Istanbul is a hive of activity on the shipbuilding front – and it’s getting more voracious. As we uncovered in The State of Yachting 2022, out of the 320 shipyards that delivered one or more superyachts over the past 10 years, more than 25 percent of these were Turkish. Shipbuilding activities are widespread across the nation: Bodrum, for one, located on the Mediterranean coast is very much hammer and tongs with traditional gulet building. Antalya, also on the southern coast is where the likes of Bering and Naval Yachts call home. The lion’s share of superyachts, though, are born in the great metropolis of Istanbul itself.

Read: Gulets & superyachts: The diversity of chartering in Turkey

While Turkey has staked a major claim in shipbuilding over the years, the average output per yard has traditionally been significantly lower than the rest of the world. It seems as though the times are changing and Turkish builders are in full swing. It was refreshing to hear from several leading builders that expansion plans are being rolled out, and business is booming. Photo: Bilgin YachtsBilgin Yachts has gone from strength to strength since it showcased the first hull from its Bilgin 263 series Sevanna, then called Tatiana, at the Monaco Yacht Show 2021. Hulls two and three of the 80m series are under construction,  both of which have also been designed in a collaboration between Unique Yacht Design and H2 Yacht Design – however, the similarities end there. Photo: Bilgin YachtsPhoto: Bilgin YachtsOn a recent visit, we were offered a sneak peek of the second hull, Leona, which Bilgin is currently outfitting for Monaco 2022, and her interior design is night and day when compared with her sistership. Leona is striking from first glance, thanks to a rich burgundy paint applied to her hull. Inside is an opulent dream – but under strict embargo, so we’ll have to wait till Monaco for the big reveal. Photo: Justin RatcliffePhoto: Justin RatcliffeThe Istanbul-based shipyard has a further three superyachts in-build, including a revised version of the 263 series, which will be around 2,000 GT and 86-metres in length. Unique Yacht Design handled the exterior lines of this next-generation 263 and is said to have incorporated more sophistication and more glass into the design. In…