Superyacht Summit Turkey (SST), the leading superyacht event in the Eastern Mediterranean, opened its doors for the third time on November 11-12, 2025. Held at Tersane Istanbul, a stunning venue transformed from a historic shipyard into a world-class waterfront, the summit highlighted Turkey's rise as a global superyacht hub. Hosting over 450 industry leaders, designers, shipyard representatives, and financial experts from more than 20 countries, the event also demonstrated the global yachting community's keen interest in Turkey.
The summit opened with an emotional tribute to Halit Yukay, a visionary sailor who has been a source of inspiration for the Turkish maritime community. This was followed by the opening session presented by Invest in Türkiye, which officially kicked off the summit with the aim of strengthening international partnerships within the country's yachting ecosystem.
🌟 Top Performers
Scope and Participation: This year's third summit brought together more than 450 participants, over 31 international speakers, and industry professionals from around the world.
Boats and Models: While tenders from brands such as Hunter, Mercedes, Saxdor, and VisionF were displayed on the shore, yacht models from leading shipyards such as Mengi Yay and Turquoise showcased Turkey's first-class design and engineering capabilities.
Special Masterclasses: Two masterclasses organized by Volvo Penta and OmniAccess, attended by captains, yacht owners, and shipyard representatives, offered participants the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge.
Participants had the opportunity to see the ongoing projects and superior craftsmanship up close during a specially organized tour of the Ses Yachts shipyard.
The main sessions took place at Tersane Istanbul, while the second day's program was held at 2Plan Terminal. Networking opportunities were created with a special cocktail evening organized at DG Art Gallery.
💡 Inspiring Sessions and Speakers
Throughout the summit, distinguished speakers delivered presentations that shed light on the future of the industry:
“The first panel, titled ”Turkey 2025: Challenges & Opportunities for the World's Second Largest Manufacturer," examined Turkey's evolution from a regional shipbuilding center to a strategic hub focused on innovation and excellence in craftsmanship.
Dickie Bannenberg, one of the world's most influential yacht designers, shared the creative process behind the industry's most iconic designs and how he handled unusual requests from his clients. He also offered candid insights into the selection process for the color palette, which was inspired by the original Spitfire heritage.
“The session titled ”The Mind of the American Buyer: Customs Duties, Trends & Great Opportunities" discussed the behavior of US buyers, the impact of customs duties, and changing lifestyle expectations.
Begüm Doğulu (Yacht Tourism Association & Begüm Group of Companies) shared the latest developments in yacht tourism and agency services in Turkey and the increasing professionalism of the sector with participants.
“In the panel discussion ”Charter as Lifestyle: Why Destinations Sell the Yacht," Bozena Kascelan from IYC, Michelangiolo Venturi from Ocean Yachting, and Serhan Cengiz from TYBA highlighted Turkey's unique cruise routes and the growing appeal of its marinas for luxury charter clients.
Ian Petts, ailelerin yat ve özel jet gibi varlıklarını nasıl koruma altına aldıklarını ve servetlerinin %90’a varan kısmının üçüncü nesilde nasıl kaybedildiğini stratejik bir bakış açısıyla anlattı.
🎯 Results and Global Impact
Over two days of strategic discussions, expert insights, and exceptional networking opportunities, Superyacht Summit Turkey 2025 reaffirmed Turkey's position not only as a production hub but also as a global center for design, innovation, and refit. The summit showcased the Turkish yacht industry's global ambitions and its unwavering commitment to achieving them.
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