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Shipyard Spotlight: Turquoise Yachts and the Pursuit of Excellence
Founded in the 1970s, Turquoise Yachts has grown into one of the world’s leading superyacht builders. Renowned for their fully custom approach and technical mastery, the shipyard delivers high-end motor yachts that combine precision, creativity, and uncompromising craftsmanship. 2025 marks a defining year for Turquoise Yachts, with several large-scale projects advancing in construction and the transition of leadership signalling a new chapter.
Operating from two shipyards in Istanbul and Kocaeli, Turquoise Yachts employs multidisciplinary teams of designers, naval architects, engineers, and craftsmen. Every vessel is conceived and executed in-house, from steel and aluminium hull construction to interior fit-out, ensuring a level of quality, efficiency, and creative cohesion hard to match in the industry.
This philosophy is exemplified in VENTO, their new 87-metre flagship. Designed by H2 Yacht Design, VENTO pairs classic elegance with creative innovation: a drive-in tender dock leads to a spectacular beach club, a 6.5-metre glass-sided swimming pool punctuates the main deck, and a touch-and-go helipad doubles as a basketball court. Multiple decks provide versatile spaces for entertainment, anchored around a dramatic spiral staircase that connects all levels with natural light cascading from above.
Meanwhile, RAFALE, an 81-metre project also created with H2 Yacht Design, is under construction in Istanbul. Her hybrid propulsion system brings sustainability, while her sculptural lines and tiered exterior decks deliver both visual impact and functional versatility. Inside, six guest cabins, multiple lounges, and a private owner’s deck with pool and forward terrace exemplify their focus on intuitive, lifestyle-led design.
Innovation at Turquoise extends beyond individual builds. The 65-metre Above and 80-metre Beyond concepts, designed with Bannenberg & Rowell, introduce panoramic crow’s nest elevators and expansive, flexible layouts that allow owners to customise nearly every element of the onboard experience.
As the yard transitions leadership from Patrik von Sydow to Burak Akgül at the close of 2025, Turquoise Yachts continues to strengthen their global presence with offices in Istanbul, Monaco, and Fort Lauderdale. Their combination of technical sophistication, design collaboration, and in-house production ensures that each superyacht is more than a vessel; it is a statement of collective skill, ambition, and enduring vision.
Across decades of evolution, Turquoise Yachts has demonstrated that the art of shipbuilding lies not only in form and function, but in the people, passion, and philosophy behind every detail. In 2026, the yard remains at the forefront of bespoke superyacht construction, crafting vessels that are as remarkable to build as they are to behold on the water.