Step by step loading procedure of sailing catamaran Mira V

Ship Carrier Loading – Lagoon 45 Catamaran Delivery Support

Loading a sailing catamaran onto a ship carrier is not just a logistical task—it’s a tightrope walk of coordination, timing, and hands-on yacht care. At Delivery Captain, we support this complex process from start to finish, ensuring your vessel makes it onboard safely, cleanly, and on time.

This article covers the real-world loading of Lagoon 45 “Mira V” onto a ship carrier, along with key advice for owners preparing for similar operations.

Sailing Catamaran alongside ship
sailing catamaran loading

Booking a Ship Carrier – What You Must Know

Booking yacht transport by ship means locking into a rigid and often changing timeline. Once your booking is confirmed and paid (in full), there is no refund unless the shipping company itself changes the schedule. After that, everything becomes… approximate.

Key issues:

  • The loading date is rarely fixed. Carriers often pick up new bookings or change ports mid-route.

  • You will receive last-minute updates only, and even the most responsive agents cannot predict delays.

  • Skippers and yacht delivery crews need to be on standby for potentially several days or more.

  • Miss the loading time? You miss the ship—and your payment.

🧭 Tip: The only way to succeed is to assign a crew early, have them sail the yacht to the loading port, and wait—no matter how long it takes.

For support or planning advice, contact Delivery Captain before you book the transport.

Additional Reading

📚 We recommend this excellent industry article:
Delivery by Ship or Crew? – YachtingWorld.com
It offers valuable insights and reflects our real-world experience. The more you know, the better you’ll plan.

Preparing the Catamaran for Loading

For Mira V, our team followed a strict preparation process:

  • ✅ Full sail removal: Genoa taken down

  • ✅ Protective wrap: Mainsail covered to avoid diesel fumes

  • ✅ Deck wash: Entire deck coated with soapy water to prevent grime stains

  • ✅ Gear check: Final walk-through to secure hatches, lines, and loose gear

We remained on board at all times and maintained contact with the shipping master until boarding clearance was granted.

sailing catamaran loaded on ship

Approaching the Carrier & Final Instructions

Once permission was given, the vessel was motored to the ship’s side and held in standby position for crane loading. This is where crew focus and timing are essential—loading procedures move fast and missing a single cue can delay your delivery.

The loading team took over once lines were passed. From this moment:

  • The catamaran was lifted by crane

  • Raised to deck height and moved into her assigned spot

  • Positioned carefully onto wood placeholders for balance

  • Secured with heavy-duty straps for sea transport

Our crew remained present throughout, filming and documenting the process. This final step is where attention to detail matters most.

boat alongside ship
catamaran loading procedure

Offloading & Final Positioning

Once at destination—in this case, Dubai—the process reverses. The crew on board the ship:

  • Loosens and removes securing straps

  • Lowers the vessel carefully into the water or onto port supports

  • Ensures safe disembarkation and positioning on land or berth

Delivery Captain can assist at both loading and offloading ports.

Why Use Delivery Captain for Ship Carrier Assistance?

While many assume yacht delivery is only for long-distance sailing, our service also covers local repositioning and standby crew for ship carrier operations.

This includes:

  • ⛵ Sailing the yacht to the correct loading port

  • 🕐 Standby time at marinas while awaiting updated loading instructions

  • 📞 On-call crew who remain on site until the job is done

  • 🧭 Full documentation of the loading process

  • ⚓ Optional post-discharge support at destination

We make sure your catamaran doesn’t miss her ship—because if she does, you pay the price.

catamaran on ship

Contact Delivery Captain

Need support for an upcoming ship carrier loading?

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