Rivergate prepares MY Explora for her year-long world voyage
Rivergate’s facilities, onsite resources and trusted contractor base made it the clear choice for MY Explora’s survey period
When a vessel is preparing for extended global cruising, confidence in planning, people and process matters.
For Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, supporting captains through complex survey periods is about more than completing works on time. It’s about setting vessels up properly for what comes next.
This was certainly the case for 46-metre Feadship motor yacht Explora.
The vessel returned to Rivergate in December to close-out her 40-year Lloyd’s survey following an extensive refit and international cruising program.
The refit journey began at Rivergate in September 2025 for a comprehensive eight-week refit.
The scope of works included tank, valve and shaft line inspections, along with paint and interior and electrical upgrades. Significant engineering works were also undertaken, including the rebuilding of cranes, power packs and steering pumps.
The refit was led by Project Manager Angus Patterson and required months of preparation prior to the vessel’s arrival.
“The project involved around four months of planning and coordination with trades before the yacht even arrived at Rivergate,” Angus said. “While vessels of this age can present challenges, Explora proved a testament to Feadship’s original craftsmanship.”
All works were completed on site using Rivergate’s established contractor network, with close collaboration between the shipyard team, trades and crew.
“The contractors, the crew and the Rivergate team all pulled together seamlessly to ensure the work was completed to the highest standards of quality and safety,” Angus said.
Why Rivergate was the perfect match for MY Explora’s schedule of works
After the initial refit period, MY Explora departed Rivergate to travel through the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea before returning to Brisbane in December to close out her survey window.
Reflecting on the project following the vessel’s return, Captain Mat Lotz said early preparation and communication were critical to the success of the refit.
“The team at Rivergate is truly exceptional,” he said. “State of the art facilities, a lot of resources, big contractor base experience and references that we have heard across the industry.”
He also pointed to the team's willingness to fly to the Phillipines and go through the scope of works before being engaged as the chosen refit team as a major drawcard.
“Andrew and Angus were immediately happy to fly over to the Philippines where we were docked at the time and come on board, meet us, have a look at the jobs, and provide the scope that we wanted to get done,” Captain Mat said.
“They then flew back, prepared the quotes and got everything in place. That for me was a real show of dedication of being willing to go the extra mile to travel internationally to make sure that we had a good head start.”
With major mechanical components removed and reinstated as part of the survey process, trust in planning and execution was essential.
“Knowing the work was prepared properly and managed carefully was a major factor in our success,” Captain Mat said.
What’s next for MY Explora
With her survey period complete, MY Explora is now preparing for the next stage of her year-long global voyage.
“Everyone’s extremely excited about our time that we’re going to be spending in French Polynesia,” Captain Mat said.
The itinerary also includes the Galapagos Islands, where seeing large marine life is a key highlight.
“We’re hoping to see schooling hammerheads,” he said, before the vessel finishes the year cruising through Costa Rica.
With many remote regions on the schedule, Captain Mat and his crew feel reassured the vessel is up for the challenge of the next stage of her global journey.
“We’re feeling confident that Explora is in good stead now that we’re cruising out of Rivergate,” Captain Mat said.
You can keep up with MY Explora’s travels via their Instagram page.