Companies within the megayacht business tend to know when a competitor is on shaky ground. For a builder to publicly state that it “has been shaking for almost a year now” is pretty uncommon – but KaiserWerft did just that in late January. It was part of an announcement that the Germany-based yard was acquired by a group of investors and has an additional facility at its disposal.

With headquarters in Saal, KaiserWerft has been building yachts from 31 to 41 meters (102 to 134 feet) since 1989. The rounded lines of launches like Catwalk (above), GoldenEye, and Cloud 9 probably drew the most attention to the yard in recent years. But things changed in 2008: “In the beginning of the economic crisis, clients cancelled their orders,” the yard states in a press release – another pretty uncommon admission. (While most megayacht companies have admitted the past year was a “challenge,” to say the least, some will only admit privately that they lost clients, while others won’t confirm or deny any difficulties.) An investors group with experience in yacht and ship construction acquired the molds and machinery at the Saal shipyard, additionally dramatically increasing the area occupied by construction sheds. The same investors bought a facility in Antalya, Turkey, for KaiserWerft to use.

The changes mean KaiserWerft can now build up to 65 meters (215 feet). It intends to still build mostly in Germany and focus on lightweight aluminum and steel yachts. It additionally intends to continue building custom as well as semicustom vessels.

KaiserWerft also released the following statement:

Through the financial power gained by the transaction, the company is able to introduce and to speed up new production, to support clients and dealers and to develop new sales channels. Furthermore, the investors will avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and will set a new future-bearing concept. With the new ownership, the KaiserWerft intends to cooperate with international famous designer offices within the next 2 years, to develop a number of sail- and motoryachts.

I’m pleased to introduce a new component to the Megayacht News site: the Yacht Builders Directory.

The directory contains the contact information for more than 100 megayacht builders worldwide, both power and sail, and ranging from production to semicustom to fully custom. The builders are arranged alphabetically, grouped into manageable sections – A to E, F to L, M to R, and S to Z – so that you don’t have to continuously scroll down one long page to see everything. Within each listing, there’s a link to the builder’s site, the country it’s located in, the phone number, and, if it’s a non-U.S. yard, the phone number to an American office, if applicable.

Also within each directory listing, you’ll find links to every Megayacht News article, podcast, and/or video covering that yard. It’s an extra way to make it easy for you to find the information you want and need.

Speaking of easy, when you are within a specific section and want to jump to another, there's no need to click back one page, then click on the appropriate link. For example, if you click on the A to E listings, you'll see this:

Note the "Article Index" box toward the right side. Each of the lines beneath that are hyperlinks that will take you to the rest of the directory sections, including the introductory page ("Yacht Builders Directory" link). This Article Index appears on all five pages of the directory.

More yards are being added regularly to the directory, as is Megayacht News content, so check back if you don't find the one you're looking for right away.

Features such as this are a direct response to your feedback. If there are other directories you’d like to see added to the site, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

After speculation earlier this month in various media, there’s now confirmation that Platinum Yachts has scaled back operations because of the global economic crisis.

The Dubai-based yard gained instant fame in 2006 for completing the world’s largest yacht, the 531-foot Dubai, for the ruler of the same region. It went on to convert two commercial craft into megayachts for the local royalty as well, the 259-foot Dubai Shadow and 297-foot Dubawi. But according to an interview with Arabian Business, Geoff Taylor, group CEO for the parent company of Platinum Yachts, Drydocks World, there have been fewer inquiries for work. As a result, Platinum Yachts and sister company Palm Marine were merged with Jadaf Dubai, a government-owned yard. Staff layoffs also occurred.

The economic downturn greatly affected Dubai World, which Drydocks World (and therefore Platinum Yachts) were divisions of, so that led to widespread speculation that Dubai World’s debt caused the restructuring. However, Taylor denies this, quoted as saying, “It’s a worldwide problem. It’s not just a Dubai-based problem.” He also explains that the decision was made in December. Mike Meyer, a divisional manager of Platinum Yachts, was quoted as saying, “There’s been a bit of reshuffling that’s gone on, but it’s business as usual.”

