What’s going on in the wonderful world of luxury yachts? What are the latest trends in this fast-changing sector? Here’s the news.
Sustainable yachting hits a high
Sustainability is hot in the yachting world with a growing trend for eco-friendly yachts featuring the latest hybrid propulsion systems, solar panels, and advanced waste management systems. The Italian shipyard Sanlorenzo, for example, is leading the way with hybrid vessels blending diesel engines with electric motors. And Feadship’s Project 821, launched in late 2024, is a 119m superyacht powered by hydrogen fuel cells, taking a significant step towards sustainable sailing.
A tranche of brand-new superyachts takes to the seas
Several new superyachts have been launched recently including Oceanco’s Kaos, a 110m beast admired for its bold design and luxurious amenities. Lürssen’s Nord is another, a 142m vessel with a sleek contemporary silhouette, packed full of the latest state-of-the-art tech. Amels’ Tanzanite, which will be ready for
delivery this year, is a 110m motor yacht predicted to be the brand’s flagship boat, featuring advanced designs and luxury every step of the way. Then there’s Oceanco’s Project Y722, due for delivery in summer 2025 and expected to be one of the top 100 biggest yachts on earth.
La Belle Classe Superyachts symposium
The Yacht Club de Monaco, along with Swiss bank UBS, recently held its seventeenth Business Symposium, a debate and dinner bringing key players in the sector together. Professionals exchanged views and insights into the future of luxury yachting, focusing on trends, innovations, and ‘The Economic Impact of International and Geopolitical Tensions on the Yachting Industry.’ Sustainability also played a significant role, with an award ceremony recognising two vessels that achieved a three-star rating under the SEA Index, a classification system measuring yacht emissions.
Customised, personalised and bespoke yachts are the future
Yacht owners and those commissioning new boats are increasingly interested in creating bespoke designs to reflect their personalities and lifestyles, driving a surge in custom-built boats. Feadship, Benetti, and Amels shipyards are all offering highly personalised craft with everything from unique hull designs to custom interiors and ever-higher levels of detail and craftsmanship.
Red Bull driver buys a Mangusta Series Super Sport 33
Late January 2025 saw Red Bull racing driver Max Verstappen and his girlfriend Kelly Piquet taking delivery of a Super Sport 33 from the Mangusta Series, named ‘Unleash the Lion’. Details are thin on the ground but we do know the cheapest vessel in the range costs around 12 million Euros. Apparently the craft features five rooms offering enough space for twelve guests, plus three cabins to sleep five crew.
The dramatic rise in explorer yachts
Explorer yachts are a growing trend for 2025, created for long range voyages and able to navigate remote, challenging seas. They come with advanced navigation systems, extra-robust hulls, and all the necessary equipment for extended stays at sea. Damen Yachting’s SeaXplorer series is an excellent example.
Delayed in 2024, due in 2025
The world’s biggest yacht, 728 feet long and costing a hefty £480 million, will contain 39 customisable ultra-luxurious enormous apartments, each costing over £8 million, some with a private balcony. The biggest of all almost spans the entire top deck.
Named ‘Somnio’, she was supposed to launch last year but faced legal delays. The yacht’s exclusive on-board Beach Club area will have a huge lap pool, two enormous spas, bars and outdoor lounges, with a wide range of water sports equipment and boats available for residents. The wine cellar will contain 10,000 bottles as well as a wine tasting room. The icing on the cake is the world-class medical facilities that reveal the boat’s true long term purpose: to shelter apartment owners from ‘pandemics and global risks’.
Cutting edge tech as standard
Cutting-edge technology is becoming the standard, covering advanced navigation systems, AI-driven automation systems and underwater rooms with panoramic views like those aboard Heesen’s extraordinary ‘Cosmos’, with its automatic dynamic positioning system that keeps the boat in place without having to actually drop the anchor.
US Superbowl attracts luxury yacht owners
Why travel to the Superbowl by land when you can sail? That’s what various yacht owners did, bringing their luxury craft to port in New Orleans. The Atlanta Falcons owner, who co-founded the US superstore Home Depot, turned up on his 90m yacht, and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club owner Shahid Khan docked his 122m $360m ‘Kismet’ on the banks of the Mississippi for the big game.
Regulatory changes in the luxury yacht sector
We’re seeing changing regulations around yacht emissions and safety standards. The International Maritime Organization or IMO is introducing stricter rules to slash the CO2 footprint of yachts, inspiring builders to innovate new solutions and bring more green technologies to the party.
Yacht charters and yacht syndications are booming
The luxury charter market is growing fast as more people than ever decide to rent yachts instead of buying. We’ve seen the same thing with yacht syndication, with demand also increasing sharply. If you’d like to join the yacht share revolution, we’ll be delighted to show you the way.
