Vasilis Dragnis
Product Manager at Golden Yachts
Vasilis Dragnis
Product Manager at Golden Yachts
With more than 25 years’ experience in the yachting market, our shipyard has built a strong reputation for quality and reliability. Today, Golden Yachts is the sole Greek shipyard that has the infrastructure and know-how to undertake the construction and refit of megayachts.
Our deep expertise and knowledge of the market has made us a trusted specialist in the yachting industry. Clients continue to choose us because of our experience, our enthusiastic team of specialists, and our advanced infrastructure.
These qualities are encompassed in our flagship yachts O’Pari, O’Ptasia and the soon-to-be-delivered Project X. We are always looking at how we can improve our service to clients. We have just completed the construction of a new shipyard. This includes integrated state-of-the-art technology such as underground gas welding pipes, and incorporates a special infrastructure for newbuilding projects.
This new shipyard will be dedicated to the construction of megayachts and major refit projects.
At the moment, we are currently working on the construction of the 77-metre newbuilding Andromeda, while we will shortly hand over the aforementioned Project X, an 88-metre superyacht.
Being based in Greece brings a special set of advantages. In 2021, Greece was ranked the most popular destination in the world for large chartered yachts, securing a sizeable 24% of the market.
We attribute this to the country’s natural coastal resources, authentic local attractions, and a well-developed tourist market for sailing and yachting.
Greece is also a country with a long history in shipping, and there is a wealth of experienced shipbuilders, electricians, engineers and specialized welders in the country.
As a result, when it comes to yacht refitting and maintenance, Greek yards can frequently offer a lower price than other yards in the Mediterranean without sacrificing quality. This ability to add value means Greek shipyards have now acquired a significant share of the Mediterranean market.
For instance, to ensure the highest quality of service, Golden Yachts holds a ship repairers’ liability (SRL) insurance with first class insurers which offers high limits of indemnity, providing extra reassurance to our clients.
With so many international yacht owners berthing in Greek marinas, especially during the summer months, this provides a natural business for local shipyards. This has strengthened the country’s refitting and repair and maintenance market.
We expect Greece to continue to build on these advantages to acquire a dominant position in the tourist yacht industry going forward.
We also see an interesting trend for the younger generation to get involved in yachting - we can even say they are transforming the yachting landscape!
As mentioned, Greece is a maritime nation by tradition and the younger generation has a natural interest in our market. I see more and more young people wanting to join in our industry. Meanwhile, the industry is generating plenty of new job opportunities.
The yachting industry, like most, was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak.
But although travel restrictions and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 rendered yacht operations more complex, all our yachts remained fully crewed and operational.
Our main focus is always on the safety of our clients and employees, and we took special measures to protect them in spite of the costs and delays incurred.
We also note that the past five to ten years has been significant for the development of new sustainable technologies and innovation.
We believe that it is imperative for the entire industry to implement sustainable solutions.
Golden Yachts has strived to do its part by integrating technologies on board that limit yachts’ emissions and overall environmental footprint.
We have installed recycling (hightech wastewater treatment) systems on our yachts in order to safely dispose of waste water at sea in the most environmentally friendly way. We have also developed an integrated DPF system which cuts waste gas emissions and harmful pollutants.
These technological changes go hand-in-hand with the highest safety standards.
To ensure the latter, builders require outside verification. In my opinion, RINA provides the highest standards for security in the yachting world with benchmarks above and beyond the standard industry guidelines.
A RINA classified yacht ensures that the highest safety standards are met in terms of seaworthiness and design.
We greatly value our business partnerships, and knowing that RINA, a business leader, is behind us provides an extra layer of expertise and reassurance. We intend to maintain this rewarding relationship over the long term.
BIOGRAPHY
Vasilis Dragnis is the Product Manager of Golden Yachts and Commercial Director of Oceangold Tankers Inc. His passion for Luxury Yacht Interior Design and decoration helped him grow Golden Yachts’ business, ensuring quality in response to the increasing demands in the luxury yacht industry. Vasilis has closely overseen the construction of 12 megayachts and his role combines both product planning and marketing. From 2020 to 2022, Vasilis played a key role in the acquisition and construction of the newly established Golden Yachts shipyard in Greece.
As a passionate art enthusiast, Vasilis has also created an important Art Collection of original artworks by contemporary artists from all around the world, some of which have been specially commissioned to add to the unique design and philosophy of Golden Yachts’ fleet.Vasilis earned an MBA in Shipping Management from Alba Business Graduate School and a Bachelor of Arts from Athens School of Fine Arts.
