NL superyacht sector rushes into maritime technology lobby’s fold

Voting with their feet, 36 Dutch superyacht sector companies are already saying they will join the Netherlands Maritime Technology trade lobby as of January 1. NMT managing director Roel de Graaf tells IBI they include the 26 members – 11 builders and 15 suppliers – of the HISWA Holland Yachting Group lobby.

The latter may well fold its tent before the end of 2019 – ironically, HHYG’s 50th anniversary year. Its future has been in the balance since the umbrella HISWA watersports lobby merged this year with the Netherlands’ largest leisure industry trade group.

Questioning that linkup’s benefits for superyacht builders and their suppliers, the HHYG board turned to the 400-member NMT which has created a superyacht ‘platform’ to support global branding and export promotion of the Dutch superyacht industry.

“The response from the industry to join the NMT has been overwhelming,” says De Graaf. “We did not expect this many applications. We have already 36 companies joining and expect more to follow.”

In the past decade, NMT organized more than 35 trade missions and 130 trade shows. Dutch superyacht builders are increasingly using cutting-edge maritime technologies that have applications for both commercial vessels and luxury motor yachts. That makes the move to NMT a logical one.

NMT’s superyacht platform will be operational from Jan. 1, 2020. Until then, NMT takes membership registrations. HHYG President Marcel van der Spek, co-founder of Esthec, says NMT has a “great track record” in crafting global business opportunities.

In 2018, the total turnover of the Dutch maritime manufacturing industry grew to €7.3 billion and the total order book of the Dutch superyacht building industry was valued at €4.1 billion.