SST2026 AGENDA

4-5 NOVEMBER

THE PENINSULA ISTANBUL

SST2026
Official Programme

4th Edition4–5 November 2026

This agenda is under development and remains subject to change. Additional speakers, moderators and agenda elements will be announced in the coming weeks.

04

November

Day 1 · The Peninsula Istanbul

09.00–18.20Panels & networking
19.00Cocktail party

The Peninsula Istanbul

Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah., Kemankeş Cad. No:34
34425 Karaköy, Beyoğlu, İstanbul

4 November · Panels & Networking
09.00–18.20

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  1. 09.00–10.00

    Breakfast & Welcoming

    Sponsored by RMK Yachts

  2. 10.00–10.10
    Opening

    Opening & Keynote

    Superyacht Summit Türkiye 2026 will start with the Opening Ceremony, sponsors video screening and keynote speech.

  3. 10.10–10.30
    Keynote

    Invest in Türkiye

  4. 10.30–10.40
    Presentation

    The Strategic Intelligence Report for Türkiye’s Superyacht Sector

    SST × The Superyacht Group

  5. 10.40–11.10
    Panel 1

    Reading the Market: What 2026 Told Us, What 2027 Might Bring, and What We Need to Do by 2030

    The 2026 market was defined less by a single direction than by a widening gap between resilient segments and areas where momentum began to weaken. Longer build slots, rising costs and changing client priorities are making timing, confidence and selectivity increasingly central to every decision.

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    This panel will examine what recent transactions, order books and the major 2026 yacht shows revealed about buyer behaviour, how wider capital flows and economic cycles are shaping demand, and whether Türkiye’s continued rise now places it in a new tier of the global yacht-building market.

  6. 11.10–11.40
    Panel 2

    The Arcane Project: When Design, Engineering and Market Vision Come Together

    Delivering more space, comfort and flexibility on a yacht below 500 GT calls for close collaboration between designers, engineers and shipyards. Propulsion choices influence the layout, while owner priorities and market demand help shape the brief.

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    Taking RMK Yachts’ new 55-metre Arcane platform as a case study, RMK Yachts, Espen Øino International, Volvo Penta and TWW Yachts discuss how these considerations have shaped the project from the outset. The panel examines the opportunities this approach offers, the practical challenges of bringing it to build, and what it means for owners.

  7. 11.40–12.10

    Coffee Break

    Sponsored by Septemar

  8. 12.10–12.45
    Panel 3

    From Contract to Delivery of Complex Yacht Projects

    Large yacht projects are shaped as much by governance and alignment as by design and engineering. From the first contract, specification and GA decisions through technical reviews, sea trials, certification and delivery, each stage creates new points of pressure and potential drift. Over a multi-year build, owner expectations evolve, project realities change and the relationship between shipyard, project team, class and flag becomes increasingly critical.

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    This panel will examine where complex projects most often lose momentum, how stronger communication and decision-making structures can keep them on course, and what effective delivery and warranty support should look like once the yacht leaves the yard.

  9. 12.45–13.05
    Panel 4

    Beyond the Brochure: The Decisions Behind Simena

    Building a large custom sailing yacht is never just about design, engineering or craftsmanship. It is about balancing hundreds of competing decisions, challenging assumptions and solving problems that no brochure ever talks about.

    Read moreShow less

    SIMENA is one of the world’s largest completed ketch sailing yachts and represents a milestone for Turkish yacht building. But beyond the impressive specifications lies a far more interesting story.

    Rather than presenting the yacht itself, the panel explores the decisions behind her. Why certain choices were made, which compromises proved worthwhile and what the team learned from taking one of the most ambitious sailing yacht projects ever undertaken in Türkiye.

  10. 13.05–13.35
    Panel 5

    Finding the Right Long-Term Partner in Yacht Building

    Choosing a shipyard is about far more than price, capacity or delivery dates. Every owner brings different ambitions, priorities and ways of working, while every shipyard has its own culture, strengths and project philosophy. The most successful yacht projects begin not with the contract, but with finding the right long-term partner.

