Shortlist for Boat Builder Awards 2025

A total of 34 companies from the global leisure marine boatbuilding sector and its supply chain named on shortlist for the 11th edition of Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement. An international panel of seven judges assessed 68 entries across six categories to reach its decisions. Winners will be revealed on November 19 alongside 2025 Metstrade – the world’s largest marine trade exhibition – in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Chair of the judging panel and IBI Editor, Ed Slack notes how the IBI Metstrade Boat Builder Awards is entering its second decade. “It’s clear that there is an industry-wide acceleration towards greater levels of new product development, with new manufacturers entering the arena, major players innovating to address new market trends and talented people rising through to become the industry’s leaders of the future. The Boat Builder Awards plays an important role in highlighting these often otherwise unheralded business achievements and we look forward to announcing the winners in November.”

Boat Builder Awards 2025 Shortlist

Breakthrough Launch of the Year
• Evene Tenders – Origin Series
• Lazzara Yachts – LPC 300
• MODX Catamarans – MODX 70
• Omaya Yachts – Omaya 50
• X-Yachts – XR 41

Innovative Design Solution
• Amare Group – AMY 330e
• De Antonio Yachts – D60
• Highfield Boats – ADV7
• Lazzara Yachts – LPC 300
• MODX Catamarans – MODX 70

Collaborative Solution between a Builder and its Supply Chain Partner
• Azimut Yachts and WATCHIT – WATCHIT EYE marine safety
• Sanlorenzo and Volvo Penta – Sanlorenzo SX Line integration of IPS Professional Platform
• Sirena Yachts, Vanemar, EmpirBus by Garmin – voice-controlled automation and AI-assisted owner experience
• Frauscher × Porsche 850 Fantom
• Starcraft with Uflex USA, Axium Group, Rollie Williams, and Williamsburg Marine –Starcraft Ski Champ

Sustainability Project of the Year
• Evene Tenders – integrated sustainability programme
• Ferretti Group – Ravenna Shipyard environmental management
• TU Delft Hydro Motion Team – Mira hydrogen powered boat
• Thunderjet with Supersede – adoption of Supersede plywood replacement recycled plastic board
• Groupe Beneteau with Veolia, Composite Recycling, Arkema, Owens Corning and Chomarat – circular economy model for composite manufacturing

Rising Star
This award celebrates the achievements of the industry’s and coming talent across all boat building and yacht construction disciplines. Previous recipients feature an impressive array of key people in the industry today:
• Dan Bloice-Smith – Williams Jet Tenders
• Angela Pernsteiner – Dominator Yachts
• Kyle Davison – Riviera Australia
• Jack Fenlon – Gulf Craft (now Windy Boats)
• Marko Škrbin – Elan Yachts
• Hayley Spencer – Princess Yachts
• Garrett Koschak – Manitou Pontoon Boats
• Josie Maher-Eastman – Edencraft
• Žiga Jarc – EJET
• Marieke de Boer – IMPACD Yachts

Lifetime Achievement
• Paolo Vitelli ­– Azimut Benetti
• Robert Braithwaite, CBE – Sunseeker International
• David King ­­­– Princess Yachts
• Annette Roux – Beneteau Group
• Robert T Healey Sr and William J Healey – Viking Yachts
• Christoph Rassy – Hallberg-Rassy
• Leon Slikkers – Slickcraft, S2, Tiara and Pursuit
• John Lu – Horizon Yachts
• Massimo Perotti – Sanlorenzo
• Mohammed Hussein AlShaali – Gulf Craft

Details: https://www.ibinews.com/bba2025/