Megayacht build boom continues
By IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon
ShowBoats International has reported in its most recent issue a 15.3 per cent increase in the overall linear footage of yachts 80 feet and over that are currently under construction around the world. Its "Order Book", the annual guide to superyacht builds, reports 777 80ft-plus yachts under construction that total 94,404 linear feet. The number of units has risen by 89 compared to last year. The greatest increases, according to the report, came in the 120ft-149ft range. The number of yachts in that size range increased to 141 in 2007 compared to 98 last year. The Order Book also noted that the number of yachts over 150ft also rose by 18 per cent to 139 — almost a 30 per cent increase during a two-year period. Azimut-Benetti was the top global builder in the megayacht range with 93 projects representing a total length of 10,859 feet, at an average of 117 feet. The Italian Ferretti Group ranked second with 83 projects representing 8,656 feet, with an average length of 104 feet. The third-largest builder was Sunseeker, with 51 projects at 4,576 feet, with an average length of 90 feet. Italy also kept its ranking as the top yacht-building nation. Its footage increased by 31 per cent compared to last year's Order Book. The number of Italian builds rose by 87 yachts to 347 units for the year. The US is a distant second in yacht builds, with 103 projects representing 13,056 feet, and an average length of 127 feet. The Netherlands is number three, with 54 projects at 8,965 feet, with an average length of 166 feet. The UK was the fourth-largest yacht building nation, with 60 projects at 5,612 feet, with an average length of 94 feet. All four were ranked the same as last year. In specific size categories, motoryacht builds from 80 to 89 declined from 205 last year to 194 this year. In the size range, 90 to 99 feet, builds were up to 99 compared to 82 last year, and from 100 to 119 feet, the build number rose from 133 to 145. As mentioned, builds from 120 to 149 feet rose from 98 to 141. Builds from 200 to 249 feet were down by one unit to 27, while the 250ft-plus category rose to 17 units from 10 in 2006. In terms of custom builders, Trinity Yachts in the US was ranked number one, with 18 projects having a total length of 2,965 feet, and an average length of 165 feet. Benetti was number two with 15 projects at 2,797 feet, with an average length of 186 feet. Feadship was number three with 14 projects at 2,703 feet, with an average length of 193 feet, and Lurssen was fourth, with 10 projects for a total length of 2,569 feet with an average length of 257 feet.
(7 November 2006)
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