Discover Turkish Shipyards Making a Splash

Turkey is the world's third largest builder of superyachts. With its rich maritime heritage and skilled workforce, Turkish shipyards have become a force to be reckoned with. 

Why turn to Turkish shipyards? Three simple reasons: they are flexible, available, and most importantly deliver high-quality projects that are notably built in Turkey from start to finish. 

If you're looking to build a new yacht in 2023, chances are you can expect about 5-6 years waiting time from most shipyards. In Turkey, however, there are a number of shipyards ready to make your dreams a reality and deliver to the highest standards of quality almost immediately. More and more discerning clients from around the world are turning their attention to these yards.

Turkey's solid artisanal workforce stems from the country's long-standing manufacturing history and approach to art.  Their attitude makes for a workforce that takes an enormous amount of pride in their work and an attention to detail determined to deliver high-quality products. 

Below, we have highlighted three shipyards contributing to this boom. Keep reading to find out more about their stories, and projects and yachts currently available for sale.  

Interested in knowing more, contact us.

Founded in 2015 under the leadership of visionary, businessman and yacht Owner, Vural Ak, AKYACHT broke through with its first project VICTORIOUS (for charter with Fraser), the biggest superyacht ever built in Turkey. The AKYACHT brand stands for innovation, quality, and exceptional customer service and support. The shipyard has quickly become a key player in the industry thanks to its 100+ strong team of experts and Owner. They are proud to own their own ISO 9001 Lloyd's-certified facilities including a 90M, 1,800m2  build shed and another 60M, 1,200m2  shed -- both environmentally controlled with workshops ensuite and a 15,000m2  waterside site.  

Aside from its new build projects, the shipyard has also successfully completed refit projects, showcasing its ability to handle all kinds of projects.

"AKYACHT, as a shipyard, never compromises on quality, meeting the highest-class standards and flag state requirements while effectively organising the production process using high-quality equipment," says Owner, Mr. Ak. "All AKYACHT products are eco-friendly and sustainable vessels that can cruise worldwide."

The shipyard has been focused on building year-round boats built for use in all kinds of conditions, allowing you to go anywhere, anytime. The vision: combine comfort, luxury, and high-tech features to allow Owners to spend the entire year on board their yacht. 

AKYACHT is passionate about the timeless, masculine explorer series between 60-100M for the next generation of yacht Owners.  Their future designs will blend 100% eco-friendly new technologies with comfort and lower running costs for a better environment. As Mr. Ak puts it, 'We want to manufacture the Owners’ dream boats - like a legacy they want to hand down to the next generation."

"Turkey has become an exceptional destination for the entire industry. Hand workmanship and craftsmanship are highly developed in Turkey. Additionally, we have so many highly experienced engineers. Thanks to the brilliant combination of that labour force, the industry is able to construct a vessel at any level, from a small sailboat to a large mega-yacht."   Vural Ak, Owner, AKYACHT

VICTORIOUS

85M/279’ | AKYACHT | 2021 

VICTORIOUS is a multi-award-winning, feature-packed explorer yacht and the recipient of the Robb Report 2022 ‘Best of the Best’ Award and category winner ‘Motor Yacht Over 80 Metres’ at The International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2022.  

STANDOUT FEATURES:

• True Explorer superyacht capable to circumnavigate around the world with a 10,200nm cruising range
• 200sqm stylish beach club equipped with swimming pool, spa, gym, and beauty salon
• Wine and cigar clubroom with fireplace

Find out more about M/Y VICTORIOUS, or contact a Fraser broker for more details.

Inspired from a young age by his father's work as a craftsman at various boat building companies, Ramazan Mengi, founder of Mengi Yay, spent 12 years learning and acquiring skills as a foreman, master and tradesman before opening his own workshop. A true family business, Ramazan is later joined by his eldest son, Huseyin. Until 1985, their reputation carries from their successful build of the first 100 fishing and rowing boats up to 20M. Their excellence in craftsmanship and originality brings them praise and demand from all over the country. 

Today, Mengi Yay remains a family business in its 3rd generation, and proudly owns one of the largest (19,365m2) and sophisticated yards specifically designed for the refit and refurbishment of existing craft as well as the manufacturing of brand new state of the art luxury motor and sailing yachts up to 130M/426'.

With 56 years of experience, 200+ yachts under their belt, 6 sheds, 2 building, a large shipyard and a talented workforce of 360+ employees, Mengi Yay places great importance on supporting young carpenters, painters, electricians, technicians, designers, and engineers, placing their time and faith into the building the future of the yacht building sector. 

