Feadship

Feadship is a co-operation between two shipyards (Royal van Lent and Royal De Vries) and maritime engineering company De Voogt Naval Architects.

History

[Press release from Feadship] Feadship is founded by two families, De Vries and Royal Van Lent, and has two shipyards in Aalsmeer and Kaag and one design and engineering center, De Voogt Naval Architects. After World War II the market for the previously successful industry was left in ruins. Even after four years of peace, there remained little money or inclination in Europe for ordering pleasure yachts. Encouraged by the Dutch government's export incentives, Royal Van Lent Shipyard, De Vries Scheepsbouw and four other yards decided to set out their stall for the thriving American market.

The man behind this move was naval architect Henri de Voogt. The name Feadship - the First Export Association of Dutch Shipbuilders - was considered to be an innovation. It made the fledgling group sound like it was Dutch shipbuilding, an important distinction in a market where image was crucial. Yet recognition of the very real skills on offer was not long in coming. The New York Boat Show of 1951, for which several yachts were packed up and shipped across the Atlantic, proved a breakthrough. The Americans were amazed at Feadship's use of steel - an almost unheard of phenomena at this time stateside, a specialty in the Netherlands since the 1930's.

Orders began to flow for yachts in both steel and aluminum; by the mid 1950's, Feadship stopped building in wood altogether. This move led to the first decrease in group membership, although it was only in 1966 that a convergence of factors was to finally leave the big three piloting the Feadship course together. The 60's as a whole witnessed steady growth - both in the organization's reputation and the size of the vessels it built. 85-90 ft, 100-110ft, 120ft with fully-raised wheelhouses, trans-Atlantic capabilities; various milestones in construction history were reached and surpassed. By the early 70's however, Feadship's popularity had greatly increased, with several yachts being launched each year (see list below).

As the American economy boomed, Henry Ford and Malcolm Forbes were but two of a host of famous folk to take advantage of Feadship's almost unique offer - to design and build a completely custom-built yacht, one with proven performance to match.

In 1977, a separate entity was established in the US in place of the customary representative agent. Don Kenniston was Feadship America's first general manager, a position he still holds today. His early tenure coincided with an enormous increase in trans-Atlantic sailing, a period which confirmed Feadship's rise to global prominence. Asked what sort of yacht they owned, "a Feadship" was now the reply: Slowly and subtly, the name had become a corporate identity in its own right.

The 1984 decision to open an office in Antibes and work together on a worldwide basis was suitable recognition of decades of cooperation. Feadship has gone through a time of continuous, market-driven progress. Ever-more specialized facilities - including two vast dry docks - support a group philosophy of constantly raising quality standards. Offices abroad back up an after-sales service network. A root and branch efficiency drive in the early 1990's produced streamlined management procedures.

With over 200 Feadships gracing the world's oceans, a commitment to supplying total reliability has clearly paid off. On average five major craft are launched annually, and Feadship is acknowledged as global leader in the construction of premium quality displacement motoryachts.

Additional info

Feadship was founded in 1949 by Dutch yacht builders as an export association with the intention of selling to American clients. Several ship yards were members in the beginning:
*Jachtwerf W.P.M. Akerboom, Lisse
*Jacht- & scheepswerf Van Lent, Kaag
*Scheepswerf E.G. van de Stadt, Zaandam
*Scheepswerven Nicolaas Witsen & Vis, Alkmaar, left Feadship in 1959
*Scheepswerf Het Fort/G. de Vries Lentsch, Nieuwendam
*Scheepswerf De Vlijt/Gebr. de Vries, Aalsmeer
*Naval architects H.W. de Voogt joined in 1950

List of yachts

References

ee also

*List of shipbuilders and shipyards
*List of motor yachts by length

External links

* [http://www.feadship.nl/ Official website]

Photos and Technical Information:

* http://www.yachtspotter.com
* http://yachts.monacoeye.com/index.php
* http://www.yachtforums.com/
* http://www.superyachttimes.com/
* http://www.yacht-images.com/