5 factors that determine the success of Bilgin, a luxury yacht shipyard

Bilgin Yacht is an Istanbul-based yacht shipyard, with a lifespan covering five generations of the Bilgin family and dating back to the early 1900s. Bilgin gets its reputation from decades of experience in producing luxury yachts, as well as being closely connected to the sea.

This connection to the sea allows Bilgin to approach each new project with an eco-friendly mindset, while also supporting sustainability during every phase of the construction stage, as well as after delivery.

Each Bilgin project is thus a reflection of its dedication towards preserving the environment. Closely collaborating with all clients, Bilgin researches, finds and applies innovative solutions to every project. Yachting is considered both a lifestyle and a passion by the Bilgin Family, and they try to extend these values and philosophies to every team member under Bilgin`s fold.

Since the birthplace of Bilgin yachts is in Istanbul, a magical city that sits on the border between the contemplative west with the mystic east, it is no wonder that a transcendental force exudes from every Bilgin-made yacht. Because of this, these yachts are products of a unique blend, incorporating within themselves advanced technological performances and a unique aesthetic that borders on the metaphysical.

5 generations of the Bilgin family managed to keep the identity and the heritage of this unique yacht shipyard completely intact, preserving in their products a tiny fragment of their soul. Truly, this value cannot be measured by gold alone, because it must be experienced; to ride on a sundeck of a Bilgin yacht, whilst staring into the distant horizon under a swift sunset is to know what a free soul feels like.

When it comes to the physical realm, Bilgin excels in all challenges they accept. They pride themselves in fabricating most of the needed elements and materials in-house, which allows them to have more control over deadlines, as well as control over the overall quality of the product. This rigorous quality-control allows Bilgin to set standards for the superyacht industry, which wholeheartedly follows the ingenuity of Bilgin`s naval architecture.

To make dreams come true is Bilgin`s dream; because of that, passion and craftsmanship are the key components of Bilgin-made yachts, ensuring that every client realizes the full potential of their ideas, dreams and desires.

To better understand the complexity of Bilgin’s heritage, as well as learn more about this fantastic yacht shipyard, here are 5 comprehensive categories that precisely describe the entity that is Bilgin yachts.

The Philosophy of Bilgin Yachts

Bilgin managed to construct a complete philosophical system tied to yacht design, thanks to its rich history and cultural heritage.

Its first and most important value is family; Bilgin is a family-owned and family-run shipyard, which allows for an unobstructed vision of the final product, from the first steps on the drawing board, to the last screw on the superstructure. Family values are also a prerogative by which employees are treated.

Every designer, engineer, architect and craftsman is treated as a member of the extended family, with projects being undertaken by employees working as a strong and coherent family unit. This produces a powerful sense of comradery, which reflects positively on the entire production process.

Following family values, Bilgin also puts a strong emphasis on honesty and integrity – this means respecting the client by abiding by his rules and wishes. The client is always consulted about every change of direction in the project and is never excluded from any decision-making.

Thanks to integrity and honesty, Bilgin never breaks deadlines nor does it take the easy way out; Bilgin understands that mistakes can be mended and tragedies avoided if honesty and integrity are abided by. Also, honesty is an unavoidable ingredient of a strong family unit, and is therefore crucial to Bilgin`s social and business success.

Finally, Bilgin values respect in a broad sense. First, it respects the final product as well as the production process itself. Bilgin is well aware that, in order to produce a luxury yacht following its strict standard, it must abide by and respect each and every person involved in the process, which means that every employee is treated equally.

At last, respect is also given to the elder members of the Bilgin family. Seeing that 5 generations of yacht building make for an infinite amount of experience, which creates a deep pool of knowledge, Bilgin executives know that to respect the elder`s advice is to adhere to their roots, heritage and culture.

This is what sets Bilgin apart from other luxury shipyards in the world; while a globalised society spins ever further away from their culture and roots, Bilgin wholeheartedly embraces them in an attempt to join the world of new technology and progress with the old world of wisdom and experience.

History of Bilgin Yachts

Having started as a small local business, Bilgin successfully grew into a world-renowned yacht shipyard with unique know-how in the yachting sector. The founding of what is later to be known as Bilgin was done by the great grandfather of the family, Hüseyin Bey, who operated a boathouse focused on building imperial caiques on the shores of the Bosphorus.

