What Tansu Yachts does

Tansu Yachts is a privately held, founder-owned custom motoryacht design studio and builder operating under the legal entity Ceiling Zero Design LLC in the United States. Founded by designer Rıza Tansu, who began design research in 1996 and incorporated the practice in 2003, the firm designs and delivers bespoke motoryachts in the 21m to 40m range, anchored by three known platforms: the experimental CV70 (21m, launched 2005), the flagship NOMADE (now Preference19, 36.4m, launched 2011), and the broader TIGER SHARK class (35-40m). The technical foundation is a proprietary design philosophy the firm calls "Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication," which emphasizes low main-deck height for proximity to the sea, large exterior deck areas, aft-deck tender storage that converts to a beach area when anchored, and functional simplicity over garish interior appointments. The studio conducted roughly seven years of R&D (1996-2003) before delivering its first build and operates as a total-build designer, controlling design, engineering, and construction oversight to preserve design integrity.

The business model is project-based custom commission work: each vessel is individually designed and built to a single client's specifications with no standardized pricing, generating revenue as one-time design-and-build fees. The go-to-market is direct enterprise-style sales to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with no intermediaries, resellers, or marketing channels of note; pipeline development relies on industry reputation, seven major industry awards earned between 2012 and 2018 (Showboats Design Awards, World Superyacht Awards, Robb Report Best of the Best, German Design Award, Boat International Design & Innovation Awards), and presence at the Monaco Yacht Show. The company has no disclosed investors, no funding rounds, no parent company, no patents, and no AI/software/technology platform outside the design studio itself. Geographically, the only explicitly served market identified is Monaco (MCO), through yacht show presence, although the custom-build model is inherently global in client base.

Name

Tansu Yachts

Legal name

Ceiling Zero Design LLC

Website

https://rizatansu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tansu Yachts (Ceiling Zero Design LLC) is a founder-owned custom motoryacht design studio that designs and builds bespoke 21m–40m yachts for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, anchored by the CV70, NOMADE/Preference19, and TIGER SHARK class platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Superyacht Manufacturing

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366), Boat Building (336612), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Motor Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Custom Superyacht & Megayacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAB), Motor Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAB)

Keywords

• Custom superyacht design
• Luxury motoryacht building
• Bespoke yacht construction
• Yacht design studio
• Premium yacht builder

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Superyacht Design and Build: Bespoke superyacht design and construction services for individual clients. Revenue generated from full custom yacht builds including design, engineering, and construction oversight. Each project is unique with no standard pricing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Tansu Yachts designs and builds fully custom motoryachts in the 21m–40m range for individual clients, applying a "proximity to the sea" and beach-house design philosophy. Each vessel is a one-off commission covering design, engineering, and construction oversight, with no standardized models or public pricing.

Product overview

Tansu Yachts (Rıza Tansu) is a custom motoryacht design studio and builder. The company offers a portfolio of motoryachts including the experimental 21m CV70 (2005), the flagship 36.4m NOMADE/Preference19 (2011), and the broader TIGER SHARK class of boats (35-40m). All vessels are designed and built by the company to embody principles of proximity to the sea, functional simplicity, and casual elegance achieved through engineering the perfect balance of luxury, practicality, and comfort.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TIGER SHARK: Class of yachts characterized by large outdoor areas, beach house feel, and proximity to sea design principles.
• CV70
• NOMADE

Products and services

• TIGER SHARK Class (custom motoryachts, 35–40m) A bespoke 35–40m motoryacht class designed and built by Tansu Yachts for individual ultra-high-net-worth buyers. Each vessel is fully custom, emphasizing low main-deck height, large functional exterior deck areas, aft-deck tender storage that converts into a beach at anchor, and a beach-house interior feel rather than an apartment-like layout.
• NOMADE (now Preference19) A 36.4m custom motoryacht launched in 2011, the founding vessel of the TIGER SHARK class, designed and built by Tansu Yachts for an individual owner. Embodies the studio's "proximity to the sea" and beach-house design principles, with large exterior decks and sea-level aft-deck functionality.
• CV70 A 21m experimental motoryacht launched in 2005, the first vessel produced by Tansu Yachts. Established the studio's core design principles—large exterior deck areas, aft-deck tender storage close to the sea that doubles as a beach at anchor, and a general sense of closeness to the sea—later carried over into the larger TIGER SHARK class.

Quantifiable outcome

• NOMADE showcased at 2011 Monaco Yacht Show was recognized by press and industry as 'Revolution and beginning of a new era in yacht design'

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Lürssen: German shipyard building fully custom superyachts and megayachts typically 60m+. Comparable in the bespoke superyacht category but at a substantially larger scale with deeper engineering and build capability.
• Benetti: Italian luxury yacht builder (part of Azimut-Benetti Group) producing a wide range of custom and semi-custom motoryachts from 30m to over 100m. Comparable in product category but operates at significantly greater scale and with broader portfolio than Tansu.
• Feadship: Dutch builder of fully custom luxury motoryachts, typically 40m+. Comparable to Tansu in design-led custom build approach and UHNW client focus, but operating at greater scale with established series of recognized custom projects.
• Sunseeker: UK-based volume manufacturer of luxury motor yachts from 15m to 50m. Comparable product category (luxury motor yachts) but operates a series-production model with dealer distribution rather than bespoke commissions.

Direct peers

• ISA Yachts: Italian builder of custom and semi-custom luxury motor yachts in the 30-70m range. Comparable to Tansu in design-led approach to motoryacht construction and direct engagement with private clients.
• CRN (Ferretti Group): Italian custom superyacht builder (part of Ferretti Group) producing fully bespoke motor yachts up to 90m. Comparable in the bespoke superyacht segment and UHNW client base served.
• Turquoise Yachts: Turkish-based custom superyacht builder delivering fully bespoke motoryachts in the 35-50m+ range. Comparable to Tansu in scale of custom projects, semi-custom platform approach, and direct engagement with UHNW clients.
• Heesen Yachts: Dutch builder of fully custom and semi-custom aluminum motoryachts typically in the 35-70m range. Comparable to Tansu in luxury motor yacht design focus, bespoke client engagements, and emphasis on innovative design language.
• Baglietto: Italian shipyard with a long heritage in custom-built motoryachts and explorer vessels in the 30-50m+ range. Comparable in custom design philosophy, Italian/Turkish regional shipbuilding tradition, and luxury UHNW client focus.

Emerging players

• Palmer Johnson: US-based builder of luxury performance motor yachts with a heritage in aluminum custom builds. Comparable in luxury custom motoryacht positioning and US-based operations, though with a more series-oriented product strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rizatansu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tansu-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 Tansu Yachts