Akerboom Yacht Equipment

What Akerboom Yacht Equipment does

Akerboom Yacht Equipment (AYE) is a Dutch engineering and manufacturing company that designs, produces, and services custom-built equipment for luxury superyachts. Founded in 1860 and headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal De Vries Group (Feadship) since 1986 and operates approximately 120 employees across engineering, production, assembly, and service functions, with an additional production site in Katwijk focused on aluminum welding.

The company's core products are modular, Class-certified hardware systems covering the full boarding, launch/recovery, and water-access surface of a superyacht: gangways, swimstairs, boarding ladders, hydraulics and in-house control systems, platforms (swim, mooring, beach, integrated side platforms), watertight transom doors, tender hatches, overhead cranes, and bespoke "specials" such as helicopter hangars with folding platforms and sliding stair access hatches. A modern superyacht may integrate more than 20 individual Akerboom systems. The technical backbone is the Modular Function Deployment (MFD) engineering methodology, which separates generic from client-specific modules to balance standardization and customization, complemented by in-house control electronics/software and emerging innovations such as composite-material gangway hatches and oil-bathed propeller shaftlines.

Akerboom earns revenue through three streams: custom one-time equipment sales to shipyards (predominantly Feadship and other Dutch yards including Royal Van Lent and Royal Huisman) on multi-year project contracts; global service, maintenance, and refit work delivered through dedicated hubs in Fort Lauderdale (est. 2020) and Barcelona (est. 2022); and spare parts for the Akerboom-equipped installed base. Distribution is entirely B2B direct, with no retail or e-commerce channels, supplemented by service partnerships (Safe Harbor Rybovich, Savannah Yacht Centre) in the US. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed. Marketing relies on METSTRADE trade show presence, multi-language digital content (Innovation Reports, Infodecks), trade publications (BOAT International, SuperYacht Times, Onboard Magazine), and the periodic "Akerboom Experience" customer event.

Name

Akerboom Yacht Equipment

Legal name

Akerboom Yacht Equipment

Website

https://ayeholland.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1860

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Akerboom Yacht Equipment is a Dutch engineering firm founded in 1860 that designs, manufactures, and services custom hydraulic and mechanical equipment — gangways, platforms, hatches, cranes, and control systems — for luxury superyacht shipyards (primarily Feadship) and yacht owners globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Superyacht Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (333998), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Custom Superyacht & Megayacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Yacht Refit, Rebuild & Lifecycle Upgrades (MRO) (IMAJAMAJ), Luxury Yacht Tenders & Support Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAMAK)

Keywords

• Superyacht equipment
• Yacht gangways
• Marine hydraulic systems
• Yacht transom doors
• Yacht boarding equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. New Yacht Equipment Manufacturing: Custom-built equipment for new superyacht construction, including gangways, platforms, cranes, transom doors, and hydraulic systems. Projects span multiple Feadship and other Dutch shipyard vessels.
2. Service, Maintenance & Refits: Global service network providing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and refits for existing yachts equipped with Akerboom systems. Includes system upgrades for hydraulic systems, boarding equipment, and propulsion shaftlines.
3. Spare Parts & Components: Supply of replacement parts and components for Akerboom-equipped vessels through the Global Service Network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akerboom Yacht Equipment designs, manufactures, and services custom-built equipment for luxury superyachts, including gangways, swimstairs, boarding ladders, hydraulic and control systems, platforms, transom doors, tender hatches, overhead cranes, and bespoke special solutions. A modern superyacht can incorporate more than 20 individual Akerboom systems, all built using the in-house Modular Function Deployment (MFD) approach. The company also delivers global service, maintenance, and refit support through service hubs in the Netherlands, the United States, and Spain.

