The organizers are describing the 56th annual edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as the biggest and best yet. The expectations going in were sky-high and the show more than lived up to them. After five days of meeting, sales and exhibits the FLIBS 2015 closed. It attracted about 100,000 people.
The world's biggest in-water boat show had more boats at docks than ever - up 4 percent from last year to top 1,500. Five yachts this year topped 200 feet each, said Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, president of Fort Lauderdale's Show Management, which organizes the event.
"Every year, it gets better and better, and this year was really awesome," said Kathy Nitabach, vice president of Bradford Marine group of Fort Lauderdale, which sells boats and operates repair yards.
The crowds were attracted by debuts of many new yachts. With Europe and other world markets weak this year and the U.S. market stronger, many manufacturers came to Fort Lauderdale with strong lineups.
James Nobel, Vice President & Marketing Director of Princess Yachts America, told us: "Overall, FLIBS 2015 was very successful for Princess yachts. Despite the warmer than average temperatures, attendance was strong over the course of the show. We premiered the 88 Motor Yacht and Princess V48 OPEN alongside nine other models in our display on the Bahia Mar Yachting Center Face Dock. We saw a number of our current customers in attendance, and sales were strong during the show, with some very good leads that we believe will result in additional sales as a result of the show. We very much appreciate all of the efforts that Show Management, the media, the Marine Industries Association, and the city do to keep this event successful each and every year".
The show turned out to be a success not only for Princess Yachts but also for other major players in the industry. Timothy Hamilton, Director of Feadship America, was content with this year's FLIBS, adding that the show has become increasingly more active in the past three years. "I think most people were very happy with the activities. We had a few serious meetings with clients, developing new relations as well as maintaining existing ones." He elaborated that his company builds five yachts per year, and plans to sell two of those in the US.
Dutch yacht shipyard, Heesen Yachts has described it as "the best FLIBS ever". 'We had a new stand location, on the front, and we have our new offices on 17th street with Thom Conboy as sales director for the Americas. On Friday 6th we had a press conference to present Project Nina and Project Nova", - said Sara Gioanola, PR & Press Office Manager.
The show was a success as well as for superyacht brokerage agency, Edmiston Yachts. Jamie Edmiston, CEO of Edmiston Yachts told us "The show was a success for us. We exhibited the 50m Perini Navi SILENCIO and the 59m Oceanco HELIOS. Both yachts were very well received and we had offers on both which was encouraging."
Seven venues stretched over 3 million square feet of exhibition space featuring more than $4 billion in boats, equipment, accessories and marine art.
A job fair for the marine industry linked to the show also was larger this year than the year before. According to organizers, the fair drew some 300 people, up from about 200 in 2014.
For yacht brokers, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the highlight of the year on the US market. According to Peter Quintal, who works for Denison Yacht Sales, "you can make half a year's salary at the boat show".
In all, the annual boat show brings the Fort Lauderdale area an economic impact greater than a Super Bowl. The last impact study completed in 2007 estimated the benefit to the area at roughly $500 million. A Super Bowl generally runs in the $400 million range, Zimbalist said.
The world's biggest in-water boat show had more boats at docks than ever - up 4 percent from last year to top 1,500. Five yachts this year topped 200 feet each, said Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, president of Fort Lauderdale's Show Management, which organizes the event.
"Every year, it gets better and better, and this year was really awesome," said Kathy Nitabach, vice president of Bradford Marine group of Fort Lauderdale, which sells boats and operates repair yards.
The crowds were attracted by debuts of many new yachts. With Europe and other world markets weak this year and the U.S. market stronger, many manufacturers came to Fort Lauderdale with strong lineups.
James Nobel, Vice President & Marketing Director of Princess Yachts America, told us: "Overall, FLIBS 2015 was very successful for Princess yachts. Despite the warmer than average temperatures, attendance was strong over the course of the show. We premiered the 88 Motor Yacht and Princess V48 OPEN alongside nine other models in our display on the Bahia Mar Yachting Center Face Dock. We saw a number of our current customers in attendance, and sales were strong during the show, with some very good leads that we believe will result in additional sales as a result of the show. We very much appreciate all of the efforts that Show Management, the media, the Marine Industries Association, and the city do to keep this event successful each and every year".
The show turned out to be a success not only for Princess Yachts but also for other major players in the industry. Timothy Hamilton, Director of Feadship America, was content with this year's FLIBS, adding that the show has become increasingly more active in the past three years. "I think most people were very happy with the activities. We had a few serious meetings with clients, developing new relations as well as maintaining existing ones." He elaborated that his company builds five yachts per year, and plans to sell two of those in the US.
