Claus-Ehlert Meyer, Managing Director of the German Boat- and Shipbuilders Association DBSV, is optimistic that customers will have an increasing feeling for high quality, because that counts for German yards
How do you assess the chances of German shipyards in the international yachting market?
Claus-Ehlert Meyer: For[ds_preview] the customers the benefit of ordering large yachts in Germany is the experience of our shipyards. This is the reason why most of these yachts are built in Germany. The shipyards which construct large yacht units were originally intended for the merchant ship sector. Therefore, slipways and docks have practically no limit for building yachts. Furthermore, the success of German shipyards in the construction of large yachts mainly derives from the excellent cooperation with the supply industry. Common standards and the same kind of thinking in engineering and quality are our advantages.
What does the current order situation look like?
Meyer: I don’t know the exact order situation of each shipyard. But I’m sure that there are still capacities for new orders left, as the German shipyards have continually expanded their capacities since 2008.
How will the business develop in the future?
Meyer: The business will become more difficult, because the »gold digger« period is over. The customers are very well situated people. They know about the value of money and they gathered their funds by not wasting it. We are hoping that this clientele will show increasing apprecition for high quality, because that is what counts for German yards.
Are there developments to be seen that large yachts could be built in less labour-intensive countries in the future?
Meyer: There are only very few products with a complexity and individuality similar to that of large yachts. As far as the implementation of the owner’s individual wishes is concerned, standardization in yacht building is limited. For contracts in countries with lower wage levels the success depends on the know-how of all parties involved. Some other countries, however, are on the right way. This should be an encouragement for German entrepreneurs to steadily develop the efficiency of their yards.
Eigel Wiese
