Sources: Boote Magazin 26 January 2023, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 12 September 2020
What yachtsman can claim to be the owner of his own shipyard? Hans Georg Näder, 61, from Duderstadt, is one of the few who have this privilege. The chairman of the board and owner of Ottobock has owned the majority shares in Baltic Yachts for several years. Now, however, some circumstances are changing in the company’s portfolio, and also in Professor Näder’s portfolio. The shipyard is to get a new production site. And Hans Georg Näder has also set his sights on something better. For this, however, an old love has to give way.
Baltic Yachts
Baltic Yachts was founded in 1973 in Jakobstad, Finland. The company specializes in building high-quality yachts and is now considered one of the leading manufacturers of luxury yachts in Europe. The company’s main location is in Jakobstad, but Baltic Yachts also has offices in Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Over the years, Baltic Yachts has produced a number of well-known and successful yachts that are used in the regatta scene and cruising around the world. Some well-known models include the Baltic 142, the Baltic 52 and the Baltic 47.
In terms of sales, Baltic Yachts is a successful company, but its financial figures are not publicly known. However, it is believed that the company holds a significant share of the world market for high-quality yachts and generates a satisfactory turnover every year.
New production site
Until now, all yachts manufactured in Bosund had to undergo an unpleasant procedure in terms of the delivery route: Over 21 kilometers had to be covered by heavy goods transport through the Finnish coniferous forest. For motorists who found themselves behind the special-format truck, this was usually an extremely time-consuming affair that put both nerves and patience to the test. It took over two and a half hours for the 167-ton, 55-meter-long carbon sloop “Path” to reach the shipyard’s own quay for rescue. This is not only associated with an enormously high expenditure of time, but also with a lot of money. In order to be able to save this in the future, a new production site was planned. New standards were also to be set in terms of sustainability.
The new building was to be located directly behind the old production site. A structural connection is to enable the staff to transport material and documents back and forth between the locations without any problems. However, the new building is much larger and more energy efficient. At approximately 100 meters by 35 meters, the building is more than twice the size of the existing building in the north of Jakobstad. The old building will be primarily used as a storage area for materials.
The enormous dimensions of the roof offer quite a bit of space to install solar panels there. In total, the site is to cover 7700 square meters. The panels installed there will provide renewable energy, which will supply the company with electricity. In addition, the roof will be built from recyclable materials. The bitumen roof has the advantage of requiring around 25 percent less energy for heating than conventional covers. In terms of sustainability and climate protection, this would be a small but not insignificant step.
A firm completion date has not yet been set. However, several sources indicate that the more than 200 employees are expected to be working at the new site by around the end of 2023 / beginning of 2024. The current construction progress suggests that this time window can be met.
The new achievement: Pink Gin Verde
Baltic Yachts is also focusing on sustainability and climate protection in its products. The “Pink Gin Verde” sets new standards. The owner is none other than the owner of the German company Ottobock: Hans Georg Näder.
At just 22 meters, this yacht is a lot smaller than his previous possessions. However, in terms of technical details and appearance, the “Pink Gin Verde” is in no way inferior to the other “Pink Gins”. Elegant lines and a negative stern meet exactly the current style of the time. On the occasion of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in the fall of 2022, the luxury yacht was presented to the public. The focus on environmentally friendly technology is in the ship’s propulsion: the Baltic 68 Pink Gin Verde is fully electrified. This results in a C02 footprint of zero.
The old love: Pink Gin VI
Now it’s official. The rumors that one of Hans Georg Näder’s yachts is for sale have come true. The “Pink Gin VI” is currently for sale for 29.5 million euros. A proud price, but those who have the necessary money to purchase this gem will get a great deal.
The Pink Gin VI is one of the most prestigious and best sailing yachts to be launched in recent years. She is the largest carbon composite sailing yacht in the world and boasts some of the most innovative features of any yacht. She is the highest quality and most impressive carbon composite sailing yacht in the world. She is among the best the company has to offer in its portfolio to date.
This magnificent design was created by Judel Vrolijk at Baltic Yachts in Finland and is the second largest yacht the shipyard has built in its 46-year history. She is a perfect example of innovation on a large scale, using deep knowledge of composite construction. This was followed by a complex construction program of precision engineering. It is designed for serious world travel that could stretch over several months. Näder spent almost the entire summer on his ship, which he used not only for living and working, but also as a place for numerous parties with family, friends and business partners. The interior features a mix of oak parquet flooring and gilded furnishings. One of the highlights is the retractable sun deck in the bedroom - even in yachts of this price range, something like this is not often found.
Room for something new?
The question of why Hans Georg Näder is parting with his Pink Gin VI remains open. Does he simply want to make room for something new? Does he want to make others happy by leaving this boat to the buyer? Or does the Ottobock owner simply lack the capital to finance a new Pink Gin? Most recently, Näder repeatedly reached into the company coffers to finance his hobbies.