Yacht design

Naval architects

The engineering behind the lines: hull form, stability, structure, propulsion and class approval.

Naval architecture

What a naval architect does

The designer shapes how a yacht looks and how you live on board. The naval architect makes it work at sea: hull form and hydrodynamics, stability, weights, structure, propulsion and systems, and the drawings and calculations a classification society approves before the shipyard builds.

On a custom yacht the two work side by side from the concept stage, sometimes in the same studio and sometimes as separate firms.

Our partners

Naval architecture firms we work with

Azure Yacht Group works with these naval architecture firms on new builds and design projects.

Southampton, United Kingdom

Lateral Naval Architects

Naval architecture and engineering firm for superyachts, formed in 2018 as a partnership between the British engineering group BMT and the Dutch builder Oceanco. Its work covers naval architecture, structural, mechanical and outfit engineering, from concept and class design to production engineering, yard support and refit.

  • Founded 2018 (BMT and Oceanco)
  • Black Pearl, 106 m sailing yacht
  • Leviathan, 111 m Oceanco, with the yard
  • Aqua, 112 m hydrogen concept with Sinot
Visit lateral.engineering

Sneek, the Netherlands

Vripack

Dutch design studio founded by Dick Boon in 1961, combining naval architecture, exterior and interior design under one roof. Known for its Doggersbank expedition yachts, it has designed commercial vessels, tenders and superyachts.

  • Founded 1961
  • More than 8,000 projects (studio figures)
  • Project 406, 52 m Royal Huisman, naval architecture, exterior and interior
  • Al Waab, award for best naval architecture, displacement motor yachts
Visit vripack.com

The Netherlands

Van Oossanen Naval Architects

Independent engineering company founded in 1992 by Dr Peter van Oossanen, specialising in high-performance naval architecture, hydrodynamics and marine engineering for motor yachts, sailing yachts and commercial vessels.

  • Founded 1992
  • Developed the patented Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF)
  • Hull Vane, an energy-saving underwater appendage
Visit oossanen.nl

Alkmaar, the Netherlands

Diana Yacht Design

Independent naval architecture and yacht design company, opened in Amstelveen in 1971. Its work ranges from 80-foot pocket explorers to custom superyachts over 100 metres, as well as conversions and support vessels.

  • Founded 1971
  • More than 95 superyachts carry the Diana name (studio figures)
  • Conversion of the 77 m explorer Legend
Visit dianayachtdesign.nl

Marblehead, Massachusetts

Zurn Yacht Design

Yacht design and naval architecture studio founded in 1993 by Doug Zurn, a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design. The studio designs power and sailing yachts and offers end-to-end design and engineering, from concept and 3D visualisation to shop drawings, specifications and build management.

  • Founded 1993 by Doug Zurn
  • More than 725 launches (studio figures)
  • Shelter Island 38 Runabout, designed for Billy Joel
  • MJM Yachts series and the Hinckley Picnic Boat 39, Best New Boat Overall at the 2025 Newport International Boat Show
Visit zurnyachts.com

Yacht design

Explore yacht design

The design process

From the first brief to a specification a shipyard can price, including our in-house Azure range.

See the process

Designers

Independent yacht designers and studios, from production boats to custom superyachts.

Meet the designers

Design

Tell us about your project

Share the size, use and timing you have in mind and we will arrange a design consultation.

Send us a message

Tell us what you are looking for and we will reply as soon as possible.

Prefer to talk? Call (754) 444-6729 or email orders@azureyachtgroup.com.