CATAMARANS MARKET ANALYSIS

Key Developments

• In November 2023, Sunreef Yachts, a renowned manufacturer of luxury catamarans, introduced the Sunreef 80, a spacious and sophisticated catamaran designed for long-distance cruising. In addition to the Sunreef 80, the company offers a diverse range of catamaran models, including the Sunreef 50, Sunreef 60, and Sunreef 70.
• In October 2022, Gotlandsbolaget, a Sweden-based ferry company, recently unveiled the Gotland Hydrocat concept vessel, which is claimed to be the world's first large-scale, high-speed hydrogen-powered catamaran. The Gotland Hydrocat, also known as Gotland Horizon X, is designed to travel at 35 knots and accommodate up to 1,650 passengers and 450 passenger cars.  This high-speed catamaran is part of Gotlandsbolaget's Horizon series, which aims to develop fossil-free vessels to achieve climate-neutral operations on the route to the popular tourist destination of Gotland by 2045.
• In November 2022, Silent Yachts, the creators of the world's first series-produced solar-powered electric yachts, launched the SILENT-60 in November 2021. This 60-foot catamaran features 42 solar panels that generate 17 kWp to power two 200 kW electric motors, and is backed by a 286 kWh battery capacity. What sets the SILENT-60 apart is the addition of a 9-13 square meter kite wing that can generate up to 10 times more pulling power compared to a conventional sail, allowing the yacht to harness wind energy without shading the solar panels.
• In October 2021, Groupe Beneteau, a world leader in pleasure craft manufacturing, acquired the Portuguese-based shipyard STARFISHER, renaming it GB PORTUGAL. This move will enable Groupe Beneteau to strengthen its production capacity for 25- to 35-foot powerboats by establishing a presence in Portugal. Groupe Beneteau, founded 140 years ago in Vendee, France, currently operates 23 production sites globally and posted €1.785 billion in turnover in 2023 with a workforce of nearly 8,000 employees. The company's Boat Division offers more than 135 models of pleasure craft across its nine brands, while its Boating Solutions Division is involved in services such as boat rentals, marinas, and financing.