Laurent Giles Naval Architects
Laurent Giles Naval Architects Ltd is a UK-based independent naval architecture and yacht design firm founded in 1927, providing bespoke hull design, structural engineering, and consultancy services to superyacht builders, designers, and owners worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersLymington, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Laurent Giles Naval Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Laurent Giles Naval Architects
- Legal name
- Laurent Giles Naval Architects Ltd
- Website
- https://laurentgiles.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Laurent Giles Naval Architects Ltd is a UK-based independent naval architecture and yacht design firm founded in 1927, providing bespoke hull design, structural engineering, and consultancy services to superyacht builders, designers, and owners worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Laurent Giles Naval Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Naval Architecture and Yacht Design Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (54133), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydrodynamics & Performance Engineering (Resistance, Propulsion, Seakeeping, Maneuvering) (IMAJAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Production Design & Detailed Engineering (3D CAD, Drawings, BOM, Nesting) (IMAJAGAK), Safety, Risk & Compliance Engineering (SOLAS, Class Rules, HAZID/HAZOP, FMEA) (IMAJAGAJ), Structural & Hull Engineering (Scantlings, Fatigue, Vibration, Noise) (IMAJAGAC), Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN), Stability, Weight & Load Analysis (Intact/Damage Stability, Weight Control) (IMAJAGAI)
Keywords
Where Laurent Giles Naval Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lymington
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Laurent Giles Naval Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Naval Architecture and Design: Bespoke professional services for yacht and superyacht projects including concept development, naval architecture, hull design, structural design, and consultancy. Revenue generated through project-based fees for design packages, naval architecture services, and ongoing technical support throughout build phases
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Laurent Giles Naval Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Laurent Giles Naval Architects is an independent naval architecture and yacht design firm providing professional services across concept development, hull design, structural design, 3D modelling, tank testing, and regulatory compliance for sailing yachts, motor yachts, superyachts, and research vessels. The firm delivers four core service lines — Naval Architecture, Yacht Design, Consultancy, and Refit Design & Engineering — supporting clients from initial concept through class and flag approval and build support. They serve shipyards, exterior/interior yacht designers, and yacht owners globally using CFD analysis, FEA, in-house scantling software, and physical tank testing at Southampton Solent University.
Product overview
Laurent Giles Naval Architects Ltd is a professional naval architecture and yacht design firm offering four core service lines: Naval Architecture Services, Yacht Design Services, Consultancy Services, and Refit Design & Engineering Services. The Naval Architecture Services encompass Designers Technical Support, Preliminary Naval Architecture, Hull Design & Development, and Structural Design across metals, wood, FRP, and composites. The Yacht Design Services provide a full design lifecycle from Concept Development through Preliminary Design, 3D Modelling & Visualisation, to Detailed Design. Consultancy covers Class and Flag approvals (SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC 2006), construction oversight, and stability documentation. Refit Design & Engineering addresses major restorations and alterations. The firm has a portfolio of completed projects and active design concepts spanning motor yachts (62m–83m), sailing yachts, hybrid motor-sailers, oceanographic research vessels, and explorer-class vessels. Concepts include the HEMY (110m High Efficiency Motor Yacht), ATLAS (110m Hybrid Yacht with H2 Yacht Design), and TAKAPUNA II (48.5m sailing yacht). The firm was established in 1927, has completed over 1400 designs, and works with Classification Societies including Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA, DNV, and ABS.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Naval Architecture Services Comprehensive naval architecture services covering Designers Technical Support, Preliminary Naval Architecture, Hull Design & Development, and Structural Design. Includes CFD analysis, tank testing, finite element analysis, and structural submissions to Classification Societies (Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA, DNV, ABS). Serves shipyards, yacht designers, and superyacht owners building vessels in metals, wood, FRP, and composites.
- Yacht Design Services Full yacht design service covering Concept Development, Preliminary Design, 3D Modelling & Visualisation, and Detailed Design. Integrates naval architecture and styling from initial concept through detailed builders' plans and outfit specifications, serving yacht owners and collaborating designers.
- Consultancy Services General naval architectural consultancy plus specialist services for Class, Flag, SOLAS, MARPOL, and MLC 2006 compliance; Construction oversight; and Stability Books, Inclining Trials & Lightship Surveys. Provides regulatory and technical advisory work for shipyards and yacht owners.
- Refit Design & Engineering Services Refit-focused services covering Preliminary Review & Feasibility, Refit Design, Refit Naval Architecture, and Refit Engineering. Includes assessment of additions and alterations on vessel performance, stability, and class updates for existing yachts undergoing major restoration.
Companies that use Laurent Giles Naval Architects
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Laurent Giles Naval Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Laurent Giles Naval Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.
- H2 Yacht DesigncoreLong-term collaboration partner on superyacht projects including Samar (77m), Atlas (110m hybrid motor-sailer), and multiple other projects. H2 provides exterior styling while Laurent Giles supplies naval architecture and hull design.
- Viareggio Super Yachts (VSY)coreItalian superyacht builder. Laurent Giles has completed multiple projects for VSY including 83m, 64m, and 72m vessels. VSY is renowned for sleek and futuristic superyachts.
- Devonport Management Limited (DML)coreUK shipyard for the 77m Samar project, the largest yacht built in the UK since Britannia in 1953. One of the first superyachts to use diesel electric propulsion.
- ICT YachtsnotableTurkish yacht builder. Completed Andreika (32.3m) and AL Fresco 106' (32.3m) projects. Laurent Giles provided naval architecture and structural design with full tank testing.
