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Forget the old stereotype of the “budget alternative.” The Turkish shipbuilding industry has undergone a radical transformation. The facts speak for themselves: As of late 2025, Turkey officially ranks #2 worldwide in superyacht construction, overtaking heavyweights like the Netherlands. Only Italy remains ahead.
For investors, shipowners, and yacht enthusiasts, this means one thing: You can find Italian level design paired with German engineering standardsoften with faster turnaround times. But not every shipyard holds up to its marketing. While some manufacturers have waitlists stretching into 2028, others are struggling to pivot.
We’ve analyzed the market, stripped away the brochure promises, and identified who is actually delivering.
The Elite: Top 15 Turkish Shipyards in Detail
This list is curated based on actual market relevance and current project status as of December 2025.
1. Aegean Yacht: The Steel Specialists
Aegean Yacht is not a mass producer; it is a workshop for individualists. If you are looking for mass produced fiberglass hulls, look elsewhere. Their focus is strictly on steel and aluminum. Currently, their portfolio includes over 50 successfully delivered yachts.
Insider Tip: Keep an eye on “Project Haifa” (AEGEAN 66). At 66 meters, it is the shipyard’s current flagship. The “Project Obsidian Blade” (41m), with its keel laid in late 2025, also demonstrates that the yard is operating at full capacity.
- Locations: Bodrum and Antalya
- Specialty: Custom Yachts (Steel/Aluminum)
- Status: Full order books with major projects
2. Tersan Shipyard: The Global Player
Tersan has successfully leaped from a local repair service to an international conglomerate. The most impressive detail for 2025? They no longer operate solely from Turkey. With the acquisition of the Havyard Leirvik shipyard in Norway, Tersan has massively expanded its European footprint.
If you need technically complex offshore vessels or ferries that must meet Nordic standards, Tersan is the primary address.
- Locations: Yalova, Tuzla (Istanbul), Norway
- Highlight: Own production facilities in Scandinavia
3. Sedef Shipyard: Scale Meets Class
Sedef is the giant among private shipyards. With an area of 270,000 m², everything here is designed for scale. The shipyard has officially crossed the mark of “over 200 successful projects.” They don’t just build ships here; they construct massive maritime infrastructure and military platforms.
4. Numarine: The Performance Pioneer
Numarine saw a major leadership shift in late 2025: Patrik von Sydow has returned as CEO, while founder Ömer Malaz now guides strategy as Chairman. The focus remains clearly on the “Explorer” series (XP).
The Reality for Buyers: Patience is required. If you order a new Numarine 45XP today (market price approx. €31.7M / $33.9M), do not expect delivery before 2027 or 2028. The order books are fulla good sign for resale value, but bad for spontaneous purchases.
Before committing to such an investment, it often pays to test the waters first. Check out our guide on the best places to rent a yacht in Istanbul to experience the region’s maritime culture firsthand.
5. Ares Shipyard: High-Tech from Antalya
Ares proves that Antalya is capable of much more than just tourism. The shipyard operates on two extremely successful tracks:
- Military: The unmanned “ULAQ” boats (sea drones) are set to enter the Turkish Navy’s inventory by the end of 2025.
- Luxury: Under the “ARES Yachts” brand, the 62-meter superyacht “SIMENA” was launched in July 2025.
6. Cemre Shipyard
In Yalova, Cemre has established itself as the synonym for eco shipbuilding. The yard focuses heavily on hybrid and electric propulsion systems for the Northern European market. If sustainability is a priority in your tender, Cemre belongs on your shortlist.
7. Dunya Yachts: Luxury with History
Dunya Yachts is known for uncompromising luxury. The yard’s most famous vessel, the 72-meter Axioma, made headlines in recent years. Following an extensive refit, she remains a benchmark for the absolute high-end segment Dunya plays in.
8. Uzmar Shipyards: The Tugboat Kings
Uzmar is not an experimental lab; it is a bankable institution. Their 2025 statistics have been updated: Over 200 vessels have now been delivered to more than 25 countries across 6 continents. Recent successes include the “TIGER” escort tug for Italy and the hybrid “Balahu.” Uzmar builds workhorses that work.
When closing international purchase contracts of this magnitude, proper paperwork is essential. We strongly recommend reviewing our complete guide to the legalization of foreign documents in Turkey before signing.
9. Sirena Marine: Independent and Successful
A common misunderstanding must be cleared up: The partnership with Azimut Benetti is history (ended in 2015). Today, Sirena Marine operates completely independently and is attacking the superyacht market directly in 2025 with the new Sirena 118. The brand has evolved from a supplier into a standalone powerhouse known for massive explorer yachts with abundant living space.
10. Yonca Shipyard: Fast and Invisible
Yonca is the specialist for anything that needs to be fastand ideally unseen. 2025 was dominated by the SANCAR USV project (an unmanned mine hunting boat) developed in cooperation with HAVELSAN. If you are looking for military interceptors or advanced composite materials, you end up at Yonca.
11. Anadolu Shipyard (ADIK)
Anadolu remains the backbone of Turkish naval logistics. In March 2025, the first vessel of the new “Landing Craft Tank” (LCT) project was launched. The shipyard is highly specialized in amphibious operations and successfully exports this know-how to nations like Qatar.
12. Sefine Shipyard
Sefine is an all rounder in Yalova that scores particularly well on complex conversions and repairs. When it comes to extending the life of a freighter or retrofitting it to meet new environmental standards, Sefine often offers the best price to-performance ratio.
13. Ada Shipyard
A solid player in Istanbul specializing in medium tonnage. Ada is known for flexibilitythey don’t manufacture assembly line products here, but rather find solutions for specific shipowner requirements.
14. Argem Shipyard
Argem focuses heavily on interiors and finishing. For yacht owners, this is often the deciding factor. Pro Tip: When outfitting a yacht in Turkey, leveraging local suppliers is key. Negotiation is an art form herecheck out our guide on mastering the art of Turkish market negotiation to ensure you get the best value from local vendors.
15. Ark Yacht
Rounding off our list is Ark Yacht, representing the marriage of traditional aesthetics with modern technology. They are particularly strong in building classic schooners and yachts that look “retro” but pack state-of-the-art systems onboard.
Verdict: Which Shipyard Fits You?
The selection is vast, but the segmentation is clear:
- For Superyacht Buyers: Numarine (Performance/Explorer), Dunya (Ultra Luxury), Aegean (Custom Steel).
- For Commercial Shipowners: Tersan (High-Tech/Norwegian Connection), Uzmar (Tugs).
- For Military/Government: Ares, Yonca, Sedef.
Turkey has evolved from a “workbench” to a technology leader. However, the key to success lies in reserving slots early, as global demand for Turkish vessels is expected to climb even higher in 2026.
