Lürssen, the German shipyard still family-owned and operated, celebrates its 150th birthday this year. Founded in the summer of 1875, it has gradually established itself as a leader in yacht construction, built upon the fundamental principles of quality, innovation, and engineering excellence.

From the first motorboat to today

The story begins with Friedrich Lürssen, who at just 24 years old distinguished himself with the quality of his rowing boat construction at his small shipyard in Bremen-Aumund.

Motorboat Lürssen Daimler (1911)

He later collaborated with Gottlieb Daimler (who patented the gasoline engine for a “horseless carriage”) on the creation of the first motorboat. This passion and commitment have been passed down through the years to Peter Lürssen, the current guardian of the family legacy, who is proud of the shipyard’s evolution and the dedication and expertise of both his family and the people who have contributed to this achievement.

“It is with great pride” emphasizes Peter Lürssen, ceo of Lürssen, “that I reflect on how the shipyard has transformed into the company it is today. This journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but also its joys. There have been storms and successes. However, all these stories don’t just belong to the Lürssen brand; they belong to its people. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all our employees, past and present, without whom we wouldn’t be here celebrating 150 years“.

A century and a half rue to Friedrich Lürssen

Right from the start, the shipyard channeled its efforts into research, introducing technical innovations that later became industry standards for the nautical sector. These include the first hybrid propulsion system on a yacht (Limitless, 1997), underwater exhaust systems, pod drives (seen on Air/Ice in 2005), and wastewater treatment processes.

Cosmos

Right up to today, as the demands for sustainability become increasingly pressing, Lürssen continues to innovate. In 2020, Lürssen launched Tesumo, a sustainable alternative to teak for on-board decking. The shipyard is also preparing to deliver Cosmos, a 114-meter superyacht equipped with a methanol-powered fuel cell system.

Peter Lürssen’s long-term goal, after having already delivered 70 custom yachts and built 35 of the top 100 hulls in the world (including Azzam, the longest; Dilbar, the largest by volume; and Octopus, the first explorer superyacht), is to build the first yacht with a completely combustion-free propulsion system, marking a new milestone in the era of zero emissions. Meanwhile, their commitment extends to supporting the Blue Marine Foundation and the recent creation of the Lürssen Foundation, which promotes the training of engineers and invests in innovative startups.

Lürssen staff (1930)

Today, with around 2,000 employees, three production facilities in Germany, an engineering and research center in Croatia, and a sales office in the United States, Lürssen remains true to its founder’s declaration: “My firm shall be known as a leader in both quality and performance“.