Selene Yachts Europe

What Selene Yachts Europe does

Selene Yachts, founded in 1998 by Howard Chen and operated through Jet-Tern Marine, is a privately held Chinese luxury yacht builder headquartered at a shipyard in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The company designs and constructs semi-custom, handcrafted motor yachts spanning 38 to 128 feet, organized across five product lines: Selene Voyager (coastal trawlers), Selene Classic Explorer (long-range trawlers), Selene Ocean Explorer (bluewater expedition yachts), Selene Ocean Expedition (128ft+ superyachts), and Artemis (high-performance yachts). Core technology centers on full-displacement GRP hulls with a proprietary bulbous bow designed for fuel-efficient ocean passage-making at 8-10 knots, paired with raised pilothouse and Portuguese bridge layouts that support owner-operator usage. Top models such as the Selene 92 Ocean Explorer deliver up to 3,500 NM range, and the company has cumulatively delivered more than 450 yachts since inception.

The business model is built-to-order hardware sales, with each vessel customized to owner specifications on interior layouts, joinery, and equipment; revenue is recognized on delivery. Sales are executed through a global authorized dealer network spanning North America, Europe (France, Cyprus/Greece), Australia, and Southeast Asia (Singapore), complemented by direct sales from the Zhuhai shipyard. The company also operates a brokerage service for pre-owned Selene yachts and supports an active owner community through biennial Rendezvous events in the US and a YouTube content presence. A new 38,000 square meter shipyard with 40 berths opened in November 2025, effectively doubling production capacity. Customers are predominantly affluent owner-operators — often retired or semi-retired couples — seeking long-range, semi-custom passagemaking vessels, with documented repeat purchasers evidencing high brand loyalty.

Name

Selene Yachts Europe

Legal name

Selene Yachts

Website

https://seleneoceanyachts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Motor Yacht Manufacturing

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Motor Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAE), Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Luxury yacht manufacturing
• Bluewater motor yachts
• Semi-custom trawler yachts
• Ocean expedition yachts
• FRP yacht construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Zhuhai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. New Yacht Sales: Selene Yachts generates revenue primarily from the sale of new semi-custom luxury motor yachts ranging from 38 to 128 feet. Each vessel is built to order with customization options for interior layouts, finishes, and equipment. Revenue is recognized upon yacht delivery.
2. Brokerage / Pre-Owned Yacht Sales: The company operates a brokerage service for pre-owned Selene yachts, facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers of existing Selene vessels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Selene Yachts Europe designs and semi-custom manufactures luxury trawler and ocean expedition motor yachts ranging from 38 to 128 feet, built in fiberglass (FRP) at the Jet-Tern Marine shipyard in Zhuhai, China. The product range is organized into the Voyager, Classic Explorer, Ocean Explorer, Ocean Expedition, and Artemis lines, all featuring the proprietary full-displacement hull with bulbous bow designed for long-range bluewater cruising up to 3,500 nautical miles. The company also operates a brokerage service for pre-owned Selene yachts and sells globally through a network of authorized dealers and direct shipyard sales.

Product overview

Selene Yachts Europe offers a comprehensive portfolio of luxury trawler and motor yachts built by Jet-Tern Marine in Zhuhai, China. The product lineup spans from compact pocket yachts (38 feet) to super expedition vessels (128 feet), organized across distinct product lines: Selene Voyager (coastal trawlers 38-50'), Selene Classic Explorer (long-range trawlers 45-72'), Selene Ocean Explorer (expedition yachts 60-98'), Selene Ocean Expedition (super yachts 128'+), and Artemis (high-performance yachts 39-56'). Each yacht features full-displacement or semi-displacement hulls, premium handcrafted interiors, and capabilities for ocean passages up to 3,500 nautical miles. The company has delivered over 450 yachts since 1998 and operates a new 38,000 square meter shipyard facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Selene Voyager: Line of Voyager yachts for coastal and family cruising
• Selene Classic Explorer
• Selene Ocean Explorer
• Selene Ocean Expedition
• Artemis
• Selene Ocean Clipper