After his demise near Gallipoli in the First World War, his son Mustafa Şengün worked in a shipyard located in the Golden Horn of Istanbul. The work was slow and Mustaffa struggled. But in 1957 everything changed for the family, when Hüseyin Şengün established a private workshop in Ayvansaray, Istanbul. 1964 saw Hüseyin introduce his two sons, Bilgin Şengün and Mustafa Şengün, in the family business.

The family team took pride in the work they did, hand-crafting every tiny piece of the deck themselves and producing small boats that were strong enough for the Bosphorus, which is no easy feat. Subsequently, Bilgin yachts were born from a need to utilise the huge experience in boatbuilding that the family acquired for decades, and translate it to the global stage.

In 1984, the shipyard launched its first 18-metre motor yacht. In 1995, Bilgin Yachts already had the experience of producing 18 to 22-metre yachts. Bilgin`s experience and knowledge grew , and the start of the new millennium saw the maiden launch of the 45-metre Tatiana – a superyacht designed by Joachim Kinder- and the motoryacht Noor, which was granted the Best Interior Design Award by Boat International Media.

During this time, Bilgin Yachts also closely cooperated with H2 Yacht Design of London on a reverse-bow superyacht Ocean Club, distinguished by her typically-aggressive exterior line. In 2014, another H2-designed, reverse-bow, 45-metre yacht Elada took the stage with a masculine design.

With the launch of 51.8 custom motor yacht Dusur in 2015, Bilgin Yacht was no longer a boutique company, but an internationally recognized superyacht builder from Turkey. In just one short year, Bilgin Yacht`s experience in yacht building was recognized when the shipyard was listed among the top 20 builders in the world after the delivery of the 46.80-metre Bilgin 155 (Giaola-Lu) in 2016. With all these successful projects, Bilgin Yachts also became a member of the SYBA (Superyacht Builders Association) in 2019.

Types of Bilgin Yachts

In a world burdened by climate change. Bilgin cares about being eco-friendly more than ever. As a yacht shipyard, Bilgin always supports a rationalized consumption of raw materials and energy, during the entire span of the production stage, as well as in post-production. Bilgin`s latest yachts include a collaboration with MTU for the integration of their SCR, aimed at upgrading the performance of their yachts.

Bilgin 263’s twin MTU Series 4000 V16 engines can power a luxury yacht up to a top speed of 20 knots, making it more energy-efficient and faster than its predecessors. Its MTU SCR system ensures the yacht stays within IMO Tier III exhaust emission limits, meaning a smaller and more measured release of CO2 into the atmosphere.

It is fully controlled, with real-time nitrous oxide measurement both before and after SCR, enabling the catalyst volume to be varied with great precision. The first IMO Tier III engines were used on the first yacht of Bilgin 263 series in the world, the renowned Tatiana.

Bilgin produces megayachts up to 85 meters in length and the entire process is done in-house; the hull and the superstructure, as well as finer things, like hand-made furniture or setting up the electrical and plumbing installations. Everything is done in the Bilgin shipyard, which allows Bilgin to personally guarantee for every yacht made, while also adhering to strict and constant deadlines.

For example, this includes the unveiling of the second of the Bilgin 263 series in the 2022 Monaco Yacht Show or the announcement of Project Silence – a yacht that will be ready for delivery in 2023. She will offer a 20% larger volume as well as various technical improvements, and additional features for greater comfort and autonomy at sea.

In the coming years, the new 85m superyacht project will be launched with a keel laid. The delivery of this on-spec yacht will be 2025. Bilgin Yachts also has plans on releasing a new 74m ( which will be ready in 2024) and two new 50m Bilgin 163 yachts (whose technical launch is scheduled in 2022).

Notable Bilgin Yachts

The most notable Bilgin yachts that can be found on the water today include the 80-meter Tatiana, unveiled at the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show. She is definitely one of the most memorable and noticeable yachts around the world, serving as proof of Bilgin Yachts’ 100-year boatbuilding experience.

