Horizon Yacht was established more than 30 years ago in 1987 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company has three founders – Mr. Gong Shan Chiai, Mr. Chen Shung Hui, and Mr. John Lu, who was the leader.
In the early years, the yachting industry was booming in Taiwan. With passion, dedication, vision, and less than 30 employees, Horizon Yacht focused its first three years on building motor yachts up to 50 feet for the overseas markets, including Australia, Sweden in Europe, and the USA. The changing situation on the Taiwanese scene forced John to change the strategy and place the company’s efforts on the European and Asian markets with yacht models in the boat range of 45 and 58 feet. This move secured the successful future of Horizon Yacht. Until 1996 the yacht builder worked on both original branded yacht models and operated as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). In collaboration with their dealer in Europe – Drettmann Yachts, Horizon Yacht launched the first yacht model of the Elegance series and the first 80-feet yacht model, which was one of the most successful motor yacht models for the company bringing customers for over a decade. By making the right turns and crucial decisions throughout the years, John Lu managed to get the company among the Top 10 yacht builders for superyachts. During the financial crisis between 2007 and 2011, Horizon’s dealer in Europe, Drettmann Yachts, announced bankruptcy, which was a turning point for the company’s future. Horizon Yacht put the efforts in creating its own identity, popularizing around the world without the dealer co-operation and bringing awareness on the company’s capabilities.
Building Luxury Motor Yachts and Superyachts
Although the crisis had a substantial negative financial impact all over the globe, Horizon Yacht achieved to complete ten superyachts above 105 feet and six above 130 feet. Horizon Yacht established various more companies and facilities under the Horizon Group, namely, Atech Composites facility, the Vision Shipyard, Premier Yachts, CNC Tooling Center, and Q&E Furniture with a total of more than 1.2 million square feet and above 1200 employees. Horizon Yacht is the only Asian yacht builder member of SYBAss – Superyacht Builders Association. Horizon Yacht, one of the largest yacht builders in the world, focuses mainly on building small yachts between 21 and 37 meters. They specialize in eight unique series, each designed and built to the highest standards, and tailored to suit every customer’s individual yachting lifestyle with unique style and function.
Since 1987 Horizon Yacht has built more than 835 luxury motor yachts with 25% bigger than 80 feet. The company has been awarded “Best Asian Yacht Builder” at the Asia Boating Awards for 13 consecutive years. The most popular yacht models are the FD series – Fast Displacement Motor Yacht Series with most desirable yacht models FD 85 and FD 87. In the last four years, the yacht builder sold over 20 hulls of these series.
Designing Superyachts to Satisfy the Chinese Boaters Taste
Some of the notable yachts by Horizon Yacht are SunOne launched in 2012, which was the first one of the superyacht EP 148 Series and has BV Ice Classification with ice-class hull and long-distance range with 10,600 gallons of fuel capacity; and Lady Gaga, which is a 33.53-meter motor yacht from the CC class that stands for Customer Collection designed entirely to the taste of her Chinese owner. Today the company offers eight series of yacht models including FD Series with yachts in the range between 75 and 125 feet, V Series with boat range 68 and 80 feet, RP Series between 97 and 120 feet, E Series ranging between 56 and 98 feet, the Explorer Series EP 150, P Series with a boat range between 110 and 140 feet, PC Series which are the Powered Catamaran Series ranging between 52 and 74 feet, and the CC Series which cover custom models above 80 feet.
Constant Development and Improvement
Horizon Yacht has been proven as a yacht builder with a visionary leader, realizing the importance of constant development and improvement. With companies under the Horizon Group umbrella focusing on different aspects of the yacht building process, Horizon Yacht offers high-quality composite motor yachts, innovative designs, advanced technology, and customization to deliver the dream of any yacht owner. The excellence of Horizon Yacht is a result of the company’s superior craftsmanship, with many employees having mastered yacht building for over 20 years. As a result, Horizon Yacht records multiple customers who come back for a second, third, or fourth time to buy a yacht from the Taiwanese yacht builder.
Shipyacht Stats
- Founders: Mr. Gong Shan Chiai, Mr. Chen Shung Hui, and Mr. John Lu
- Size: 21 to 37 meters
- Type: Luxury motor yachts and superyachts
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