31 March 2026

The Superyacht UK Technical Seminar 2026, returned to the Union Jack Club, London (17 March), bringing together over 90 senior professionals from across the global superyacht sector for a highly successful day of technical insight, collaboration and discussion.

Now in its 15th year, the seminar once again cemented its reputation as one of the most authoritative technical forums in the industry.  Welcoming delegates from across the UK and internationally, including South Africa, Spain, Italy, Monaco and the Netherlands, with attendees representing a broad cross-section of the sector, from leading shipyards and design studios to regulators, classification societies, insurers and specialist suppliers.

A programme tackling the industry’s most pressing challenges

With an agenda that reflected the complexity of the current landscape, sessions spanned regulatory developments, evolving training pathways, emerging risks and advancing technologies, offering delegates a clear and informed view of both the issues facing the industry today and what lies ahead.

Following the welcome address from SYUK Chairman, Ben Greary,  Julian Smith of the Cayman Islands Shipping Register opened the seminar with a comprehensive update on the REG Large Yacht Code, including updates on the Polar yacht guide, lifting appliances subject to class approval, new pilot boarding arrangements, fire safety and Large Yacht comparison and new shell doors and openings requirements.  Andy King of Houlder followed with a detailed session on the new stability requirements for flooded conditions and enhanced resilience of safety critical systems, providing delegates with practical guidance to ensure a safe and compliant yacht design.

Global regulatory developments were addressed by Lorenzo Pollicardo of Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss) and Patrick Hemp of International Council of Marine Industry Association (ICOMIA).  The speakers offered insight into ongoing work at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), with a strong focus on the evolving decarbonisation agenda. Discussions centred around emissions reduction targets, fuel transitions and the implications for superyacht design, operation and lifecycle planning, alongside the importance of a unified industry voice in influencing future regulation.

Collaboration across classification societies was explored in a joint session by Corrado Musso of Lloyd's Register and Matteo Magherini of RINA, highlighting the work of the Yacht Safety and Environment Consortium (YSEC). Delegates gained valuable clarity on load line guidance, code comparison tools and the consortium’s future direction, including its growing role in aligning safety and sustainability standards across the sector.

A highly engaging panel discussion made up of industry experts including Howard Lowe (Mayfair Marine), Tim Woollard (Hill Dickinson), Michelle Van der Merwe (Pantaenius), Mark Feltham (Willis), Frank Vanloo (Oceanco), and Tyrone Harvey (Pendennis Shipyard) examined the complexities surrounding post-build and refit warranty works and contracts. Our industry experts shared their wealth of knowledge with delegates to ensure the smooth management of the refit and warranty period, highlighting common pitfalls, including contractual ambiguities, communication gaps, and risk allocation, while emphasising the importance of proactive management and strong collaboration between owners, shipyards, insurers, and legal teams.

Following a vibrant networking lunch, it was time to explore the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the superyacht industry and issues surrounding intellectual property. Leading the session was Harry Strange of Withers & Rogers, who examined how AI is transforming design, engineering, and operations within the marine sector, while also raising important questions around ownership, patentability, and data protection. As AI adoption accelerates, businesses must carefully navigate the evolving IP landscape to protect innovation and maintain competitive advantage.

With a year marked by highly publicised and costly cyber-attacks on major businesses such as Marks & Spencer, Jaguar Land Rover and Salesloft, Rupert Mills and Dan Turner from Krome Technologies delivered a timely and insightful session looking at the evolving threat landscape, the steps businesses must take to protect their operations and the critical mistakes to avoid.

Rupert opened with a compelling overview of the cyber threat landscape, grounding the discussion in real-world examples from within the marine and Superyacht sector. He illustrated the significant operational, financial, and reputational impacts that can arise when cyber security fails, underlining the importance of having not only robust systems in place but also the right technical expertise to both protect and recover vital company data.

Dan then provided a revealing look at the common vulnerabilities that exist within company systems. He explained how seemingly minor weaknesses can be exploited to gain access, often leading to widespread disruption. Through practical insights and clear examples, he highlighted how attacks unfold and the scale of damage they can cause if left unchecked.

Lars Lippuner from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) also provided an important update on the Cadet Training and Modernisation Programme, outlining new, more flexible pathways for crew to achieve unlimited Certificates of Competency (CoC’s); a significant step forward in supporting career progression and addressing future skills needs.

Lars also updated delegates on other areas that the MCA are currently working on including new codes such as the SPV code and recent guidance published by the MCA on challenges and requirements for survey and inspection of vessels caught in the current middle east conflict (covered by MIN 733).