She is followed by several other units, like Elada, Starburst-III, Giaola-Lu, and Snow 5. The 45-metre Elada was launched in 2014, while the 46.80-metre Bilgin 155 (Giaola-Lu) brought huge success in 2016. Bilgin 156 series has been highly acclaimed by the superyacht sector; both Starburst-III and Snow 5 are the result of detailed design work, craftsmanship and dedication. Starburst-III had her debut in 2017 Monaco Yacht Show, while Snow 5 was one of the leading models of this year’s MYS 2019.

Bilgin 263

Tatiana Yacht

Tatiana is, by many accounts, one of the flagships of the Bilgin superyacht shipyard, and it is not hard to understand why. When observing her majestic hull, either from a distance or up close, one can notice that she is a true attention seeker, due to her extraordinary exterior profile and dedication to beauty in the interior. Symbolising an incredible symbiosis of comfort and performance, Tatiana rose to all expectations, and far beyond them, reaching heights of superyacht echelons only reserved for timeless and everlasting yachts.

She was built in 2021 with the most modern yacht-building technology, as well as adhering to up-to-date knowledge about superyacht design, performance and manoeuvrability. Tatiana offers only the most sumptuous interior design, ridden with luxurious accessories and details made from rare materials. Spending time on Tatiana, one can experience an elevated atmosphere unfathomable until this incredible yacht hith the water for the first time.

Her length of 80 meters is more than enough to house all imaginable superyacht amenities and facilities. Tatiana is a true daughter of both east and west; hailing from the Bosphorus, a meeting point of two continents where cultures blend and clash, Tatiana is a result of a wonderful collage of different influences, traditions and knowledge. This fact is prevalent and observable to all potential clients that set foot on Tatiana.

Alongside her incredible features and architecture, Tatiana is also an eco-friendly yacht, being able to cruise in her eco-friendly mode at 12 knots, only consuming 250 litres of fuel. For this type and length, this is a nearly-impossible achievement.

When it comes to the interior, Tatiana’s social spaces are constantly filled with sunshine during the day, thanks to countless windows and glass surfaces, creating a light and inviting atmosphere, fit for relaxation and enjoyment. The textures that went into play when designing Tatiana`s interior beckon to be touched and experienced, making this yacht satisfy all of the client’s senses: Asian eucalyptus, Italian marble, Macassar ebony and rare leathers create a timeless atmosphere, both sensual and luxurious.

For the guest`s enjoyment and entertainment, Tatiana offers two swimming pools as well as a jacuzzi, but also a hammam, a cinema room, a gym and a massage room. For the evening’s entertainment, guests can relax in the sky lounge themed as a sports bar, equipped with a piano and a pool table, where sipping pre-dinner cocktails and playing a game of pool is obligatory.

One of Tatiana`s most distinguishing features is definitely her beach club, a place where potential guests form life-lasting connections with the sea. This is done with the help of a 9-meter swimming pool, located in the beach club, as well as a hydraulic swim platform with side platforms.

Tatiana can accommodate up to 12 guests, allocated in 8 sumptuous cabins, with a private Owner`s deck, two VIP suites, two double cabins and one twin cabin. This fantastic yacht also boasts a crew numbering 20 members; this guest-to-crew ratio guarantees a smooth and excellent service, as well as avid levels of general hospitality.

Lastly, Tatiana`s newest success comes in the form of a nomination from the 2022 edition of the prestigious Boat International Design and Innovation Awards in four categories. These categories are “Outstanding Exterior Motor Yachts – 60m and above”, “Best Interior Design, Motor Yachts 500GT and above”, “Best Naval Architecture, Displacement Motor Yachts”, and “Outstanding Lifestyle Feature” thanks to her beach club.

Value of Bilgin yachts

Bilgin Yachts’ facilities, covering a 60,000 sqm area, operate in different locations: the Yalova shipyard is where hulls and superstructures are constructed, but also a place where major plumbing and infrastructure works are done. Another facility is in Küçükcekmece, Istanbul; this shipyard acquired an additional 10,000 sqm area with a contract made with the West Istanbul Marina in 2016.

Currently, Bilgin has 3 projects under construction in the Yalova facility, while also expanding production capacity before 2022. This means that Bilgin will be able to accommodate 5 projects (2 x 85 mt. to 120 mt. and 3 x 50 – 65 mt.) simultaneously.

