decked out ALL


Mike Wills talks to the decking companies and investigates how they have overcome supply chain and logistic issues over the past three years, and asks about the various hardwood decking options and alternative materials that have recently come to light


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lobally, the covid pandemic is now firmly in the ‘rear view’ mirror, the world’s breathing a sigh of relief from the human consequences however, its after-effects created a ‘long tail’ for businesses across the world which


were badly hit principally with logistics headaches and getting finished goods to end users, coupled with managing volatile prices with crude oil based raw materials.


For most countries, the recovery was not a simple bounce back but slower than expected and with many countries further thwarted by the Russian/ Ukrainian conflict in Europe, many industries found themselves thrust into another type of global chaos.


Other than those companies negatively affected by sanctions imposed on Russian yacht ownership, the marine and superyacht industry has remained buoyant and insulated throughout, with most manufacturers and suppliers reporting rising profits.


I have been talking to key players in deck fabrication, to see how they have fared since the last report in ONBOARD magazine in 2019 and just how they have managed the past four years of ‘head winds’ together with a view of how they view the way ahead. This business is intrinsically international and relies heavily on imports of hard wood and resins for composite products often transported by container ships.


Back in 2021, for example the price of a container had drastically risen from $5,000 to $30,000. Labour shortages also hampered the supply of resin supplies with many incumbents quoting delivery times ten times slower than the previous year. Ever changing costs and unpredictable delivery times are the antithesis of trusted customer service and best practice in any industry.


There has since been another unfortunate problem because those decking companies that supply age matured teak, had a ‘double whammy’ as Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, had unfortunately, slipped back into questionable provenance and a lack of due diligence.


On 16th May 2023, The Environmental Investigation Agency reported that 12 American timber firms had imported high quality natural teak under the guise of purchasing existing stockpiles prior to sanctions being imposed in April 2021.


With wood for yacht decking being identified as one of the end beneficiaries, this market deteriorated further with the emergence of another military Junta in early 2021.


The current notion that the business yields ‘blood money’ for the Junta, has subsequently been aired in national press in the UK and no doubt beyond, further stigmatising anything imported from this country.


136 | SUMMER 2023 | ONBOARD


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