Italy

Ugo Costaguta

Delivering yachts from 40 to 77 metres in length to an international roster of clients from the USA, UK, Europe and Russia, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a> has international recognition as an industry heavyweight. But what is the history of the Turkish yard? Here, we take a look at its predecessor and unravel the brilliance of the builder's backstory. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/171184/image/large-3ee1a3a45f9aa5b5ba81c9313ca0d2ae.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/171184">The company’s success today has its roots in two companies involved in yacht building: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan Yachts Inc</a>., based in Tuzla, Istanbul and Turquoise Yacht Construction, also based in Istanbul. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> was the shortened version of the company’s full name – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Profilo Teknik Sanayi A.S</a>. These two companies joined forces in 1994 to establish Proteksan-Turquoise Yachts and focused on the construction of large motor yachts to a high standard. In 2014, MB Holding, which was founded in 1982 by Omani businessman Mohammed Al Barwani, became the majority shareholder and the company was renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a>, with the head office and shipyard based at Pendik, Istanbul.&nbsp;Turning now to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan Yachts</a>, the company commenced building large (for the time) motor yachts in the mid-1970s. In those days, most Turkish-built yachts were wooden gulets built for the charter market in Turkey and Greece.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/172234/image/large-b587da465505431c40b4fa92f00c5cb0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/172234"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> was the first Turkish yard to build in steel, with its first yacht delivered in 1977 following fitting out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Picchiotti (Company)">Picchiotti</a> at Viareggio. This yacht, the 32-metre Motivator, was sold to a Middle Eastern owner and renamed Dina A. In 1987, the yacht was sold to a costume jewellery manufacturer and was based in Bangkok until 1992. The yacht, now named <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nomad32.0m (104'12&quot;)Proteksan1977">Nomad</a>, has been home-ported in Tunisia in recent years after her sale by auction in 1998.&nbsp;The next yacht completed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> in 1977 was the 24-metre Kerim which was designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paolo Caliari Design (Company)">Paolo Caliari</a> and would later become Boggy C and be painted in battleship grey. The later history of this vessel is unknown at present. Also completed in the same year was the 28.5-metre Milasan, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paolo Caliari Design (Company)">Paolo Caliari&nbsp;</a>and also fitted out in Italy. The yacht was sold to a Middle Eastern buyer following its completion.&nbsp;1983 saw the completion of the 24.4-metre Alize followed a year later by the 41-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a>, the largest yacht built so far by the shipyard. This yacht would later be extended to 44.6 metres by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/496" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sensation Yachts (Company)">Sensation Yachts</a> in Auckland, New Zealand.Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ugo Costaguta (Company)">Ugo Costaguta</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/858" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Mercati (Company)">Alberto Mercati&nbsp;</a>with an interior by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/912" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arthur M. Barbeito & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Arthur M. Barbieto</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a> spent a few years under the ownership of the Sultan of Selangor, Malaysia as Permaisuri before being acquired by an Australian owner and reverting to her original name.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/158752/image/large-3b3e5b154d555a3623fd71d68fd8cd9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/158752">At around the same time, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> completed the 43.6-metre Galaxy Star for Rene Herzog, the Swiss entrepreneur whose Zurich-based company, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/903" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alucraft (Company)">Alucraft</a>, had been instrumental in the promotion and building of both this yacht and the aforementioned <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a>. Galaxy Star was equipped with a stern garage that would initially house a Rolls-Royce when in Europe and a Chrysler when stateside.Another, slightly smaller yacht which was completed in 1986 to a similar design (but without the stern garage) was the 38.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4278" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Big Change II38.13m (125'1&quot;)Proteksan1986">Big Change</a>. The last one completed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> in the 1980s was the first Vals, a 23.8-metre motoryacht designed by Necdet Saldur.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/184734/image/large-9465a4877dd8ec36c6279f22d140280f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/184734">In the 1990s, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> launched the 33.0-metre Tarabia in 1991 followed by a small series known as the Proteksan 88 model. This sleek design was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vincenzo Ruggiero (Company)">Vincenzo Ruggiero</a> with interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/264" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="J.G. Verges Design (Company)">Jean-Guy Verges.</a>Three vessels were completed in 1993 and 1994, namely Saga, Vals II and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8373" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moontazzam II26.85m (88'1&quot;)Proteksan1994">Dervis III</a> which would be the last yachts to be built under the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> brand name prior to the tie-up with Turquoise in 1997. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/110708/image/large-d641ed417b3f60169eafb37e6fb9fbfa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/110708">This article was first featured in The SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> now to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.&nbsp;

Turquoise Yachts history: 

SYT's historian Malcolm Wood unpacks Turquoise Yachts' history and their Proteskan merger.

