Vivian Chan of VP Yachts is establishing her presence in the yachting industry.

Vivian Chan, as the founder and Director of VP Yachts, is rapidly establishing her reputation as the Hong Kong dealer for the Italian manufacturer Sessa.

Vivian Chan appears to thrive in what she describes as the “glamorous side” of the yachting industry, embodying the essence of a model as she sits for a photo shoot on a Sessa F68 Gullwing, serving as founder and Director of VP Yachts, which represents the Italian manufacturer in Hong Kong.

In the preceding weekends, she engaged with representatives from Ferretti Group, Sunseeker, Benetti, Monte Carlo Yachts, and Camper & Nicholsons aboard a Riva 110’ Dolcevita during two events organized by Voyager Risk Solutions this summer.

Since its appointment in November 2020, VP boats has successfully sold several Sessa motor boats; however, for Vivian, the social circles she now frequents appear vastly different from her current position as General Manager of Sun Hing Shipyard, established by her father Chan Ki in 1981.

I had not the opportunity to embark on these exquisite vessels till recently. I usually embark on a boat to assess necessary repairs, and my few excursions into the open sea have been for sea testing. “I have observed the hull bottoms more frequently than the interiors,” chuckles Vivian, who oversees her combined responsibilities from the shipyard's primary location in Shum Wan, situated on the eastern side of the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter.

“Upon commencing my employment with my father, individuals frequently inquired, ‘Who is this blonde Chinese woman positioned on the pontoon?’” Upon observing my brother employed at Simpson Marine, I discovered the alluring aspect. I have always perceived it as a realm I could not attain, as I remained perpetually on the periphery, behind the scenes.

A familial problem prompted Vivian Chan's return home.

Vivian alongside her father and brothers, William (left) and Eric (right). Image: Ruby Law

Vivian states that her father's aspiration was for his children to pursue careers in yacht sales, rather than in the repair and maintenance sector in which he has specialized since his tenure at the Supercraft yard in Tsing Yi prior to establishing Sun Hing Shipyard. Notwithstanding the family enterprise, Vivian asserts that she hardly engaged with boats during her youth.

“We did not engage in boating activities, and I visited the shipyard only a few times during my youth.” I possessed limited knowledge of his activities. I was aware of his affinity for repairing boats, yet he never mentioned embarking on them. I commenced boating solely upon my employment with him.

In the early 1990s, the family relocated to Canada, first to Vancouver and subsequently to Toronto, where Vivian and her older brothers, William and Eric, attended school. However, unable to secure comparable employment in Canada, her father frequently traveled between Toronto and Hong Kong, while both her brothers returned to the city in the early 2000s after completing their university education in Ontario.

Similar to Eric, Vivian attended Ryerson University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Science. However, in contrast to her brothers, she remained in Toronto, even when her mother relocated to Hong Kong.

A familial problem compelled her return to the city to commence employment at Sun Hing Shipyard in 2011. Amidst a challenging period for the family, her uncle opted to establish his own firm, resulting in the division of the site and personnel into two entities, with the shipyards still situated adjacent to one another today.

“We effectively divided the shipyard into two sections,” states Vivian, whose initial task involved applying her architectural expertise to design the new office and floor layout. “I possessed limited knowledge regarding boats, yet my primary purpose was to support my father and the workers, many of whom have been with him for an extended period.”

Increasing Responsibilities

Image: Ruby Law

Subsequent to the separation, Vivian collaborated with her father in the office as Project Coordinator, alongside a team of five service personnel, including Chan Bong-wah, who continues to be employed at Sun Hing and has been working with Chan Ki for four decades.

Vivian's new employment was unexpected, not just due to her inexperience in the business but also because her father had consistently encouraged his daughters to pursue careers in different fields.

My father believed the shipyard industry is not highly lucrative, hence he never actively encouraged my brothers or me to pursue employment there. He would advise that you are best served by visiting a dealer such as Simpson Marine. My father would rather his children engage with boat owners than only repair the vessels.

To her father's satisfaction, Eric joined Simpson Marine in 2010, serving as a broker for Asia's top yacht dealer for nine years before establishing Deepsea Marine HK.

In 2013, after more than ten years in various industries, William entered the yacht sales sector, initially working for Jebsen Marine and Starship Yachts, before establishing his own agency, Sunshine Yachting, in 2017, located at Sun Hing’s original shipyard.

Meanwhile, Vivian endeavored to secure her father's business, leveraging her linguistic proficiency and international education to establish connections with numerous foreign dealers and enterprises.

Numerous dealers approached us due to my proficiency in English. "I essentially became a translator for my father at the outset," she chuckles. Vivian recalls participating in her inaugural international boat exhibition at the 2014 Hainan Rendez-Vous, having accompanied the delivery of an 80-foot-plus motor yacht from Hong Kong. Throughout the years, her experience and exposure expanded, notably through her attendance at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2017 and 2018.

