Last month, news came of the formation of Ruea Yachts, a Thailand-based builder. Ruea Yachts was formed as the superyacht division of Yacht Solutions, a 10-year-old yacht-management and service provider in Thailand and other Asian locales. Yacht Solutions’ managers, Gareth and Simon Twist, decided to team with a shipyard. because some of their Asian and European clients reportedly are increasingly expressing interest in construction options in Asia. Interesting enough, over the past several weeks, interest has been piqued among buyers and their representatives in India, the United States, and other countries, according to Gareth Twist.
Together with naval-architecture firm BMT Nigel Gee and styling and interior-design firm Design Unlimited, Ruea Yachts is offering new construction of megayachts measuring upwards of 85 meters (279 feet). To learn more, I conducted the following Q&A with Gareth Twist:
MEGAYACHT NEWS (MN): Why form a yacht-building division? After all, there are plenty of builders in the world, and several state that they can offer better prices without sacrificing quality.
GARETH TWIST (GT): Ruea Yachts was created due to an increasing interest from our clients asking us to build superyachts in Asia. Our value lies in the unique combination of our Thai craftsmen, the high pedigree of our European architect and design partners, the MCA LY2 and Lloyds certification to which we construct all superyachts, and the experience of the project management team who have over 70 builds to their name. We offer European standard superyachts at an extremely competitive price point, which I don’t believe any other Asian yards are offering at present.
MN: What is the shipyard name, and what is its background? Has it ever built yachts before?
GT: Ruea Yachts is partnered with the shipyard Mits Decision, which is located in Samut Sakorn on the outskirts of Bangkok, 45 minutes from the international airport. We chose this shipyard to partner with due to its vast experience and vision to be the best. The family-run yard has a bonded warehouse, recently constructed a purpose-built alloy shed, and is planning the construction of an 80-metre build shed. We are currently in the final stages of completing a 60m project where we stripped down a 58m hydrographic vessel to her bare hull, keeping only the hull, props, and shafts and then remodeled her with all new equipment and a new design (above). She is due to launch in Q4 this year. Shipyard details are as follows:
Status: Family owned and run facility
Location: Tajeen River, 40km west of Bangkok
Established: 1986
Size of yard: 11,600 square meters
Max capacity: 85m or 1,500 net tons
Largest build to date: 84m vessel built to Lloyds classification
Direct employees: 120
Number of subcontractors: 100
Ratings: ISO 9001:2008
MN: The literature also states you will build yachts to 85 meters. What is the “smallest” being offered?
GT: We can build from superyachts from 40 to 85 meters and are already working on a catamaran project for a client which is 40 meters.
MN: Are all projects fully custom? Or will they be offered in series?
GT: We only offer fully customized, hand-built yachts, as this is what our clients are requesting.
MN: How much of a cost savings do you offer? Can you give an example of how much one of your specific models would cost if it were built in Europe vs. Thailand?
GT: As these are fully custom built yachts, the price is dependent on the finish. But the prices are between 20% and 40% lower than those built in Europe.
MN: Some people are skeptical of any country that does not have a long history of yacht construction. How do you counter that belief?
GT: There is no reason that all buyers should not have full confidence in our construction of superyachts. Ruea Yachts superyachts are crafted in the East but designed in the West. The design team, naval architects, and legal team are all British companies, a country that has a strong maritime history, and we have a European paint surveyor and electrical team.
Ruea Yachts hand-builds Lloyds classification and MCA LY2 code-certified custom luxury yachts up to 85 meters using cutting-edge European marine technology and design, combined with highly skilled craftsmen in Thailand.
Owning company Yacht Solutions has been refitting yachts for 10 years, during which time we have established a strong reputation for professionalism and expertise. Moreover, the Yacht Solutions management team has over 50 years’ combined of experience in the Asian marine industry working for some of the world’s most renowned yacht construction companies and refitting yachts up to 85 meters and 4,000 tons.
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