Products and services

• Selene Classic Explorer

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 3,500 nautical miles range at 10 knots cruising speed
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Southern China Super-yachts Alliance (SCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2017, Jet Tern Marine (Selene Yachts) and Kingship Marine (largest aluminum custom super-yachts builder in Southern China) formed a strategic consortium called SCSA to enhance mutual building capacity. Kingship Marine handles aluminum superyacht construction while Jet Tern Marine continues FRP production, allowing the alliance to serve a broader market.
• GLI Marine (Australia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGLI Marine is Selene Yachts Australia's representative, managing sales, commissioning, and show presence at events like Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
• Selene Mediterranean (Louis Charles)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSelene Mediterranean dealer based in France, engaging with visitors from France, Norway, Slovenia, New Zealand, and Germany at Cannes Yacht Festival.
• Selene Cyprus Dealer (Dimitris)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSelene dealer in Cyprus with clients in Greece. A Selene 49 demonstration boat was being delivered to Greece for use as a brand demonstration vessel.
• Selene Yachts USA (Dealer Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSelene Yachts USA dealers on both East Coast and West Coast provide sales, commissioning, and sea trial support for North American clients. West Coast dealer based in Seattle/Pacific Northwest.
• Guido de Groot Design (Netherlands)strategicTechnology or IntegrationDutch designer Guido de Groot collaborated with Howard Chen on the Selene 92 Ocean Explorer and Selene 72 Ocean Explorer, providing contemporary exterior and interior styling. De Groot imbued distinctive modern design elements including enlarged windows, walnut and mahogany interiors, and light leather accents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ocean Alexander: Ocean Alexander is a Taiwan-built luxury motor yacht builder in the 50-120 ft range with a global dealer network. It overlaps directly with Selene's mid-to-large semi-custom trawler and Ocean Explorer models for affluent owner-operator buyers.
• Hatteras Yachts: Hatteras is a long-established US builder of convertible sportfishing and motor yachts in the 40-90 ft range. It is the most direct North American competitor to Selene in semi-custom luxury motor yachts, with similar trawler-style hulls and owner-operator layouts.
• Krogen Yachts: Krogen builds full-displacement ocean-going trawlers (44-66 ft) in the US, competing head-to-head with Selene's Classic Explorer line. Similar buyer profile of experienced cruisers seeking long-range, owner-operated vessels.
• Vicem Yachts: Vicem builds semi-custom luxury motor yachts in the 46-120 ft range from Turkey, offering handcrafted construction with classic styling. It competes with Selene in the mid-to-large semi-custom motor yacht segment for buyers valuing craftsmanship and customization.
• Grand Banks Yachts: Grand Banks builds semi-custom luxury motor yachts and trawlers in the 40-80 ft range from its Asia-Pacific operations (Malaysia/Indonesia). Its displacement-hull, long-range trawler positioning and dealer-driven sales model closely mirror Selene's go-to-market approach.
• Marlow Yachts: Marlow Yachts builds semi-custom long-range trawlers and motor yachts in the 43-80 ft range, often described as direct competition in the long-range cruising segment. Comparable build quality, semi-customization, and owner-operator positioning.
• Fleming Yachts: Fleming builds semi-custom 55-78 ft long-range cruising motoryachts from Taiwan, with the same raised-pilothouse, owner-operator focus as Selene. Comparable premium pricing, build quality, and direct-competition in the 55-78 ft trawler category.
• Nordhavn (Pacific Asian Enterprises): Nordhavn designs and builds long-range bluewater motor yachts from 40-120 ft, targeting the same full-displacement, transoceanic passagemaking customer segment as Selene. Its owner-operator philosophy and expedition product lineup make it the closest functional peer in the bluewater trawler niche.
• Cheoy Lee Yachts: Cheoy Lee is a Hong Kong/Asia-based yacht builder producing motoryachts, trawlers, and expedition yachts across a wide size range. It competes with Selene in the global dealer-driven semi-custom luxury motor yacht segment with similar Asia-built cost structure.

Broad incumbents

• Heesen Yachts: Heesen is a Dutch builder of large aluminum superyachts (50-80m) with full-displacement hulls designed for long-range cruising. It is a broader incumbent in the expedition/long-range superyacht category where Selene's Ocean Expedition and Ocean Explorer lines also compete, but at a much higher price point and build scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6uy3gyMMG6YFXFz2YKEw6w
• Facebookfacebook.com/seleneyachtsofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selene-yachts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Selene Yachts Europe