FLIBS 2023 Showcases Superyacht Builders' Groundbreaking New Designs

2023 has been a remarkable year so far for the superyacht industry. From numerous new build launches and deliveries to a plethora of announcements and cutting-edge innovation reveals, this year has seen plenty of excitement from the yachting sector. Leading the way in these new additions are a collection of prestigious shipyards, of whom Superyachts.com were able to speak to at this year’s FLIBS.

Renowned for its mammoth superyacht builds is German-based Lürssen Yachts. With a sleek and contemporary stand in FLIBS’s Superyacht Village, the team in America was in fact celebrating news happening on the other side of the world. Undertaking yet another significant build, Lürssen launched a new 82m project during the show named Project CALI. Lürssen’s Lead Exterior Designer, Jim Sluijter, shared more about the brand-new motor yacht and the exciting new features of her design. 

‘The bow shape is very different to all Lürssen projects…we don’t have an owner's deck, which means that the profile is really low and instead, we have an enormous sun deck, which really reflects how we tailor the boats to the clients’, commented Sluijter. 

Models of the brand new Project CALI, and the recently launched 122m M/Y Project JAG stole the spotlight at the Lürssen stand, attracting plenty of attention as the latest spectacular superyachts to have left the German yard’s shed. 

Also located at the Superyacht Village was Oceanco, with its eco-chic beach-themed stand. This year at FLIBS the Dutch yard had plenty to present, as alongside the new vessel deliveries of S/Y KORU and M/Y SEVEN SEAS, the yard was proud to disclose more information about Simply Custom: a brand-new technical platform for 80m yachts. 

In conversation with Oceanco’s Group Marketing Director Paris Baloumis, and Sales Director Bas Swannik, the duo shared more about the versatile nature of the platform, and how it came to fruition from increased consumer demands. With 17 award-winning designers currently involved, including Espen Oeino, Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design and H2 Yacht Design, the yard is offering clients a chance to make yacht building a hassle-free process. 

‘We noticed that a new group of clients were looking for a more inspiring project with less difficult questions to answer and more to enjoy,’ commented Swannik. 

Undertaking a new show format this year was the Dutch shipyard Damen Yachting. Located in a stunning waterfront mansion set back in the private waterways of Fort Lauderdale, the Damen team presented several models and recent new builds from the past year. 

Jan van Hogerwou, Commercial Executive, USA for Damen Yachting gave us an insight into the yard’s successful Amels Limited Editions and the popularity of the brand in the US market. 

‘If you look at our recent activities, we launched the new Amels 80 and we’ve been very successful with that: selling three boats. Funnily enough all three were sold to North American clients,’ shared van Hogerwou. 

With two months remaining in 2023, we’re looking forward to seeing what's to come over the winter season from these highly capable shipyards. 

To find out more, watch the full video above.