Dutch superyacht sector weighs offer of upgrade in new home

Netherlands Maritime Technology (NMT), a grouping of 400-plus maritime know-how companies, showed Dutch superyacht builders and their suppliers a new home last week following the collapse of their HISWA Holland Yachting Group.

NMT has created Dutch Yachting Society (DYS), a stand-alone NMT unit to handle the global branding and export promotion of Dutch superyacht makers and their supply chain.

Some 60 companies have registered to join DYS. They have until February 1 to make up their minds. NMT officials said they expect 40 to 50 to actually join. They wooed them at a meeting this week by briefing them on NMT house rules and explaining the costs and benefits of DYS membership.

The Netherlands excels in large, highly customised yachts. NMT already has some yacht-building members but says absorbing – in one fell swoop – dozens more is a boon that merits creating a separate NMT superyacht group.

Within NMT, DYS will have its own board and branding and trade promotion programs, participate in big-ticket yacht shows and get access to sector-specific know-how about technical business issues and maritime laws and regulations. It will offer media tours of member facilities.

Addressing 100 superyacht types, NMT Chairman JS Ort – tongue firmly in cheek – likened joining NMT to “that story in the bible about going to the promised land.”

HISWA Holland Yachting Group collapsed when the umbrella HISWA watersports federation merged with a recreational industry lobby. Dutch superyacht builders then bolted.

“We looked at alternatives to NMT, but found none,” said Esthec CEO Marcel van der Spek who was HHYG chairman in 2019.

Home to 400-plus shipyards, marine equipment suppliers and service providers, NMT is the world’s largest maritime network. It offers Dutch yacht builders more branding and export heft than HHYG could muster. “We are a well-oiled machine when it comes to export promotion,” said Ort.

Annually, NMT organises 10 or so Holland Pavilions, four trade missions and more than 80 network meetings and knowledge seminars in various fields.