to Feadship De Vries to build a new yacht that was based on the same design. This ship, named LAC II after Carver ‘ s mother ‘ s initials, was completed 18 months before her sistership in Spain, which was named LAC III.

Unfortunately, Carver only spent six years frolicking on his superyacht before dying of a heart attack in 1981, at 71 years old in Marbella, Spain. 

But what happened to the LAC III? 

The vessel was purchased by American Earl Romans in 1999 and renamed Summit One and was sailed to South Africa from Malaysia in order to undergo extensive refits by local shipbuilders and repairers Farocean Marine in 2001.

However, the refit soon ran into problems as Romans quickly failed to make payments for work done. Despite court documents that stated Romans would pay his outstanding balance, he would often default on this agreement. This happened a number of times before work on the newly named Bella T would come to a complete standstill. 

The vessel passed from owner to owner after and was sold to a company in Dubai in 2008. Unfortunately, due to a global recession, this too didn ‘ t last long before it was resold to Nautic Africa before finding a final home with Europa Shipping five years ago. 

The “curse” didn’t end there though as legal woes continued to follow the Bella T. The yacht has since been ordered to go on public auction by the Western Cape High Court in November 2021 in the matter of Rapaport Flagship Limited (applicant) and Europa Shipping Captial SA (respondent), with the applicant in the dispute currently having a claim against the vessel that amounts to R15 million. 

Despite all its legal troubles and years of neglect, the yacht is described as being in good condition. Experts in vessel sales, Solution Strategists will handle the auction of Bella T on March 1.

Father of Moti brothers reportedly interdicted the police from speaking to the boys

Picture/s: Solution Strategist

Article written by Lynn Cupido

CapeTownETC

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‘TOP SECRET’ VESSELS FOR SALE

Government is selling off four special ops workboats and two vessels seized in a major drug bust

Feel like spicing up your boating weekends with a chunk of military history? Why not purchase a former special operations workboat from Donkergat base, Langebaan?

Or, if you prefer, a Cocaine courier vessel seized in a police operation earlier this year.

These and other curious vessels are up for grabs as the state this month looks to dispose of unwanted maritime assets.

The special ops boats are listed in a Defence Department Invitation to Bid published in August. Four former special operations workboats are for sale to anybody willing to pick them up (at their own cost) and navigate a complex set of bid documents.

But don’t expect mint condition: two of the military workboats have been on the hard for some time and would need more than a lick of paint. Nevertheless they have more than proved their worth over the years with riverine border patrols and ferrying divers to undisclosed locations.

Weighing in at between 8 and 15 tons the workboats were built at the Sachal Shipyard in Vredenburg which specialises in ocean-going fishing vessels. Sachal manager Nic Stevens said the boats could potentially be put back to work: “There are many of our vessels of this age and older operating all over, they could possibly be converted into hand line fishing vessels, crayfish vessels or diamond mining vessels,” he said, adding that it was disappointing to see the vessels’ current condition: “It’s sad to see — the Viking was operational about two years ago and looked in a much better state,” Stevens said.

The vessels measure between 35ft—54ft and were attached to the 4 Reconnaissance Commando (4RR) which specialized in amphibious operations.

Buyers with a taste for something more risqué might be interested in the upcoming auction of two ‘cocaine’ vessels seized in high-profile recent drug bust in Saldanha.  The 37m fishing vessel MV Windward and 28-ton pleasure craft Lukzet were part of a fleet of vessels used in an international drug smuggling network that came unstuck in March. Cocaine worth over R500-million was found in 973 blocks inside three compartments inside the MV Windward. The Lukzet, which used to be a police anti-poaching boat, was a support vessel that has spent the past several months gathering seagulls at Club Mykonos. It is a Bill Edwards design, well-known in fishing circles, but all those interested should first read the surveyor’s report, available online at http://www.solutionstrat.com/ .

But it’s not always about looks. An Apartheid-era special ops boat bobbing on your mooring could ignite some interesting braai-time conversation.

Bid document: August 2021 South Africa Boat Sales

FROM ZERO TO HERO: V&A MARINA WATER QUALITY ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL

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• Jan 12, 2022

#WeirdBoats - ‘Cursed’ Superyacht Abandoned in Cape Town Harbour for 20 Years is Going to Auction

By: Scott Way

An unfinished superyacht rusting in a Cape Town harbour for the last 20 years is about to get another chance.

The Bella T is a 147-foot superyacht designed by renowned naval architects Arthur de Fever and Doug Sharp and was originally built for American industrialist Roy Carver . Except Carver never took ownership of the vessel, and after a prodigious amount of legal drama that can only be described as excessive, she has been bobbing lifelessly in Table Bay Harbour in South Africa for the last 20 years. Her history is as messy as her deck.

According to Business Insider South Africa , the ship was commissioned by Carver in 1975. At that time, his tire retreading business was booming after it made Fortune's list of Top 1000 Companies in 1973. Carver enlisted Spanish boatbuilders Maritima de Axpe to build the Bella T , but his patience wore thin when the company fell behind schedule. It's worth nothing that one of Carver's famous statements is that he valued time more than he valued money .

