"Sustainability is our course: At HanseYachts AG we embrace innovative technologies and eco-friendly materials to make sailing future-proof and environmentally responsible. Together with our partners, we develop solutions across the entire supply chain to ensure a sustainable future for sailing."
Company
HanseYachts AG, founded in 1990, is a leading yacht manufacturer, ranking second globally in sailing yacht production. With direct access to the Baltic Sea, the company benefits from real-world testing of all its yachts, ensuring top quality. Its in-house expertise and design excellence drive innovation, as the team combines advanced technology and collaborates with renowned designers to create state of the art yachts. By working with premium suppliers and maintaining a focus on high-quality production, HanseYachts ensures precision and durability in every vessel. With a workforce of 1,500 employees from 20 nations, HanseYachts is a significant local employer with a global presence. Guided by its motto "Breaking rules, setting trends," the company’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship, continuous innovation, and uncompromising quality drives its success in the yacht industry.
From Engineering to Production
HanseYachts ensures efficient manufacturing with fast response times at its production sites, showcasing a high value-added chain and extensive in-house expertise. Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) production and hull fabrication are carried out to the highest standards, combining durability and innovation. All wood and interior components are meticulously crafted in-house using precise Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology, with skilled craftsmen creating elegant, functional furniture. The final assembly of sailing and motor yachts takes place on efficient production lines, ensuring top quality at cost-effective prices, driven by HanseYachts' deep in-house competencies.
Strategy
HanseYachts follows a strategy focused on profitable growth through innovation while placing a strong emphasis on its employees and corporate culture. By fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment, the company drives both employee satisfaction and business excellence, making its corporate culture a key element of its success. Through its commitment to quality and the addition of well-known sailing and motor yacht brands to its portfolio, HanseYachts has demonstrated a robust growth trajectory. With over 80% of its yachts sold internationally, the company has established itself as a major player in the global market. Since 2011, Aurelius AG has been the majority owner, supporting HanseYachts’ continued success and expanding international presence.
Our Mission Statement
We create independence in its most beautiful form to keep the fascination for water boundless.
The Values of Our Corporate Culture
We cannot change the world. Or maybe we can. The way we treat each other determines what we as a team can achieve. We want a culture that strengthens individual employees and the company’s overall performance. Because only together can we realize the lifelong dreams of our customers.
We stand up for fundamental rights, democracy and diversity
We stand for fundamental rights, democracy, and diversity. As a company with employees from across the globe, we reject any political efforts that undermine these core values. We are committed to preventing right-wing extremist and inhumane attitudes from gaining acceptance in our company and society. We call on our employees to firmly oppose such developments. Anyone with extremist views that go against our democratic values has no place at HanseYachts. As a company rooted in German history and with an international outlook, we say clearly: Never again!
Sustainability
At HanseYachts AG, sustainability targets are implemented at every stage of the value chain. The Group’s technological developments are all designed to enhance the efficiency and eco-friendliness of the engines installed in our sailing yachts and motor yachts. In our production facilities, we employ resource-conserving processes with a view to developing long-lasting recreational yachts.
Our responsibility towards the environment as a whole – and especially to the cleanliness of our seas and inland lakes and rivers where people all over the world take to the water for sport and recreation – does not end when a boat is launched from our yard. The Group works with renowned suppliers and project partners from the fields of scientific research and politics to develop pioneering, eco-friendly technologies that are then tested on our yachts and turned into market-ready solutions.
CAMPFIRE Research Project
HanseYachts AG is part of the CAMPFIRE project sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The aim of this project is to develop new technologies for the decentralised generation of ammonia using renewable energies so that it can be used as a sustainable energy source for emissions-free maritime mobility. For a sports yacht, HanseYachts AG is developing a refuelling system, an emissions-free propulsion system and an on-board power supply system that uses ammonia as an energy source. This system is destined for future use in commercial shipping.