My requests for comment were unanswered by this posting, but I will add information as it becomes available. I’ve requested an update on Triton, for example, which started as a proposal and went to contract, but the contract was cancelled several months ago. I’ve also requested confirmation of whether Platinum Yachts will still participate in next month’s Dubai International Boat Show (above).

UPDATE, JANUARY 27: Mike Meyer replied to my initial inquiry by stating he would obtain an official comment. He contacted me again this morning to say that he still has not received word, but will be in touch once he does.

Two major names in megayacht refit and repair in South Florida have joined forces.

As revealed in this month’s Megayacht News e-newsletter (see signup at left on the homepage), Dania Cut Super Yacht Repair Facility and Bradford Marine are together targeting 200-foot-plus megayachts. Specifically, Bradford customers with yachts in this size range will be accommodated at Dania Cut’s facility. Each company is located in Fort Lauderdale, so it’s convenient.

The partnership is a boon to both. In fact, Keith Klar, vice president of Dania Cut, told me that he and Chip Macpherson, Dania Cut’s president, decided there were “no negatives to it” when Bradford proposed the deal. Dania Cut relies on subcontractors for paintwork and other tasks, since its full-time staff only totals eight people. “We’re geared to letting the yacht choose who they want to work on the boat,” he explains. (He adds, of course, that this is as long as proper insurance and other documentation is provided.) Bradford’s craftspeople would essentially serve the same role on site. As for Bradford, the deal keeps clients in the proverbial family as they continue stepping up in size. Bradford’s facility can only handle 180-footers in covered slips in the water and haul yachts to 150 feet with its 300-ton Synchrolift. Dania Cut, by contrast, is capable of working on yachts exceeding 200 feet. Previous visitors have included the 205-foot Apogee, and the 229-foot Reverie uses it as home base part of the year.

Dania Cut benefits in an additional way. Its clients will receive priority booking for hauling at Bradford Marine Bahamas, located on Grand Bahama Island. A 150-ton TraveLift and 1,200-ton floating dry dock are present. Plus, an agreement Bradford has with Grand Bahama Shipyard enables haul outs and below-the-waterline services for far larger megayachts.

Dania Cut and Bradford will soon see the first result of their collaboration. Klar says the 190-foot Lady Sheridan will arrive later this month for a paint job.

Nearly one year to the date of its introduction, Sunseeker Superyacht Management has unveiled two new services: one for crew placement, and one for online information management.

If you recall my original story when the division was created, Sunseeker Superyacht Management aimed to ease the burdens of captains and owners of Sunseeker vessels. The new services are quite promising in that regard. The first, Sunseeker Crew, is a dedicated Web site for crew recruitment. Owners in need of captains and crew, as well as captains hiring crew on the boss’ behalf, are encouraged to use it. The Sunseeker management team screens all candidates and verifies references and qualifications before supplying names to contact. Specific to captains, applicants are required to be certified up to Master (Yachts) under 3,000 gross tons, and the team will train them on the yacht’s features. Once the captain is onboard, Sunseeker Crew personnel can, if requested, provide support for maintenance periods, emergencies, or while cruising. Regardless of the position you’re looking to fill, the team can also recommend salary ranges and language to include in contracts. Furthermore, crewmembers seeking jobs can register with Sunseeker Crew, as long as they have a valid STCW95 Basic Safety Training Course and ENG1 Medical Certificate.

The second new service is Virtual Yacht Management (VYM), an online administrative tool accessible only to registered users and containing encrypted information. The data will be available 24 hours a day, including certifications, safety records and procedures, financials, crew records, work lists, and more. Sunseeker Superyacht Management promises all details will be updated instantly, so that you’ll always have the most accurate information at hand.

For full details on either program, contact Sunseeker Superyacht Management.

