The Real Titans Speak: New Insights into Marine Market State, As Shipyard CEOs Air Their Views

Pundits are aplenty in the marine sector, but none hold the consequential insights of those at the helm - the CEOs of the market-leading shipyards. We ask nine such leaders the critical questions, offering a collective health check and what to expect next in the industry. The conversation spans from Royal Huisman, Damen Yachting, and Feadship in the Netherlands to Italian heavyweights Palumbo, Sanlorenzo, Azimut Benetti and Ferretti, onto Abeking and Rasmussen in Germany, and finally, Bilgin in Türkiye. Their converging views provide a fascinating lense into the industry’s current state and foreseeable future.

Looking to the future, our CEO panel notes a shift in customer priorities. These captains of industry find owners more thoughtfully assessing their time on board, with purpose, sustainability and adventure now impacting the design process of these vessels. The industry leaders don’t foresee explosive growth but anticipate a market shaped by quality, credibility, and relevance to modern boat owner’s expectations.

An interview extract with Giordano Pellacani, Chief Commercial Officer at Ferretti Group, reveals how at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard, the construction process has been strengthened by the evolution of integrated design systems and incorporating in-house engineering and naval architecture expertise.