Building a Yacht in Turkey: A Guide for Owners
Turkey is the world's second-largest builder of superyachts by total length on order, behind only Italy. For an owner, that means a deep choice of yards, competitive build slots and a growing pool of design and engineering talent — but also more decisions to make well before a contract is signed.
Turkey's place in superyacht building
According to Boat International's 2025 Global Order Book, Turkish yards held 146 superyacht projects with a combined length of 6,410 metres — 12.9% of all orders by number and 14% by length, second only to Italy. Total Turkish length on order rose 8.9% year on year, and the average yacht on order was 43.9 metres long.
That average matters: Turkey's centre of gravity is the 40–60 metre motor yacht, with several yards now building semi-custom and custom yachts beyond 80 metres.
Where yachts are built in Turkey
Builders are concentrated around Istanbul and on the Antalya coast. Brokers' tours of the new-build market typically cover yards such as Bilgin, Dunya, Turquoise and Mengi Yay around Istanbul, and Alia in Antalya, alongside international groups with Turkish facilities. Each yard has its own sweet spot in size, construction material and degree of customisation.
Why owners choose Turkish yards
The reasons given by owners and brokers are consistent: a mix of build quality, scale and value, and in many cases shorter delivery windows than comparable European yards — especially for semi-custom platforms where hull and engineering are already proven.
The trade-off is that quality and process vary between yards. The owner's own technical team — designer, naval architect and owner's representative — is what keeps a Turkish build on brief.
How a new-build is organised
A typical custom or semi-custom project moves through five stages:
- Brief and feasibility — mission, size, range, speed, budget and timeline; what is possible before significant money is committed.
- Concept — exterior design directions and a first naval architecture study (weight, stability, resistance).
- Yard selection and tender — a technical package detailed enough for yards to price comparably.
- Development and classification — lines plan, general arrangement, structure and stability, reviewed by the chosen classification society.
- Build and delivery — site visits, drawing clarifications and technical answers to the yard, through sea trials to handover.
Where an independent designer and naval architect fit
Yards have in-house engineering, but it works for the yard. An independent exterior designer and naval architect works for the owner: they define the yacht before it is priced, so tenders are comparable, and they defend the design intent during construction.
GUREN Design is an Istanbul-based studio that provides exactly that — exterior design, naval architecture and owner's representation — for motor yachts, explorers, gulets and high-performance craft, working with Turkish yards from concept to delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turkey a good place to build a superyacht?
Turkey is the world's second-largest superyacht builder by length on order (Boat International Global Order Book 2025), with many yards specialising in 40–60 metre motor yachts and a growing number building above 80 metres.
Do I need my own designer if the yard has an in-house team?
Not always, but an independent designer and naval architect works for the owner rather than the yard: they prepare a comparable tender package and protect the design during the build.
Can a foreign owner manage a Turkish build remotely?
Yes, with a local technical representative. Site visits, drawing reviews and technical queries are handled on the owner's behalf between the owner's own visits.