• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Megayacht News 2021 Logo

Megayacht News

the trusted source for megayacht and superyacht information

Megayacht News 2021 Logo
  • Home
  • Yachts
    • Associations & Organizations
          • Associations & Organizations Recent Posts
            the Marshall Islands Registry YET program
            Marshall Islands Registry Tallies 1,000 Yachts

            August 17, 2024 By Marie Cullen

            SeaKeepers program opportunities let you participate
            4 SeaKeepers Program Opportunities for Hands-on Ocean Conservation

            May 11, 2024 By Marie Cullen

            Crew Environmental Guidelines are available from Water Revolution Foundation
            First-Ever Environmental Crew Guidelines to Help Steer Eco-Friendlier Practices On Your Superyacht

            February 7, 2024 By Marie Cullen

    • Brokerage
          • Brokerage Recent Posts
            new Camper & Nicholsons Viareggio office
            Camper & Nicholsons Viareggio Office Opens, in Yachting Capital of Italy

            April 18, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            the Feadship yacht Santa Maria
            Classic Yacht Santa Maria, Most Expensive Feadship of Her Era, for Sale

            November 25, 2024 By Diane M. Byrne

            Fraser Yachts is measuring superyacht environmental impact
            Superyacht Environmental Impact of Fraser Fleet Being Measured by YETI

            November 21, 2024 By Marie Cullen

    • Motoryachts
          • Motoryachts Recent Posts
            launch of the yacht Felicità
            Owners of Yacht Felicità Fete Their Mangusta Oceano 50

            June 21, 2025 By Marie Cullen

            Project Velor yacht concept aft decks
            Project Velor Yacht Concept Challenges Typical Superyacht Design

            June 19, 2025 By Marie Cullen

            Oceanco Y726 yacht launch
            Oceanco Y726 Yacht Launch Shows Shipyard’s Projects Getting Even Bigger

            June 16, 2025 By Marie Cullen

    • Sailing Yachts
          • Sailing Yachts Recent Posts
            the yacht Bayesian sinking (ex-Salute)
            The Bayesian Salvage: Yacht Surfaces

            June 20, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            sailing yacht Arktos for auction
            Classical Sailing Yacht Arktos Going Up for Auction

            May 30, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Vitters yacht project 3095 hull turning
            Vitters Yacht Project 3095 Hull—All 113 Tons of It—Turns Toward Completion

            May 28, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Superyacht 101 Series
          • Superyacht 101 Series Recent Post
            Buddy Darby
            Superyacht 101 Series: Advice From Fellow Owner Buddy Darby

            November 9, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

            Mark Robba
            Superyacht 101 Series: Advice From Fellow Owner Mark Robba

            October 31, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

            AJ Anderson, owner's representative
            Superyacht 101 Series: Selecting an Owner’s Representative

            July 29, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Tenders, Toys, &
      Products
          • Tenders, Toys, & Products Recent Posts
            Vandal 60 Chase boat
            Vandal 60 Chase Is an Industrial Chic Superyacht Chase Boat

            June 18, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Wet Lease, U-Boat Worx lease a submersible
            Lease a Submersible for Your Superyacht Through U-Boat Worx

            May 27, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            Savoir and Winch Design Tranquility bed
            Savoir and Winch Design Create Tranquility, a Custom Bed for Tranquil Sleep

            May 19, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

    • The Superyacht 6
          • The Superyacht 6 Recent Posts
            The Superyacht 6: 6 Superb Charter-Yacht Crews

            October 23, 2011 By Diane M. Byrne

            The Superyacht 6: 6 Must-See Megayachts at the Fort Lauderdale Show

            October 9, 2011 By Diane M. Byrne

            The Superyacht 6: 6 Editor’s Picks From the Monaco Yacht Show

            September 24, 2011 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Photo Galleries
          • the yacht Asani
            The Yacht Asani Welcomes You Through Visual Storytelling: Photo Gallery

            December 5, 2024 By Diane M. Byrne

            the Arcadia A96 yacht
            Arcadia A96 Yacht Is Solar Powered, Silent in Operation: Photo Gallery

