Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Superyacht Industry, Builders, and Yacht Charter Market glossary

Terminology of superyacht building and chartering: custom and semi-custom builders such as Abeking & Rasmussen, Amels and AvA Yachts, refit yards, the advance provisioning allowance and other MYBA charter terms, and the marinas and berths like Antibes Port Vauban serving the large-yacht new-build, refit and charter market.

176 defined terms.

A

Abeking and Rasmussen: Privately owned Lemwerder yard that built Aviva, Excellence, Cloudbreak, and the SWATH Silver Cloud.
Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA): Sum, typically 25 to 35 percent of the charter fee, paid in advance by the charterer to the captain to cover fuel, food, dockage, and other voyage expenses under MYBA terms.
Amels: Dutch superyacht builder in Vlissingen, part of the Damen group, known for its Limited Editions range.
Antibes Port Vauban: Marina on the French Riviera widely regarded as Europe's largest yacht harbor by capacity for large yachts, with the dedicated IYCA Quai des Milliardaires berth row.
Astilleros de Mallorca: Refit yard in Palma de Mallorca with dry docks and quayside berths used by large sail and motor yachts for class and warranty work.
AvA Yachts: Turkish builder based in Antalya producing custom steel and aluminum motor yachts in the 40 to 90 meter range.
Azimut: Avigliana, Italy based builder, the largest unit of Azimut Benetti Group, with the Grande, Magellano, and S series.

B

Baglietto: La Spezia, Italy yard founded 1854, now part of Gavio Group, building T Line and DOM series motoryachts.
Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA): Bahamian flag-state regulator administering the Bahamian register including yachts.
Bavaria Yachts: German production builder of sailing yachts and Bavaria SR powerboats, headquartered at Giebelstadt.
Bay of Naples builders: Concentration of small Italian custom yards along the Tyrrhenian coast that feed the Italian superyacht supply chain.
Beneteau Group: French production yacht builder, the world's largest by volume.
Benetti: Italian superyacht builder in Viareggio, founded 1873, part of the Azimut-Benetti Group.
Bernard Gallay: French yacht brokerage headquartered in La Grande-Motte specializing in large sailing yachts and classic vessels.
Berthon: UK brokerage and boatyard in Lymington offering sales, charter, and refit services across sail and motor yachts.
Bilgin Yachts: Turkish builder in Istanbul producing custom steel and aluminum yachts.
Blohm+Voss: Hamburg shipyard with a long history of superyacht builds including Eclipse.
Bremer Yachten: German custom yacht builder at Bremen producing small to mid size motor yachts.
British Virgin Islands Shipping Registry: Category 2 Red Ensign register administered by the BVI Virgin Islands Shipping Registry.
Burger Boat Company: US builder of custom aluminum and steel yachts in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Burgess: Global superyacht brokerage and management firm founded 1975 by Nicholas Edmiston and Jonathan Beckett.

C

Camper & Nicholsons International: Heritage brokerage tracing to 1782 at Gosport, England, offering yacht sales, charter, management, and marina operations.
Cantiere delle Marche: Ancona, Italy builder of steel and aluminum explorer yachts in the Darwin and Flexplorer ranges.
Cantiere Navale Vittoria: Italian shipyard at Adria, Veneto, building patrol craft and custom motor yachts.
Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR): Cayman flag-state registry based in George Town, leading registry for large yachts.
Cecil Wright & Partners: UK based superyacht sales brokerage specializing in central agency listings for large motor and sailing yachts.
Cheoy Lee Shipyards: Hong Kong shipbuilder constructing Robert Allan and other tug designs.
Christensen Shipyards: US composite-superyacht builder in Vancouver, Washington.
CNB Yacht Builders: French builder at Bordeaux, part of the Beneteau group, producing high performance bluewater sailing yachts.
Codecasa: Italian builder in Viareggio specializing in displacement steel and aluminum motor yachts, founded 1825.
Compositeworks: Composite refit and new build yard at La Ciotat, France, specializing in large yacht repairs and rebuilds.
Conrad Shipyard: Louisiana shipbuilder and repairer operating at Morgan City and Amelia for inland and Jones Act tonnage.
Couach Yachts: French builder at Gujan-Mestras producing fast composite motor yachts and patrol craft.
CRN: Italian builder in Ancona founded 1963, part of the Ferretti Group, specializing in steel and aluminum custom yachts.
Custom Line: Ferretti Group brand based in Ancona producing semi-custom planing and displacement motor yachts.