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    This panel explores how owners, brokers, owner’s representatives and shipyards evaluate each other before committing to a project. What creates genuine alignment between the parties? How do trust, communication, cultural fit, technical expertise and long-term vision influence the success of a yacht programme? And as Türkiye continues to strengthen its reputation in yacht building, what distinguishes Turkish shipyards in the eyes of international clients?

  11. 13.35–15.05

    Lunch Break

    Sponsored by Septemar

  12. 15.05–15.25
    Fireside chat

    Fireside Chat with Mehmet Karabeyoğlu

  13. 15.25–15.40
    Presentation

    The Global Economic Impact of the Superyacht Industry

    Presented by The Superyacht Life Foundation

  14. 15.40–16.15
    Panel 6

    Designing for the Second Owner: Is the Industry Building Interiors That Last Beyond Delivery?

    For decades, yacht interiors were designed around a single owner, a single vision and a single moment in time. Today, owners are younger, technology evolves faster, and expectations around sustainability are changing. The challenge is no longer creating an impressive interior at delivery, but designing spaces that remain relevant, desirable and adaptable years later.

    Read moreShow less

    This panel will examine how far personalisation should go before it begins to undermine resale value and future flexibility, whether interiors are being designed to absorb technological change, and who should take responsibility for protecting long-term adaptability across the project. It will also consider whether durability, evolution and reduced need for replacement should become the industry’s clearest measure of sustainable interior design.

  15. 16.15–16.45

    Coffee Break

    Sponsored by Septemar

  16. 16.45–17.20
    Panel 7

    The New Rules of Yacht Brokerage

    Yacht brokerage is moving beyond the traditional transaction-led model as technology, data and changing client behaviour reshape how yachts are discovered, evaluated and sold. AI and intelligence tools are beginning to improve parts of the workflow, but the wider challenge is structural: a fragmented market, a more complex client journey and rising expectations around transparency, speed and advice.

    Read moreShow less

    This panel will examine where trust is now built, what platform thinking means in practice, and which capabilities will distinguish future-ready brokerage businesses from those still operating under the old rules.

  17. 17.20–17.45
    Panel 8

    Why Yacht Management Defines the Ownership Experience

    Professional yacht management now sits at the intersection of technical reliability, crew culture, financial control, compliance, cyber resilience and the owner’s privacy.

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    This panel asks when management should enter the lifecycle, how responsibilities should be divided between the owner, family office, captain and shore team, and which information an owner should receive to make confident decisions. It will also examine Türkiye’s next opportunity: moving beyond its position as a leading yacht-building nation to become a trusted base for the long-term management of Turkish-owned and international fleets. The discussion will focus on practical standards that reduce surprises, protect asset value and give owners more usable time on the water.

  18. 17.45–18.20
    Panel 9

    Mediterranean Dynamics & the Making of a Luxury Destination

    This panel will explore how changing regional dynamics influenced movement across the Eastern Mediterranean and Gulf regions during the 2026 season, while examining which regions gained advantage.

    Read moreShow less

    It will also examine what now defines a successful luxury destination: not only attractive cruising grounds, but also marina capacity, service quality, connectivity, hospitality, cultural relevance and the ability to deliver a consistent experience across the entire journey.

  19. 19.00

    Cocktail Party

05

November

Day 2

SST Roundtables Shipyard Visits
10.00–13.15SST Roundtables · Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus
10.00–18.00Shipyard visits · Tuzla
10.00–13.15

SST Roundtables

Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus

Hosted by Ülken Law Firm

Dedicated tables focusing on different areas of the superyacht industry will bring professionals together for in-depth discussions and targeted networking. Participants will exchange insights, explore shared challenges and build connections with peers working in their field.