Moreover, her responsibilities and significance rapidly escalated as she assumed the role of General Manager of Sun Hing Shipyard while her father gradually began to relinquish control.

In pursuit of other revenue streams for the company, she participated in successful tenders to lease shipyard lots in Ap Lei Chau, where Sun Hing operates a secondary location. New services encompass boat collection, assembly, and commissioning for yacht dealers, all of which are now proving significant to VP Yachts.

Opportunity Arises

Last year, Vivian facilitated Sun Hing Shipyard's designation as Dufour’s North Asia service centre, an appointment that initiated a series of developments culminating in her new position representing Sessa.

Kevin Corfa of Dufour Asia facilitated a remote introduction between Vivian and Brian Zhuang, headquartered in China, whose company Omnia Marine offers various brands, including Dufour and Sessa, the inland Italian boat manufacturer he acquired in 2015. Zhuang indicated that a new Sessa F68 Gullwing remained in Hong Kong, unable to be imported to China owing to Covid limitations, and requested Vivian's assistance in selling it.

In November of last year, she showcased the 21-meter flybridge motor yacht at the third Hong Kong Yacht Show, organized by HKCYIA, an exclusive event hosted for the second consecutive year adjacent to the Kai Tak Runway Park. The blue-hulled Sessa flagship emerged as one of the premier attractions among the 17 vessels during the exhibition. While showcasing the boat, she received numerous inquiries from visitors on her status as the Sessa dealer, prompting her to contact Zhuang for guidance on how to reply. He promptly verified her position as the dealer for Hong Kong.

I perceived this as an excellent opportunity to showcase the Sessa 68, which proved to be the highlight of the event. “Our boat truly captivated the audience,” she remarks. “I acquired extensive knowledge during those three days.” I attended dealer exhibitions in Hong Kong, hence I adhered to the observed protocols about attire and presentation of the boat, staff and crew uniforms, invitations, food, and related aspects.

Significantly, she was also executing her inaugural sale, albeit unbeknownst to her at that moment. A family friend among the visitors on board the Sessa expressed his desire to acquire the boat. “I believed he was jesting,” she chuckles.

Subsequently, he inquired post-show on the availability of the yacht for purchase. The vessel had resided in Kwun Tong for nine months, leading me to believe he intended to procure a replacement unit; but, he was unwilling to wait.

Vivian, now entering the boat sales industry alongside her brothers, established a new enterprise, VP Yachts—named after the initials of herself and her daughter—and had to rapidly familiarize herself with Sessa.

Sessa, located in an inland factory near Bergamo, east of Milan, manufactures cruiser and flybridge motor yachts, including the new C35 and the F68 Gullwing, a remarkable design characterized by lifting doors on either side of the saloon. It also develops the Key Largo brand line of inboard and outboard cruisers, spanning from 24 to 40 feet, which debuted at the previous year's Genoa International Boat Show.

VP Yachts' inaugural sale of this year was an F47, one of Sessa's latest models, with delivery anticipated in the first quarter of 2022. Additionally, during the summer, Vivian sold a C38 to a novice boat owner.

A comprehensive array of services from Sun Hing Shipyard and VP Yachts

Image: Ruby Law

During her short tenure as a yacht salesman, Vivian has swiftly recognized the significance of her family's shipyard, both in delivering service and prompt repairs, and as a source of security for prospective purchasers.

“The purchaser of the F47 was advised to consult me due to our shipyard's capability to provide ongoing maintenance for the vessel,” she states. “I am exceedingly pleased to possess a shipyard in this capacity.” It significantly reduces the time required in comparison to filing warranty claims and awaiting parts or repairs.

“Frequently, we address the issue immediately and manage the subsequent matters later.” Your objective is to ensure client satisfaction, rather than leaving them frustrated and waiting for boat repairs. The longer I remain in my position, the more I recognize the significance of my shipyard.

Currently overseeing both Sun Hing Shipyard and VP Yachts, Vivian employs three additional staff members in the office and six technicians in the service area, humorously noting, “My Dad comes in once a month to collect his paycheck.”

Since Vivian assumed the role of dealer, Sun Hing has been servicing other Sessa boats in Hong Kong, while VP Yachts provides yacht management services and is currently catering to the owner of the F68 Gullwing. Vivian is eager to expand the offerings of both companies.

“I derive great satisfaction from VP Yachts as it is an enterprise I initiated independently.” I intend to undertake all aspects, including after-service, yacht management, and additional responsibilities. It is essential to comprehend the entirety of the sailing experience, and I acquire new knowledge daily.