The ship was commissioned under the name LAC III in honour of Carver's mother, but angry that the Spanish company couldn’t deliver on time, Carver proceeded to have the same boat commissioned by another company, Feadship de Vries in the Netherlands. The second ship was given the name LAC II. The LAC II was completed 18 months before LAC III, and Carver finally had his superyacht. It was also the first-ever privately owned superyacht with a helicopter landing pad.

The LAC III, meanwhile, started her slow and agonizing downward spiral.

Sadly, Carver only enjoyed the LAC II for 6 years before passing away from a heart attack in 1981 at the age of 71. The LAC II was sold shortly thereafter and given a new name, Valeria, and is still in service today.

The LAC III meanwhile, with its growing reputation for being problematic, was sold to the Sultan of Sabah in Malaysia and renamed Puteri Sabah II. It was then sold again and renamed to Puteri Sipada. Eventually, the ship was sold in 1999 to an American named Earl Romans who renamed it Summit One, according to the Superyacht Times .

That's where things get even muddier. Summit One was shipped from Malaysia to South Africa for an extensive refit, which also included lengthening the boat by 16 feet (5 m). Unsurprisingly, the refit ran into problems. While being worked on by a company called Farocean Marine, Summit One was renamed to Bella T , likely in acknowledgement of the refit and the new length. However, the company claimed Romans failed to make the necessary payments to complete the work. The legal dispute ended up in South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal , who charged Romans with paying the outstanding balance, only for him to default again a short time later. The back and forth continued for a few years until the legal case, and the ship, were effectively moored in 2003.

The LAC III/Bella T was bought and sold several times between 2003 and 2008, but none of her owners could get her moved to a new location, and all of them ran into financial or legal trouble trying to finish the project. Her last owner was Europa Shipping Capital, who is currently the respondent in the upcoming public auction. In that matter, there is a claim against the vessel for €835,000 from Rapaport Flagship Capital, meaning there is at least one outstanding debt against the cursed ship. The Bella T was assigned for public auction by the Western Cape High Court in November 2021, and her auction is set to take place in March 2022.

The auction will include the ship and four shipping containers with her various parts and extras - engine components, propellers, and interior fittings. She's currently stripped down to bare steel, and completing the refit and making her seaworthy comes with an estimated cost of R37 million (South African rand), which is roughly $2.5 million USD. Even that seems like a very conservative estimate.

According to the Maritime Bureau of Africa, the Bella T 's steel hull and aluminum superstructure are still in good condition. Her engine room, bilges, and interior layout are epoxied and still serviceable, although the exterior is due for another application. You can add the hull work to her repair checklist. We'd also recommend shipping the boat to a new harbour, clearing the debt, and renaming her again. However, if you're going to rename the boat, make sure you follow the ritual to the letter otherwise the Bella T is going to end up rusting away in a new city under the same spell.

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AFRICAT 450

R7 500 000,00.

2010 launched Africat 450 for sale. Recently refitted and ready to sail. 

BENETEAU CYCLADES 434

R2 000 000,00.

Owners’ version conversion (fitout completed in 2022) 3 Double Bedroom (berths) 2 heads with showers, one electric and one manual toilet. Engine serviced in May 2022 and Anti-foul 2021. Newly installed Solid Ceder wood floors, tops and doors.

Hull Type: Fin with Bulb and Spade Rudder Rigging Type: Fractional Sloop Country of Build: France

LOA: 13.26 m

LWL: 12.39 m

Beam: 4.43 m

S.A.: 75.81 m2

Draft (max): 1.90 m

Displacement: 8,980 kg

Ballast: 2,900 kg

S.A./Disp.: 17.91

Bal./Disp.: 32.29

Disp./Len.: 131.57

Construction: Fibreglass Gellcoat

Ballast Type: Iron

Designer: Berret-Racoupeau

Engine: Yanmar 4JHE Deisel 54HP 4 Cyl. Inboard (Hours unknown, assumed 1,800hrs) Fuel Tank: 201L Water Tanks: 530L

Propeller: 3 Blade Fixed

Life Raft: 10 person Plastimo Trasocean 8

Accessories:

1500W Quick Antares Windlass (original)

Z Sails Racing Full Batten Mainsail Luff 45' 2" Leach 48' 8" Foot 17' 5" Main (2018)

North Sail Roller Furling Genoe (original)

Main Sail Stack Pack (original)

Spray Dodger (original)

Cockpit Canopy (2022)

Lewmar and Harken Winches and Fittings (original)

Quick 20l Water-Heater (original)

Garmin GPS Map XSV (2018)

Raymarine ST6002 Smart Pilot Autopilot (original)

Raymarine ST60+ Tridata Depth, Speed and Trip gauge (original)

Raymarine VHF Radio (original)

Clarion Radio Headunit with USB Input (original)

Rockford Fosgate Internal Speakers (2020)

Pioneer Marine Outdoor Speakers (2022)

3 x 110AH Solar Batteries (Lead Acid) (2018)

Aims 3000W/6000W Pure Sine Inverter (2021)

Lensun 100W Flexible Solar Panel (2019)

Solar Charge Controller (2019)

Built in Battery Charger (original)

40L Smeta 12V Fridge (2019)

Empava 4 Burner Gas Hob (no gimbal) (2021)

42L 220V Defy Convection Oven (2019)

Rainshower in Main Ensuite (2022)

Handshower in Second Ensuite (2022)

Outdoor Handshower (original)

Dell 19inch Monitor with Amazon Firestick (Netflix/AppleTV/Showmax/YouTube) (2019)

220V (2021) and 12/24V DB Board (original)

R2 750 000,00

DEHLER 38 for sale, lying Seychelles

LARSON CABRIO 370

R2 250 000,00.