Format
  1. 10.00–10.15
    Welcome & Light BitesArrival, light refreshments and table selection
  2. 10.15–11.15
    Round 1First topic and first networking group, closing with key takeaways from the table moderator
  3. 11.15–11.45
    Coffee Break & RotationParticipants move to their second table
  4. 11.45–12.45
    Round 2Participants join a new table for their second topic, closing with key takeaways from the table moderator
  5. 12.45–13.15
    Coffee & NetworkingClosing coffee and open networking
Tables
  • Identifying shared priorities across national and regional yachting markets.
  • Creating business connections between members across brokerage, charter, yacht building and services.
  • Sharing good practices in professional standards, training and industry representation.
  • Turning association relationships into joint initiatives and measurable outcomes.
  • Involving technology providers, shipyards and class earlier in the design process.
  • Defining a practical roadmap for shipyards and project owners adopting more energy-efficient solutions.
  • Assessing operational needs and setting realistic efficiency targets before selecting technologies.
  • Bringing technology providers, shipyards and class together at the right stages.
  • Addressing system integration, investment priorities and implementation challenges in new builds and refits.
  • Understanding the different financing requirements of yachts, private aircraft and property.
  • Balancing asset ownership with liquidity and wider investment priorities.
  • Exploring financing structures, collateral requirements and lender expectations.
  • Coordinating lenders, family offices and specialist advisors across jurisdictions.
  • Planning for operating costs, refinancing and eventual asset disposal.
  • Navigating requirements for foreign-flagged yachts operating in Turkish waters.
  • Clarifying charter, licensing and commercial-use requirements.
  • Understanding environmental obligations, penalties and compliance responsibilities.
  • Identifying recurring uncertainties for owners, captains and service providers.
  • Improving coordination between legal advisors, insurers and industry stakeholders.
  • Identifying complementary audiences and opportunities for cross-promotion.
  • Developing reciprocal participation and introductions between industry networks.
  • Connecting exhibitors, speakers and delegates across events.
  • Sharing insights on programming, visitor experience and commercial value.
  • Creating partnerships that continue beyond individual event dates.
  • Identifying major exposures, from accidents and pollution to crew and third-party claims.
  • Understanding insurance exclusions, coverage gaps and policy conditions.
  • Clarifying responsibilities between owners, captains, managers and insurers.
  • Improving incident response, documentation and claims preparedness.
  • Reviewing protection as cruising areas, onboard activities and yacht use change.
  • Understanding U.S. buyer expectations and the role of brokers and owner representatives.
  • Building commercial relationships between Turkish shipyards and U.S. market partners.
  • Creating confidence through clear contracts, payment milestones and responsibilities.
  • Managing overseas builds through reporting, inspections and transparent communication.
  • Planning delivery, market entry and after-sales support from the outset.
  • Matching lifting, hauling and transport capabilities to the yachts a yard aims to serve.
  • Identifying infrastructure bottlenecks that limit refit capacity and project scope.
  • Improving yard layout, vessel movement and coordination between work areas.
  • Integrating new equipment and technologies into existing facilities.
  • Prioritising investments that improve safety, turnaround times and long-term competitiveness.
  • Integrating connectivity, operational software and onboard systems.
  • Reducing fragmented interfaces and simplifying daily workflows for crew.
  • Managing cybersecurity, data access and secure remote support.
  • Identifying practical uses for automation and AI in yacht operations.
  • Defining responsibilities for maintenance, updates and technology support throughout the yacht’s lifecycle.

Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus

Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah., Kemankeş Cad. No:57–59
34425 Karaköy, Beyoğlu, İstanbul

5 November · SST Roundtables
10.00–13.15

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10.00–18.00

Shipyard Visits

Tuzla, İstanbul

Register for the visits

Delegates are invited to visit leading Turkish yacht builders in Tuzla for a closer look at their facilities and current projects.

KRM Yacht

Refit & Rebuild

Cami Mah. Balıkçılar Sok. No:213, Viaport Marina Çekek Sahası
Tuzla, İstanbul

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Mengi Yay Yachts

Shipyard

Evliya Çelebi Mah., Tersaneler Cad., Nuh Sanayi Sitesi A Blok No:1
34944 Tuzla, İstanbul

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