Master shipbuilder Frits de Voogt dies
Frits de Voogt, naval architect and former director of the shipyard De Voogt Naval Architects, has died at the age of 96.
A statement released by Dutch shipyard Feadship confirms that De Voogt died on 20 December 2023 in Haarlem, the Netherlands.
“Frits was the grand master of De Voogt Naval Architects for decades,” reads the statement. “Together with his team, he shaped the dreams of demanding Feadship customers. The designs were unique and are still the basis of today’s Feadship yachts.
“Frits was a mentor of the current leaders of Feadship. We bow deeply to this cheerful, friendly and sometimes strict giant.”
De Voogt initially followed his father into the marine industry. His father, Henri de Voogt, was a famous yacht designer who left his naval architecture studio to his son upon his death in 1958. Frits De Voogt retired in 1995, after a decades-long career.
A statement by Feadship says: “Even after his retirement, he remained involved and interested in yacht building, always astute and always modest.”
Main image: Frits de Voogt. Image courtesy of Feadship.