            January 16, 2024 By Marie Cullen

            the Sanlorenzo yacht La La Land
            Yacht La La Land Exemplifies Sanlorenzo’s Redefinition of Space: Photo Gallery

            December 19, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Sponsored Posts
          • Yacht Sponsored Posts
            Baglietto DOM115
            Baglietto’s DOM115 Is 35 Meters of Style, Innovation, and Bold Design

            June 18, 2025 By SPONSORED CONTENT

  • Builders
    • Builders Directory
          • A - E
          • F - L
          • M - R
          • S - Z
    • Yard News
          • Yard News Recent Posts
            World Boating Day at Benetti
            Benetti Celebrates Second-Annual World Boating Day

            May 20, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            60-meter yacht Grand Russelina at Reviva Refit
            Reviva Refit Is Mengi Yay’s Answer to Service & Refit Needs

            May 16, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            JFA Yachts
            JFA Yachts Wooing American Buyers Through Denison Yachting

            May 14, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

    • Sponsored Posts
          • Builders Sponsored Posts
  • Charter & Cruising
    • Charter & Cruising News
          • Charter & Cruising Recent Posts
            Maldives surfing, The Solace Odyssey option
            The Solace Odyssey Yacht Charter: Book “Chapters” for a Storytelling Experience

            June 17, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            charter the yacht Mischief
            Charter the Yacht Mischief in Fiji: 5 Great Reasons to Book Her

            June 16, 2025 By Marie Cullen

            Y.CO Beyond provides Cannes Film Festival access
            Y.CO Beyond Augments Superyacht Charters With Access to F1, Film Festivals, & More

            May 19, 2025 By Marie Cullen

    • Charter Yacht Brokers
      Directory
          • A - D
          • E - L
          • M - R
          • S - Z
    • Destination Guides
          • Destination Guide Recent Posts
            Savannah is a yachting destiination
            5 Reasons Savannah Is a Yachting Destination on the Rise

            June 10, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            superyacht cruising in Alaska
            Superyacht Cruising in Alaska: Navigating the Legal Waters

            February 28, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

            Maldives are South East Asia superyacht destinatons
            3 South East Asia Superyacht Destinations to Put on Your Itinerary

            January 25, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

    • Marinas News
          • Marina News Recent Posts
            Navy Pier Marina
            Navy Pier Marina in Chicago Becomes a Reality After 10 Years

            June 12, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Christophe Harbour Marina
            Christophe Harbour Marina Sells to Safe Harbor Marinas

            May 29, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            new Benoa marina in Bali
            Bali’s Benoa Marina Becoming Indonesia’s First Full-Service Yacht & Superyacht Marina

            March 12, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

  • People
    • Consultants
          • Consultants Recent Posts
            Caroline and Tim Clarke of Quay Group
            Quay Group, the Evolution of Quay Crew Into a Broader but Still-Specialized Company

            June 13, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            new law for art on superyachts
            New Law for Art on Superyachts in European Waters May Affect You

            April 12, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Oriana Schneps - Moby Maritime Media
            Beyond Basic (Boring) Boat Tours: Oriana Schneps is Changing Yachting

            April 10, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

    • Crew
          • Crew Recent News
            the superyacht Utopia IV crash resulted from lack of proper lookouts
            Utopia IV Crewmembers Lawsuit Results in Verdict Against Owner

            April 21, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            non-American crew can work on superyachts in U.S. shipyards
            Non-American Crew CAN Work on Superyachts in U.S. Shipyards

            April 19, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            the Presidential yacht Sequoia
            Presidential Yacht Sequoia Crewmembers Reunite Onboard: Sunday Superyacht Video

            April 13, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Designer Directory
          • A - D
          • E - L
          • M - E
          • S - Z
    • Designers
          • Designers
            Anita Rivera Turcotte of Verge Yacht Design
            From Mushrooms to Luxury: Reimagining Superyachts With Verge Yacht Design

