Top Shipyard Executives Lend Insights into the Market's Current Landscape and Future Direction

When one wants to understand the shipyard market’s direction, one could ask brokers, project managers, consultants, or journalists. However, the most critical viewpoint often remains publicly unexpressed — that of the people managing the shipyards themselves. Intriguingly, their insights form a collective diagnosis and offer a clear gauge of the current new-build landscape. With perspectives from leading companies like Royal Huisman, Damen Yachting, Feadship, Palumbo, Sanlorenzo, Azimut Benetti, and Ferretti, among others, key themes emerge.

Notably, the past two to three years have seen significant improvements in yard operations. Investments in facility redesigns, digital tools, and tighter coordination between engineering and production departments aim to eliminate late-stage revisions that have historically burdened new builds. Yet, recruiting and retaining skilled labor remains an enduring constraint, vital for preserving the exceptional quality of these yachts.

In a following up interview with Matthias Hellmann, the CEO of Abeking & Rasmussen, improvements across yards over recent years were discussed. Embracing tech, deviations from the construction process are now logged digitally. Managed centrally, these records have streamlined the construction process, hence enhancing the overall quality.