LA CRUZ - Research

RESEARCH & INSIGHT

Understanding the Superyacht World

The superyacht industry extends far beyond luxury and leisure. It is an international ecosystem connecting shipbuilding, naval architecture, engineering, interior design, advanced technology, maritime employment, tourism, wealth, environmental responsibility and changing patterns of ownership and consumption.

The purpose of this research section is to examine that world critically—combining existing industry evidence with the first-hand observations and photography of Indey S. Cruz.

THE INDUSTRY IN NUMBERS

The scale of contemporary superyacht construction demonstrates the economic and industrial significance of the sector.

According to BOAT International's Global Order Book 2026, there were 1,093 superyachts of 24 metres or more on order or under construction, representing approximately 44,637 metres of yacht construction and 602,092 gross tonnes. The research identified 190 active superyacht shipyards worldwide.

The market has expanded substantially over the past decade. The corresponding figure was 754 yachts in build or on order in 2016, compared with 1,093 in 2026.

A GLOBAL INDUSTRY

Superyacht activity is also becoming increasingly geographically diverse. Research from SuperYacht Times found that 586 superyachts over 30 metres were active in the Asia-Pacific region during 2025, compared with 530 in 2024 and 445 in 2023.

This expansion raises important questions about where yachts are built, where they operate, how infrastructure develops around them and how established Mediterranean yachting centres interact with emerging markets.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION

One of the most significant areas of contemporary yacht research concerns environmental impact.

The Water Revolution Foundation's Roadmap 2050 takes a whole-life approach encompassing yacht design, construction, operation and refit, with measurable five-year targets intended to move the sector towards net-zero emissions by 2050.

The challenge is not simply to develop different engines. Current industry work encompasses alternative fuels, renewable shore power, energy consumption, waste, water use, construction materials and lifecycle assessment. The Foundation also recognises that fuels such as HVO are transitional rather than a complete long-term solution, with methanol, ammonia and hydrogen pathways among those being tracked.

FROM DESK RESEARCH TO FIELD RESEARCH

This research provides the foundation for the next stage.

At Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, Indey S. Cruz will move from secondary research to first-hand observation—examining yachts, technologies, interiors, engineering solutions, manufacturers and the wider culture surrounding the international yacht industry.

The objective is not simply to photograph extraordinary vessels, but to ask:

How are superyachts changing? Who builds them? What technologies are emerging? How is sustainability influencing design and operation? And what can the yacht show itself reveal about the culture, economics and future direction of contemporary yachting?

RESEARCH BY INDEY S. CRUZ

Existing evidence. Independent analysis. First-hand observation.