Turkey’s RMK Marine starts construction of new shipyard
The site will house production workshops, enclosed hangars and office space
Turkish boatbuilder RMK Marine has begun construction of a new yacht-building shipyard in Yalova, near Istanbul. The waterfront site spans 70,000 square metres and will operate as a standalone facility for RMK Yachts.
Under this structure, RMK Marine’s existing Tuzla facilities will shift focus to commercial and military vessels, while yacht construction will move to Yalova. Relocation to the RMK Yachts Yalova shipyard is due to start in the final quarter of 2026, with full operational capacity planned for 2027.
“The true value of a shipyard is not defined by its machinery, but by the intellect, craftsmanship and creativity it produces,” says Cüneyt Okcu, director of RMK Yachts. “The new spirit of RMK Yachts is rooted precisely in this perspective.”
The site will house production workshops, enclosed hangars and office space. Staff facilities such as gyms, cafés, training rooms and rest areas are also included in the plans, as well as guest suites and hospitality spaces for owners and partners.
New facilities and technical specifications
Construction is being undertaken by Ark İnşaat, a Koç Holding company. A yachting museum is scheduled to be developed in collaboration with the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, a transport and industry museum in Istanbul. Rahmi M. Koç is the honorary chairman of Koç Holding.
Docking and marina services covering around 5,000 square metres will be delivered in partnership with Setur Marina. The facility will include three 30 x 120-metre hangars for new-build projects. A further 40 x 80-metre hangar and a 35 x 55-metre hangar will be used for refit work.
In addition, there will be a 10,000-square-metre open refit area and a total quay length of 700 metres. Launch and haul-out operations are to be handled by two travel lifts with lifting capacities of 720 tonnes and 320 tonnes, respectively. A floating dock will support vessels of up to 150 metres in length.
RMK Marine CEO Utku Alanç says: “With this new investment project, our facilities in Tuzla, Istanbul, will focus entirely on commercial and military projects. In this way, we will significantly increase both our yacht and shipbuilding capacities through separate, specialised facilities.
“With these two dedicated facilities, our goal is not only to expand capacity but also to establish deeply rooted and highly specialised production cultures in each field.”
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