One hundred and fifty years may be the blink of an eye in the origin of the universe, but in terms of operating a business, it is rather a stellar achievement. Long a highly regarded name in the marine industry, Lürssen sails through that milestone in 2025 with quiet elegance, delivering the most luxurious, innovative, and beautifully crafted yachts in the world. If yachts held royal titles, Lürssen’s kingdom would reflect growth, progress, success, and a bright future.
How does a luxury-focused brand continue to remain at the top of their game? And what contributions, looking both to the past and through the present to the future, continue Lürssen’s legacy as a leader in the yachting world as a cherished brand? It begins with passion. There is also an emphasis on the legions of craftsmen and women who design, build, and dream, as the next generation of yachts transition from concept to delivery.
A 19th Century Startup
Lüder Lürssen founded his shipyard in the 1830s. Not the first in his family with seafaring roots, he would also not be the last to lend distinction to the Lürssen name in boatbuilding.
Lüder’s son, Friedrich, wanted to join his father’s shop. The elder Lürssen advised Friedrich to open his own yard, fearing his small shop could not support two families. And so, he did.
In 1875, in Bremen-Aumund, Germany, near the Weser River, Friedrich set up his shop. Commanding both skill and determination, Friedrich passionately declared, “My firm shall be known as a leader in both quality and performance.” From his very first vessel, originality and quality set his work apart, but early days were hard and work was scarce.
By 1882, however, the unification of Germany prompted an era of prosperity that saw Germans taking up rowing as a popular hobby. Known for beautiful design and fine workmanship, boats from the Lürssen shipyard were also lightweight, earning a reputation for placing well in regattas. Friedrich was flooded with orders, carefully selecting hardwoods and suggesting custom details that appealed to the sportsmen.
Lürssen and Daimler Collaboration Was The First of the Firsts
In 1886, Friedrich Lürssen and Gottlieb Daimler prepared for testing an internal combustion engine attached to the six-meter boat REMS. Fear was a factor as the public learned of the “explosions” about to take place on the river.
The small engine, which had a displacement of 0.462 liters, weighed 60 kg, and produced an output of 1.5 hp at 700 rpm, was fitted into a six-meter boat called the REMS. This boat, which marked the beginning of ICE-powered propulsion, was the world’s first motorboat. ICE, or internal combustion engine, propulsion was pioneered by Lürssen together with Gottlieb Daimler. The REMS motorboat’s successful testing marked a revolutionary first and was the beginning of a long line of Lürssen innovations.
In 1904, Lürssen operations found a home in Bremen-Vegesack. The new site gave the shipyard direct access to open water. By 1906, Friedrich had delivered 3,500 boats. He began grooming his son Otto as his successor. With training and apprenticeship through a technical school, Friedrich engineered seamless generational succession of the firm.
The Second Generation Set New Speed Records
As Friedrich’s son Otto took the reins of the company with his wife Frieda by his side, innovation continued. With the racing speedboat DONNERWETTER, Lürssen set speed records approaching 35 knots. The boat sported a slimline forecastle, displaying low water and air resistance combined with a 40 hp engine.
In 1907, Otto Lürssen put his knowledge as a shipbuilding engineer to good use. As Otto transitioned to partner with the firm around 1911-1912, his practical and theoretical knowledge combined with proven craftsmanship and top technical skills to further establish Lürssen as an important industry leader. Innovative solutions and superior quality wove important threads into the fabric of the company.
In 1925, Lürssen and Daimler collaborated again to shake up the racing season with a 102-hp engine speedboat. Crowned the unofficial world champion, the speedboat also won both the Prix de la Côte d’Azur and the Grand Prix des Nations later that same year.
A further collaboration between Lürssen and Swiss engine manufacturer Adolf Saurer, the SAURER-LÜRSSSEN posted an average speed of 32 knots to win the Prix de Monte Carlo.
Celebrating 50 Years and 10,000 Ships, Then Another World First
The year was 1925, and Lürssen continued to establish milestones with a 14-meter yacht. The wooden ship, a sister of the ONKEL FIDI II, made history as the 10,000th build for the shipyard. In addition, the yard’s 50th anniversary coincided with that count.
In 1927, Lürssen’s OHEKA II became the world’s fastest commuter yacht, using three Maybach engines to achieve 34 knot speeds. Also in 1927, Lürssen built the 36-meter AAR IV, the longest motor yacht in the world at that time.
Passing the Torch, Husband to Wife, On To The Third Generation
1932 saw the unexpected death of Otto Lürssen at just 52 years of age. Passionately open-minded and focused on innovation, his leadership would be missed. Frieda Lürssen, Otto’s wife and the daughter of the captain of a large cruise ship, stepped up to take the helm.
In 1938, Otto and Frieda’s son Gert Lürssen began exploring his passion for motorboats. Early on, his father sparked the fire that inspired Gert to bring about a design that set a diesel engine speedboat speed record of 68.2 km/h on the Weser River.
The post-WWII years brought a challenging business climate, forcing businesses to build again nearly from scratch. By 1948, Gert and his brother Fritz-Otto worked to bring the shipyard up to speed, agreeing on an equitable division of shares with their mother, Frieda. Frieda, known for her perseverance as well as her proficient technical knowledge, put the shipyard into the hands of Gert and Fritz-Otto in 1962. That same year, they delivered the remarkable 55-meter yacht PEGASUS II to her London shipowner.
Game Changer Carinthia Set A New Standard
Up to this point, marine vessel design was principally focused on boats used for military and trade purposes. That all changed with the advent of 1971’s delivery of CARINTHIA V, a 67.9-meter yacht that reset all of the parameters of what a leisure yacht could be. Lürssen’s exquisite workmanship was complemented by the meticulous design talents of Jon Bannenberg.