Dutch yacht shipyard, Heesen Yachts has described it as "the best FLIBS ever". 'We had a new stand location, on the front, and we have our new offices on 17th street with Thom Conboy as sales director for the Americas. On Friday 6th we had a press conference to present Project Nina and Project Nova", - said Sara Gioanola, PR & Press Office Manager.
The show was a success as well as for superyacht brokerage agency, Edmiston Yachts. Jamie Edmiston, CEO of Edmiston Yachts told us "The show was a success for us. We exhibited the 50m Perini Navi SILENCIO and the 59m Oceanco HELIOS. Both yachts were very well received and we had offers on both which was encouraging."
Seven venues stretched over 3 million square feet of exhibition space featuring more than $4 billion in boats, equipment, accessories and marine art.
A job fair for the marine industry linked to the show also was larger this year than the year before. According to organizers, the fair drew some 300 people, up from about 200 in 2014.
For yacht brokers, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the highlight of the year on the US market. According to Peter Quintal, who works for Denison Yacht Sales, "you can make half a year's salary at the boat show".
In all, the annual boat show brings the Fort Lauderdale area an economic impact greater than a Super Bowl. The last impact study completed in 2007 estimated the benefit to the area at roughly $500 million. A Super Bowl generally runs in the $400 million range, Zimbalist said.
Royal Hakvoort has signed a construction contract for a 70.1-meter superyacht, designated Project YN258. The vessel, designed for long-range cruising, will be the largest project in the shipyard's history in terms of both length and gross tonnage.Construction will begin immediately at the shipyard's facility in Monnickendam, the Netherlands, with delivery scheduled for 2029. The project involves an all-Dutch team, with Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design responsible for the design and Diana Yacht Design providing the naval architecture. The sale was brokered by 26 North Yachts, with Arrow Monaco acting as the owner's project management company.The yacht will have a beam of 11.6 meters and a gross tonnage of 1,513. Accommodation is planned for up to 14 guests in seven cabins, including two owners' suites – one located on the bridge deck and another occupying the entire owners' deck. Crew quarters will accommodate 20 staff and include a mess hall, a dedicated gym, and technical spaces designed for accessibility on long voyages.Reported features include a touch-and-go helipad, a sports court, and a swimming pool, with a layout emphasizing a balance between indoor and outdoor areas.Royal Hakvoort is a family-owned shipyard. She was founded by Albert Kizn Hakvoort in 1919. The yard is based in the historic Dutch village of Monnickendam. The shipyard is able to guarantee best in class quality for custom built motor yachts and sailing yachts up to 65m in length.Credits: Royal Hakvoort
September 23, 2025
German marine glass manufacturer Yachtglass and Italian manufacturer Hard Glass have established a joint venture named Ocean Glass. The companies will continue to operate independently while using the new entity to develop markets and provide glazing solutions to shipyards internationally.The joint venture will be officially introduced at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show at Stand DS 57 in Darse Sud. Both companies have previously supplied custom glass for yachts, including vessels exceeding 120 meters in length.Silvia Buck, CEO of Yachtglass, stated: “This strategic partnership merges German engineering precision with Italian design expertise. Together, we’re poised to deliver custom, high-specification glass solutions for the most sophisticated superyachts on the market. We’re particularly focused on expanding our presence in Turkey, the Middle East, and Asia - regions where demand for premium European craftsmanship continues to grow.”Fiorenzo Furlan, president of Hard Glass, added: “Ocean Glass represents the fusion of uncompromising quality and refined aesthetics at sea. Our new venture is committed to delivering marine glass systems that meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and design. Partnering with Yachtglass allows us to scale our vision and set new benchmarks for the industry.”The formation of Ocean Glass occurs as demand increases for large-scale glazing solutions on superyachts, where exteriors often incorporate hundreds of square meters of custom glass. The venture aims to combine German engineering and Italian design capabilities to serve emerging shipbuilding regions.Credits: Ocean Glass
September 23, 2025