            June 4, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

            Ivan Erdevicki
            ER Yacht Design Celebrates Quarter-Century Anniversary

            April 7, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            Giuseppina Arena
            Giuseppina Arena: Designing Luxury From Shipyards to Shores

            December 28, 2024 By Megayacht News Staff

    • Leadership Series
          • Leadership Series Recent Posts
            Alexander Dreyfoos
            Megayacht News Leadership Series: Alexander Dreyfoos, Silver Cloud Owner

            September 6, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

            Roberto Zambrini
            Megayacht News Leadership Series: Roberto Zambrini, Mondomarine

            August 1, 2016 By Michael Verdon

            Antonio Romano Hot Lab Yacht & Design
            Megayacht News Leadership Series: Antonio Romano, Hot Lab

            July 1, 2016 By Frances and Michael Howorth

    • Owners
          • Owners Recent Posts
            yacht Prometej
            The Yacht Prometej and Her BlueCruise Mission

            May 15, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

            the owners of Double Haven for 30 years
            Owners of Double Haven Share Their Around-the-World Memories

            March 29, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Aga Khan
            Aga Khan, Avid Yacht Owner & Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Founder, Dies

            February 5, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Yard Staff
          • Yard Staff Recent Posts
            Henk de Vries
            Henk de Vries Retires, Becomes Feadship Ambassador: Sunday Superyacht Video

            April 27, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Frans Heesen
            Frans Heesen, Founder of Heesen Yachts, Dies

            April 23, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Federico Ferrante
            Federico Ferrante: “Our Mission Here Is to Represent Benetti as Benetti”

            April 9, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

  • Events
    • Awards
          • Awards Recent Posts
            6th annual Superyacht Chef Competition
            Annual Superyacht Chef Competition Coming Next Month in Monaco

            March 22, 2025 By Marie Cullen

            The Honours Nick Entwisle
            The Honours 2025 Coming to America: Nominate Someone Making a Difference

            February 25, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            The Honours 2024 nominations are open
            The Honours 2024 Nominations: Who’s Making a Positive Difference?

            January 17, 2024 By Marie Cullen

    • Boat Shows & Seminars
          • Boat Shows & Seminars Recent Posts
            are yacht shows too challenging chatgpt
            Protected: Are Yacht Shows too Challenging for People With Disabilities to Attend?

            May 22, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

            Blue Wake at the Monaco Yacht Show
            Blue Wake Initiative Increasing Sustainability Solutions at the Monaco Yacht Show

            April 5, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            PBIBS exciting superyacht debuts
            Exciting Superyacht Debuts at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show

            March 5, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

    • Fundraisers
          • Fundraisers Recent Posts
            Amos Nachoum may attend the Bal de la Mer
            Bal de la Mer Gala Marks 25th SeaKeepers Anniversary

            October 6, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            superyacht companies support the London to Monaco cycle ride
            Join the Fifth London to Monaco Cycle Ride to Support BLUE

            September 3, 2022 By Ken Kremsler

            superyacht owners can aid Mikoko Pamoja via Yacht Carbon Offset's blue carbon initiative
            Yacht Carbon Offset’s First Blue Carbon Project

            March 27, 2021 By Marie Cullen

    • Rendezvous & Events
          • Rendezvous & Events
            World Boating Day at Benetti
            Benetti Celebrates Second-Annual World Boating Day

            May 20, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            The South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous
            The South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous Invites You to Discover Fiji and More

            February 15, 2025 By Marie Cullen

            New Orleans Super Bowl superyachts
            Super Bowl Superyachts: 3 Big Beauties in New Orleans This Weekend

            February 7, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

    • The Superyacht Cup
          • The Superyacht Cup Recent Posts
            sure to file The Superyacht Cup Palma registration is Halekai
            Ready, Set, Go: The Superyacht Cup Palma Registration Is Open

            December 8, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

            the Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 is the 27th year of the race
            Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 Setting Sail: Sunday Superyacht Video

