Arguably the main yacht show in the United States, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2019 is set to start on the 30th of October and last for a total of 5 days. In 2017, the parent company of the Monaco Yacht Show, spent $133 million to acquire a portfolio of shows, which included FLIBS, which celebrates its 60th edition this year.
This year, visitors will find nearly 1,200 boats on display across seven different locations in Florida, not to mention around 1,000 exhibitors. That all will transform the Fort Lauderdale city into a hive of on-water activity. The show’s locations will cover:
- The Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel & Yachting Centre
- Hall of Fame Marina
- Las Olas Municipal Marina
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
- Sails Marina
- Pier 66 Marina (Superyacht Village)
- The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Centre.
A new feature of this year’s layout, The Superyacht Village will be unveiled for the first time. Located along Pier 66, the newly opened 3.5-acre space will be capable of hosting yachts of up to 121 metres in LOA.
Yacht Harbour takes a look at the largest yachts on display at the upcoming show.
Charter in winter: from $1,400,000 p/w
The largest superyacht on the show, the 95-metre superyacht Madsummer is set to make her international debut at FLIBS after a recent delivery to her owner, a repeat client with Lürssen. First known as Project Fiji it took nearly 2,5 years to build her under supervision of the owner’s captain and brokerage company Moran Yacht & Ship.
With a 14-metre beam, the exterior profile of Madsummer comes from a British designer Harrison Eidsgaard maintaining sleek and elegant lines within impressive volumes. The interior design aimed at up to 20 guests across 10 suites comes from drawing boards by Laura Sessa.
The vessel's main trademarks are the 12-metre swimming pool and Jacuzzi laid on the aft deck, protected with glass bulwarks. Spacious beach club and spa zone with a sea terrace on the lower deck also belong on the list of Madsummer’s special features. The bow is equipped with a helipad, while the sun deck aft features hidden crane in the bulwark, able to handle an aeroboat.
The superyacht is available for charter in the Mediterranean in summer period and in Caribbean/Bahamas in winter.
Builder: Amels (2016)
LOA: 83m
Charter in winter: from approx. $ 1,353,400 p/w
The largest Amels superyacht to date, Here Comes The Sun became her Russian owner's 4th superyacht named after The Beatles' song. The superyacht features exterior design by Tim Heywood and interior style by Winch Design.
Amongst her main features are a 5.5-metre swimming pool aft of the main deck, an extensive 87-square-metre beach club area located right underneath with a sitting area, sauna and gym. Other amenities also include a cinema room and a large Jacuzzi on the sundeck.
As for the accommodation, there are 8 guest cabins on board and space for 27 crew. The six-decks yacht comprises 900 square metres of outside deck space and a garage capable of storing four jet skis and two 11m tenders.
Meanwhile, the superyacht generated one of the highest charter revenues during the summer 2017, estimated at €9-9.5 million.
#3. Excellence
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen (2019)
LOA: 80m
Charter in winter: from $ 1,100,000 p/w
Photo: Dutch Yachting
The vessel is believed to be owned by Herb Chambers, American billionaire and the owner of a network of six dozen dealerships in Massachusetts. He is also famous for his collection of exotic cars. The automotive dealership mogul estimated at $1.5 billion by Forbes.
The sixth largest vessel of Abeking & Rasmussen, Excellence features both exteriors and interiors developed by the UK-based design studio Winch Design. Her framework relies on the same technical platform as the 81-metre Grace (ex. Kibo), featuring a 12.6- metre beam and a maximum draught of 3.5 metres.
Key exterior trademark of Excellence is her striking and angular reverse bow, offering a silhouette comparable to a spaceship. Her exterior lines draw the eye to the bridge and owner’s decks surrounded by curved floor-to-ceiling mirrored glass, blurring the distinction between the upper deck and the panoramic skylounge.
With accommodation capacity for 14 guests, Excellence offers a swimming pool and platform, as well as Jacuzzi and sprawling beach club and impressive limousine tenders.
#4. Vida
Builder: Heesen (2019)
LOA: 55m
Delivered in May 2019, Vida represents the third project in Heesen FDHF steel class series. With muscular exterior outline by Frank Laupman, Omega Architects, one of the distinctive hallmarks of the vessel’s layout are french windows designed to get the most of the natural light on-board.
Vida is also the first yacht in Heesen fleet to comply with the latest emissions regulations, thanks to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx in exhaust emissions.
As to interior concept, the owner commissioned Be Design Associates, a design bureau based in Florida, for whom Vida became the first new-build yacht project. The yacht’s interior volume amounts to 740 GT, with the accommodation provided to 12 guests within five cabins on the lower deck and a 80-squere-metre master suite forward on the main deck.
