SEAL Superyachts Vanuatu - the superyacht agency

01/03/2023

Tropical Cyclone Judy made landfall in north/central Vanuatu last night as a cat 3 cyclone. Intense winds and heavy rainfall has impacted a large portion of the country. Over the past several hours Judy has tracked directly over several islands and has intensified into a cat 4 cyclone. Judy is now passing over Tafea province as a cat 4 cyclone.
The islands of Ambrym, East Epi and the small islands just north and east of Efate had the eye pass overhead during the night. Many islands and villages will be needing immediate assistance and disaster relief support from neighboring countries and NGO’s.
Weather forecasting models are showing a second cat 2 or 3 cyclone approaching the country from the NW in the coming days. The approach of this second system will make disaster relief efforts extremely challenging in all areas. If any of our clients and friends wish to provide any support please reach out to us.
Thank you. Seal Superyachts Vanuatu.

26/12/2022

Thinking of all the creatures we share this world with…It’s time to get into the ocean again.

06/07/2022

Check out the awesome Marina at Pango Point The Point Marina

01/07/2022

After a long 820 days of borders being closed, Vanuatu air and sea borders are now open for international arrivals! Whoop whoop 🙌
The team at Seal Superyachts Vanuatu are ready to support all your yachting needs; So captains…set your course 🧭 Destination Vanuatu 🇻🇺
For detailed information, arrival conditions, and to plan your Vanuatu Cruising adventure please contact us: [email protected] [email protected]
WhatsApp +678 7719174

28/01/2022

A little while back, before kitesurfing was a thing, a few dudes were having some fun with a 50,000 RPM wake board machine.

26/05/2021

Reminder: Vanuatu’s Maritime Border is still closed. ✋

During the course of the pandemic some yachts have entered Vanuatu waters unknowingly or otherwise. This has resulted in detention and fines 💵 💵 😬

Please respect the emergency rules which have been put in place to protect the population by reducing the chances of importing COVID-19 into the country by air or sea.

The pandemic won’t last forever and the good news is that Vanuatu has received the first batch of vaccines, however the country is not yet ready to receive visitors by sea or air.

It won’t be much longer before visitors will be welcomed back in the warm, friendly Vanuatu style that we all know and love.

Be patient and keep Vanuatu safe 😊

https://dailypost.vu/news/risk-assessment-following-arrival-of-another-foreign-yacht/article_8facca6a-bce4-11eb-a482-2bf4e3f1e878.html?fbclid=IwAR2F4FJeu9-L6jYO_WA5U1be4mIvwdRUy1FfDw9Os3PitBm_alItCQNYOPw

A team comprising health, customs, immigration and police officers left Luganville for Wunpuko in northwest Santo yesterday, to conduct a coronavirus risk assessment following reports that a crew from a

05/08/2020

State of Emergency is extended until further notice. The borders remain CLOSED. Contact us for more information.

14/06/2020

Vanuatu's State of Emergency now extended to 11 July 2020.
The sea border remains CLOSED for yachts until further notice.

22/04/2020

Currently there are NO known cases of Covid-19 in Vanuatu. For up to date information and/or reports please visit Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health page here https://covid19.gov.vu/

Stay safe 🇻🇺

This Vanuatu Ministry of Health website will give updates periodically about the developing situation globally and locally with the COVID-19 virus.

19/04/2020

Find out the latest yachting news, boat launches and regattas coverage in the Asian yachting scene.

12/04/2020

All yachts please take note: State of Emergency was extended on 10/05/20. Borders remain closed for an additional 30 days.

10/04/2020

Please support Yacht Aid Global - Cyclone Harold fund raising initiative. It's super easy to sign up and donate and the best part is knowing that 100% of funds raised is used to provide rapid relief to the affected communities!

08/04/2020

Please follow Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) website and FB page to see their official situation reports for any disasters...

https://ndmo.gov.vu/

08/04/2020

Extreme damage caused by Cyclone Harold.
Video filmed by the communications cluster thechnical team during aerial survey of the affected areas shows the extent of the damage caused on Pentecost Island. Vanuatu needs support from the global cummunity without delay.

08/04/2020

http://yachtaidglobal.org/campaigns/cyclone-harold-relief-for-vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Harold made catastrophic landfall as a Category 5 in Vanuatu. A life-threatening storm surge and wind gusts of over 300 kph have been reported at Espiritu Santo, the island of Pentecost and other islands across Vanuatu. 100% of donations here will provide relief to people impacted b...

