Peter Lürssen
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World in Beauty: Crafting Legends on Water — Lürssen’s 150-Year Journey
Whenever we read about how great companies come to be, it’s always inspiring to uncover stories of humble beginnings that grow into iconic legacies — stories defined by courage, vision, and perseverance. Few embody this journey more beautifully than Lürssen Yachts, whose mastery of craftsmanship has, for 150 years, created some of the world’s most extraordinary vessels — yachts that have graced royalty, inspired politicians, and defined the lifestyle of the world’s most discerning individuals.
Founder Friedrich Lürssen
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From their status today as the world’s foremost builder of superyachts, it is almost hard to imagine that Lürssen’s story began in the simplest of ways: with a young boatbuilder, a small workshop, and an unshakable belief in doing things differently.
In 1875, against the backdrop of the Second Industrial Revolution, Friedrich Lürssen chose not to follow the trend for ever-bigger steel ships, but instead to dedicate himself to a niche — building rowboats with precision and artistry. It was a bold choice that would lay the foundation for one of the most remarkable legacies in maritime history.
Model of the first Lürssen boat
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Before World War I, the top people met at Monaco annually
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Born into a family of shipwrights in Lemwerder, a village along the Weser River steeped in centuries of maritime tradition, Friedrich embodied independence and vision. At just 24, with little more than his craft and conviction, he built his first Lürssen boat by hand – a small, flat-bottomed workboat that already showed his flair for innovation.
Manufacturing of rowing boats continued after the end of WWI
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Lürssen speed boat DONNERWETTER 1905
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Work was uncertain in those early years. Boats had to be rolled through the narrow streets of Vegesack just to reach the water. But with Germany’s unification came prosperity, leisure, and a new fascination with rowing. Friedrich saw the future where others saw only pastime. His sleek, lightweight rowboats began dominating regattas, turning every victory into an advertisement. Soon, orders poured in from across Germany, each boat tailored with precision from cedar, oak, or fir.
Lürssen employees around 1910
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Motor Yacht ONKEL FIDI II 1923
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Friedrich’s reputation grew not only from his craftsmanship but also from his discipline. He was the first to arrive each morning, greeting every worker by name and demanding the same commitment from his team. Yet, for all his devotion to tradition, he never lost sight of the future. In 1886, alongside Gottlieb Daimler, he built the world’s first motorboat, launching a revolution that would change maritime history.
Christening of motor yacht SCOUT 1926
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The Lürssen family around 1932 – Frieda and Otto Lürssen with sons Gert and Fritz-Otto
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By 1896, just 21 years after its founding, Lürssen had delivered its 1,000th boat. By 1906, the number had reached 3,500. What began as a one-man workshop had become a shipyard of global renown. When Friedrich passed the helm to his son Otto in 1912, he left not just a thriving company but a legacy – one rooted in passion, precision, and the courage to chart a course of his own.
PEGASUS 1955
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100 years,1975, the owner generations, Peter, Fritz-Otto, Gert, Friedrich Lürssen
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How would you describe the spirit of Lürssen and its 150 years of shipbuilding?
Peter Lürssen – The story of Lürssen is, in many ways, a story of German engineering – but more importantly, it is a story about people. Our values are rooted in research, creativity, and long-term thinking. Curiosity is at the heart of what we do, and that spirit lives in our people. My role, simply put, is to create the conditions where that curiosity can thrive – where bright minds can work with purpose, safely and collaboratively. When we talk about perfection, we are not referring to a single outcome, but to a mindset – one that enables us to meet, and often exceed, the expectations of our clients. After 150 years, this has proven to be the right approach.
Ahpo 115m
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Lürssen devoted much of the 20th century to naval and commercial boatbuilding, and it was not until 1988, under the custodianship of Peter Lürssen, that the company established a dedicated yacht division, committing half of its capacity to building yachts of all sizes. This has proven instrumental in the company’s success in the yacht market.
Lurssen – AZZAM 180m
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Lurssen Dilbar 156m
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Since forming its dedicated yacht division in 1988, it has built and delivered 70 bespoke yachts with a total length exceeding 6,500 metres. Today, 35 of the top 100 yachts were built by Lürssen. Amongst these are the 180.61-metre AZZAM, the 156-metre DILBAR, and the 126.2-metre OCTOPUS – respectively, the world’s longest yacht, the largest yacht by volume, and the world’s first explorer yacht.
Lurssen Eos_93m
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Lurssen Kismet 122m
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The owner of the multi-award-winning 122m KISMET confirmed this commitment: “Lürssen’s position is simple: if you can conceive it, they can do it, no constraints. I love that. The shipyard hits every metric to perfection, especially with technology. The seaworthiness of KISMET is incredible, and I am awestruck by the spaces and workmanship. It is all consistent with Lürssen’s view that there should be no compromises on vision. And no compromises on expectations.”
Lurssen Octopus 126 m
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Lurssen Rising Sun Huahine
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Coinciding with its milestone year, Lürssen is preparing to deliver its next step towards an ultimately carbon-neutral future for yachting: the 114-metre COSMOS. Much like its 139-year predecessor, REMS, COSMOS was born from a pioneering and technologically driven client. The client has agreed to the research-installation of a methanol-powered fuel cell system. This ground-breaking technology is intended to allow the yacht to remain effectively carbon neutral for up to 15 days at anchor and to cruise for 1,000 miles at slow speeds.
TOPAZ 147,25m
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Blue Marine Foundation
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Today, as the company looks to the future, its vision remains aspirational. It has pledged to continue its support for Blue Marine Foundation. Through Blue Marine Foundation, Lürssen has supported 30 global projects, securing commitments to protect over 4.4 million square kilometres of ocean. Meanwhile, through its newly founded Lürssen Foundation, it will support the training and development of select engineering scholars who demonstrate exceptional talent and invest in startups and organisations making a positive impact on the industry and on wider communities.
Blue Marine Foundation – Ascension Island
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Blue Marine Foundation – Greece – Giorgos Moutafis
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Why do you support Blue Marine Foundation, and what makes their work important to you?
Peter Lürssen – I have a long-standing and personal relationship with Blue Marine Foundation. The work they are undertaking immediately impressed me, and I recognised the great importance of their conservation efforts. Blue Marine Foundation is working towards an ambitious, yet achievable, goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the oceans by 2030. I wholeheartedly support them and encourage everyone to learn more about what they are doing and contribute to the cause in whatever way they can.
Blue Marine Foundation – Ascension Island – Shallow water habitat
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Peter Lürssen
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“It is with great pride that I reflect on how Lürssen has evolved into the company it is today,” says Peter Lürssen. “However, this journey has not been without its challenges. We have had one hundred and fifty years marked by trials, challenges and jubilations. There have been storms and successes. However, these success stories do not belong solely to Lürssen as a company. They belong to their people. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all our employees – past and present – without whom we would not be here, celebrating 150 years.”