Mengi Yay is committed to working with sustainable and renewable materials and follow a design philosophy based on functionality and aesthetics meant to inspire and establish the basis for the future of yacht design. To increase efficiency, they build the yachts hulls upside down and use robotic welding for linear surfaces. Their board of directors is always involved, attending to each client directly. 

The shipyard is also devoted to innovation, working on a yacht cruise alarm system and autonomous cruising infrastructure via machine learning and deep learning algorithms with Artificial Intelligence engineers to help achieve collision avoidance with boats and humans, perimeter surveillance and burglar surveillance able to identify incoming and suspicious activity during night anchorage. 

Mengi Yay's Business Development Executive, Erdinç Kuşcu, notes fast decision making and faster build without the compromise of quality as a key success factor for the shipyard. "Anyone can build anything when it takes long enough. What matters is building it fast and high quality with excellent customization features. Because time matters and we know it."

"Turkey is one of the world’s leading yacht building countries with decades of experience in motor, sailing and gullet yacht construction. A centralised location in the heart of the Mediterranean provides people the opportunity to deliver our products to worldwide customers. The quality of the yacht built in Turkey is at very high standard right now when compared with the competitors’ shipyards in the world." - Erdinç Kuşcu, Business Development Executive, Mengi Yay

EXPLORER XP

50M/164'01" | MENGI YAY | 2025

The Explorer XP 50M was developed as part of the successful VIRTUS Series.

Penned by Designer Paolo Doze and engineered by Van Oossanen, Explorer XP 50M combines the comfort of the VIRTUS experience with exhilarating features of the explorer line . The yacht has features fit for the demands of discerning clients in search of a go-anywhere and elegant yacht: a Heli pad, pool deck, master bridge deck, guest main deck, gym, and ample tender storage.

GWEILO

47.4M/155'06" | MENGI YAY | 2009/2022

GWEILO is a luxury 47m sailing schooner for sale. She was built by Mengi Yay in 2009 and has been extensively refitted in 2021/2022.

With a beam of 8.35 m and a draft of 4.7 m, she is a stunning wood epoxy laminate construction and offers her Owner a volume of 157 gross tons. She is powered by a Caterpillar 3406E engine providing 558 hp giving her a maximum speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 11 knots.

GWEILO can accommodate up to 8 guests in 3 staterooms. She is the definition of beauty with her Dykstra exterior design. GWEILO is commercially compliant and to be found in superb condition, ready to be sold to and enjoyed globally by her next passionate owner!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• 2009, 47m Mengi Yay Sailing Schooner.
• Dykstra Design.
• RINA LY2 Commercially compliant
• Fabulously maintained and extensively refitted in 2021/22
• Accommodates up to 8 guests in 3 ensuite staterooms with accommodation for 7 crew.
• Safe, fast and a proven world capable sailing yacht

VIRTUS Hull 03 - SOLD

47.29/155'02" | MENGI YAY | 2023

Designed with a contemporary and sophisticated approach, her floor-to-ceiling windows offer a seamless sense of openness onto the outside world. This unrestricted navigation vessel boasts large living spaces and a beach club.  No toys are visible from the outside. VIRTUS preserves her spacious layout with a 9m beam and maintains a sleek look. R.E.G. yacht code.

ICE Yacht is one of the predominant players in the development of the yacht building industry in Turkey striving for excellence on all fronts: innovation, technology and transport.  Created to respond to the demand of UHNW partners who were looking to obtain the same quality builds they were getting elsewhere, maintaining the same vision and structure. ICE aims to anchor its brand in a highly competitive industry by proposing large yachts built by highly skilled and experience people who are eager to work together with an Owner to bring their vision to life.

ICE is powered by the pride in delivering quality. "Money is not the driver, excellence is. This is what makes the utmost difference," they share. 

What is ICE doing differently? Their structure is set to deliver speculative yachts, be on time, and to accept few custom orders. Driven by quality, price and delivery, they want to take a transparent approach. 

ICE Yacht is motivated by the bold. They like adventurous, audacious concepts fueled by a spirit of exploration, giving their builds somewhat of a sporty touch.

ICE 68

68M/223’01” | ICE YACHT IN COLLABORATION WITH AES | 2023

ICE 68 is being built to the highest standards by Ice Yacht in collaboration with AES Yacht in Turkey. Penned inside and out by the innovative Hot Lab Studio, the project offers striking design and style. Due for delivery in December 2023, ICE 68 offers potential buyers the chance to enjoy an outstanding yacht well before the current market waiting list of 3 to 5 years.

STANDOUT FEATURES:

• Elevator connecting four of the six decks
• Five-metre-long swimming pool and beach club
• A touch-and-go helipad for maximum privacy

Click here to find out more or contact Alain Auvare or David Legrand.