It has a new name and new partners, but the Florida-based yard known for “the great American megayacht” is in the process of being revived once again.

The new name is Broward Shipyard, and Philippe Brandligt, a naval architect by training who has served with some significant firms, is working with the new ownership team. Brandligt has held positions at Moonen Shipyards, Amels (he also oversaw the build of Boadicea there), and Holland Superyacht Industries.

Broward Marine ceased construction in September 2008, shortly after delivering the 124-foot Coco Loco. A combination of the then-weakening economy and conflicts with clients were blamed for the troubles. The current owning partners, with experience in commercial shipbuilding and the cruise-ship industry, arrived about a year ago, and shortly thereafter Brandligt spoke with one of the principals. Despite the long lapse in operations, they all saw potential. “It is all of the history and most important it is the opportunities offered by the location itself and the determination of the new owners,” Brandligt says.

Broward had originally made a name for itself as a builder with happy owners, he explains, and the new owners wanted to revive that tradition of meeting customers’ expectations. The difficulties Broward Marine had in selling yachts did not weigh on his or the ownership team’s mind. “We are all enthusiastic,” Brandligt says. Besides, he adds, “Some very famous shipbuilding companies in Europe have gone bankrupt and are now on top of the world.”

Among the first orders of business are promoting its new way of operating. A statement released to the media and brokers explains, “we are reorganizing ourselves towards a ‘lean and mean’ project organization, a business model as commonly used by the most successful producers of motoryachts in the Northern part of Europe, in order to eliminate risks and safeguarding flexibility throughout and most importantly first class and up to date quality, on time and on budget.”

Broward Shipyard plans to complete hull numbers 603 and 604, which remained unfinished when Broward Marine shut down. It is also updating and promoting the 126’8” raised-pilothouse motoryacht design by Evan K. Marshall (above) that was developed with the former ownership. She’ll be classed to Lloyds, rather than ABS, and is expected to top out at 22 knots with twin 2,400-hp MTUs. The yacht will also be fitted with synthetic decks from Bolidt, whose products have been used by Carnival Cruise Lines and Austal Ships (parent company of Oceanfast), among others. Interior woodwork and decor is being left to the owner’s choosing.

There’s also a 154-footer designed by Cor D. Rover in the early planning stages. She’ll encompass three decks (Broward calls her a “Triple Bridge” model) and be constructed of aluminum and composite.

Equally important, Broward Shipyard will refurbish and perhaps even expand facilities. Brandligt says a timeframe can’t be established until some anticipated changes occur with neighboring companies. However, the wish list includes upgrading and deepening its docks plus deepening the main channel leading to its property. Broward Shipyard also plans to enclose a covered shed and equip it for cost-effective operations.

There are other ideas on the wish-list, too, such as collaborating with other builders. As details become available, we’ll update accordingly.

In a sign of the times, more than 100 craftspeople that Palmer Johnson hired for its UK-based yacht-building operations have been laid off.

Both the Daily Echo newspaper and Boating Business magazine reported earlier this week that the yard in Hythe, on the southern coast of England, planned to release 110 employees and shut its doors. It’s the same facility that recently launched the first 51-meter Sport Yacht. Boating Business further reported rumors that some employees staged a walkout in the days prior because they hadn’t been paid, and suppliers also reportedly hadn’t been paid. Boating Business attempted several times to contact Lee Archer, director of the facility, for comment but indicated that the phone went unanswered.

However, Mike Kelsey, Jr., president of Palmer Johnson, confirmed the layoffs and shut-down in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. The statement further added:

The company had also been planning to build a new facility in the former VT shipyard in Woolston, Southampton. The Wisconsin-based builder, which received planning permission to build the yard last month, had forecast the creation of about 800 local jobs. “We have decided that with the world economy as it is, along with excess capacity offered by our base in the United States at the Wisconsin Shipyard, that we would wind down the UK operations at this time and move the entire Sportyacht program to the Palmer Johnson facility in Wisconsin,’ said Mike Kelsey, Palmer Johnson president.

It’s a sad turn of events from early 2008, when Palmer Johnson unveiled plans to begin yacht construction both there and in the nearby town of Woolston, at a facility formerly occupied by Vosper Thornycroft. Eight hundred jobs were expected to be created. Local officials and media celebrated the plans, in light of hundreds of layoffs previously made by large firms that had operated there. Furthermore, they saw it as bolstering the marine-industry operations in and around Southampton. Sunseeker has long had a presence there, and Lloyds Register relocated its headquarters to Southampton from London. It created 100 new jobs, complementing the 450 employees transferred in the process.

