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Lürssen Yachts celebrates 150 years of yachting innovation
By Shivani Dubey | 15 September 2025 | Cars & Yachts
Lürssen Yachts, which was founded in 1875, celebrated its 150-year anniversary this summer, paving the way for over a century of yachting innovation
When Friedrich Lürssen founded Lürssen at just 24 years of age in 1875, he quickly cemented his reputation for building exquisitely tuned rowboats. Now, 150 years later, the family-run business, grown from modest beginnings through just four generations into a premier shipbuilder, is delivering its next step towards a visionary future of yachting.
“It is with great pride that I reflect on how Lürssen has evolved into the company it is today,” says Peter Lürssen. “However, this journey has not been without its challenges. We have had one hundred and fifty years marked by trials, challenges and jubilations. There have been storms and successes. However, these success stories do not belong solely to Lürssen as a company. They belong to their people.”
Coinciding with its milestone year, Lürssen is preparing to deliver its next step towards an ultimately carbon-neutral future for yachting: the 114-metre Cosmos, for which the yacht company is working on a research installation of a methanol-powered fuel cell.
The aim here is to utilise methanol to produce hydrogen, which will then be converted into electricity – a complex and technically challenging process. This groundbreaking technology is intended to allow the yacht to stay up to 15 days at anchor and to cruise for 1,000 miles at slow speeds.
Continuing the 150th anniversary celebrations, Lürssen will also release a limited edition fine art book that presents the brand’s yacht fleet as never seen before: synchronised swimmers aboard Flying Fox, Pelorus navigating a freak storm off Cyprus, and sweeping aerial views of yachts gliding through some of the world’s most secluded waters.
To capture these images, renowned photographer Jarmo Pohjaniemi embarked on a 10-month, globe-spanning journey, documenting 36 Lürssen yachts for the project. The Lürssen Fine Art Book will be available to purchase via ACC Art Books from 14 October.
Speaking about the remarkable milestone, Peter said: “This year is special. Celebrating 150 years gives us pause to reflect on our journey and the people who have made it possible. We continue to grow, to innovate, and to lead through quality and performance. This commitment will never falter.”
As it looks to the future, the company has pledged to continue its support for the Blue Marine Foundation, through which the company has supported 30 global projects, securing commitments to protect over 4.4 million square kilometres of ocean.
Meanwhile, through its newly founded Lürssen Foundation, it will support the training and development of select engineering scholars who demonstrate exceptional talent and invest in startups and organisations making a positive impact on the industry and wider communities.
A leader in both quality and performance, this is one shipbuilding company that has vowed to continue to be defined by the same principles it laid forth in 1875: uncompromising quality, innovative performance, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.