Bezos, Brin and Zuckerberg Buy Yachts in Europe: One Seattle Yard Wants That Business Back

For decades, the wealthiest people in America have looked across the Atlantic when it is time to build a yacht. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos commissioned his 127-meter yacht Koru from Dutch builder Oceanco. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs chose the Dutch yard Feadship to build Venus. Oracle’s Larry Ellison has owned vessels from both Lurssen and Feadship, while Barry Diller’s yacht Eos and Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s yacht Dragonfly were both built by Germany’s Lurssen. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been linked to a Feadship project called Launchpad.

That pattern is now facing a domestic challenger. Seattle-based Delta Marine has entered into a partnership with London design studio Bannenberg & Rowell, and the pairing has unveiled a new family of hybrid superyachts ranging from 50 to 75 meters, according to a report by Luxury Launches. The first model, called the Delta 50BR, is a 164-foot vessel built to blend European styling with American engineering heritage.

Delta Marine is framing outdoor living as the centerpiece of the design. The Delta 50BR includes a terraced stern pool, tiered lounging areas and space for alfresco dining, along with full-height garages hidden beneath the staircases for surfboards and paddleboards. A dedicated owner’s deck includes separate ‘his and hers’ offices and a winter garden, giving tech founders or financiers a place to keep working while cruising between destinations such as Alaska and Scandinavia.

The yacht also runs on a diesel-electric hybrid system built with podded drivers and integrated energy storage, a setup the builder says delivers quieter operation, lower emissions and smoother cruising. Accommodation spans six staterooms for 12 guests, including a full-beam VIP suite and accessible cabins located on the main deck.

Beyond design, Delta Marine is pointing to a practical business argument for building at home. US coastwise passenger laws restrict foreign-built yachts from certain charter operations between American ports, while American-built vessels can operate with greater flexibility in regions such as Florida, New England and Alaska. Founded in 1967, Delta Marine started out building rugged fishing boats for the Pacific Northwest. It is now positioning itself as a direct challenger to Europe’s dominant yards, betting that a regulatory edge and a domestic build can pull at least some billionaire business back to American shores.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by Conmat13