PRINCESS YACHTS’ BUSIEST-EVER YEAR will see a record nine boats launched and 42 apprentices recruited.
A record five new yachts were launched at the Southampton International Boat Show and Cannes Yachting Festival in September, marking 2019 out as the Plymouth-based manufacturer’s busiest-ever year. Princess, the UK’s largest luxury yacht manufacturer, has never launched nine yachts in one calendar year.
This underlines the impact of a £100m five-year investment programme begun in 2016; 2018 was the most successful year financially in Princess Yachts’ 54-year history.
Princess also reports record levels of employment, with over 3,000 people producing yachts across its five Plymouth boatyards, a 50% increase since 2016.
Apprentices now make up 4% of the workforce with a 100% retention rate in recent years following qualification. Princess has confirmed a further commitment to its apprenticeship scheme through a new partnership with South Devon College.
The Southampton International Boat Show is the leading event in the UK’s yacht retail calendar. Debuting at this year’s show were the F50 flybridge, the sporty S62 and S66 sportbridges, the all-new, ultra-dynamic V55 and the luxurious Y78 motor yacht. The F50 and S66 received a simultaneous debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. These five new additions join the yachts already announced in 2019 – the F45 flybridge, the V78, the flagship Y85 and the game-changing X95 superfly.