            January 29, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            The Superyacht Cup Palma regulars and newcomers are excited
            Superyacht Cup Palma Regulars and Newcomers Set to Race

            January 29, 2022 By Marie Cullen

    • Sponsored Posts
          • Events Sponsored Posts
  • Podcasts & Videos
    • Podcasts
          • Recent Podcasts
            Anita Rivera Turcotte of Verge Yacht Design
            From Mushrooms to Luxury: Reimagining Superyachts With Verge Yacht Design

            June 4, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

            understanding MYBA versus IYBA yacht contracts
            Who Keeps Your Money? Understanding MYBA Versus IYBA Yacht Contracts

            May 6, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

            Oriana Schneps - Moby Maritime Media
            Beyond Basic (Boring) Boat Tours: Oriana Schneps is Changing Yachting

            April 10, 2025 By Megayacht News Staff

    • Yacht Videos
          • Recent Yacht Videos
            the yacht Project Thunderball construction
             Yacht Project Thunderball Speeding Through Construction: Sunday Superyacht Video

            June 15, 2025 By Marie Cullen

            yacht Lalabe
            Yacht Lalabe Welcomes a Cruising Family of Kids & Grown-Ups: Sunday Superyacht Video  

            June 8, 2025 By Ken Kremsler

            yacht Adela
            Yacht Adela Leaves Home, Again, for the Water: Sunday Superyacht Video

            June 1, 2025 By Marie Cullen

    • Builder Videos
          • Recent Builder Video
            Henk de Vries
            Henk de Vries Retires, Becomes Feadship Ambassador: Sunday Superyacht Video

            April 27, 2025 By Diane M. Byrne

            Feadship's Diamond Jubilee year saw Mira restored
            Feadship’s Diamond Jubilee Year: Sunday Superyacht Video

            December 22, 2024 By Diane M. Byrne

            Christmas comes to Sunseeker
            Christmas Comes to Sunseeker: A Very Merry Megayacht Video

            December 25, 2023 By Megayacht News Staff

  • About
Home / People / Leadership Series / Megayacht News Leadership Series: Joe Foggia, Christensen Shipyards

Megayacht News Leadership Series: Joe Foggia, Christensen Shipyards

November 1, 2013 By: Diane M. Byrne

Joe-Foggia-Christensen-ShipyardsChristensen Shipyards has come a long way since its first yacht, a 92-footer named Domino, was handed over in 1984. Under the direction of Joe Foggia, who became president and a managing partner in 2001, the Washington State builder has increasingly focused on the 150-foot-plus (46-meter-plus) megayacht market. Specifically, it offers yachts from 140 to 225 feet (about 43 to nearly 69 meters). It has also become a lean operation—as in Lean, the manufacturing philosophy focused on the elimination of waste, particularly in terms of time and operations. Foggia and the Christensen team became believers in Kaizen, also known as the Toyota Production System and akin to Lean, shortly after the global economic crisis slammed the yacht business.

In this Leadership Series profile, Foggia explains what drove the change in philosophy, the result it has had on how Christensen builds its megayachts, and how he tries to be frank with clients, many of whom he says he has come to regard as good friends and mentors.

 

Q: What attracts people to a Christensen yacht versus other yachts?

A: It’s several different things. I believe we build the best quality per square foot in the world related to our class of yacht. I think because we’re vertically integrated, and we do everything in house, and we control the quality, that has a lot to do with the overall quality of the vessel. We do all the stonework, all the woodwork, everything. A lot of other builders use subcontractors, and they switch out subcontractors, so quality from boat to boat changes under, I feel, most everybody else, whereas with us, the quality is consistent because we’re freaks about it. It’s always good, and always getting better under a continuous-improvement program we have here. I also believe it’s because we don’t flood the market with boats. We build an Ocean Alexander 120 every six months and a Christensen 140 or 164 every seven and a half months. So it’s one and a half to two boats a year. So, three or four years down the road, if the bubble bursts again, we only have eight boats out there, and if our customers have to sell, they don’t have to fire-sell.