A keynote that captivated the room

The seminar concluded with a truly standout keynote from maritime archaeologist and explorer Mensun Bound, whose account of discovering Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance transported the audience deep into one of the greatest maritime discoveries of modern times. His powerful storytelling guided delegates through the expedition as if they were there, combined with themes of leadership, resilience and problem-solving, left a lasting impression, with strong engagement continuing as he met delegates and signed copies of his book following the session.

This year’s seminar really demonstrated the strength of collaboration across the superyacht sector. From regulatory updates through to emerging technology and operational challenges, the level of engagement we saw throughout the day highlights just how valuable this forum continues to be for the industry.

Ed Tuite Head of Technical at British Marine

The event also provided ample opportunities for networking, with delegates connecting during lunch and at the afternoon drinks reception, sponsored by Laurent Giles. A number of delegates also took advantage of attending the exclusive SYUK Technical Seminar dinner, providing the perfect opportunity to foster even more in-depth discussions.
 

It was fantastic to welcome such a high-calibre international audience to this year’s event. The quality of discussion, both on stage and throughout the day, shows the importance of bringing the industry together to share knowledge, tackle challenges and look ahead to what’s next.

Michael Beattie SYUK Manager

New for 2026, the seminar also introduced a live voting system, enabling attendees to highlight the topics they would like to explore in greater depth through future, smaller specialist sessions. Further details on these sessions will be announced in due course.

Supporting future talent and shaping what comes next

Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the 2026 Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition, held at the Southampton International Boat Show. Designed to inspire and develop the next generation of superyacht designers, the competition provides a platform for emerging talent to showcase their creativity and technical ability.

What the attendees said of the day:

• “The SYUK Technical Seminar has been a valuable one for Kongsberg Maritime in recent years. Over the past two years we have been able to engage with existing partners discussing upcoming new build projects utilising Kongsberg Maritime solutions for propulsion and control systems. Most importantly we get the chance to meet new contacts in SY design, management and owner representation while enjoying the interesting technical content of the day.” 

Euan Duncan, Regional Sales Director - UK & Ireland, Kongsberg Maritime Limited

• “I found the Superyacht UK Technical Seminar really useful and informative. The event was very well attended, and it was great to hear what was going on around the industry with useful insights from various key stakeholders, as well as interesting topics such as cyber security. The main highlight for me was the networking and to be able to meet so many people. The day was rounded off with an excellent talk on the discovery of the wreck of the Endurance.”

Andy King - CEng FRINA, Director, Stability and Statutory, Houlder

• “We regularly attend this event and always find the insights invaluable for keeping up with the latest technical and regulatory trends. It’s also a great opportunity to network and reconnect with industry experts. The high-level, accessible format makes it easy to absorb and take away real value.”

​​​​​​​Alex Meredith Hardy, Chief Naval Architect, Lateral Engineering

• “Although I am not British, I initially felt slightly outside the group. That feeling disappeared within minutes of my arrival, thanks to the exceptionally warm and welcoming attitude of the UK professionals. It was also a real pleasure to reconnect with several colleagues I had worked with in the past. Meeting such a diverse group of professionals from across the yachting industry was both enjoyable and valuable. The concluding dinner, combined with the excellent weather, was a very pleasant bonus. I genuinely look forward to the next opportunity to meet again.”

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Frank Van Loo, Project Manager Refit, Oceanco

• “I was very pleased to be asked to speak at the Superyacht UK Technical Seminar. I had not attended this event before, but knew it is an interesting forum for technical and regulatory developments facing our industry today.  The panel was well put together, with speakers from the different stakeholders involved in superyacht refits: I really enjoyed being part of it. I also found it a really valuable event overall, meeting new faces who I would not normally come across.  It was a well-structured and managed event, with the topics providing the right mix, covering the main key regulatory changes and highlighting new technical advancements.”

Michelle Van der Merwe, Superyacht Group Manager – Mediterranean, Pantaenius.

​​​​​​​A collaborative effort

Superyacht UK would like to extend its sincere thanks to its event partners, including Networking Partner Laurent Giles and Event Partner Sponsors DEFENDA, Döhle Yachts, English Braids, Kongsberg, Mayfair Marine, Pendennis and Withers & Rogers, whose support helped make the event possible.

With strong engagement, high-quality discussion and overwhelmingly positive feedback from both speakers and delegates, the Superyacht UK Technical Seminar continues to play a vital role in supporting the sector.

Learn more about Superyacht UK by visiting www.superyachtuk.com