Vida’s owner, experienced American yachtsman and sport fisherman, worked closely with the shipyard’s engineers to customise his new yacht and make her the mothership of his sport fishing fleet. Thus, Vida can refuel and recharge the owner’s Bayliss 60 and Bayliss 68 sportfish yachts, enabling the guests and the owners to spend several days offshore without returning to the base.
#5. Solo
Builder: Tankoa (2018)
LOA: 72m
Charter in winter: from approx. $ 665,600 p/w
The yacht was launched in August 2018, making her international debut at the Monaco Yacht Show the same year.
Designed by Francesco Paszkowski in collaboration with Margherita Casprini, Solo’s interiors represent blend of contemporary and timeless air. Her spacious main and upper salons provide relaxation zones with large plush seating areas, along with a dazzling baby grand piano and numerous entertainment options.
The yacht’s six staterooms can accommodate up to 12 guests, including a spacious VIP, two doubles and two twins. The master suite is fitted with a private terrace complete with sunpads and a Jacuzzi with panoramic views. On the skylounge aft, there is a swimming pool and a private dance floor, which easily converts to a touch-and-go helipad.
Solo’s beach club, meanwhile, represents a spacious and welcoming space with sofa, bar, TV, oversized glass walled gym with fold-out terrace, bathroom, sauna (also fitted with its own fold-out terrace) and hammam.
#6. Baba's
Builder: HSY Yachts (2019)
LOA: 56m
The brand new 56-metre superyacht represents a debut of the Turkish builder HSY Yachts on the international arena. The builder's flagship, Baba's was commissioned by an American customer.
The superyacht features exteriors by Unique Yacht Design, the studio working closely with another Turkish builder Bilgin Yachts on their two 80-metre projects. The yard’s in-house team has handled her naval architecture and interior design meanwhile.
This tri-deck yacht features a 10,4-metre beam, building up interior volume of 800 GT spread over three decks. Baba's has been constructed of a steel hull and aluminum superstructure.
The yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests within 6 cabins including a main-deck full-beam owner’s cabin, an upper deck VIP near the captain’s cabin. 4 guest cabins as long as 6 cabins for up to 11 crew members are laid on the lower deck.
#7. Broadwater
Builder: Feadship (2000)
LOA: 50.3
Charter in winter: from $245,000 p/w plus expenses
Broadwater was launched under the name Blue Moon in 2000, as the world’s first all-aluminium yacht over 500 GT. She features designs by Donald Starkey, along with naval architecture by Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects.
The 50-metre yacht features a beam of 9,5 meters and a draft of 2,5 meters. With her aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure, she bears gross tonnage of 692 tons. Broadwater's maximum accommodation capacity is 12 guests in 6 cabins.
The yacht completed an all-encompassing refit in 2017. The modifications included a completely new interior design refit by Adam Voorhees for a six-stateroom layout. In June, she was spotted at Feadship yard in Amsterdam, for pre-season deck and engineering works, according to Feadship.
Her maximum speed of 17 knots and cruising speed of 14 knots are provided with Caterpillar engines of 1500 hp each.
ISA Yachts, a brand of Palumbo Superyachts, has launched the ISA GT 66-meter model as part of its Gran Turismo yacht series. The exterior design was developed by Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi.The yacht features a metallic blue-grey exterior with a long teak bow designed as a multifunctional lounge area. The design includes floor-to-ceiling windows and wide side decks with glass balustrades. A sky lounge integrated into the profile can be customized as a dining area, gym, or panoramic lounge with a hot tub. The aft main deck features an infinity pool with adjacent lounge areas.The interior incorporates organic furnishings with materials including wood, wenge inserts, marble, and satin-finish brass. The main deck contains a full-beam master stateroom with a walk-in closet, bathroom, and lounge area, along with two guest cabins. The lower deck accommodates four additional double cabins.The wellness area includes a spa and fold-out platforms providing direct access to the sea. The yacht maintains the sport-oriented design characteristics of the Gran Turismo line while emphasizing social areas and natural light throughout interior spaces.Palumbo Superyachts took root in 2008, when the Columbus Yachts brand was established, and in 2011 it launched its first 54m superyacht, emblematically christened Prima (the First). Currently, Palumbo Superyachts comprises a representative office in Monaco and a logistics network of five shipyards in the Mediterranean (Ancona, Malta, Marseille, Naples, and Savona); it also operates the following brands: ISA Yachts, Columbus Yachts, Mondomarine and Palumbo SY Refit.Credits: ISA Yachts
September 18, 2025
