Singapore for Superyachts

Singapore is much more than the sum of its numerous attractions. The city is constantly evolving and reimagining itself thanks to people who are passionate about creating new experiences and providing excellent services for visiting superyachts.

It’s where foodies, adventurers, culture vultures, socialites and yacht owners and captains meet. New experiences are created every day. Centrally located in South East Asia, Singapore is the perfect destination for superyachts.

“Southeast Asia is so vast and diverse and the famed city of Singapore is smack in the middle of really excellent cruising grounds”, enthuses Clarence Chong of APS Singapore: “More and more superyachts see Singapore as a great destination and once here, they love it!”

Famed around the globe as a world class shopping capital, there’s local shopping, accessible day trips and interesting local attractions. As proof of the city's fantastic nightlife, five of the world’s best bars are found in Singapore.

For many yachts Southeast Asia means new cruising grounds and Singapore, like a reigning sultan, sits in the centre of passages from North to South and East to West in the region. Singapore is only one degree north of the equator and yacht owners rave about the climate, with an average daily temperature of 27 degrees and no severe weather.

This, of course, means Singapore is a convenient and safe base for year-round regional cruises while providing boundless activities for the owner, guests, captain and crew. There are numerous superyacht berths in several marinas island-wide. The marinas are world-class and details for your yacht arrival, berthing and departure as well as custom itinerary is available from the APS team.

Singapore's Chinatown 

Virtually every aspect of servicing a yacht from inbound/outbound clearance procedures to provisioning, engineering repairs and surveys and all requirements while both in Singapore and further afield can be handled. Singapore has all the facilities a superyacht could possibly require. For those requiring repair or a re-fit there are haul-out facilities for superyachts and with many marine suppliers on the island, sourcing of parts and marine items is always very convenient.

This location has shipyards, class societies, a registry, a high level of engineering prowess to call on and a tax exemption service, which can be provided by APS Singapore. It’s easy to ship into and convenient for changing crew and holidays. It’s also important to note that Singapore has world leading healthcare.

The APS Singapore agency offers a superior level of service to yachts due to their local knowledge and personal relationships with the port authorities, shipyards and support companies. Asia Pacific Superyachts is on a first-name basis with well-known and respected members of the marine industry in Singapore and Malaysia.

Through the APS network a seamless journey can be planned through Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions of New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji. Superyachts arriving in Singapore can relax knowing all their vessel and paperwork needs can be taken care of by Clarence and the APS team during their stay, before cruising to nearby destinations in Southeast Asia.

Visiting yacht concerns about ‘borders’, immigration procedures, and the laws and regulations in neighbouring countries can be handled by APS Singapore and other regional APS owner-agencies. There are various issues to consider, particularly before venturing to Indonesia and Vietnam, where the process of obtaining cruising permits and visas is more complicated than in Malaysia and Singapore. Duty-free fresh provisions and supplies can be swiftly dealt with to prepare for a journey to the exotic port of Bintan, Indonesia or the nearby island of Langkawi, Malaysia.

For the short hop to Bintan, Indonesia, the major domestic seaport for the Riau Islands, Clarence can coordinate with APS Indonesia’s Captain Jimmy Blee to help deal with the consistently changing Indonesian regulations. Capt Jimmy works closely with the government and his support with clearances, visas and permits, especially foreign-built, makes cruising in Indonesia much simpler.

Nikoi Island off Bintan is only a short way from Singapore and a popular cruising destination. After Bali, Bintan is most likely the best-known resort island in Indonesia. Departing Bintan and a harbour filled with shipping vessels, a change of scene soon appears. Small islands appear dotted across the South China Sea, most looking uninhabited with jungle coastlines and dark volcanoes in the background.

Located about 100nm from Singapore is historical Lingga Island in the Riau Islands group with entry /exit point of Nongsa Point Marina on Batam Island. This voyage taking you across the equator is a great excuse to celebrate with a party onboard or on one of the sandy beaches.

Sentosa Island off Singapore's southern coast

An interesting island, Lingga was the centre of a Malay sultanate during the 18th and 19th centuries, though only a few ruins in the jungle remain. Daik is the main village and a great place for handicrafts with some ancestors of the sultan living there in a traditional lifestyle. Other attractions nearby include Cening Hill Fort, Damnah Malay Palace and Lingga Mountain. There are many empty sandy beaches and Pulau Buaya offers protected anchorages and stunning white coral beaches.

Another journey from Singapore takes you to the mystical island of duty-free Langkawi in Malaysia, with an option to journey on to the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Phuket in Thailand.

Global charterers and superyacht owners and captains are shifting their focus from traditional cruising grounds in search of the more exotic cruising destinations in Asia. Singapore, with its year-round sailing season and a highly experienced superyacht services team, is the perfect destination.

For more information, email Clarence at APS Singapore: clarence@asia-pacific-superyachts.com

*Photo credits: Thumbnail, modified, Merlion444, Wikimedia Commons, CC.O 1.0; others courtesy of Asia Pacific Superyachts Singapore