D

Damen Yachting: Dutch yacht arm of the Damen Group operating from Vlissingen, encompassing Amels and SeaXplorer.
Delta Marine: US custom yacht builder in Seattle, Washington.
Denison Yachting: US brokerage headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, founded by the Denison family.
Doehle Yachts: Yacht management arm of the Doehle Group based in the Isle of Man providing flag, crew, payroll, and ISM services.
Dutch Caribbean Ship Registry (SCR): Curacao based open registry operating under the Kingdom of the Netherlands recognized for yachts.
Dutch Yacht Builders (DYB): Trade association representing the leading Dutch superyacht shipyards and supply chain.

E

Edmiston: London-headquartered superyacht brokerage and management firm founded 1996 by Nicholas Edmiston.
Engel & Volkers Yachting: Yachting division of the global real estate brand offering brokerage and charter services across Europe and the Americas.
Explorer yacht: Long range, ice strengthened motoryacht class, including yachts like SuRi and Cloudbreak.

F

Feadship: Dutch superyacht cooperation between Royal Van Lent (Aalsmeer/Kaag) and Royal De Vries (Makkum) with De Voogt Naval Architects.
Ferretti Group: Italian group encompassing Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Custom Line, CRN, Itama, and Wally.
Ferretti Yachts: Production motoryacht brand of Ferretti Group.
Fincantieri Yachts: Trieste, Italy division of Fincantieri serving the megayacht market, builder of Ulysses and Symphony hulls under the brand.
Fipa Group: Italian builder of Maiora and AB Yachts motor yachts at Viareggio.
Flag state inspection: Inspection by the flag state administration.
Fraser Yachts: Global brokerage and management firm with offices in Monaco, Fort Lauderdale, and other yachting hubs.
French International Registry (RIF): Marseille based open registry operated by France for commercial vessels including some large yachts.
French Yacht Code (FYC): French commercial code adopted by certain French Polynesian and overseas registries for chartering yachts.
Front Street Shipyard: American refit and new build yard at Belfast, Maine, with travel lifts up to 485 tons.

G

Gibraltar Shipping Registry (GSR): Red Ensign Category 1 registry operated by the Gibraltar Maritime Administration, used for both commercial and private yachts.
Gigayacht: Informal term for a yacht over 100 m in length.
Gross tonnage (GT): Volumetric measure per ITC 1969 GT = K1*V.

H

Hakvoort Shipyard: Dutch builder at Monnickendam, founded 1919, producing custom steel and aluminum displacement motor yachts.
Hatteras Yachts: US sportfishing and motor-yacht builder in New Bern, North Carolina.
Heesen Yachts: Dutch builder in Oss specializing in fast aluminum and steel superyachts.
Helideck classification: REG Large Yacht Code requirement for compliance with CAP 437 or equivalent for any installed helicopter landing platform.
Heysea Yachts: Chinese builder at Zhuhai producing composite motor yachts up to about 50 meters.
Hill Robinson: Antibes and Monaco-based yacht management firm founded 1999.
Horizon Yachts: Kaohsiung, Taiwan builder of FD and EP series motoryachts up to 50 m.

I

IMCA Yacht endorsements: STCW yacht specific training certificates such as Yacht Limited and Yacht Restricted Master endorsements administered through MCA recognized providers.
Imperial Yachts: Monaco based brokerage and project management firm headed by Evgeniy Kochman, central to many Lurssen new builds.
International Registries Inc. (IRI): Manager of the Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Registry, an open registry widely used for large yachts.
IOMSR (Isle of Man Ship Registry): Red Ensign Category 1 registry administered by the Isle of Man Government for commercial and pleasure yachts.
ISA Yachts: Italian builder at Ancona, part of the Palumbo Superyachts group, producing aluminum and steel motor yachts.
ISM Code on yachts: International Safety Management Code requirements applied to commercial yachts above 500 GT under the Large Yacht Code through the flag and the Document of Compliance.
ISPS Code on yachts: International Ship and Port Facility Security Code applied to commercial yachts above 500 GT carrying 12 passengers or fewer in international service.
IYC (International Yacht Company): Global brokerage, charter, and management firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale.