2006 Launched Larson Cabrio 370 in mint condition, lying Cape Town 

R6 450 000,00

Najad 520 for sale currently in Brazil

Princess 45

R4 400 000,00.

Princess 45 for sale in Cape Town launched in 2005, low engine hours and fully certified ready to sail

BAVARIA SPORT 38

R3 250 000,00.

BAVARIA SPORT 38 launched in 2010 with only 580 hrs. Ideal boat for offshore or inland waterways. 

R2 500 000,00

R1 800 000,00

Built in 2007 by US Watercraft in Newport, Rhode Island and later modified for both inshore and

offshore racing in South Africa, this grand prix racing yacht has been built and maintained to the

highest international standards. The boat is fully equipped with premium race gear, sails and systems

needed for a turnkey racing campaign.

MUMM 36 (MODIFIED)

R550 000,00.

Cape to Rio Race Handicap winner potentail. Easily raced with short handed crew. Ideal of round the cans racing as well. No runners, Mumm 36 modified. 

Princess 43

R10 000 000,00.

Stunning Princess 43 for sale in Cape Town

Princess 50

The Princess 50 is a powerful and agile craft with extraordinary volume for her size. The exterior space is equal to many larger craft with a teak laid cockpit, wide side decks and transom platform large enough to accommodate a tender. The Flybridge provides the perfect daytime entertaining space with generous seating and a large sunbed aft. The collapsible Bimini affords protection from the harsh African Sun.

The attention to detail and stand finish is of the highest standard throughout. Large windows wrap around the main deck filling the saloon with natural light and ensuring excellent visibility at the lower helm station. Interior Oceanair blinds in the Saloon afford the required privacy when alongside.

Located on the lower deck the galley is well equipped and accommodates full height fridge freezer, hob and microwave and a dishwasher round off the galley equipment. Also contained in the lower deck are the three spacious cabins. The owner’s en-suite stateroom is situated amidships where it enjoys full beam and features panoramic windows to both sides filling the cabin with natural light.

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS

Length overall (incl pulpit):                          15.37m

Beam:                                                                   4.57m

Draft:                                                                    1.27m

Displacement (approx.)                                 22 900 kgs

Fuel capacity:                                                     2500 litres

Water capacity:                                                 592 litres (this includes the hot water calorifier)

                                                                                In addition, there is a Sea Recovery Watermaker)

2 x Volvo Penta D11-670 HP Diesel Engines +/- 610 hrs

Top Speed range 27-32 knots

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Power-assisted electro-hydraulic steering system

Bow Thruster (120 kgf)

24V DC / 240V AC electrical system

240 V Shore Power with 60 Amp float battery charger

220V Diesel Onan Generator 11 Kw / 50 Hz

Dual Station remote control electric anchor windlass, electric trim tabs with indicators, Raymarine Autopilot, Simrad VHF, Raymarine Speed and distance log

Remote Control Searchlight

Combination microwave/conventional oven/grill

Full height fridge/freezer

Cocktail cabinet with refrigerator

Flybridge wetbar including sink and electric barbeque, top loading coolbox, sunbed and cushions

Electric Quiet Flush Toilets (2)

Saloon LED TV / DVD

Teak-laid deck, cockpit, transom platform/flybridge stairway/stairs to side decks

Triple opening stainless-steel framed sliding salon doors

Full length transom platform with tender storage facilities

Transom door to port

Hot and cold transom shower

Cockpit night cover

All interior wood furniture in Seratona Cherry Gloss

Aztec Brown Galley counter tops

Additional 20m of anchor chain to give a total of 60m

Foredeck freshwater anchor/deckwash system

Icemaker 

Washer / Dryer 

Premium Bose Audio System includes 350W Inverter

19” LCD TV in Master Stateroom

Flybridge Waterproof speakers

Dishwasher fitted in galley (6 place setting)

Onan 11 Kw Generator in place of standard

Furuno 3D-MFD12 Plotter / Radar with 3.5” Open Array Scanner

Additional Furuno Radar/Plotter screen at upper helm

International Simrad VHF

Reverse cycle Airconditioning total 36000 BTU – throughout the interior

System 2 Holding Tank with ability to discharge overboard

Exterior upholstery in Vanilla Vinyl with blue insert

Bimini Top in Dark Blue acrylic canvas

Sea Recovery Aqua Matic Water Maker

Ultra Sonic Anti Fouling System

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