Diana Yacht Design celebrates 50 years of crafting yachting legends
Press release
Alkmaar, February 2021
Diana Yacht Design is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a Dutch independent naval architecture and design company. Revealing a new logo to commemorate 50 years in business, 2021 will see the launch of a dedicated anniversary campaign celebrating the very best of Diana Yacht Design over the years.
“We could not have achieved our outstanding success without the dedication of our talented team here at DIANA,” states Hans-Maarten Bais, Creative Director and Managing Partner of Diana Yacht Design. “Our passion for the work comes through in everything that we do. That same passion has been at the heart of DIANA since the very beginning. While the company’s services and operations have expanded over the past 50 years, our underlying principles have remained constant. We are proud to celebrate our 50-year milestone this whole year with our team, clients, and partners and look forward to the next 50 years!”
DIANA: Then and now
One of the world’s leading design and engineering companies, DIANA’s expertise spans all yacht design and engineering disciplines to deliver a unique one-stop design experience to the world’s most discerning clients. Opening its doors in 1971 and weathering the oil crisis of 1973, the stock market crash of 1987 and the 2008 financial crisis, more than 70 superyachts have set sail bearing the DIANA credentials over the past 50 years.
From the 77-metre explorer yacht Legend to the classic 55.9-metre Feadship motor yacht Rio Rita, versatility defines DIANA’s portfolio. Dedication to innovative design has always enabled DIANA to consistently realise even the most challenging of design and engineering requests, but as Bais comments, it is the dedication of the DIANA team which has enabled the company to thrive over the past half a century.
At the helm of the company for the past 15 years is Hans-Maarten Bais, Jerry Lakeman and Bart de Haan. Hans-Maarten Bais continues: “To mark 50 year’s operating in an industry that has undergone so much change is truly remarkable. DIANA’s strength throughout the past 50 years is a testament to the company. When we took over the company 15 years ago, I remember the previous managing director, Coby Dijkman and founder Cees Kolff, said to us: ‘Make us proud. We worked hard to build up this name. Take care of it and make sure the name keeps on existing.’ As we celebrate Diana Yacht Design’s 50th anniversary 15 years following that conversation, I can most definitely say that I am proud of DIANA and what we have achieved.”
A year of celebration
Throughout 2021, DIANA will mark its 50th anniversary with a range of online and in-person events as and when permitted. Across a range of digital platforms, DIANA will bring the company’s story to life, highlighting the people, projects and innovations that have driven the company to where they are today.
“Together with our whole team, we’re looking forward to the opportunity of sharing insights into our fantastic history as well as our exciting present and our future,” says Marketing Manager, Ingeborg Belterman. “We plan to round off a fantastic year with a 50th-anniversary party. While the uncertainty of the pandemic means that we will announce this if and when possible, we all look forward to connecting with our clients, partners and industry peers throughout the year to celebrate this amazing milestone.”
DIANA currently have fifteen different superyacht projects ranging from 27 to 61 metres under construction at nine different shipyards. With a range of new superyacht concepts also set to be unveiled in 2021, the 50th-anniversary campaign will also explore these projects in more detail and look to the present and future of DIANA. Join Diana Yacht Design’s 50th-anniversary celebrations throughout 2021 and stay tuned for more information.
