Jeff Bezos Built His Yacht in Holland: This American Shipyard Wants the Next One
Seattle-based Delta Marine has unveiled a new line of hybrid superyachts in partnership with a London design studio, hoping to win over American billionaires who traditionally build their vessels in Europe.
Jeff Bezos did not build his yacht at home. The Amazon founder’s 127-meter Koru came from Dutch builder Oceanco, and he is far from alone in going overseas. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs chose Dutch yard Feadship for his yacht Venus. Oracle’s Larry Ellison has owned vessels from both Lurssen and Feadship. Barry Diller’s Eos and Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s Dragonfly both came from Germany’s Lurssen, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been linked to a Feadship project called Launchpad. For America’s richest people, Europe has effectively been the only address for a serious yacht build.
A Seattle shipbuilder now wants to change that. Delta Marine has partnered with London design studio Bannenberg & Rowell to unveil a new family of hybrid superyachts ranging from 50 to 75 meters, according to a report by Luxury Launches. The first vessel, the Delta 50BR, is a 164-foot yacht built to combine European styling with American engineering heritage.
The design leans heavily on outdoor living. The Delta 50BR has a terraced stern pool, tiered lounging areas, space for alfresco dining, and full-height garages hidden beneath its staircases for surfboards and paddleboards. A dedicated owner’s deck includes separate ‘his and hers’ offices and a winter garden, built for tech founders or financiers who want to keep working while cruising anywhere from Alaska to Scandinavia. Power comes from a diesel-electric hybrid system with podded drivers and integrated energy storage, which the builder says means quieter running, lower emissions and smoother cruising. It can host 12 guests across six staterooms, including a full-beam VIP suite and accessible cabins on the main deck.
Delta Marine is also making a regulatory pitch. US coastwise passenger laws restrict foreign-built yachts from certain charter work between American ports, while American-built vessels enjoy more flexibility in places like Florida, New England and Alaska, giving domestic buyers a practical reason to stay home.
The shipyard itself dates back to 1967, when it built rugged fishing boats for the Pacific Northwest. Nearly six decades later, it is positioning itself as a genuine challenger to Europe’s dominant yards, hoping the next Bezos-style order stays on American soil.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/by Conmat13
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