It was probably only a matter of time before the tough economic conditions struck the marine industry.

Auckland yacht and launch broker International Marine Brokers has called in the liquidators.

Based at the very hub of Auckland’s boating activity, Westhaven, the company represented several popular overseas yacht brands, including Germany’s Bavaria Yachts and America’s J Boat brands.

No one from the company was available to speak to NBR. But Auckland liquidator Stephen Lawrence of PKF Corporate Recovery and Insolvency Limited confirmed that PKF had been called in by the directors of International Marine Brokers on Wednesday morning.

Mr Lawrence said International’s sales had declined from 20 overseas built boats a year in 2007 to five this year.

“These are boats worth some hundreds of thousands of dollars each,” he said.

Asked if there were any boats in stock that could be used to help pay creditors, Mr Lawrence said there were none. The reason is that the brokerage sourced boats to customer order and took a commission, rather than importing boats to go into general stock.

Mr Lawrence said that having been called in only yesterday, it was impossible for him to state what the company may owe.

The principal director of International, according to company listings, is Roger Wilson. The company’s website says it was established in 1989.

The yacht pictured is of the Bavaria brand and is taken from International’s website.