J

Jamaica Ship Registry (MAJ): Registry of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, a Red Ensign neighbor used for some yacht registrations.
Johnson Yachts: Taiwanese builder at Kaohsiung producing composite motor yachts up to about 35 meters.

K

Kingsbury draught requirement: Common Large Yacht Code shoal draught restriction triggering additional stability calculations in port and offshore criteria.
Knot speed metric: Maximum continuous and cruising speed in knots reported under MYBA central agency listings for yacht specifications.

L

Lagoon Catamarans: French builder at Bordeaux, part of the Beneteau group, producing cruising catamarans up to about 24 meters.
Large Commercial Yacht (LY): Defined in the REG codes as a yacht of 24 meters and above load line length in commercial use carrying not more than 12 passengers.
Large Yacht Code (LY3): Red Ensign Group code published in 2013 setting construction, equipment, manning, and survey rules for commercial yachts of 24 meters and above.
Large Yacht Code (LY4): Successor REG code published in 2024 consolidating and updating LY3 requirements for new and existing commercial yachts.
Lloyd's Register Yachts: Yacht classification arm of Lloyd's Register providing class for new builds and in-service surveys.
Lurssen: German shipbuilder, FAC and corvettes for export.

M

Maiora: Italian production builder, part of Fipa Group.
Malta Merchant Shipping Directorate: Department of Transport Malta operating Malta's flag for one of the largest commercial yacht registries by tonnage.
Marina Bay Singapore: Marina in central Singapore offering large yacht berths at One15 Marina Sentosa Cove and other nearby facilities.
Marina Port Vell: Superyacht marina in Barcelona's old port.
MarineMax Yacht Care: Yacht management division of MarineMax Inc. operating across the United States.
Mariotti Yachts: Italian builder at Genoa, part of Cantieri Navali San Marco, producing custom steel motor yachts.
Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (MACI): Statutory body administering the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry and Cayman flag services for yachts.
Master less than 3000 GT: STCW Regulation II/2 paragraph 3 CoC for medium ships.
Master less than 500 GT: STCW Regulation II/3 CoC for masters of small ships in near coastal voyages.
Master Yachts less than 3000 GT: MCA Certificate of Competency authorizing service as master of a yacht of less than 3,000 GT on unlimited voyages.
MB92 Barcelona: Refit yard at Barcelona, part of MB92 Group, with multiple dry docks for yachts up to about 215 meters.
MB92 Group: International refit group with yards at Barcelona and La Ciotat, the largest superyacht refit operator in the Mediterranean.
MB92 La Ciotat: Refit yard at La Ciotat, France, operating the 4,000 ton ship lift and dry dock for very large yachts.
MCA: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, responsible for SOSREP intervention.
MCS Yachting: International brokerage and charter firm with offices in Monaco and elsewhere offering large yacht services.
Megayacht: Informal term for a yacht over roughly 50 m.
Mengi-Yay: Turkish builder at Tuzla producing steel and aluminum motor yachts including the Virtus series.
MGN 280: MCA Marine Guidance Note 280, the original Large Yacht Code now superseded.
MGN 420: UK Marine Guidance Note on the Code of Practice for safe operation of small commercial sailing and motor vessels of up to 24 meters.
Miami International (MIA): Major US air gateway adjacent to large yacht marinas at Miami Beach Marina, Island Gardens Deep Harbour, and Yacht Haven Grande.
Mini Y3 Code: REG code for commercial yachts of 24 meters and over but below 500 GT, a subset within the LY framework.
Monaco Marine: French refit and shipyard group with sites at La Ciotat, Marseille, La Seyne, Beaulieu, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco.
Monaco Port Hercules: Principal harbor of Monaco operated by the Société d'Exploitation des Ports de Monaco, hosting the Monaco Yacht Show each September.
Mulder Shipyard: Zoeterwoude, Netherlands yard building the ThirtySix, FortyOne, and Voyager series.
MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association): Industry association for yacht brokers and managers headquartered in Monaco.
MYBA Charter Agreement: Industry-standard Mediterranean crewed-yacht charter contract issued by MYBA.

