This year marks the 150th anniversary of acclaimed German shipyard Lürssen, going strong since 1875, when industrialist Gottlieb Daimler commissioned a vessel to test his petrol engine, and its young founder, Friedrich Lürssen, built the first motorboat. Other shipyards also have reason to celebrate in 2025. Herewith, a primer on the year’s fresh ideas, groundbreaking projects and emerging players transforming life on the seven seas.

Oceanco’s Y726
The 111m yacht, with an exterior by Espen Øino, was commissioned by an experienced owner. “From the outset, Y726 has benefited from a deeply collaborative, trusting and positive spirit,” says Oceanco’s project director Edske Smit. Eco-sustainable materials – such as plastic from the ocean, eggshell and nut – play a prominent role in the interiors by Mark Berryman.

The 111m yacht, with an exterior by Espen Øino, was commissioned by an experienced owner. “From the outset, Y726 has benefited from a deeply collaborative, trusting and positive spirit,” says Oceanco’s project director Edske Smit. Eco-sustainable materials – such as plastic from the ocean, eggshell and nut – play a prominent role in the interiors by Mark Berryman.

Oceano 39 by Mangusta
A family-run business, Mangusta is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with Maurizio and Katia Balducci at the helm. One of the leaders when it comes to open yachts, the new craft measures in at 39.2 metres long with a beam of 8.5 metres, can host 12 guests in five cabins, and has two engine configurations (2 x MTU 12V 2000 M86 1700HP or 2 x MTU 16V 2000 M96L 2600HP).

Maiora/Next Group’s 42 Exuma
Noted interior designer Elie Saab has taken the full bespoke interiors in hand, including a refined selection of pieces from the Elie Saab Maison collection and swathes of Fumo di Londra and Mystic Ocean marble. The 42.5m yacht can reach up to 30 knots with the fastest engine configuration.

Casa Sanlorenzo in Venice
Chairman and CEO Massimo Perotti says the past decade of the shipyard was focused on design (involving stars such as Dordoni, Lissoni and Urquiola), while the next will be dedicated to art and science – to which end, the contemporary art space Casa Sanlorenzo has recently opened its doors next to the majestic Basilica Santa Maria Della Salute.

Benetti’s Fortitude1
Benetti slip-launched the latest unit in its Class 44 series for a repeat client in May in Viareggio, with exterior and interior design by Giorgio M Cassetta. 

Feadship’s Valor
Appearing at the Monaco Yacht Show and built for a repeat client of Feadship, this 79.5m yacht, with interiors by Bannenberg & Rowell, features a novel hybrid-propulsion system.

Zero by Vitters
A 68.9m performance ketch, with naval architecture by Dykstra and interior and exterior design by Vripack, this classic beauty is exclusively powered by solar and wind. “This project has always been about showing what is possible,” says Marnix Hoekstra from Vripack – and indeed, she is a game-changer.

GTX70 by Pershing
Italian shipmaker Pershing celebrates its 40th anniversary with the launch of the most compact model in the sport-utility yacht range, the GTX70, measuring 21.76 metres with three en-suite cabins.

Tankoa’s Loewe T55
CEO Guido Orsi says, “Tankoa is a perfect blend of tradition, innovation and a family-led identity” – and this 55m, Luca Dini-designed vessel with six cabins lives up to the promise.

Lucietta by Nauta
Fusing the charm of a Venetian water taxi with contemporary style, this fully electric 9.3m craft is a cooperation between Repower, Cantiere Motonautico Serenella and Nauta Design.

The New Guard
These four young firms have invested heavily in the yachting world, bringing fresh ideas and an innovative spirit.

Red Yacht Design
Cana Gökhan and Fatih Sürekli founded their studio in 2017 after many years of groundwork: it’s not easy to enter the industry without the classic design pedigree from the UK, Italy or France, where so much of the yachting world gets its start. Young, ambitious and quite successful – evidenced by many awards – the company comprises a multidisciplinary team working on a number of projects that are both daring and elegant. Take, for example, the bold, orange-hulled Edge, a yacht designed for Sarp Yachts with a hybrid propulsion. The main idea was to integrate enclosed spaces with more light and exteriors, including full-glass living areas and spacious exteriors. Or consider Queen Yaz, a sophisticated 50m motor yacht with both an eye-catching design and plenty of space for the owner’s family, currently under construction at Dearsan shipyard in Turkey and slated for delivery in early 2026.

 

Kitson Yachts
This full-service US brokerage and charter powerhouse based in Fort Lauderdale also has a strong presence in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Europe and the Caribbean. Founded by Michael Tabor, Tony Imbesi and Brandon Kummer, it recently announced the sale of a fully custom 73m superyacht project called Il Primo, a 73m GC-Force that marks an evolution of the famous Admiral C-Force series. And earlier this year, Kummer and his team unveiled the 88m Admiral Superyacht project Spyder with delivery scheduled for 2027, featuring layouts by Espen Øino design and FM Architettura. “Negotiating yacht specifications on behalf of our clients is what we specialise in,” says Kummer. “Our goal is to guide clients through the entire design process, helping them bring their vision of owning the yacht of their dreams into reality.”

Maxim Yachts
Part of a family-owned Spanish holding company that dates to 1923, CEO José Forné founded the shipyard in 2018 with an eye on the growing demand for unique, customised high-end day cruisers. Based near Barcelona at a residential marina with 24 kilometres of navigable canals allowing for full in-house production, the shipyard made its debut at last year’s Genoa Boat Show. Exhilarating performance is key at the shipyard – enabled by its proprietary pioneering technology – and craft range from 11 to 17 metres, with production of between 12 and 24 units per year. The latest marvel, the Max 43 Comfort, boasts an elegant, spacious hull, with large day areas and comfortable cabins: it was a highlight at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. 

Antonini Navi
Gruppo Antonini was founded in the 1940s with a focus on building onshore and offshore gas and oil platforms. In the 1980s, it transitioned into building hulls for other shipyards and worked for the Italian Navy. Five years ago, the Antonini family decided to form a dedicated yachting firm to build pleasure yachts at the Cantiere Navale Marina di Pertusola in Muggiano on the Gulf of La Spezia. Currently, it has four yachts under construction, and more than €10 million has been invested to convert the entire La Spezia shipyard area. It will remain a family business, says young Walter Antonini, and clients will benefit from this direct contact with the family. At the beginning of July, it announced an enlargement of its fleet with a Sports Utility Yacht range, the SUY 110, designed by Fulvio De Simoni.

Photos: © Oceanco, © Mangusta, © Maiora, © Sanlorenzo, Giuliano Sargentini, © Feadship, Giuliano Sargentini, © Vitters, © Pershing, courtesy of Repower, © RED Yacht Design, © Kitson Yachts, © Maxim Yachts, © Antonini Navi