Richard Beattie, Chairman of Aquos Yachts has spoken to the media In the Wake of the StarFishFire at McMullen & Wing.
Beattie who owns the 43 metre Big Fish said, “While the fire, coming less than a year from the planned launch of StarFish,is a terrible setback both for Aquos Yachts and the shipyard, we remain committed to our core mission of designing and building the finest luxury expedition yachts in the world for discerning yacht owners wishing to explore the world in the highest levels of comfort and security. Big Fish, which has cruised 60,000nm since her launch two years ago, and which has proved herself among the industry’s most successful charter yachts, remains as our flagship and living proof of the Aquos Yachts vision and philosophy.”
It seems that everyone connected with the project is shocked and horrified by the fire on board StarFish cognizant of the potentially devastating consequences of the fire for McMullen & Wing and its craftsmen.
The hearts of the entire super yacht industry go out to the shipyard workers and to the Porter family. While most are still in shock from the fire the yachts owners and the shipyard are moving forward quickly to determine the full extent of the damage, which is said to be extensive. It is a process that might take several weeks, and everyone is committed to concluding this investigation as quickly as possible.
Sources close to project suggest it is simply too soon yet to advance any prediction of whether this extraordinary project is salvageable.