The Cordelia before its departure for Australia.

AN AUSTRALIAN yacht left Yangon on September 4 after the completion of extensive renovations at the Myanma Shipyard dockyard in Kamaryut township.

The renovations to the Cordelia began in November 2003 with a team of seven Myanmar craftsmen overseen by the yacht’s owner, Sydney surgeon, Dr Tim Wilson.

Dr Wilson said he chose the Myanma Shipyard for the project because it had all the necessary facilities and the cost of the work was less expensive than in other countries.

He said the yacht, which was built in Australia in 1982 and can accommodate four crew and seven passengers, had needed extensive repairs. Mechanical repairs had been done in Australia and woodwork and some technical work had been carried out in Yangon.

The interior of the yacht was redesigned and its new deck was built almost entirely with Myanmar materials, Dr Wilson said.

Dr Wilson said he had trained the Myanmar craftsmen and during the course of the two-year refit to the Cordelia, about 40 had acquired skills in yacht repairs.
“Re-fitting a yacht requires special skills and they need experienced people to guide them; now they are very well trained,” he said.

Dr Wilson said the nucleus of skilled staff which would support the development of a small industry for making or re-fitting yachts.

“I think there is a good future for yachts to come here to be repaired because we have the skilled workforce and good resources,” he said.