Gulf Craft

Gulf Craft Inc.

Type	Privately held
Industry	Boat builder
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 Inc. is a major manufacturer of luxury yachts and fiberglass boats. The company’s headquarters are based in the United Arab Emirates, just north of Dubai. Gulf Craft operates from three shipyards in the UAE and one in the Maldives. The company is currently listed among the world’s top 10 superyacht builders (as per the 2014 Global Order Book, a report issued annually by the Boat International Group.)^[1]

History and Expansion

Gulf Craft Inc. was founded in 1982 in the United Arab Emirates by the Al Shaali brothers, Mohammed, Abdullah and Jamal and their friend Dr. Mohammed Hamdan. Mohammed Hussain Al Shaali currently serves as the Chairman of the company.

In June 2014, Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer of the company since 2009, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Craft.^[2]

Gulf Craft started as a manufacturer in the small open boat category. It now has a global presence, including mature markets like Europe and Australia.

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.

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 2000 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.

Brands

Majesty Yachts: Gulf Craft launched its range of luxury fly-bridge yachts under the name of Majesty Yachts in 2004. Majesty Yachts offers an extensive range of yachts from 48 feet (15 m) to 155 feet (47 m) under one roof. At the top-end of the current range is the Majesty 135 which was launched at the Dubai International Boat Show 2012. Gulf Craft is currently constructing the Majesty 155, the largest luxury yacht ever to be completely fabricated in the Middle East region. The project has been announced for a 2015 launch.^[3]
Oryx Sport Yachts & Cruisers: In 2006, Gulf Craft introduced the Oryx line of sport yachts and cruisers. Starting from the Oryx 27 sport cruiser, the range extends to larger size sport cruisers such as the Oryx 36 and Oryx 42 as well as the Oryx 40 fly-bridge which features outboard engines.
Silvercraft: The Silvercraft series was officially launched in 2008 to represent the wide and diverse range of smaller fishing boats and family cruisers manufactured by Gulf Craft. Silvercraft offers a family of center console fishing boats and multifunctional walkaround cruisers for sport fishing enthusiasts worldwide. Silvercraft cruisers can currently be found in countries as diverse as Australia, South Africa and Norway, in addition to Asia and the Middle East.
Nomad Yachts: The Nomad Yachts is a brand of explorer-type yachts under Gulf Craft that offer long-range, fuel efficiency. The range consists of Nomad 65, which is the first semi-displacement hybrid hull Gulf Craft manufactured. The Nomad 65 was globally launched in March 2015. The other products under the range consist of the Nomad 75, which was launched in March 2013, and the Nomad 95 which was launched in 2011.
Utility Series: The Utility Series serves as a passenger and multipurpose transportation vessels. The range consists of the Touring 31, Touring 36, Touring 38, Touring 40, Touring 43, Touring 45 and Waveshuttle 56.

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.

Exclusive Events

Gulf Craft celebrated its 30th anniversary in March 2012, with a celebration at its Umm Al Quwain facility attended by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qassimi, ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

From October 27–29, 2011 Gulf Craft hosted the ‘Yachting Lifestyle Show’ at The Pearl, Qatar, in association with Gulf Craft’s Doha agents, Aurora Yachts and Speed Marine, as well as luxury lifestyle brand Tanagra. A number of Majesty Yacht models were showcased at the event including the Majesty 56, Majesty 77, and the Majesty 101, with the latter being the largest superyacht on display at the show.

Gulf Craft returned to Doha from March 28 to 30, 2013, with its second exclusive display of yachts and superyachts for the Qatari market at the ‘Majesty Yachts Exclusive Preview’ event held at The Pearl, Qatar.^[4] The event witnessed the Qatari premiere of Majesty 125, Gulf Craft’s third-largest superyacht model, and a new Majesty 105. Also on view were other Gulf Craft models including the Majesty 56, Majesty 63 and Majesty 70.^[5]

Gulf Craft staged another exclusive preview of its fleet in Doha, Qatar from March 19–21, 2014 at The Pearl Qatar. The event saw the Qatari premiere of the Majesty 135, Majesty 48, Gulf 75 Exp and the Waveshuttle 56, in addition to a number of other models of Majesty Yachts and 2014 models of the Oryx sport yachts and cruisers and Silvercraft fishing boats and family cruisers. Gulf Craft hosted the very first marine leisure marine show in Oman at Almouj Marina at The Wave, Muscat from May 1–3. Participating yachts included the Majesty 135, the Majesty 105 and 2014 models of the Oryx sport cruisers and Silvercraft leisure boat range.

Awards & Accolades

1992 - Awarded International Gold Star Award for Quality from Gulf News, Gulf Enterprises in Madrid, Spain.
2004 - Silvercraft awarded “Best Exhibitor” at the India International Boat Show in Kerala, India.
2006 - Receives the Ajman Excellence Award in the Largest National Factory Category.
2007 - Awarded the “Best Local Boat Builder” at the Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards in the Best Powerboat Yacht in the Middle East Category.
2008 - Wins “Best Boating and Yachting Video” at the 2nd International Maritime Awards by Marine Biz TV.
2008 - Wins “Best Motor Yacht in the Middle East over 100 feet” at the Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards.
2009 - Wins “Best Asian Motor Boat Builder for 31-50 feet” at Asia Boating Awards in Shanghai.
2009 - Gulf Craft Service Centre Maldives awarded by the Maldives Police Service for excellent service rendered.
2009 - Gulf Craft Service Centre Maldives awarded by the Maldives National Defense Force for excellent service rendered.
2010 - Gulf Craft awarded with “Innovation and Excellence Award” and Gulf Craft Chairman receives “Life Achievement Award” at World of Yachts Recognition Awards.
2010 - Wins “Motoryacht of the Year for Majesty 125” at Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards.
2012 - Wins China Yachting Award for Luxury Vessels over 80 feet (24 m).
2013 - Wins “Best Asia Built Yacht” at Asia Boating Awards for the Majesty 135.
2013 - Wins “Best new building yard” at the 6th Marine BizTV international Maritime Awards.
2013 - Wins ‘Best Local Boat Builder 2013’ by Boat Owner Middle East.
2014 - Wins “Best Asian Yacht Builder of 15-24m” at the Asia Boating Awards.
2014 - Best Production Fiber Vessel 5 m-24 m during the Marine Expo in Maldives.
2015 - Wins 'Best Asian Built Yacht' for the Majesty 122 in Hong Kong during the Asian Boating Awards.

References

External links

Official website

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