Gruppo Antonini S.p.A. has been awarded the IRENA 3 EPC project by EDINA, a joint venture between Edison Gas and Croatian operator INA. The contract value is approximately €23 million. Gruppo Antonini will serve as the agent in a consortium with two other companies.The project involves the engineering, construction, and installation of an offshore platform in the Northern Adriatic. The platform will consist of a jacket, foundation piles, and a topside with a total weight of approximately 800 tons. It will be installed at a depth of 35 meters and connected via pipeline to the existing Izabela North platform.A distinctive feature of the platform is its energy system, which will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels. The facility will be fully automated and controlled remotely through a distributed control system (DCS) that allows remote monitoring of process parameters.This project represents the first of eight planned offshore developments in the Northern Adriatic aimed at increasing production from the IVANA gas field. The contract includes supply of materials, engineering, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, marine transport, and offshore hook-up operations.This award follows other major projects secured by Gruppo Antonini in Libya and the northern Adriatic region in 2024.Antonini Navi, the maxi-yacht builder established in 2019 by the storied Gruppo Antonini Spa and managed directly by the same family in close partnership with partner and commercial director Aldo Manna.Credits: Antonini Navi
September 18, 2025
Forte Yachts is in the final stages of construction for its first model, the Forte 47. The 14-meter yacht, which debuted at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival, is scheduled for launch in November 2025. The vessel is being built at the company's shipyard in Ameglia, Italy.The aluminum-built yacht features a vertical bow and a hardtop that spans over half its length. Its most distinctive feature consists of two fold-out terraces positioned amidships, which open outward to create sea-level lounge areas. The deck design incorporates a walkway only on the port side to maximize interior volume.The yacht is available in two configurations. The Gran Turismo version uses triple Mercury V12 600hp outboard engines with an estimated top speed of 45 knots. The Lounge Deck version features twin Volvo Penta IPS D8-800 inboard engines and an enclosed saloon with full-height glazing.The interior includes two cabins and two bathrooms with separate showers, with headroom exceeding two meters throughout. The hull design by Umberto Tagliavini of Marine Design emphasizes stability and efficient planing.Technical Manager Livio Franchini stated: "Opening the terraces transforms the yacht entirely. It creates a seamless connection with the sea that feels unprecedented in a 14-meter vessel."Brand co-founder Fernando Moricca stated: "Our clients are not just buying a boat; they are creating a tailored experience. The aluminium build allows us to adapt every element to individual tastes and requirements."Paolo Giordano, Head of Design, stated: "We wanted to ensure that the yacht feels like a true home on the water and challenge what owners expect in this size range. Every detail, from bathroom height to kitchen layout, has been crafted with liveability in mind."Current construction status includes completed hull, superstructure, and deck awaiting pre-paint treatment. Engine installation and interior assembly are underway, with the engine room reported to be 80% complete.Credits: Forte Yachts
September 18, 2025
Royal Huisman has unveiled a 50-meter concept yacht named AERA. The design incorporates a wing sail system and fuel cell technology aimed at reducing emissions. The concept follows the shipyard's 2024 launch of Project Tidal Shift, an environmental initiative focused on ecological preservation.The yacht's wing sail, developed by Artemis Technologies and Rondal, measures 245 square meters and is capable of rotating 360 degrees. The unstayed wing sail system does not require traditional sails, sheets, blocks, or winches. Two electric motors inside the yacht rotate the mast, while hydraulic cylinders control adjustable flaps along its trailing edge.AERA is designed to operate under 500 gross tonnage. The concept results from a collaboration between Royal Huisman, Rondal, designer Cor D. Rover, and Artemis Technologies. The design allows the vessel to function under both sail and power.Royal Huisman previously delivered the world's first hybrid superyacht, Ethereal, in 2009. The shipyard states that AERA represents a continuation of its focus on integrating new technologies to address sustainability in yacht building.Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.Credit: Royal Huisman
September 17, 2025
Tankoa Yachts has completed the acquisition of the business division of Otam. The transaction, finalized in agreement with both companies' founding families, includes the Otam brand and its historic shipyard in Genoa. The dockyard facilities in Santa Margherita Ligure remain under the current ownership.The acquired Genoa facility comprises approximately 4,800 square meters of covered areas, 3,300 square meters of open-air spaces, and a water basin of nearly 10,000 square meters. Tankoa Yachts plans to implement a restructuring program that will include extending concessions, reorganizing the areas, and constructing new production sheds.The operation includes the integration of Otam's workforce into Tankoa Yachts. All employees are being transferred to ensure job continuity and to add new skills and experience to the shipyard.The Otam brand, with its existing heritage and international reputation, becomes part of Tankoa's portfolio. Tankoa Yachts stated it will preserve the brand's legacy while defining a strategy aligned with its long-term vision.This acquisition represents a continuation of the expansion project Tankoa Yachts presented at the beginning of 2025 and strengthens the company's presence in the Genoa region.Credits: Tankoa Yacht
September 17, 2025