N

Nobiskrug: German shipyard in Rendsburg that built A (Sailing Yacht A).
Northrop & Johnson: US brokerage and charter firm founded 1949 in Fort Lauderdale.
Numarine: Turkish builder at Istanbul producing composite explorer and flybridge motor yachts.

O

Ocean Alexander: Taiwanese builder at Kaohsiung producing composite motor yachts including the Revolution and Explorer series.
Ocean Independence: Swiss-headquartered brokerage and charter management group.
Oceanco: Dutch superyacht builder in Alblasserdam owned by Mohammed Al Barwani.
OOW Yachts less than 3000 GT: MCA Yacht Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency for service as deck OOW on commercial yachts under 3,000 GT.

P

Palma de Mallorca: Balearic capital and major Mediterranean superyacht refit, charter, and management hub.
Passenger Yacht Code (PYC): International code for yachts carrying 13 to 36 passengers, first issued 2010 and subsequently amended.
Pendennis Shipyard: Falmouth, UK builder and refit yard for sailing and motoryachts.
Perini Navi: Italian sailing-yacht builder in Viareggio, with assets acquired by The Italian Sea Group.
Pershing: Italian planing-sportyacht brand in Mondolfo, part of the Ferretti Group.
Picchiotti: Italian builder absorbed into Perini Navi then Italian Sea Group.
Port Vauban Quai des Milliardaires: Berth row at Antibes dedicated to yachts over about 35 meters, often cited as the most expensive yacht berths in the Mediterranean.
Princess Yachts: UK production yacht builder in Plymouth.
Private yacht: Yacht used exclusively for the owner's pleasure, not engaged in trade or charter.

Q

Qualified Yacht Captain (QYC): Industry term for a captain holding the MCA Master Yacht qualification at the appropriate tonnage and trade for the vessel commanded.
Quay rates: Berth fees charged per meter per night at superyacht marinas, with shoulder and high season pricing typically published in the MYBA Charter Industry Guide.

R

Red Ensign Group (REG): Group of UK, Crown Dependency, and Overseas Territory registries flying the Red Ensign.
Refit period: Scheduled docking of a yacht at a refit yard such as MB92 or Pendennis to perform statutory surveys, paint, and upgrades, typically every five years aligned to class.
Riva: Italian builder in Sarnico, founded 1842, famed for runabouts including the Aquarama and Aquariva; part of the Ferretti Group.
Riviera: Australian builder at Coomera, Queensland, producing composite motor yachts including the Sport Yacht and SUV lines.
Rossinavi: Italian aluminum-superyacht builder in Viareggio.
Royal Bermuda Regiment Admin (Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority): Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority operating the Bermuda flag, a Red Ensign Category 1 registry.
Royal Hakvoort: Dutch custom yacht builder at Monnickendam, sister yard within the Hakvoort group.
Royal Huisman: Dutch sailing-superyacht builder in Vollenhove.
Royal Van Lent Shipyard: Dutch yard at Kaag, part of the Feadship consortium since 1949.
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore: Royal Yachting Association qualification commercially endorsed and used by yacht crew on vessels under 200 GT.