However, Kelsey remains optimistic that it can revive operations in England. The statement added: “‘We are still in discussion with S.E.E.D.A. to develop the Woolston site when the need arises.” (SEEDA stands for the South East England Development Agency, which supports economic development in the region.) Kelsey also stated that the design team located there will remain there.

Consider it an ultimate dayboat or tricked-out tender for your megayacht. Either way, there’s never been anything like the Wider 42. And outside of Wally, there’s really never been a boatbuilder focused on pushing the boundaries of convention to this degree.

When you realize Wider’s founder is Tilli Antonelli, who founded Pershing in Italy in the 1980s and remained its chief until earlier this year, it starts to make sense. Pershings earned the nickname “silver bullet” in some circles because of their sleek shape, metallic exterior color scheme, and of course speed. They were dramatically different than other craft when they landed on American shores in the 1990s.

The first Wider 42 should turn heads, too, when she premieres next year, likely at the Genoa boat show. (While an American debut date hasn’t been announced yet, nor has the U.S. representative, the North and South American markets are primary targets.) The company name was inspired by the biggest selling concept of the boat, devised by Antonelli: The amidships area can widen to both sides, doubling the usable space. In addition, the extended hull sections simulate outriggers, like on proas. Antonelli likes to refer to the extra space as “a sort of playground in the middle of the sea.” Further notable is the use of Esthec instead of teak underfoot.

Wider’s facility is in Castelvecchio di Monteporzio, Italy, the same one where the first Pershing was built. There’s yet another tie to the Pershing days: All the models (35- and 50-footers are in the works) are styled by Fulvio De Simoni. Naval architecture is being handled in house in conjunction with Wave Ingegneria and Mark Wilson, who’s made a name in offshore powerboat racing.

The latter’s contributions are particularly noticeable in the racing-style stepped hull of the 42. Even the engine installation is similar to that in the racing world: offset, not directly side by side. This reportedly yields a lower center of gravity on centerline, bolstering stability. Construction-wise, Wider employs SCRIMP, with a carbon and vinylester resin. Some components are made solely with carbon fiber. All of these elements will keep weight down, important particularly given the anticipated 45-knot-plus top speed.

Owners and guests will have a variety of ways to enjoy that speed. Inside, there’s a dinette that can convert to a berth for naps or overnights. In the image here, the amidship cockpit is set up for dining. But it can also be used as a sundeck, by dropping the table and covering it with a pad. Alternately the seating area slides apart to convert into two sunlounges. It’s interesting to note that all of the seating is comprised of inflatable cushions, not the traditional fixed fiberglass benches. If the mood strikes, you can remove the cushions and toss them in the water as extra toys.

Speaking of toys, the Wider 42 can tote a RIB or PWC aft. Another option: dive bottles and related gear. Regardless, the platform upon which the toys are stowed lowers to allow easy entry into the water.

If you take your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad everywhere you go, now you can shop for your next Sunseeker superyacht whenever you want, with the swipe of your finger.

The Sunseeker Brokerage app, available for download for free from the Apple Store, was just released within the past two weeks. (The image here is a screenshot of the iPhone app.) It lets you view all new Sunseeker yachts as well as the brokerage division’s exclusive listings. For the new yachts, including the proposed 170-foot Zeus megayacht, you can access interior and exterior images, videos, specifications, and other details. Specs and photos on more than 200 brokerage yachts are also available.

Just like other apps, the Sunseeker Brokerage app automatically adjusts to display in landscape or portrait mode, depending on how you’re holding your device. This should be particularly helpful when watching the videos that are available.

There are a few other notable features contained within the app. Take a look at the bottom menu bar in the image, and you’ll see Saved Yachts (third from left). As the name suggests, it lets you save details on the yachts you’re most interested in, whether they may be new builds or brokerage listings. You can then access the information at your leisure, even when offline.

Whether you choose to save specifics on a yacht or are viewing them live, you may wish to share your discovery with your family or friends. Or, as much as you may not want to admit it, you might need to get approval from your official checkbook monitor (a.k.a. your spouse). In either case, you can email the data with just one touch.

