Clive Palmer’s superyacht Australia moored opposite Opera House for $3k a day
Clive Palmer is paying an astronomical cost to moor his superyacht in Sydney Harbour each day.
NSW
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“Where else would you want to berth?”
That’s Sydney Superyacht Marina manager Clemens Overdijk’s take on the spot mining billionaire Clive Palmer is paying an estimated $3000 a day to park his 56-metre boat, Australia, while participating in a Federal Court stoush with Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan.
The mooring, at Campbells Cove, is right outside the Park Hyatt Hotel and offers unobstructed views to the Sydney Opera House.
Mr Overdijk would not reveal exactly how much Mr Palmer was paying, citing a confidentiality agreement, but he did say an “average” superyacht would be charged a base rate of $2000/day.
“And Australia is bigger than average,” Mr Overdijk told The Daily Telegraph.
An even larger one – say, 62m – would have to pay $4000/night, he added.
Australia is believed to be the biggest yacht to dock at Campbells Cove since the pandemic took hold.
Mr Overdijk said the financial impact of Mr Palmer’s yacht was about $10,000 a day, including daily flower costs of $2000 and a further $5000 for food.
Plus it created jobs, he said.
“I know for a fact all crew on Australia are Australian — that comes with the owner’s very Australian sentiment,” Mr Overdijk said.
Australia has been in Sydney since February 10, meaning it has injected about $70,000 into the local economy.
It arrived from Brisbane where it was in port from December 22.
It travelled the Suez Canal in July last year. That month it stopped at Egypt’s Port Said and, before that, Bodrum in Turkey.
One of the 12 on-board crew told The Telegraph the yacht would be in Sydney for a few more days then head to Melbourne, Adelaide and the Gold Coast.
He described Mr Palmer as a nice guy and friendly to him and the crew.
Mr Palmer reportedly bought Australia in December 2020. The price paid is not known, but the seller was asking for €23 million ($36m).
The yacht was built in Italy and originally named Ulysses. The second owner renamed it Bash.
Mr Palmer is its third owner. He would not comment when approached by The Telegraph on Wednesday.
As part of the purchase, Mr Palmer got a floating pool, trampoline, at least five jet skis, an outdoor cinema and a jetpack. But not the self-playing Steinway grand piano the yacht once boasted.
Asked whether Campbells Cove was the most expensive place to moor a yacht in Australia, Mr Overdijk said Cairns could be just as expensive for leisure vessels because it was a commercial port.
Campbells Cove was very good value compared to Monaco or Fort Lauderdale in Florida, he said.
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