08/04/2020

Vanuatu – Cyclone Harold Situation report #2

Justin Jenkin - Seal Superyachts Vanuatu - 9th April 2020

Super Cyclone Harold (Cat 5) slammed into then cut across the central part of Vanuatu on the 5th and 6th of April 2020, leaving major damage and destruction in its wake.

This disaster could not have happened at a worse time. The country is on shut down and isolation due to the Covid-19 crisis gripping the world. Vanuatu is trying to keep Covid-19 out of the country and currently has 0 recorded cases. Borders are shut. Therefore, bringing in outside support from New Zealand, Australian or French navy ships or foreign superyachts is not on the table at the present time. The risk of possibly importing Covid-19 is simply too great.

Vanuatu’s NDMO (National Disaster Management Office) and other government departments will advise us as soon as it’s safe for us to invite superyachts that may be willing to come and support ongoing relief efforts later on. We consider that a possible second phase of relief effort from the Superyacht Community.

At the current moment, Vanuatu’s own well trained disaster response teams, NGO’s and local residents are all responding to this crisis as best as they are able to within the constraints presented by the Covid-19 crisis.

Equipment, goods and materials are permitted to land in Vanuatu after meeting special biosecurity requirements which include fumigation, sterilization and other protective measures on both ends. The resulting delay in bringing in shipments of relief supplies by air looks to be approximately 10-14 days or more from source out to the affected areas.

Rapid assessment teams and other sources who went out yesterday have reported:

• SW and South Santo – extreme/heavy damage.
• Luganville – heavy damage.
• Aore Island and Ratua – heavy damage.
• Malo Island – extreme/heavy damage.
• West and South Ambae – heavy damage expected. No report yet.
• South Maewo – moderate to heavy damage expected. No report yet.
• North and South Pentecost – extreme/heavy damage.

While all these areas have been badly damaged several villages have been completely destroyed.

Some areas are still inaccessible due to roads being blocked or no roads at all. There is currently only one helicopter available from Vanuatu Helicopters which is being used right now to carry technical teams to restore communication towers. After that the helicopter will be used for whatever missions it may be needed for.

Air Taxi and Unity Airlines Domestic charter operations and Air Vanuatu commercial flights are working full speed, taking government and NGO rapid assessment teams around on aerial surveillance and immediate disaster relief missions.

NZ air force/army are carrying out aerial surveillance and assessment using their assets which were moved here in advance of the cyclone to undergo a period of quarantine before being allowed to move within the community.

Local first responder teams are being dispatched to areas where it’s possible to land and offload.

Some areas remain isolated and its expected that it could take time for relief teams to get to those areas. Vanuatu Police, Army and Public works teams have gone out to assist clearing roads to provide access to the first responder teams.

Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office is in charge of all relief operations and are being supported by; local government departments, Vanuatu Mobile Force, NZ Army personal, NGO’s and individual residents.

Like the rest of the world Vanuatu’s tourism industry came to a complete standstill about 4 weeks ago. This is causing huge financial strain on the country, local small businesses, farmers etc. Recovery from the financial devastation caused by a cyclone in normal times is very difficult as it is. Add the crisis resulting from Covid-19 and we are in trouble without significant outside financial support. It’s also important now to support local suppliers and businesses as this helps to stimulate the local economy and keep people employed. If you consider making donations, please keep this point in mind.

The scale of support needed is going to be significant and will come in many forms such as: possible foreign debt relief, cash donations by foreign governments, NGO’s, companies and individuals, donations of goods and materials (please consider local purchase), support from foreign humanitarian groups and teams to aid rebuilding efforts only once it’s safe to bring people in to the country.

Seal Superyachts Vanuatu is working together with foreign individuals, superyachts and other groups across the world in collaboration with Yacht Aid Global with the initial aim of raising funds to support the immediate disaster relief efforts of NGO’s and local government departments that are being dispatched out to the affected areas.

We encourage the entire yachting community to consider supporting our fund raising efforts by sharing our news and the link to Yacht Aid Global website where our collective yachting friends and family can make donations. Yacht Aid Global is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Link to the YAG donation page for Cyclone Harold - Vanuatu

Seal Superyachts Vanuatu is positioned to facilitate and support any and all relief efforts from the superyacht community.

Thanking all our partners and supporters in advance for any and all assistance and support that you provide during this crisis. Thank you!

We can be reached on:

Email: [email protected]
or [email protected]
Find us on WhatsApp +678 771 9174
Or via www.yachtaidglobal.org

More information will be available in the coming days as the assessment teams provide more information.

Photo credits, Glen Craig from Pacific Advisory Vanuatu