Gulf Craft

Gulf Craft
Privately held
Industry Luxury yacht
Founded 1982
Headquarters Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Key people
 Mohammed Hussein Alshaali (Chairman), Erwin Bamps (Chief Executive Officer)
Products Majesty Yachts, Oryx, Silvercraft, Nomad Yachts and Utility Series
Services Fiberglass, Semi-customized
Website www.gulfcraftinc.com

Gulf Craft is a manufacturer of luxury yachts and fiberglass boats based in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. Gulf Craft operates from three shipyards in the UAE and one in the Maldives.

History

Gulf Craft was founded in 1982 in the United Arab Emirates by the Alshaali brothers- Mohammed, Abdullah and Jamal and their friend Dr. Mohammed Hamdan. Mohammed Hussain Alshaali currently serves as the Chairman of the company. It started as a manufacturer in the small open boat category.

In 1992, Gulf Craft expanded its product range into larger fly-bridge designs using inboard diesel installations.

With a growing range of boats and yachts approaching 100’ in length the new millennium saw Gulf Craft sell to Europe and many of it Majesty Yachts fleet are present in the marinas of France, Spain and Italy. The expansion into larger yachts and new markets after 2000 saw production facilities expand and a new shipyard was developed at Umm Al Quwain with the capacity to manufacture superyachts up to 155 feet (47 m) in length.

In November 2009, Nasser Al Shaali was appointed CEO of Gulf Craft.[1]

In 2010, Gulf Craft launched the Majesty 125 Superyacht.[2]

In June 2014, Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer of the company since 2009, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Craft.[3] In March 2017, he announced that Gulf Craft was planning an IPO on the Dubai financial market by the end of the year.[4] The company also announced its intention to build more superyachts (or megayachts), following the growing trend of superyacht hubs in the Mediterranean sea.[5]

Manufacturing facilities

Gulf Craft operates four manufacturing facilities – two facilities in Ajman, UAE, which also includes a service centre, a 100,000 square foot facility in the Maldives and a 462,000 square foot facility in Umm Al Quwain, UAE, equipped with a 150-ton and a 500-ton travel lift and two launching bays. The company currently employs close to 1,600 people across its three facilities. The company uses advanced manufacturing technologies such as sandwich construction, vacuum infusion processes, and water-jet drives engineered on large yachts.

In 2015, Gulf Craft produced 400 boats, 40-50 of them being yachts.[6]

Brands

After-sales services

Gulf Craft provides a range of after-sales services including exterior, mechanical, electrical, interior, fabrication and berthing related services at its facilities in the UAE and in all countries it currently distributes its products.

Internal certifications

Gulf Craft products are manufactured in accordance with international maritime and industrial standards such as ABS, MCA and others. All yachts bearing the Majesty Yachts brand are CE certified. The Majesty Yachts shipyard in Umm Al Quwain UAE is fully recognized by Bureau Veritas Marine Division General Condition’s society for the construction of reinforced plastic hulls as per Bureau Veritas Mode 1 Survey Scheme (1993). The shipyard received the certification in 2006.

The shipyard is also fully recognized by RINA for the construction of reinforced plastic hulls in conformance with RINA pleasure craft rules chapter 3, section 3.1. The shipyard received the certification in 2006.

Awards & accolades

References

  1. ↑ Mick O'Reilly, New hand takes the helm at Gulf Craft, Gulfnews.com, 14 November 2009
  2. ↑ B. Roberts, Majesty 125 Superyacht Launched by Gulf Craft, Superyachts.com, 25 August 2010
  3. ↑ Tom Isitt, UAE Superyacht builder Gulf Craft has named Erwin Bamps as CEO, Boatinternational.com, 30 June 2014
  4. ↑ Andrew Scott, Gulf Craft plans IPO by end of 2017, Thenational.ae, 1 March 2017
  5. ↑ Rachel Rowney, A Gulf perspective, Superyachtnews.com, 31 March 2017
  6. ↑ Fareed Rahman, Gulf Craft focuses on expansion as it builds megayachts, Gulfnews.com, 23 October 2016
  7. ↑ B. Roberts, Gulf Craft Superyacht Wins Arabian Gulf Yachting Award, Superyachts.com, 29 November 2010
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