Gulf Craft CEO Highlights Southern Africa's Superyacht Growth Potential

The Numbers Behind Southern Africa's Rising Profile

Southern Africa's superyacht industry is experiencing significant growth, with 36 visiting superyachts over 24 metres recorded in 2025, compared to 14 in 2019, according to BOATPro research presented at the Cape Town African Boating Conference. This increase underscores the region's growing appeal to international superyacht owners, with an average yacht size of 60 metres, reflecting a shift toward larger, more luxurious vessels.

The data highlights the potential for Southern Africa to become a key destination for superyacht tourism, offering economic opportunities through increased visitor spending and infrastructure development. Gulf Craft's CEO, Erwin Bamps, emphasized the importance of these figures in shaping the region's maritime strategy, without attributing the study to Gulf Craft itself.

Why Berths, Refit and Services Matter

Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps highlighted the importance of marinas, maintenance, and refit facilities in attracting international superyachts to African destinations. During his speech at the Cape Town African Boating Conference, Bamps stated that these infrastructure elements are essential for enabling longer yacht stays, which in turn support the growth of the marine industry. He emphasized that the availability of reliable services and connected cruising destinations enhances the appeal of African ports for global superyacht owners.

Bamps emphasized that the availability of reliable repair, maintenance, and refit services is critical for yachts visiting African destinations. These services enable vessels to remain in the region for extended periods, reducing the need for frequent international transits. The presence of capable local suppliers ensures that yachts can undergo necessary servicing without disrupting their cruising schedules. This logistical advantage, combined with well-developed marinas and supporting infrastructure, enhances the practicality of long-term visits, making Southern Africa a more attractive option for superyacht owners seeking extended cruising opportunities.

The Dubai and Maldives Comparisons

Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps used Dubai’s development as a model to illustrate how strategic investments in marinas, refit facilities, and connected cruising destinations can elevate a region’s status as an international yachting hub. He emphasized that such infrastructure is vital for Africa’s emerging market to compete globally, drawing parallels to Dubai’s success without specifying the exact facilities or projects in the city. Bamps highlighted the importance of long-term investment and regional connectivity in transforming Africa’s cruising potential into a more established yachting market.

Gulf Craft’s existing operations in the Maldives serve as a case study in aligning shipbuilding with regional marine services and tourism. The company’s presence there illustrates how local manufacturing can be integrated with established cruising destinations to foster industry growth. This model contrasts with Dubai’s scale, where the focus is on global yachting infrastructure rather than regional connectivity. Bamps argued that Africa’s potential lies in creating similar linkages across Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, leveraging existing hubs like the Maldives and Seychelles to build a more cohesive superyacht ecosystem.

Connecting Africa and the Indian Ocean

Gulf Craft's CEO, Erwin Bamps, emphasized the potential for enhanced connectivity across Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure and supporting services to facilitate seamless travel between key destinations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives. The focus is on strategic collaboration to create a more integrated maritime network that aligns with the interests of superyacht owners and operators.

Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps outlined the operator’s vision for enhanced regional cruising by linking Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean through improved infrastructure and supporting services. The proposed destinations include Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives, with a focus on creating seamless connectivity for superyacht owners. Bamps stressed that the success of such initiatives depends on investment in marinas, maintenance facilities, and marine services, which are critical to attracting international yachting activity. The emphasis was on developing the necessary support systems rather than detailing existing routes or visitor numbers, underscoring the need for long-term planning and regional collaboration.

What the Research Means for Superyacht Destinations

BOATPro’s research highlights a notable increase in superyacht visits to Southern Africa, with 36 yachts over 24 metres recorded in 2025 compared to 14 in 2019. While the average size of visiting yachts is 60 metres, this does not confirm that all vessels exceeded this length. Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps emphasized the need for improved marina and refit infrastructure to support the growing presence of large yachts, stressing that regional connectivity and coordinated services are critical to sustaining the area’s emerging superyacht market.

Bamps’s remarks at the conference underscored the strategic importance of long-term planning and infrastructure development to support the growing superyacht traffic. The data from BOATPro suggests that Southern Africa has the potential to become a more established destination for international cruising, provided that local marinas, marine services, and port facilities are adequately prepared to meet the demands of larger, more sophisticated vessels.