E-Motion Rudder Drive
Since pioneering innovation in 2016, the HanseYachts AG became the first ever to equip one of its series-produced sailing yachts with an electric motor. With E-MOTION RUDDER DRIVE, the drive is integrated in the rudder. This reduces water resistance, which means that the drive offers a range of benefits even if you are just sailing. The yacht is easier to dock because the drive rotates with the rudder.
100% Green Electricity
As a manufacturing company, HanseYachts AG's business activities have a direct impact on the environment. Energy-intensive production methods are used in connection with the manufacture of sailing and motor yachts. In accordance with the Group's internal ethics policy, the aim is to ensure that HanseYachts AG's direct activities do not harm the environment. As part of its operational environmental management, the Group aims to ensure that its production processes comply with the law and, at the same time, attempts to reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions. Since the general energy consumption of production is high despite energy-saving measures, the Group relies on the energy supply of individual locations through green electricity and/or district heating in order to minimize the environmental impact.
Wood Heating
We operate one of the biggest and most state-of-the-art boat carpentry workshops in the industry at its base in Greifswald. High-precision machines help to keep wood chippings to a minimum during the production of parts for yacht interiors. Since 2007, any wood waste that cannot be used undergoes climate-neutral incineration in the company’s own wood heater, which also keeps the shipyard halls warm.
The Management Board
The Management Board of HanseYachts AG consists of a Chairman and one additional member. It manages the company independently, with responsibilities outlined in the schedule of responsibilities. The Board regularly reports to the Supervisory Board on the company's planning, business development, and current status, both in writing and at meetings. It also provides updates on agenda items, drafts resolutions, and answers any questions from Supervisory Board members.
The Executive Board of HanseYachts AG
CEO & Chairman
Hanjo Runde
After studying at ETH Zurich and Harvard Business School, Hanjo Runde headed various areas in sales, marketing, and supply chain at the Hilti Group and Airbus. Mr Runde, born in 1979, was most recently Chief Executive Officer of the premium kitchen manufacturer SieMatic and took over as CEO of HanseYachts AG in October 2021.
COO
Stefan Zimmermann
As a graduate industrial engineer, Stefan Zimmermann has held many national and international management positions in the areas of development and supply chain over the past 25 years. Born in 1968, has worked successfully as plant manager at Ford Automotive, COO at Motoren Werke Mannheim, Kinolt S.A, and CTO at the wind energy group Senvion. The keen yachtsman assumed the position of COO in January 2022.
The Supervisory Board of HanseYachts AG
The Supervisory Board of HanseYachts AG currently comprises six members.
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Gert Purkert
Founding Partner and Board Member, Aurelius Group
Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Dr. Frank Forster
General Counsel, Aurelius Beteiligungsberatung AG
Member of the Supervisory Board
Rainer Friedrich Vesting
Independent Real Estate Project Developer and Tax Advisor in a Family Office
Member of the Supervisory Board
Dr. Martin Schoefer
Graduate in Business Adminstration
Member of the Supervisory Board
Alexander Herbst
HanseYachts AG employee
Member of the Supervisory Board
Christian Samuel
HanseYachts AG employee
Founding of HanseYachts
HanseYachts was founded in 1990 as a brand-new, state-of-the-art shipyard. It drew upon the expertise of the old Greifswald boat and repair yard and, utilising both the extensive know-how and a tradition of shipbuilding craftsmanship stretching back many years, started to develop and build sailing yachts under the HANSE brand.
Unveiling of the HANSE 291
In 1993, the company revolutionised the yacht market forever when it unveiled the first-ever series-produced yacht, the HANSE 291, at the Hamburg International Boat Show. It was the first yacht to be fitted as standard with a self-tacking jib and, priced at DM 44,444, became a best-seller not only in Germany and the rest of Europe, but also in North America, Australia and South-East Asia.