Yet another handy feature: a Locations page, which helps you find the closest Sunseeker dealer. (Good for those of you who just can’t wait.) More than just a directory of names and numbers, Locations lets you view an office’s exact location, thanks to a “View on a Map” function. Of course, you can simply select the phone number or email to contact them, too.

Yesterday, Trinity Yachts delivered the first of a handful of oil-skimming boats that will help clean up the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The following video showing the delivery and operation of the boat comes courtesy of WLOX television:

Last month, news came of the formation of Ruea Yachts, a Thailand-based builder. Ruea Yachts was formed as the superyacht division of Yacht Solutions, a 10-year-old yacht-management and service provider in Thailand and other Asian locales. Yacht Solutions’ managers, Gareth and Simon Twist, decided to team with a shipyard. because some of their Asian and European clients reportedly are increasingly expressing interest in construction options in Asia. Interesting enough, over the past several weeks, interest has been piqued among buyers and their representatives in India, the United States, and other countries, according to Gareth Twist.

Together with naval-architecture firm BMT Nigel Gee and styling and interior-design firm Design Unlimited, Ruea Yachts is offering new construction of megayachts measuring upwards of 85 meters (279 feet). To learn more, I conducted the following Q&A with Gareth Twist:

MEGAYACHT NEWS (MN): Why form a yacht-building division? After all, there are plenty of builders in the world, and several state that they can offer better prices without sacrificing quality.

GARETH TWIST (GT): Ruea Yachts was created due to an increasing interest from our clients asking us to build superyachts in Asia. Our value lies in the unique combination of our Thai craftsmen, the high pedigree of our European architect and design partners, the MCA LY2 and Lloyds certification to which we construct all superyachts, and the experience of the project management team who have over 70 builds to their name. We offer European standard superyachts at an extremely competitive price point, which I don’t believe any other Asian yards are offering at present.

MN: What is the shipyard name, and what is its background? Has it ever built yachts before?

GT: Ruea Yachts is partnered with the shipyard Mits Decision, which is located in Samut Sakorn on the outskirts of Bangkok, 45 minutes from the international airport. We chose this shipyard to partner with due to its vast experience and vision to be the best. The family-run yard has a bonded warehouse, recently constructed a purpose-built alloy shed, and is planning the construction of an 80-metre build shed. We are currently in the final stages of completing a 60m project where we stripped down a 58m hydrographic vessel to her bare hull, keeping only the hull, props, and shafts and then remodeled her with all new equipment and a new design (above). She is due to launch in Q4 this year. Shipyard details are as follows:

Status: Family owned and run facility

Location: Tajeen River, 40km west of Bangkok

Established: 1986

Size of yard: 11,600 square meters

Max capacity: 85m or 1,500 net tons

Largest build to date: 84m vessel built to Lloyds classification

Direct employees: 120

Number of subcontractors: 100

Ratings: ISO 9001:2008

MN: The literature also states you will build yachts to 85 meters. What is the “smallest” being offered?

GT: We can build from superyachts from 40 to 85 meters and are already working on a catamaran project for a client which is 40 meters.

MN: Are all projects fully custom? Or will they be offered in series?

GT: We only offer fully customized, hand-built yachts, as this is what our clients are requesting.

MN: How much of a cost savings do you offer? Can you give an example of how much one of your specific models would cost if it were built in Europe vs. Thailand?

GT: As these are fully custom built yachts, the price is dependent on the finish. But the prices are between 20% and 40% lower than those built in Europe.

MN: Some people are skeptical of any country that does not have a long history of yacht construction. How do you counter that belief?

GT: There is no reason that all buyers should not have full confidence in our construction of superyachts. Ruea Yachts superyachts are crafted in the East but designed in the West. The design team, naval architects, and legal team are all British companies, a country that has a strong maritime history, and we have a European paint surveyor and electrical team.

Ruea Yachts hand-builds Lloyds classification and MCA LY2 code-certified custom luxury yachts up to 85 meters using cutting-edge European marine technology and design, combined with highly skilled craftsmen in Thailand.

Owning company Yacht Solutions has been refitting yachts for 10 years, during which time we have established a strong reputation for professionalism and expertise. Moreover, the Yacht Solutions management team has over 50 years’ combined of experience in the Asian marine industry working for some of the world’s most renowned yacht construction companies and refitting yachts up to 85 meters and 4,000 tons.