Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps on Asia-Pacific Superyacht Growth

As Asia-Pacific’s superyacht market continues its impressive rise, Gulf Craft Group CEO Erwin Bamps shares exclusive insights into the region’s evolving demands and the shipyard’s strategic response. From the versatile Nomad series tailored for multi-generational family cruising to the elegant new Majesty 145, Gulf Craft is redefining luxury yachting for the Asian owner. In this in-depth interview, Bamps discusses shifting priorities toward comfort, sustainability, long-term value, and seamless indoor-outdoor living. He also outlines the UAE-based shipyard’s expansion across Southeast Asia and his vision for the future of its award-winning brands.

The Asia-Pacific superyacht market has seen remarkable momentum in recent years. What trends are you seeing among discerning owners in the region and how has this shaped Gulf Craft’s approach to design and service?

Asia-Pacific continues to be one of the most interesting growth regions for Gulf Craft, not only because of its scale, but because of how owners use their yachts. We are seeing a clear preference for yachts that support warm-climate living, flexible cruising and time shared with family and friends. Owners in this region are not necessarily looking for formal yachting in the traditional sense. They want comfort, privacy, shaded open-air spaces, reliable proven performance and deck layouts that allow them to enjoy yachting throughout the year.

At the same time, there is a more considered approach to ownership. Many clients are already thinking about the full lifecycle of the yacht at the time of purchase, including resale or trade-in opportunities after three to five years. This has created a stronger focus on build quality, credibility of the builder, and yachts that hold their value over time.

This has shaped our approach in two important ways. From a design perspective, we focus on yachts that offer a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living, generous social areas and practical arrangements for extended time on board. From a service perspective, we continue to invest in reliable onboard technology and technical solutions, as well as in trusted regional partners and after-sales support, because confidence does not end at delivery. Supporting owners throughout the lifecycle, including ownership transition, is becoming just as important as the initial purchase.

Many high-net-worth individuals in Asia-Pacific are now prioritising yachts that combine adventure-ready capabilities with refined, family-oriented living spaces. How is Gulf Craft tailoring its offerings to meet these evolving expectations?

This shift is very much aligned with what we are seeing across Asia-Pacific, and it is precisely where the Nomad range comes into its own. With the Nomad 101 (above), which was recently presented at the Singapore Yachting Festival, the focus is on creating a true home away from home on the water. It is a yacht designed not just for movement between marinas and yachting destinations, but for living on board. Owners are spending longer periods on board, often with family across different generations, so the yacht needs to feel comfortable, intuitive and reassuring in every sense.

Ultimately, the Nomad approach is about balance. It is not about pushing extremes, but about delivering a yacht that supports real life on the water, where comfort, reliability and the quality of time spent on board matter most.

The Majestic 145 represents a significant evolution in Gulf Craft’s flagship series. What inspired its design language, and how does it balance the romance of superyacht living with the practical demands of cruising in diverse Asia-Pacific waters?

The Majesty 145, designed in collaboration with Cristiano Gatto Design, is the latest addition to our 40-metre-plus segment, complementing the Majesty 175 (above) and the upcoming Majesty 160, which is due to be launched later this year.

At the core of this model is a careful balance between elegance, proportion and a seamless continuity between interior and exterior spaces. Every detail has been thoughtfully developed to create a fluid onboard experience, where design and livability work naturally together, rather than competing with one another.

The layouts are intuitive, comfortable, with a strong emphasis on shaded outdoor living and separate guest and crew circulation. For owners cruising across Asia-Pacific, this balance ensures the yacht feels both refined and reassuring.

Sustainability is increasingly top of mind for luxury travellers in the region. Can you share how the Majestic 145 incorporates eco-conscious technologies while still delivering the quiet luxury and performance that owners expect?

For us, sustainability needs to be practical and integrated into how the yacht operates day to day. On the Majesty 145 (above), a key example is our award-winning heat recovery system. It captures energy from the generators and chillers that would normally be rejected to sea, and reuses it to support hot water supply and cabin heating across the yacht. It is a simple idea in principle, but highly effective in practice.

The result is a noticeable reduction in electrical demand at berth, which lowers marina electricity consumption, while also reducing generator load and running hours. This brings a direct benefit in terms of lower fuel burn when underway, as well as a quieter and more comfortable environment on board, particularly during overnight stays where reduced noise and vibration make a real difference.

It is a good example of how we approach sustainability. Not as a single headline feature, but as a series of considered systems that improve efficiency, reduce waste and enhance the overall onboard experience at the same time.

For a potential owner considering the Majestic 145 as their first (or next) superyacht, what three features would you highlight as genuine game-changers?

