Pole Position: How Poland is Transforming its Historic Shipyards into Global Superyacht and Luxury Catamaran Hubs

From the historic city of Gdańsk to the modern shipyards of Ostróda, Poland’s maritime story is a rich tapestry of potent history and innovative modernity. Its shipyards are treasured landmarks, reminders of the nation’s enduring shipbuilding heritage and centres of industrial innovation. Today, these historical dockyards are transforming into beacons of luxury watercraft production, leaving behind their stale industrial image. Poland is rising as a leader in European yacht building, creating ripples in the realm of luxury watercraft.

At the recent Monaco Yacht Show, Sunreef unveiled a 65 metre Explorer catamaran concept, a pioneering design that challenged preconceptions about the size and range of multi-hull watercraft. The concept marked another step forward for the company and for Polish yacht production.

Not far away lies Conrad Shipyard, renowned for creating bespoke one-off projects for international clients. A trendsetter in the world of luxury watercraft, Conrad Shipyard is working on several large-scale projects, including a new 42-metre sailing yacht. Their course is a testament that Polish yards can compete in areas where craftsmanship matters as much as scale.

Lastly, Poland’s competitive edge owes a lot to its technical universities that provide a reliable stream of specialised labour. As a result, it remains a strategic advantage that keeps Poland sailing ahead on this innovative journey.