Once the hull and superstructure are ready in Yalova, Bilgin arranges the technical launch and bring the hulls to the main headquarters in Istanbul. There, Bilgin`s outfitting capacity is 5 projects (3 x 70 – 90 mt. and 2 x 50 mt. – 65 mt.) simultaneously, with outfitting teams such as electrical, piping, mechanical, interior and fairing & painting teams working closely until the project is ready for launch.

Thanks to the facilities with different areas of expertise, Bilgin develops, builds, modernises, refits and maintains yachts. The shipyard currently employs over 500 highly skilled craftsmen operating in all the facilities which also include a marine stainless steel factory and a furniture factory. With a dedicated and experienced team, as well as third party collaborators, the shipyard has an added ability to conduct refit projects, after-sales and wintering services for megayachts.

The shipyard’s goal is to be one of the prominent brands in the world while always being supportive towards the customers with a range of time-sensitive multitasking services. Working towards this, Bilgin Yachts is able to set the standards high, thanks to its young and organised team, large facilities and rigorous quality control. Lastly, Bilgin has been closely collaborating with Unique Yacht Design, H2 Yacht Design and Hotlab Yacht Design for many years.

When it comes to awards that Bilgin received over the years, here are some of the more important certifications:

Bilgin 132 Ocean Club (Ex M):

• World Superyacht Awards 2013 – Finalist in the “Best Three-deck Semi-displacement or Planing Motor Yacht” category
• Showboats Design Awards 2013 – Finalist in the “Exterior Design & Styling Award: Semi-displacement Motor Yachts” category

Bilgin 123/Rl Noor:

• ShowBoats Interior Design Award, 2011 – Winner in the “Design” category

Bilgin 155 Giaola-Lu:

• Show Boat Design Awards 2017 by Boat International Media Events – Finalist in the “Best naval Architecture Displacement Motor Yachts” category

Bilgin 156-I Nerissa

• Show Boat Design Awards 2018 by Boat International Media Events – Finalist in the “Best Interior Design Motor Yachts 400GT to 999GT” category
• Show Boat Design Awards 2018 by Boat International Media Events – Finalist in the “Best Naval Architecture Displacement Motor Yachts” category

Bilgin 156-Ii Lilium

• Boat Design Innovation Awards 2019 by Boat International Media Events – Finalist in the “Best Interior Design Motor Yachts 400GT to 999GT” category

Last but not least, Bilgin Yachts also received five awards in 2015 from the Turkish government for its successes in the international export of custom superyachts

Why You Should Charter a Bilgin Yacht With SuperYachts Croatia

Bilgin translates as „wise“ in the Turkish language, which perfectly describes the approach of the Bilgin shipyard when it comes to designing and constructing marvellous yachts.

The word „wise“ also refers to the way that Bilgin takes the lessons learned in the past and applies them to the future; in the yachting industry, knowledge translates to power, and Bilgin takes this lesson to heart. Combining the experience of previous generations and the technologically advanced present, Bilgin strives toward offering yachts that are the perfect combination of both worlds.

Bilgin also prides itself on producing luxury yachts that are equally pleasing to the eye and easy to handle, without sacrificing eco-friendliness. For a Bilgin-made yacht, it is important to perform in a way that leaves no trace on the environment.

And, nowhere is this more important than in the Croatian Adriatic sea, one of the purest and healthiest bodies of water left on planet Earth. These turquoise waters hide incredible aquatic secrets, a rich sea bed and fantastic diving locations, as well as emerald green islands, ridden with inviting sandy beaches and private bays.

Cruising in the Croatian Adriatic guarantees a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which will be a result of incredible natural surroundings and stout performances given by your Bilgin yacht.

Charter your way through historic seaside towns, marvel at countless natural beauties and swim in a sea so clear and healthy, it has real rejuvenating properties. Enjoy the marvellous performance of a Bilgin yacht as you make your way through the enchanting Croatian Adriatic sea

All of this and more is possible if you decide to charter a luxury yacht charter in Croatia with the help of your local Superyachts Croatia broker and a 24/7 yacht support team.