CARINTHIA V was Bannenberg’s first big yacht project, showing off modern styling and a long, sleek design that proved a trendsetter whose imprint would take the industry into the next century.
The Century Mark And The Fourth Generation
Celebrating 100 years of successful business operations in 1975, Lürssen presented a historic exhibition to mark the occasion. The fourth generation of Lürssens, Friedrich and Peter, sons of owners Gert and Fritz-Otto Lürssen, were given a memorable gift of shares in the firm.
Friedrich would join the company in 1977, at 27 years of age, spending time working in all departments throughout the shipyard after receiving a degree in business. Peter joined the firm in 1987, after studying shipbuilding and industrial engineering at a German school and business administration in the United States.
Limitless Pioneered Diesel-Electric Propulsion
After acquiring the Kröger Werft shipyard capable of up to 110-meter builds in length and establishing a new yacht division apart from the naval contract division have kept the yard working at 90 percent capacity, preparing the yard for great things to come.
In 1991, Lürssen delivered the 97-meter megayacht LIMITLESS, again calling on the talents of Jon Bannenberg for breathtaking design. Paired with sumptuous interiors by François Catroux, LIMITLESS took over the spotlight not only for 25 knot speed but also for earning the title of America’s largest yacht under private ownership.
The firm would go on to celebrate 125 years of quality shipbuilding in 2000. Known now not only for their substantial military vessels, but for the stylish megayachts satisfying increasing global demand for luxury.
A new profile of yacht launched in 2003 for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen brought the explorer yacht to the attention of the industry. The 126-meter Octopus featured a professional music studio and a cinema, in addition to its forward-facing observation area, two helipads, and two submarines.
In 2004, the 138-meter yacht RISING SUN, designed by Jon Bannenberg, was delivered with an incredible array of window panels constructed with heat-insulating foil to reduce the energy and emissions in air conditioning. RISING SUN also sported custom soot particle filters used to clean the exhaust.
Acquisitions Increased Services and Capacity
Specializing in naval vessels and attending to maintenance, repair, and conversion, the 2004 acquisition of the Neue Jadewerft shipyard established a location on the German North Sea coast. Capabilities expanded to accommodate ships up to 150 meters in length.
In October of 2012, Lürssen took Hamburg’s Norderwerft shipyard under the umbrella of The Lürssen Group. Further expanding capabilities in the commercial shipping industry meant that repair and maintenance of German Naval vessels could take place in addition to similar work on commercial vessels.
In 2013, Lürssen expanded its operations by purchasing the Peene Werft shipyard in Wolgast, Germany. This facility specializes in the construction and repair of naval vessels.
Giant Steps in 2016: World’s Longest And World’s Biggest
Bigger, longer, better than ever, 2013 proved an important year for Lürssen. Delivering the world’s longest motor yacht, the stunning AZZAM set records for her 180.65-meter length and for her speeds exceeding 30 knots, all achieved with a build time under thirty-six months.
2016 saw the delivery of the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage in DILBAR. Completed in just 52 months, the 156-meter build was one of the most complex yachts built to date. DILBAR put technology at the forefront while displaying luxurious innovations in entertainment and recreation beyond any previous builds.
Lürssen also found time to seal the deal on the acquisition of the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg in 2016, further expanding capacities for yacht refits.
In 2019, Lurssen launched the legendary FLYING FOX, the 136-meter yacht with a 40-foot athwartships pool, a library, fireplace, 11 guest suites for 22 guests served by 55 crew members, and the first-ever cryosauna on board a yacht.
Lürssen Founds NVL For Defense Division
Continuing as a part of the Lürssen Group, the Defense Division received a new name in 2022. NVL spun off the defense operation into its own division, separating it from the yacht division. The Blohm + Voss and Norderwerft shipyards in Hamburg, Neue Jadewerft in Wilhelmshaven, and Peene-Werft in Wolgast all joined with international sites in Australia, Bulgaria, and Brunei, to strengthen and unite Lürssen’s presence in the defense industry.
A First In Fuel-Cell Solutions
After studying fuel-cell systems for yachts since 2005, Lürssen launched the Pa-X-ell project in 2009 to find a way to use clean energy at sea. In 2022, the company opened an Innovation Lab at its facility in Bremen to test the first feasible fuel-cell system, which combines PEM technology with an onboard methanol reformer.Also in 2022, Lürssen delivered the hybrid diesel-electric propulsion yacht BLUE, fitted with an electric Azimuth Pod Drive and an impressive exhaust treatment system.
The Legend Continues in 2025
Early in the year, Lürssen acquired the Nobiskrug shipyard in Rendsburg, adding production capacity to the new build and yacht refit business. The year will also mark the first initiative of the Lürssen Foundation supporting exemplary students in clean energy research through an intensive scholarship program.
Lürssen currently has several large projects under construction with staggered completion dates. Project Cosmos, a 114.2-meter explorer yacht designed by Marc Newson, is scheduled for a 2026 delivery. The 134-meter Project Deep Blue, launched in June, is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. Also scheduled for delivery in spring 2026 is the 107-meter Project Shackleton, a distinctive explorer yacht featuring an X-bow. Several other large builds have later delivery dates, ensuring Lürssen’s shipyards remain busy and productive.
The passion that began with Friedrich, inspiring every generation that followed, is something you can hear in Peter Lürssen’s voice whenever he speaks today. The Lürssen legacy is alive, permeating every aspect of today’s operations, poised to continue well into the future.
Photos: Lürssen Media, Klaus Jordan, Jarmo Pohjaniemi, Guillaume Plisson, Dick Holthuis, Elizabeth White, George Duffield, Franco Pace, Giorgos Moutafis, Kyle Conlin, BlueiProd - Words: KL Turner
