How to choose the right shipyard for your build

Before the build

Before selecting a shipyard, the first question is not where to build, but what you want the build to achieve. Where do you want to go, and who do you want to take with you? Do you have any thoughts on size, number of guests or budget?  ‘Once a client can answer that – with our support through consultative discussions – we can guide them through an enjoyable and fulfilling process that meets their objectives.’ Explains Ed Beckett, senior partner and new build advisor. The process must be results driven.

‘Before embarking on a build, it’s important buyers are clear on their requirements and timeline expectations,’ says Sean Bianchi, partner, head of Burgess Technical Services and naval architect. Some may be experienced in the yachting world, while others may be completely new to the industry. It is Burgess’ role to fill the gaps, manage expectations, educate and assist clients on the elements that they may not have realised they didn’t know.

These early conversations help determine not only the size, style and specification of the yacht, but whether a custom, semi-custom or production route is the right fit.

Is a new build right for you?

For many experienced owners, building a yacht is the natural next step in their ownership journey. After time spent chartering or owning existing vessels, they often start to develop a clear understanding of how they want to live on board – from the size of the yacht and cabin arrangement to the facilities, technical capabilities and the atmosphere they want to create.

How to assess the right shipyard

Not all shipyards are suited to every project. Understanding how they differ is key to finding the right partner for your build. They vary significantly in quality, pricing, delivery schedules, capacity and size limitations, making it essential to identify the factors that matter most to the owner before selecting the right build partner.

As Bianchi explains, ‘emerging yards can often look very attractive to owners looking for a cost-optimised solution, but this does introduce increased risk exposure that should be understood.’ Choosing an established yard with a strong track record is often the lower-risk option, but it can also mean higher costs and longer lead times. The right choice therefore depends on how the owner weighs quality, price, timeline and risk.

‘Each client will weigh these differently, so two clients’ seemingly similar projects will likely be best suited to different shipyards,’ Beckett adds. ‘Our role is to understand each client’s priorities and discuss the strengths, trade-off and risks of each yard with complete transparency.’

Future resale should also form part of those early discussions. For some owners, the priority is creating a yacht that is entirely personal to them, while others want to balance their own requirements with long-term market appeal. ‘Typically the vessels that retain the highest value are those that are manufactured by the well-established shipyards,’ says Bianchi, with Northern European yards continuing to lead the charge. For owners who place greater emphasis on resale, factors such as layout, décor, technical specification and broader market appeal should all be considered early in the design and shipyard selection process.

What to look for on a yard visit

A proposal can tell you what a shipyard is offering, but a visit will reveal how it operates. For that reason, Burgess generally recommends visiting a shortlist of yards before making a final decision.

‘We accompany clients during their tours to walk them through the finer details of each shipyard,' says Beckett, 'including technical construction quality and the differences in yard processes – turning this into clear, practical insight so they can compare each option with confidence.’

During those visits, owners should look beyond the finished yachts. The yard’s facilities, build teams, processes and culture all matter, as does the quality of work visible on yachts under construction. Beckett describes this as understanding the yard’s ‘DNA’ – the working personality of the shipyard, which is often apparent once you are on site.

The risks first-time builders often miss

One of the biggest risks for first-time builders is assuming that every shipyard proposal means the same thing. In reality, two offers can appear comparable on paper while differing significantly in what is included, excluded or left to be clarified later prior to contract signature.

While Bianchi notes that clients are increasingly well informed about the new build process, many still underestimate how much can vary between yards, particularly when it comes to the build price. Depending on whether a client is building custom or on a platform, owners may expect a turnkey yacht ready for cruising, only to discover that certain items sit outside the agreed price.

How Burgess protects the owner’s interests

With over 300 years of collective experience and a long history of working with leading shipyards across the world, Burgess brings both technical knowledge and commercial perspective to the selection process. The team understands how different yards work across design, construction, pricing and delivery, and uses that insight to help clients make informed decisions from the outset.

As Bianchi explains, the process typically begins with understanding the client’s requirements before identifying a shortlist of four or five shipyards that may be best suited to the project. Burgess then helps develop a high-level brief, approaches the yards and compares proposals on as like-for-like a basis as possible, giving the client a clear view of the strengths, trade-offs and risks involved. Once a preferred shipyard has been selected, the Burgess New Build team supports the development and negotiation of the contractual documents that help mitigate any risk.

For clients considering a semi-custom or production route, Burgess’ managed fleet offers another unique advantage. As one of the largest in the industry, it is likely to include either the model under consideration or comparable yachts from the same builder. That gives the New Build team access to first-hand operational insight, from performance and reliability to maintenance, guest experience and running costs.

Burgess’ global reach is also backed by local presence. With technical specialists embedded in key shipbuilding hubs such as Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, the team maintains close relationships with leading yards and can help resolve challenges before they become problems.

And once the yacht is delivered, the relationship continues. Burgess can support every stage of ownership, from warranty oversight and crew recruitment to charter strategy and refit planning – giving owners the confidence of a seamless, fully integrated service long after launch.

The changing shipyard landscape

The superyacht landscape is changing rapidly, from breakthrough new technologies and owner expectations shaping the on board amenities to the materials used and shipyards themselves. Northern European yards have long set the benchmark for large yacht construction, followed by the Italians. But, as Bianchi highlights, Turkey is becoming a strong force with a growing capability.

‘Turkey has been an emerging area where the increased size of yachts built is now comparable to their competitors. Over recent years, yacht construction in Turkey has significantly increased with multiple shipyards emerging in the Istanbul area as well as Antalya.’

At the same time, owners are becoming more informed and more exacting. New technologies, more complex on board systems and evolving regulations mean shipyards must be increasingly agile. As Bianchi notes, the relative resilience of the shipyard sector is testament to its ability to adapt to the changing requirements of owners and the wider industry.