Italy

Ugo Costaguta

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/293865/image/large-85212ee38176fead49ff9d7dd32e3f0a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/293865"><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>, initially introduced as a 41-metre yacht in 1984 by the Turkish shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5615" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Proteksan (Company)">Proteksan</a> (now known as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a>), underwent an extension 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. The yacht was later named Permaisuri before being reacquired by an Australian owner and reverting to her original name, <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>. 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>, this steel-hulled motor yacht is a frequent visitor to the Australian port of Melbourne, as seen here docked in Pier 35 in Melbourne two weeks ago.&nbsp;

45m superyacht Texas in Melbourne

The 45m superyacht Texas, built by Proteksan, is seen here docked in Melbourne, Australia.

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.