Mehmet Karabeyoğlu and Necdet Salgür, who established the Turquoise Yachts yard in 2005, are leaving the company. They’re relinquishing both their managerial positions and their corporate shares to MB Group, which already held the majority stake.
A letter to clients and media from Mohammed al Barwani, founder and chairman of MB Group (a.k.a. MB Holding Company), indicates that the co-founders will now pursue other interests. “We are deeply grateful to them both for the vision with which they guided Turquoise, both prior to and during our joint tenure,” al Barwani says. “Their contribution has been incalculable.” He further pays tribute to the late Hayati Khamhi, who was the third co-founder. Khamhi died in 2012.
Turquoise Yachts opened in 2005 as Proteksan Turquoise. The history, however, dates back farther, to the 1970s under Proteksan and Turquoise as stand-alone brands. The superyacht focus was, and remains, aluminum and steel custom yachts starting around 164 feet (50 meters). Al Barwani acquired majority ownership of Turquoise Yachts in 2014 through MB Group.
Reflecting on the yard’s history, Karabeyoğlu says, “When we cut the first steel on our very first Turquoise, no one knew the journey would bring us here. The fleet that has left our slipways is a testament not just of those who started the journey with us, but to all of those in our superyacht world who have trusted us time and again.” The shipyard’s fleet includes the 253-foot (77-meter) superyacht Go and the 184-foot (56-meter) classic-looking explorer yacht Blue II. Next year, the fleet should include the yacht Toro, Turquoise Yachts’ biggest boat. Currently under construction, she measures 259 feet (79 meters) LOA.
“I have may have been the quiet one of the trio, but my pride in what we have achieved is loud and noisy as it could possibly be,” Salgür adds. “We built a castle on the sea that will be here for years to come.”
Patrik von Sydow, who became CEO in 2019, remains in his position. He and Burak Akgül, who recently joined Turuqoise Yachts as executive director, are now leading the operations. Previously, Akgül oversaw Perini Navi’s facilities in Turkey.
Turquoise Yachts turquoiseyachts.com
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