Hanse Yachts

HanseYachts AG is a premier German yacht manufacturer headquartered in Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, renowned as the world's second-largest producer of serial sailing yachts (by volume) and a top 10 global player in motor yachts, with over 1,500 employees from 20 nations crafting more than 750 vessels annually across a diverse portfolio of six brands. Founded in 1990 by Admiral's Cup winner Michael Schmidt as Yachtzentrum Greifswald—a refit and service yard post-Iron Curtain—the company pivoted to production in 1993 with its first model, the Hanse 291 (based on the Aphrodite 291), emphasizing efficient, value-engineered serial manufacturing with innovations like epoxy laminates, self-tacking jibs, and loft-like customizable interiors by designer Birgit Schnaase. A pivotal partnership with naval architects Judel/Vrolijk & Co. began in 1999, yielding award-winners like the Hanse 371 and fueling rapid growth: by 2003, eight models up to 53 ft; the 2007 IPO and acquisitions of Moody (2007), Fjord (2006), Dehler (2009), Sealine (2013), Privilege catamarans (2017), and the launch of RYCK Yachts (2021) expanded the group to 40+ models sold via 230 dealers worldwide. Production is centralized in state-of-the-art facilities: the 400,000 m² Greifswald yard (hull assembly, interiors) and Goleniów, Poland (lamination), enabling build times of 6–18 months per custom order while prioritizing sustainability through resource-efficient processes and eco-friendly engines. Under Aurelius AG ownership since 2011, HanseYachts embodies "Breaking rules, setting trends" with easy-sailing, performance-oriented designs—over 14,000 yachts delivered to date—and digital tools like the MyHanse Safety Cloud app for owners.