Northrop & Johnson has listed the 23.86-meter expedition yacht Vanguard for sale at $3,980,000. Yacht Broker Mike Finnegan is representing the vessel, which was delivered by Naval Yachts in 2023.The XPM 78 platform yacht is designed for long-range cruising with a focus on efficiency and system integration. Vanguard recently completed a 7,000-nautical-mile voyage along the U.S. Atlantic Coast and into Greenland's High Arctic waters, conducted with two ice pilots onboard.Propulsion is provided by a diesel-electric Praxis hybrid system with an integrated energy management network. The yacht cruises at 9 knots with a reported fuel consumption of 3.5 liters per nautical mile, providing a range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles. Technical features include an ice-reinforced hull, DMS Magnus Master stabilizers, and a commercial-grade dynamic positioning system.The interior, designed by Arista Marine, follows an open-plan layout with the galley, helm, and salon located on the main deck. Finishes include pale timbers with dark contrast elements. The helm station is equipped with dual high-back chairs and a multi-display dashboard.Accommodation is provided for six guests in three en-suite staterooms, with a convertible salon that can accommodate two additional guests. The full-beam owner's cabin contains a king-sized berth and lounge seating.Exterior areas are configured for operational functionality, featuring a tender crane and storage on the aft main deck with L-shaped guest seating. The flybridge helm seats two persons, with dual stairways leading to the swim platform. All exterior spaces are designed for low maintenance and expedition readiness.Credits: Northrop & Johnson
September 23, 2025
Luca Dini Design & Architecture has entered into an agreement with Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy to explore the development of a national maritime strategy. The initiative aims to position Albania as a sustainable yachting hub in the Mediterranean.The proposed strategy involves creating a network of interconnected marinas designed to share resources and infrastructure rather than compete. The approach intends to improve logistical efficiency, support regional economic growth, and reduce environmental impact. Albania’s geographic position near established yachting destinations such as Greece and Montenegro, along with its undeveloped coastline, is seen as a foundation for attracting seasonal boaters and superyachts.The project envisions the development of service facilities including repair yards, refit stations, and fueling areas to meet international standards and accommodate larger vessels. The plan emphasizes adopting sustainability principles in new marina construction and diversifying specializations across different locations to reduce congestion and environmental pressure. Intermodal transport connections with road and rail networks are also part of the proposed strategy to link coastal and inland regions.The concept aligns with European Union initiatives such as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), focusing on integration with continental trade and logistics systems. Luca Dini Design & Architecture will contribute expertise in architecture, yacht design, and master planning to the project. The firm indicated that the next 15 years represent a critical period for Albania to establish itself as a competitive maritime destination through coordinated planning.Credits: Luca Dini Design & Architecture
September 22, 2025
Camper & Nicholsons has listed the sailing yacht Imagine for sale at €17,800,000, with VAT paid. The 44.18-meter vessel is represented by Sales Advisor Maël Fiolet and was available for viewings at anchor during the Monaco Yacht Show, which opened on September 18.Built in 2010 by Alloy Yachts to a design by Ed Dubois, Imagine remains under its original ownership. The yacht was designed for worldwide cruising and has never been chartered. It complies with LY2 regulations and completed its Lloyd’s 15-year survey in 2025 alongside an extensive refit. In 2011, the yacht received the Best Sailing Yacht award at the World Superyacht Awards.The yacht accommodates nine guests in four cabins. The full-beam master suite is located aft and includes an en suite bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, study, and vanity area. Additional accommodation consists of one double guest cabin, one twin cabin with a Pullman berth, and a fourth cabin configured as a single with a Pullman. The main saloon sofa can convert into two additional bunks if required.The interior offers 242 square meters of living space finished with white oak joinery, Loro Piana fabrics, and alpaca carpets. The raised salon features panoramic windows and a split-level arrangement with a lounge area to port and a navigation station to starboard. Custom features include an automated sliding companionway door, opening portholes in the master suite, underfloor freezers, and a firearms safe for Arctic voyages.Deck areas include a forward cockpit with dining space and sunpads, a boom awning for shade, and a foredeck tender well that converts to a heated spa pool. A crow's nest is positioned on the mast for observation.The yacht is equipped with a 61.9-meter Southern Spars mast, carbon fiber rigging, and a furling boom. The sail plan includes 895 square meters of upwind sail area managed by captive winches built by Alloy Yachts. A lifting keel allows operation in both shallow waters and open ocean conditions. All sails have been upgraded over time, with a new North Sails jib installed in 2025.Power is provided by a single Caterpillar C18 engine. The yacht carries a diesel-powered tender, which eliminates the need for separate refueling arrangements. The vessel is maintained for serious cruising with systems designed for extended autonomous voyages.Credits: Alloy Yachts
September 22, 2025