The superyacht boom may have emerged after 2020, but it is only now that Americans are going into overdrive. So much so that iconic shipyard Lürssen is opening a full-fledged headquarters at the newly redeveloped Pier Sixty-Six Marina in Fort Lauderdale. It marks a significant moment for the yachting industry, not only because it creates a hub tailored to some of the biggest floating giants in the United States, but also because it coincides with the shipyard’s 150th anniversary.
The news of the new base was revealed at the widely covered Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS). The German shipyard already had a presence in the US since 2018, but this new location is a serious upgrade, complete with direct access to the superyacht marina. Lürssen can now cater to superyachts up to 400 feet right in Fort Lauderdale.
Lürssen Americas will offer clients comprehensive services including new construction, refit capabilities, and yacht management, according to Boat International. The move is aimed squarely at the world’s biggest yacht owner base, as almost a quarter of all superyacht owners now live in the United States and the North American yacht market generated about $2.93 billion in 2023, with forecasts of roughly 5.3 percent annual growth through 2030 led by the superyacht segment. “The Americas market remains pivotal for Lürssen, with nearly 350 metres of yachts delivered to American clients in 2024 alone,” the builder noted. The future is indeed brighter for young American tech billionaires, as the facility boasts a marina with 5,000 linear feet of dockage and 164 deep-water slips. Moreover, the world-class marina offers serious shore power (up to 1,200 amps per pedestal), high-speed bunkering, and Foreign Trade Zone designation with tax-free fueling.
This is a considerable advantage for gigantic Lürssen yachts like the nearly 400-foot Nuvolari Lenard–designed Kismet, which was named Motor Yacht of the Year at the 2025 World Superyacht Awards.
American owners sailing on Lürssen mammoths
Among the American Lürssen fleet, the largest is Sergey Brin’s 465-foot Dragonfly. It is an extraordinary yacht, but at well over 400 feet it sits beyond the practical slip capacity of Pier Sixty-Six, the same challenge faced by the 452-foot Rising Sun. Still, Lürssen’s presence will significantly benefit many other noteworthy yachts, from Kismet and Whisper to Limitless, Phoenix 2, Eos, and others. The advantage of having Lürssen at the heart of Fort Lauderdale is immediate support on everything from warranty issues and strange alarms to any unexpected technical concern that can be handled by a local team.
In addition, technical visits can be staged from Fort Lauderdale instead of flying everything out of Germany each time. For first-time yacht owners, there is a boardroom where drawings, designs, and discussions can take place in person. With the HQ in Florida, vessels will spend less time out of service, as the team can coordinate between the German shipyards and trusted American yards for intermediate works and upgrades.