Product overview

Akerboom Yacht Equipment (AYE) is a Dutch engineering and manufacturing company that designs, produces, and services custom-built equipment for luxury superyachts. Its product portfolio is hardware-based and modular, centred on systems that enable boarding, launch/recovery, and water access on superyachts. The core product range includes Gangways, Swimstairs, Boarding Ladders, Hydraulics & Controls, Platforms, Transom Doors, Tender Hatches, Overhead Cranes, and Specials & Solutions. A modern superyacht may incorporate more than 20 individual Akerboom systems. The company also offers Service & Refits through its Global Service Network. Products are built using Modular Function Deployment (MFD), distinguishing between generic and client-specific modules to balance standardisation with customisation. All control systems and software are developed in-house, enabling precise coordination between hydraulics, mechanics, and electronics across all equipment types.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gangways Hydraulically operated boarding gangways engineered for fore and aft access on superyachts, often featuring flush teak finishing and modular construction; supplied to superyacht shipyards.
• Swimstairs Swimming staircase systems providing safe and stylish water access from yacht decks, built with corrosion-resistant materials for long-term marine use and supplied to superyacht builders and owners.
• Boarding Ladders Boarding ladder systems with self-levelling treads and 90-degree rotating mechanisms enabling safe shore-to-yacht access in confined spaces, supplied to superyacht shipyards.
• Hydraulics & Controls Integrated hydraulic power systems and electronic control systems developed entirely in-house, enabling smooth, quiet and safe operation of Akerboom gangways, platforms, helicopter lifts, and large boarding systems on superyachts.
• Platforms Swimming, mooring, and beach platforms including integrated side platforms, oversized platforms with centre bearings, and multi-platform hull modules engineered for complex superyacht designs.
• Transom Doors Watertight transom door systems that lower to form teak deck platforms above the sea, serving tender storage, watersports access, sundeck conversion, and retractable shade integration on superyachts.
• Tender Hatches Large hydraulic tender hatches engineered to class requirements, including slide-out designs that maximise clear openings while minimising hull space usage on superyachts.
• Overhead Cranes Overhead sliding cranes and sundeck cranes for superyachts with class-approved reach to launch tenders through open hatches.
• Specials & Solutions Bespoke engineering solutions for superyachts including helicopter hangars with folding landing platforms, sliding stair access hatches, concealed drive systems, and custom watertight door systems for unique requirements.
• Service & Refits Global maintenance, repair, and upgrade services covering hydraulic systems, gangways, boarding equipment, propulsion shaftlines, and control systems, delivered through a worldwide service network to minimise yacht downtime.
• Oil-lubricated Propulsion Shaftlines Enclosed oil-bath propeller shaftline systems for superyacht applications, evolving from water-lubricated shaftlines originally built for work vessels, including in-house manufacturing of solid lip seals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple Feadship yachts nominated for World Superyacht Awards 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Royal De Vries Group (Feadship)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Akerboom became a full subsidiary of De Vries Scheepsbouw in 1986. As part of the Royal De Vries Group, Akerboom is integral to Feadship's world-renowned superyacht production. The company remains a fully independent operating entity while serving as a trusted supplier to De Vries yards and other shipyards including Royal Van Lent and Royal Huisman.
• De Voogt Naval ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with De Voogt Naval Architects on multiple Feadship projects. Akerboom works closely with the naval architecture firm from early design stages to translate client requirements into reliable, crew-friendly solutions.
• Safe Harbor RybovichcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partner location in West Palm Beach, Florida (USA). Akerboom technicians conduct maintenance and repair services at this marina location for yachts in US waters.
• Savannah Yacht CentreminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partner location in the USA where Akerboom has conducted projects following the opening of the Florida office in 2020.
• NMC - Shipyard & Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on M/Y Breakthrough project for the complex hull solution combining two platforms into one large welded hull module.
• Scheepswerf SlobcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on M/Y Breakthrough project for the complex platform integration solution. Slob, another subsidiary of De Vries Group, handles aluminum deckhouse production.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Opacmare: Italian manufacturer of custom yacht equipment including gangways, platforms, cranes, and boarding ladders for superyachts. Direct competitor to Akerboom with similar product portfolio and target shipyards in the Mediterranean superyacht segment.
• Besenzoni: Italian supplier of yacht equipment including gangways, boarding ladders, helm seats, and hydraulic systems. Competes directly with Akerboom in the custom superyacht equipment space, serving similar Italian and Dutch shipyards.
• Rondal: Dutch manufacturer of carbon masts, riggings, and integrated deck hardware for superyachts. Sister Dutch supplier serving the same premium Dutch shipyards (Feadship, Royal Van Lent, Royal Huisman) with comparable custom-engineering capabilities.
• Nemo Industry: Italian maker of hydraulic gangways, platforms, and boarding equipment for superyachts. Direct product overlap with Akerboom's gangway, swimstair, and platform lines, competing for Mediterranean shipyard contracts.
• C-Quip (Cramm Yachting Systems): Dutch manufacturer of hydraulic passerelles (gangways), side platforms, and boarding systems for superyachts. Direct competitor with similar product portfolio and Dutch shipyard relationships.
• Hydromar: Specialist in hydraulic systems for yachts including passerelles, side platforms, and submersible systems. Direct competitor to Akerboom's hydraulics and platforms product lines.

Emerging players

• Wider Yachts / W-Financial: Italian yacht builder that developed proprietary transom door and tender garage systems; intersects with Akerboom's transom door and tender hatch product categories as both an in-house developer and competitor for specialized integrations.
• Amare Group: Italian supplier of yacht tender garages, side platforms, and beach club systems for superyachts. Partial overlap with Akerboom's tender hatch and platform products, focused on the Mediterranean superyacht market.

Broad incumbents

• Ferretti Group (Custom Line / Riva): Large Italian luxury yacht conglomerate with in-house equipment development capabilities. A broad incumbent in the superyacht space whose vertically integrated approach partially overlaps with Akerboom's specialist supplier role.
• Damen Shipyards (Gala Yachts / Sea Axe): Large Dutch shipbuilding group with capabilities spanning yacht support vessels and refit services. Broad incumbent in Dutch marine manufacturing with adjacent capabilities to Akerboom's custom equipment engineering.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akerboom-yacht-equipment

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Akerboom Yacht Equipment