History: Proteksan and Turquoise Yachts on how they came to be

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a>' success today has its roots in two companies involved in yacht building: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan Yachts Inc.</a>, based in Tuzla, Istanbul and Turquoise Yacht Construction, also based in Istanbul. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> was the shortened version of the company’s full name – Profilo Teknik Sanayi A.S.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/158752/image/large-3b3e5b154d555a3623fd71d68fd8cd9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/158752">These two companies joined forces in 1994 to establish Proteksan-Turquoise Yachts and focused on the construction of large motor yachts to a high standard. In 2014, MB Holding, which was founded in 1982 by Omani businessman Mohammed Al Barwani, became the majority shareholder and the company was renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a>, with the head office and shipyard based at Pendik, Istanbul.&nbsp;Turning now to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan Yachts</a>, the company commenced building large (for the time) motor yachts in the mid-1970s. In those days, most Turkish-built yachts were wooden gulets built for the charter market in Turkey and Greece.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> was the first Turkish yard to build in steel, with its first yacht delivered in 1977 following fitting out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Picchiotti (Company)">Picchiotti</a> at Viareggio. This yacht, the 32-metre Motivator, was sold to a Middle Eastern owner and renamed Dina A.In 1987, the yacht was sold to a costume jewellery manufacturer and was based in Bangkok until 1992. The yacht, now named <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nomad32.0m (104'12&quot;)Proteksan1977">Nomad</a>, has been home-ported in Tunisia in recent years after her sale by auction in 1998.The next yacht completed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> in 1977 was the 24-metre Kerim which was also designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paolo Caliari Design (Company)">Paolo Caliari</a> and would later become Boggy C and be painted in battleship grey. The later history of this vessel is unknown at present. Also completed in the same year was the 28.5-metre Milasan, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4575" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Paolo Caliari Design (Company)">Paolo Caliari</a> and also fitted out in Italy. The yacht was sold to a Middle Eastern buyer following its completion.&nbsp;1983 saw the completion of the 24.4-metre Alize followed a year later by the 41-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a>, the largest yacht built so far by the shipyard. This yacht would later be extended to 44.6 metres by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/496" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sensation Yachts (Company)">Sensation Yachts</a> in Auckland, New Zealand. Designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/904" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ugo Costaguta (Company)">Ugo Costaguta</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/858" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alberto Mercati (Company)">Alberto Mercati</a> with an interior by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/912" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arthur M. Barbeito & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Arthur M. Barbieto</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a> spent a few years under the ownership of the Sultan of Selangor, Malaysia as Permaisuri before being acquired by an Australian owner and reverting to her original name.At around the same time, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> completed the 43.6-metre Galaxy Star for Rene Herzog, the Swiss entrepreneur whose Zurich-based company, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/903" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alucraft (Company)">Alucraft</a>, had been instrumental in the promotion and building of both this yacht and the aforementioned <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/525" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Texas44.6m (146'4&quot;)Proteksan1984">Texas</a>. Galaxy Star was equipped with a stern garage that would initially house a Rolls-Royce when in Europe and a Chrysler when stateside.Another, slightly smaller yacht which was completed in 1986 to a similar design (but without the stern garage) was the 38.1-metre Big Change. The last one completed by &nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> in the 1980s was the first Vals, a 23.8-metre motoryacht designed by Necdet Saldur.In the 1990s, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> launched the 33.0-metre Tarabia in 1991 followed by a small series known as the Proteksan 88 model. This sleek design was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/856" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vincenzo Ruggiero (Company)">Vincenzo Ruggiero</a> with interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/264" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="J.G. Verges Design (Company)">Jean-Guy Verges</a>. Three vessels were completed in 1993 and 1994, namely Saga, Vals II&nbsp;and Dervis III which would be the last yachts to be built under the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> brand name prior to the tie-up with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a> in 1997.&nbsp;

An origin story: Proteksan and Turquoise Yachts

SYT’s in-house yacht historian Malcolm Wood takes a look at the predecessors of one of today’s leading Turkish superyacht builders, Turquoise Yachts.