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Inside Ada Yacht Works with Luca Dini: Beyond the Shipyard Tour
During the Bodrum Boat Show, renowned Italian yacht designer Luca Dini welcomed an international group of yachting journalists to Bodrum.
The programme included an exclusive visit to Ada Yacht Works, where Luca Dini Design & Architecture is collaborating on several ambitious new builds.
I was pleased to join the shipyard tour and see the construction work firsthand. Below is a quick snapshot of the team at work on a 50-metre superyacht.
As we walked through a 50-metre superyacht under construction, I found myself thinking about one of the upcoming sessions at the Superyacht Summit Türkiye, where Luca Dini will be among the speakers: “Designing for the Second Owner: Is the Industry Building Interiors That Last Beyond Delivery?”
Standing inside the yacht’s steel structure, I finally had the opportunity to ask Luca a question that had been on my mind. I must admit, a little voice in my head was wondering whether he might find it an odd question.
It was about cable routing maps. Industry contacts had told me how missing or unclear electrical schematics can turn refit projects into costly and complicated exercises. I wanted to know how cable pathways are considered during the yacht design process.
Luca explained that designers receive technical space plans for cable runs, while the detailed electrical routing is handled by the engineering and shipyard teams. Then he paused and asked, with genuine curiosity: “Why do you ask?”
I shared what I had heard about refit projects where poor cable documentation had created serious technical and financial problems. What stayed with me was his genuine interest in the issue. Rather than simply answering the question, he wanted to understand the real-world problem behind it.
It was also a valuable opportunity to hear the story of Turkish shipyard Ada Yacht Works firsthand. CEO Onur Tekin explained how the company has evolved over the years. In 2010, the shipyard shifted from traditional wooden boats to steel and aluminium yacht construction, responding to high maintenance costs and changing market demands.
Since then, Ada Yacht Works has built a strong reputation in custom yacht construction. Its journey into steel yachts began with the acclaimed sailing yacht Zenith, followed by All About U, All About U 2, a 24-metre trawler, and the flagship Legasea series.
I look forward to hearing Luca Dini share his broader vision at the Superyacht Summit Türkiye, taking place on November 4–5 at The Peninsula Istanbul.
