After the successful launch of the new sailing yacht Oyster 825, superyacht Oyster 885 as well as the Oyster 100 luxury yacht Sarafin, the leading UK builder, Oyster Yachts, has responded to an increased request for customisation with each of the five new 80 footers currently under construction being quite different. The yard also aims to increase its competitiveness by bringing down its productions costs and to increase the interaction with its customers where its yachts are built or where they are sailing. The company employs almost 300 staff across three locations in the UK and it is making some carefully planned strategic steps.

Oyster 100 SARAFIN Yacht - Image courtesy of Oyster Marine

Oyster Yachts – Custom & Refit

Oyster Yachts’ operation on the south coast – known and respected in the industry as ‘Southampton Yacht Services’ (SYS) for decades is now being renamed ‘Oyster Yachts – Custom & Refit’. This operation will be able to offer a high level of customisation for Oyster larger yachts. The company is currently building two Oyster 825 yachts and three Oyster 885’s which are each quite excitingly different. The same demand for customisation can be seen in the four 825’s and 885’s that Oyster is currently bidding for. Talks are also ongoing regarding a one-off Rob Humphreys designed 115ft custom build for an existing Oyster owner wanting to trade up with a British built yacht.

Oyster Yachts – Wroxham

Earlier this year, Oyster Yachts made a strategic move to owning all production in-house, which has resulted in the take-over of its Norfolk based, long standing sub-contractor Landamores. The Norfolk operation has been renamed ‘Oyster Yachts – Wroxham’. The company’s goal is to create a balance between the willingness to customise in Southampton and a desire to deliver production efficiency – and hence a competitive price – for its yachts built in Wroxham. New versions of the Oyster 54 and 575 will be launched shortly, with a new smaller yacht to be announced in 2013.

Some changes in Ipswich

Successful execution of the above requires a relocation of key design, project management and technical resources from the Oyster Yachts’ Ipswich office to both Oyster Yachts – Custom & Refit in Southampton and to Oyster Yachts – Wroxham in Norfolk. The company is currently consulting with its Ipswich based staff regarding these proposals. The Ipswich office will continue to lead its sales, after-sales and marketing activities.

Oyster Yachts’ recently opened Palma-office (sales, brokerage, charter and after-sales) has been met with great enthusiasm by Oyster owners. This new base was actively used over the summer and it will also support over twenty Oyster yachts this winter. Oyster will continue to add resources to its Palma base.

Oyster Yachts will close 2012 calendar year with profitable results and these changes will deliver stronger results in the future.