Now that we’re ending the first full week of the New Year, you’ve probably heard and read your share of “year in review” stories. But what about the year ahead? In the yacht world, there’s plenty to look forward to. Here’s a sampling of just some of the most anticipated deliveries coming within the next several months:

Sycara V. Yes, a fifth yacht is in the works for Americans Ray and Elsie Catena. They’re not disappointed in their new Burger; rather, they commissioned this one, illustrated above, while the Burger was under construction, and they have this one for sale. Measuring 68 meters (223 feet), Sycara V is being built at Nobiskrug. Styling and interior design is from Craig Beal, and highlights include a light-tone interior, bridge-deck owner’s suite, and accommodations for 12 guests. She should be finished in March. Asking price: €75 million (about $107.6 million).

J24. With accommodations for 14 in the owner’s party plus 26 crew/staff, J24 won’t be ready until autumn, but once this Lürssen is, she’ll keep people comfortable. The 45-foot beam and 280-foot LOA should see to that. Interesting enough, the guest staterooms are spread over three decks, while the owners get a duplex that includes private access to sunpads and a Jacuzzi. Andrew Winch is responsible for the styling and interior design.

Pestifer. Referred to by Feadship as Hull 680, this yacht is nearing completion at Royal De Vries. Measuring 65 meters (213 feet), she replaces a 50-meter (164-foot) same-named yacht built by CRN. Naval architecture is courtesy of De Voogt Naval Architects, with styling by Clifford Denn. The interior, a collaboration between the owners and François Zuretti, “harks back to the glory days of yachting with a 21st-century execution,” according to Feadship. The crew-to-guest ratio should ensure no one lacks for anything: 3 to 1 (24 crew, eight guests).

Kokomo. Alloy Yachts will be delivering Kokomo in a little over a month, in time for her owners to view the Louis Vuitton Trophy from her decks in March. She’s pictured here, shortly after she splashed late last year. She measures 58.4 meters (about 192 feet) and marks the second time these owners have worked with Alloy, having taken delivery of their first Kokomo, a frequent cruiser and regatta participant, in 2006. Interior design is by Redman Whiteley Dixon.

CII. Another repeat teaming of an owner and builder, this motoryacht should be completed by HJB in May. She’s the successor to Cassiopeia, measuring 42 meters (about 138 feet) and will be similar in style, though featuring much more interior detailing. Her classic looks come from Bill Langan. She’s made all the more notable because HJB has mostly concentrated on sailing craft since opening its doors in 1996. In fact, Cassiopeia was the yard’s first power craft.

Mi Sueno. Also known by her hull number, T045, this 190-footer is at Trinity Yachts’ facility in Gulfport, Mississippi, and she’s also for sale, for $54.8 million. The all-aluminum yacht has panoramic views from the owner’s suite forward on the main deck. One of the four guest staterooms is also handicapped-accessible, as is the elevator connecting three decks. Interior design is by Patrick Knowles.

Amels 212. Part of the Amels Limited Editions series, the 212 was conceived as a high-volume yacht. Hull number one, whose name is being kept anonymous by the yard, is expected to be delivered within a few months. Andrew Winch is overseeing the interior design for the seven staterooms – which includes a bridge-deck VIP suite – gym, and other gathering areas, while Tim Heywood created the styling. The 212 should see a top end of 17 knots and a cruise speed around 13 knots.

Cakewalk. Practically every time this yacht is mentioned, it’s done so with the fact that Cakewalk will be the largest yacht to be built on American soil since the 1930s. Derecktor Shipyards’ facility in Connecticut is a few months from delivering the 281-footer. All six staterooms are above decks, and the owners have a private saloon/theater in their suite, along with a gym. The owners are stepping up from a 204’5” Feadship.

Y705. Oceanco is withholding the name of this 85.47-meter (280-foot) yacht, at the owner’s request. However, plenty of details are permitted for public knowledge, such as the bridge-deck lounge being able to serve as a disco, complete with lights. The owner’s suite features two balconies, plus a study that can serve as a guest stateroom if needed. There’s also a “sea terrace” entry near the crew-level VIP stateroom, a second formal entryway. Sadly, the late Björn Johansson didn’t live to see his teal-hulled design come to fruition, but no doubt the following video, made for Oceanco, would have made him proud of his accomplishments he would be proud. (Editor's note: The video previously embedded here was removed from its hosting site.)