HANSE unveils its first in-house development
The HANSE 371, which was unveiled in 1999, became the company’s first new product of its own. It was designed by the world-famous yacht engineering and design firm judel/vrolijk & co and is such a big hit among sailors that our partnership with the Bremerhaven-based yacht designer is still going strong today. The modern, elegant yet functional design as well as the sleek lines and exceptionally pleasant atmosphere on board the HANSE 371 have become the hallmarks that characterise every single HANSE yacht to this day. In 1999, the HANSE 371 was crowned ‘European Yacht of the Year’.
The first series-produced HANSE yacht measuring over 50 feet
At the Genoa and Hamburg boat shows in 2003, HANSE’s first series-produced yacht measuring over 50 feet was unveiled: the HANSE 531 wowed visitors through not only its sheer size, but also the loft-style interior design from new designer Birgit Schnaase.
Acquisition of motor yacht manufacturer FJORD
In 2005, FJORD became the first motor yacht brand to join the HanseYachts AG portfolio. FJORD power boats enjoy cult status thanks to their performance and iconic design. The brand was founded more than 50 years ago.
Sales network expanded in the US and France
In 2005, the company established HanseYachts US LLC – its first overseas branch – to serve the important US market. In France, an importer based in Cannes was commissioned with selling HANSE sailing yachts. The business partnership is still going strong today.
Acquisition of sailing yacht brand MOODY
In 2007, the founding brand HANSE acquired MOODY, expanding its portfolio to include a range of deck saloon yachts and one aft cockpit yacht. The sailing yacht brand has a long history stretching back almost 200 years.
IPO of HanseYachts AG
On 9 March 2007, HanseYachts AG became the first yacht-builder in Germany to be listed on the stock exchange. Around 1.5 million of the 2.3 million shares put up for sale came from a capital increase. Another 500,000 shares originated from the ownership of the then majority shareholder and company founder. The issue was oversubscribed several times over.
Completion of production facilities
In 2008, a new hall for the final assembly of premium yachts measuring over 55 feet in length was inaugurated at the Greifswald shipyard. This new building and the additional production capacity that it offers was HanseYachts AG’s response to the growing demand for ever-bigger sailing and motor yachts.
Acquisition of sailing yacht brand DEHLER
In 2009, HanseYachts AG acquired DEHLER – the world market leader in the cruiser/racer segment. The brand has sold more than 25,000 sailing yachts since 1963 and enjoys a strong market position in its home market: 13% of all sailing yachts on seas, lakes and waterways in Germany bear the brand name DEHLER.
HanseYachts AG bought by Aurelius
In 2011, Aurelius AG purchased a majority interest in HanseYachts AG and currently owns 76.77% of issued shares. The remaining 23.23% of shares are freely traded. Shortly after the acquisition, measures were introduced aimed at leading the company into a stable and profitable future over the long term.
Acquisition of motor yacht manufacturer SEALINE
SEALINE became the second motor yacht brand to join the HanseYachts AG portfolio. Since its acquisition in 2013, SEALINE’s portfolio has been completely overhauled and currently comprises three different series with a total of nine models. SEALINE has doubled its revenue over the past three financial years.
Acquisition of catamaran-builder PRIVILÈGE
In June 2019, HanseYachts AG purchased the French catamaran-builder PRIVILÈGE from Aurelius AG. Acquiring the company, which is headquartered in Les Sables d’Olonne, has allowed HanseYachts AG to not only enter the fast-growing market segment for sailing and power catamarans, but also to increase capacity by more than EUR 30 million a year.
Creation of the DEHLER 30 one design class association
In January 2020, around 20 owners established their own class association for the new DEHLER 30 one design. The goal of the new class, which is open to all and growing rapidly, is to set new standards in offshore racing with a large field at a high competitive level. With the Double-Handed-Mixed class, the possible jump into the Olympic sailing classes beckons in 2023.
Foundation of the motorboat brand RYCK Yachts
In order to expand the product portfolio and open up new markets, HanseYachts AG founded the RYCK Yachts brand in 2021. The company's third motorboat brand was developed in cooperation with the well-known yacht designer Bill Dixon in Greifswald. The brand's first model, the RYCK 280, celebrated its world premiere at the Cannes Yacht Festival.