S

Saint-Tropez: French Riviera town and superyacht anchorage in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
San Marino Ship Register (MSR): Open registry of the Republic of San Marino used for some commercial yachts.
Sanlorenzo: Italian builder in Ameglia, La Spezia, and Viareggio specializing in semi-custom motor yachts.
Sarp Yachts: Turkish builder at Tuzla producing steel and aluminum motor yachts including the Sarp Aliya series.
Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA): See MLC 2.1.
SeaXplorer: Damen Yachting line of ice class explorer yachts at the Vlissingen and Antalya yards.
Ship Manager (MLC): Person or entity declared on a yacht's Document of Compliance and Maritime Labour Certificate as responsible for safe operation and crew employment.
Sirena Marine: Turkish builder at Tuzla producing the Sirena and Azuree composite motor and sailing yachts.
SOLAS Chapter IV: Radiocommunications, including GMDSS requirements.
STCW Yacht endorsement: Combination of STCW basic safety training and MCA yacht specific modules required for crew on commercial yachts above 24 meters.
Sunreef Yachts: Polish-based builder in Gdansk producing luxury sailing and power catamarans.
Sunseeker: Poole, UK production motoryacht builder founded 1969, owned by Lionheart Capital, with the Manhattan, Predator, and Ocean lines.
Superyacht: Yacht generally exceeding 24 m load-line length and built to a recognized large yacht code.

T

Taiwan composite yacht cluster: Concentration of yacht builders at Kaohsiung including Horizon, Ocean Alexander, and Johnson serving the global composite motor yacht market.
Tankoa Yachts: Italian aluminum and steel superyacht builder in Genoa.
The Italian Sea Group: Holding of Admiral, Tecnomar, Perini Navi, Picchiotti, and Columbus brands, listed in Milan since 2021.
Tortola, BVI: Main island of the British Virgin Islands and the central yacht charter hub of the Eastern Caribbean with bases at Road Town and Nanny Cay.
Trinity Yachts: US superyacht builder formerly in Gulfport, Mississippi, and New Orleans.
Turquoise Yachts: Turkish builder in Istanbul producing custom steel and aluminum superyachts.

U

ULY (Unrestricted Large Yacht): REG status indicating a Large Yacht Code commercial yacht authorized for unlimited international service.
Unmanned Machinery Space (UMS): Class notation for periodically unattended machinery spaces fitted on most superyachts above 500 GT.

V

V.Group: Parent of V.Ships, world's largest third-party ship manager.
Viking Yachts: American builder at New Gretna, New Jersey, producing composite convertible sportfish and motor yachts.
Vismara Marine: Italian designer and builder at Viareggio producing custom carbon sailing yachts.
Vitters Shipyard: Dutch sailing-superyacht builder in Zwartsluis.

W

Wally: Monaco based builder founded by Luca Bassani Antivari in 1994, acquired by Ferretti Group in 2019, producing wallypower, wallytender, and the carbon WallyCento sailing yacht line.
Westport Yachts: US production superyacht builder in Hoquiam, Washington.
Wider Yachts: Italian builder of diesel electric and Genesi crossover yachts.

X

X-Bow yacht: Inverted bow yacht design popularized on explorer yachts for improved seakeeping in head seas.
X-Class operation: Informal designation for yachts authorized for unrestricted commercial trading under the REG Large Yacht Code.

Y

Y.CO: London and Monaco-based brokerage, charter, and management firm founded 2003.
Yacht broker: Licensed intermediary representing a buyer or seller in a yacht sale and purchase transaction under MYBA or IYBA terms.
Yacht Charter Agreement: Contract chartering a yacht to a hirer for a defined period, with MYBA and Worldwide Yachting Association forms dominant in the Mediterranean.
Yacht Haven Grande: Superyacht marina at Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, offering berths for yachts up to about 100 meters.
Yacht management: Service of operating a yacht on behalf of its owning company covering ISM, ISPS, MLC, accounting, crew, and technical functions.
Yacht Master Class IV: Historic UK certificate that became the basis of the modern MCA Yacht Master qualifications.
Yachtmaster Ocean: RYA professional ocean qualification.
YPI (Yachting Partners International): Monaco and London based brokerage offering yacht sales, charter, and new construction services.

Z

Zero speed stabilizers: Active fin or gyroscopic stabilizers fitted on superyachts to reduce roll at anchor, with brands including Quantum, CMC Marine, Naiad Dynamics, and Seakeeper.
Zone of operation: Trading area declared on a yacht's REG Large Yacht Certificate, ranging from area restricted to unrestricted worldwide service.