First, the Majesty 145 (above) is a semi-custom superyacht, offering multiple configuration options across the stern, bow and upper decks. This flexibility allows owners to tailor key areas of the yacht to suit their individual preferences, while still benefiting from the efficiency and reliability of a semi-series platform. This is particularly relevant in Asia-Pacific, where owners often have very specific expectations around how they use their yachts.

Second, the six-cabin layout is a rare achievement at this size, typically reserved for much larger superyachts. It allows for greater accommodation flexibility, whether for extended family use or hosting larger groups, which aligns closely with the multi-generational and social nature of yachting in this region.

Finally, the yacht has been developed with a strong focus on how owners and guests actually live on board, not just how the superyacht looks. From open, flowing layouts that encourage movement and connection, to dedicated wellness areas including a private gym, sauna and spa, every element is designed to support both comfort and well-being.

The overall atmosphere is more relaxed and intuitive, creating a space that reflects how Asian owners prefer to spend time on board, with an emphasis on comfort, privacy and quality of life.

Gulf Craft’s presence at the recent Phuket and Singapore boat shows generated considerable buzz. How did the shows reinforce the brand’s position in Southeast Asia?

Boat shows remain extremely important in this region because they allow us to engage directly with owners, prospects and dealers. Singapore, in particular, was a strong platform for us to present a unified presence across all our brands – Majesty, Nomad, Oryx and SilverCat (above) – and demonstrated how well our portfolio aligns with the way yachting and boating is evolving in Southeast Asia. It also reinforced Singapore’s role as a key regional hub, bringing together yachting enthusiasts from across the region.

At the same time, these shows highlight the strength of our expanding dealership network in Asia. The support of our regional dealers is instrumental, particularly as they understand the nuances of each market. They act as a true extension of our team on the ground, strengthening client relationships.

Gulf Craft has expanded its footprint in Asia-Pacific significantly over the past few years. What key milestones or strategic partnerships have been most instrumental in this growth, and how are you ensuring that service and support keep pace with the increasing number of yachts in the region?

Our growth in Asia-Pacific has been built over many years, not overnight. One of the most important foundations is our long-standing presence in the Maldives, where Gulf Craft Maldives (above) has supported the marine industry since 2002. That experience has given us a very practical understanding of tropical environments, commercial reliability and the importance of after-sales support.

In Southeast Asia, our dealer network has also been central to our growth. Today, we are supported by established partners across Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, with a newly appointed dealer covering Hong Kong and the Philippines and a few more agreements in the pipeline. This growing footprint ensures that we are not only present at the point of sale, but also able to support owners locally with the level of service and expertise they expect.

You’ve led Gulf Craft through a period of remarkable innovation and international expansion. What core principles guide your day-to-day management style, and how do you foster a culture that balances bold creativity with the precision required in superyacht building?

My management style is to find a balance between being very connected to the work floor on one hand, and personally venturing out into the field, meeting clients and partners on the other hand. We foster a work culture where collaboration is key. Yacht sales, design and construction is not driven by one department, but by teams working together with a shared objective. Our engineers and production teams are able to realise the creative and innovative ideas of our designers, ensuring that innovation is always supported by quality, consistency and accountability.

With the Majestic 145 now entering the market, how do you envision the broader Gulf Craft fleet evolving? Are there plans to introduce more adventure-oriented or eco-focused yachts tailored to the diverse cruising grounds of Southeast Asia, Australia and beyond.

The Majesty 145 clearly displays where we are heading with the upper end of our portfolio in terms of styling, engineering and attention to detail. Additionally, growing sensitivity to fuel efficiency, eco-consciousness, and reduced carbon footprint drives technology upgrades on already existing models, while demanding more attention in each consecutive new project definition.

Looking ahead, what does sustainable growth look like for Gulf Craft in Asia-Pacific? Are there specific markets or emerging segments — such as younger owners or multi-generational families — that you see as particularly promising over the next five years?

Sustainable growth for us means growing with the right partners, the right products and the right level of support behind them. Asia-Pacific is a long-term region for Gulf Craft, so the objective is not simply to increase visibility, but to build confidence.

One of our key advantages is the breadth of our portfolio. Across Majesty, Nomad, Oryx (below) and SilverCat, we are able to offer a wide range of products, from 32 feet all the way up to 175 feet. This allows us to engage with clients of different age and at different stages of their yachting journey, from first-time owners to experienced superyacht clients, while maintaining continuity within the Gulf Craft ecosystem.

In terms of the trends, we continue to see strong potential in multi-generational family use, for which Nomad yachts are particularly well suited. At the same time, demand for multi-hull vessels is increasing, presenting significant opportunities for our SilverCat power catamarans. Their stability, space and efficiency align closely with the needs of clients across Asia-Pacific.

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