Sturgeon Bay, WI – Marine Travelift has recently delivered a new 50BFMII (50 metric ton capacity) boat hoist to Marina Kawage in Japan. The new boat hoist replaces a 35-ton Marine Travelift which the marina had been running since 1993, giving them greater lifting capacity while also incorporating the latest technology and features to best serve their growing customer base.
Marina Kawage is one of nine Japan Alliance marinas and is ideally positioned in Ise Bay in the center of Honshu, Japan, making it easy to access Japan’s metropolitan areas and tourist destinations from the marina base. The marina opened in 1993 with a 35-ton Marine Travelift and the machine served them well for nearly 30 years of business. With increased demand from larger vessels, the marina wanted to make sure they could accommodate these customers safely and efficiently. “We began considering a larger capacity machine due to the age of our current unit, ensuring safety and to increase capacity, which in turn increases the number of boats we can store”, says Kensuke Ochiai, Senior Managing Director. He added, “Being able to make a large investment has also increased the company’s credibility and trust.”
The new Marine Travelift boat hoist is equipped with a wireless remote control, 2-speed hoist, sailboat top beam extension for additional clearance and a spool piece which can be easily added to increase machine width in the future. The new machine, along with the enhanced features, has positively impacted both the staff and customer experience. “The new addition increases operator confidence when lifting larger vessels and gives customers additional peace of mind,” says Ochiai. “The wireless remote control reduces blind spots while operating and improves work efficiency.”
Hurdles that arose from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic required close communication between the two sides to ensure everything went smoothly. Ochiai explained, “Although there were some obstacles stemming from the pandemic, such as disruptions to logistics and currency instability, Marine Travelift handled them smoothly and flexibly. In addition, they [Marine Travelift] handled all miscellaneous tasks and paperwork required so the approval for subsidy application was a success.”
With an onsite restaurant serving authentic charcoal BBQ, an ocean front beach and home marina of the rental boat club, Marina Kawage is catering to boaters and non-boaters alike. They know how to take care of their customers and choose to work with Marine Travelift again for their boat handling needs because of trust, quality and longevity of the equipment.
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Officially established in 1954, Marine Travelift Inc. has a long-standing reputation as a marine industry leader and is recognized for its tradition of excellence on a global scale. The company manufactures mobile boat hoists, marine forklifts, self-propelled transporters, and other related marine lifting products. It also has an extensive U.S. and international dealer network, with more than 4,500 units in service worldwide.