- Hawk YachtsnotableCollaboration on Cape Hawk 690 (47.45m) and Hawk Ranger 68m explorer yachts. Laurent Giles supplies naval architecture and exterior design for the Hawk Yachts series.
- Espen OeinonotableRenowned exterior designer. Collaboration on multiple VSY projects including Roma (62m), 64m VSY, and Stella Maris (72m). Laurent Giles provides naval architecture for Espen Oeino exterior designs.
- Michele ReverberiminorInterior designer. Provided interior design for Stella Maris project in collaboration with Laurent Giles naval architecture.
- Darnet DesignminorInterior designer. Provided interiors for VSY 64m superyacht Project 003 (now Atomic).
- William OsbornenotableBuilder of the famous Blue Leopard (34.2m sailing yacht) designed by Jack Giles. The Blue Leopard was a triumph of lightweight engineering, built with quadruple mahogany laminates.
- Sea Education AssociationnotableNon-profit organisation for ocean education. Commissioned Robert C Seamans, a 36.3m brigantine rigged sailing school/research ship for oceanographic research and sail training.
- Elefsis ShipyardsminorGreek shipyard that completed the 108m Project 1317 (Czar), originally started as a 95m Russian spy trawler with extensive hull modifications by Laurent Giles.
- Southampton Solent UniversitynotableUniversity towing tank used for hull design testing and development. Laurent Giles maintains close links with the University and regularly uses their facilities for client projects.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Laurent Giles Naval Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dubois Naval Architects: UK-based independent yacht design and naval architecture firm with a focus on sailing and motor superyachts. Comparable to Laurent Giles in size, heritage, and end-customers (HNW owners, shipyards, exterior designers).
- Sparkman & Stephens: US-based heritage yacht design firm with deep roots in sailing yacht and superyacht naval architecture. Comparable to Laurent Giles in heritage, pedigree, and customer base of yacht owners and boatbuilders.
- Vripack: Dutch yacht design and naval architecture studio with a long history serving superyacht builders and owners. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary yacht design house offering concept, engineering, and interior coordination services.
- RWD (Rupert Wyndham Design): UK-based independent superyacht design studio. Comparable as a fellow British small-studio naval architecture and exterior design firm serving the same shipyard and owner client base.
- Germàn Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering: Argentine-based independent yacht design firm with multi-generational heritage. Comparable to Laurent Giles as a long-established family-founded superyacht design house serving yacht owners and major yards.
- Dykstra Naval Architects: Dutch independent naval architecture and superyacht design firm, founded in 1969. Directly comparable as a heritage-rich boutique practice serving superyacht owners, yards, and exterior designers with hull design, naval architecture, and engineering services.
- Tripp Design: US-based independent naval architecture and yacht design firm. Comparable to Laurent Giles as a boutique design house delivering hull design, styling, and engineering services to superyacht builders and owners.
- Hoek Design Naval Architects: Independent Dutch/UK naval architecture firm specialising in sailing yachts and superyachts. Comparable to Laurent Giles in boutique scale, heritage, and client base of owners and shipyards.
Emerging players
- H2 Yacht Design: UK-based superyacht exterior and interior design firm that has partnered with Laurent Giles on multiple projects (Samar, Atlas). Comparable as a fellow design studio serving the same client base, though H2 focuses on styling with Laurent Giles delivering naval architecture.
Broad incumbents
- BMT Nigel Gee: UK-based marine engineering consultancy offering naval architecture, structural design, and vessel engineering services. Comparable as a broader/more institutional engineering services firm in the same marine design space, but with a wider portfolio beyond yachts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Laurent Giles Naval Architects social profiles
Digital presenceLaurent Giles Naval Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Laurent Giles Naval Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Laurent Giles Naval Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Laurent Giles Naval Architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Laurent Giles Naval Architects
What does Laurent Giles Naval Architects do?
Laurent Giles Naval Architects is an independent naval architecture and yacht design firm providing professional services across concept development, hull design, structural design, 3D modelling, tank testing, and regulatory compliance for sailing yachts, motor yachts, superyachts, and research vessels. The firm delivers four core service lines — Naval Architecture, Yacht Design, Consultancy, and Refit Design & Engineering — supporting clients from initial concept through class and flag approval and build support. They serve shipyards, exterior/interior yacht designers, and yacht owners globally using CFD analysis, FEA, in-house scantling software, and physical tank testing at Southampton Solent University.
Is Laurent Giles Naval Architects a public or private company?
Laurent Giles Naval Architects is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Laurent Giles Naval Architects founded?
Laurent Giles Naval Architects was founded in 1927. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Laurent Giles Naval Architects based?
Laurent Giles Naval Architects is headquartered in Lymington, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Laurent Giles Naval Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services - Naval Architecture and Design.
Who are Laurent Giles Naval Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dubois Naval Architects, Sparkman & Stephens, Vripack, RWD (Rupert Wyndham Design), Germàn Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering, Dykstra Naval Architects, Tripp Design and Hoek Design Naval Architects. H2 Yacht Design is listed as an emerging player. BMT Nigel Gee is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Laurent Giles Naval Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Laurent Giles Naval Architects.
What industry is Laurent Giles Naval Architects in?
Laurent Giles Naval Architects's product category is Naval Architecture and Yacht Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAGAB, Hydrodynamics & Performance Engineering (Resistance, Propulsion, Seakeeping, Maneuvering), with a secondary code of IMAJAGAK, Production Design & Detailed Engineering (3D CAD, Drawings, BOM, Nesting). Its NAICS code is 54133 and its SIC code is 8711.