The Superyacht Design and Naval Architecture Association (SYDNA) has been formally established as the superyacht sector's first dedicated body representing naval architects and exterior and interior designers, launched at the 2026 Blue Design Summit in La Spezia, Italy, on 19 May.

BOAT International reported that Norwegian designer Espen Øino was named as SYDNA's president at the launch, with Clair Rozemeijer serving as executive director and Luca Boldrini, managing partner of FM Architettura, appointed as vice president.

The 12 founding studios are Azure Yacht Design and Naval Architecture, Bannenberg and Rowell Design, Espen Øino International, FM Architettura, Hoek Design, Mulder Design, Nauta, Nuvolari Lenard, Philippe Briand Ltd, Van Oossanen Naval Architects, Winch Design, and Zuccon International Project. To qualify for full membership, studios must have been in operation for at least 10 years and have delivered at least five projects over 30 metres in the past decade.

Øino said the launch was driven by the absence of coordinated industry representation, noting that where shipyards have long had the Superyacht Builders Association to advocate on their behalf, designers and naval architects have operated without an equivalent body, leaving them without a collective voice when new rules and regulations are being drawn up.

Øino said: "SYBAss has successfully got the industry's voice heard before new rules and regulations become a fait accompli. SYDNA allows us to have representation for elements specific to what we do as designers, whether that's rules and regulations, how we deal with contracts, or other issues on which we will benefit from open discussion."

Access the full story on SYDNA's launch and what it means for designers and naval architects across the global superyacht sector.