 

Q: Other builders do what Christensen does, so what makes your yard different?

A: I think it’s our openness to get customer feedback—and when I say customer, obviously I mean the buyer, but also the crew, the surveyors, the brokers. We take everything that they have to say, and really digest it and look at it as an education. As in, “What can we learn from this?” “How do we utilize this?” If you came to the shipyard now, it’s completely different than even three or four years ago. We’re very transparent. Anyone can walk through and they can actually get a feel for where a department stands, what their current situation is relative to each project. All the schedules are in every department up on the wall, and they’re either green, which is good, yellow, which is in danger, or red, which is behind schedule. Everybody knows that if they’re in a red situation, it’s all hands on deck, and people are actually helping those individuals. Any owner can walk in here, any surveyor can walk in, and understand it. There’s nothing to hide. That goes for the product itself, too. Anybody can walk through and take a look at everything.

 

Q: In Kaizen, overproduction is considered a major type of waste. Can you explain?

A: Should we be building three pilothouses at one time? The answer is no. You build only what you need as you need it, otherwise you’re spending money where you don’t need to spend money, and when you should be spending money on the actual project as it goes forward. The typical tendency is to say, “Well, let’s build three pilothouses because it’s going to be cheaper that way.” But what ends up happening is you have three different parts sitting out in the yard, where you have people walking around them and trying to move them around. Then the next customer says they’re not going to use that style. That also goes for hull molds and all kinds of things. We looked at physically eliminating the big parts and only building them as we need them—the Just-in-Time concept. We ended up saving thousands of hours by doing that, and you end up not spending capital in unnecessary ways.

 

Q: What are the challenges of working with a megayacht client, and what advice do you give them?

A: The difference between today and 2000, when I took over the sales aspect, is that they are way more educated about the product that they’re buying. What we’ve seen as of the past couple of years is that we get the individuals who have had the Italian boat, the Dutch boat, the other American boats; they’ve had two or three, and they know what they want relative to the product. What I always tell them is, “Get the best people in here—get the best surveyors, attorneys, and whoever else you need, and let’s do it right. Let’s make sure everybody’s covered all around.” We front-load the boats, using the previous boat’s specifications. Obviously we deal with change orders if we have to. But the new boat has everything in it from the previous boat, and more. We have a very detailed specification. We make it as easy as possible up front. As long as everybody understands things prior to signing the deal, it all works out well.

We’ll do whatever somebody wants. But I always tell them, “I’m going to tell you my opinion. We’ll build what you want, but for resale, this might not be a good idea.”

Related posts

Megayacht News Leadership Series: Daryl Wakefield, Westport Shipyards Emile BilterijstMegayacht News Leadership Series: Emile Bilterijst, Moonen Shipyards Dave Christensen Christensen Shipyards megayachtDave Christensen, Founder of Christensen Shipyards: 1931-2018

Categories: Leadership Series, People, Yard StaffTags: Christensen Shipyards

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • YouTube

Search Megayacht News

Popular Posts

  • All About the Yacht Katina, in Below Deck Down Under Season 3
  • Yacht Unleash the Lion Unleashes Fun for Max Verstappen: Sunday Superyacht Video
  • Yacht Mustique in Below Deck Med: Learn All About Her

Explore more

  • Baglietto DOM115
    Baglietto’s DOM115 Is 35 Meters of Style, Innovation, and Bold Design
  • Sirena 118 yacht interior
    Sirena 118 Yacht Can Come With a 2-Level Master Suite
  • Savannah is a yachting destiination
    5 Reasons Savannah Is a Yachting Destination on the Rise
  • Swan 128 yacht Be Cool launch
    Swan 128 Yacht Be Cool Debuts: Sunday Superyacht Video
  • the yacht Bayesian sinking (ex-Salute)
    Interim Report on the Bayesian Sinking: Violent Winds Made Righting Herself Impossible
Megayacht News 2021 Logo (White)

Footer

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • YouTube
  • Terms and Conditions

© 2025 · RedHedInk LLC · Designed and Developed by AccessiCart