Jade Yachts
Jade Yachts is a Taiwanese yacht-building brand specializing in steel and aluminum motor yachts, yacht conversions, and large custom vessels.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Jade Yachts is a Taiwanese yacht manufacturer based in Kaohsiung and operating as a subsidiary of Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company. Established in 2004, the brand was created to focus on the construction and conversion of steel and aluminum yachts, complementing Jong Shyn's broader shipbuilding capabilities. Its position within a shipbuilding group gives it an industrial rather than purely luxury-retail identity: the company is associated with substantial hull construction, engineering, refit work, and custom yacht projects rather than a narrowly standardized series of production boats. A significant early milestone came in 2006, when Jade Yachts delivered Bandido, a 26.46-metre steel-hulled motor yacht. The vessel is described as the first steel-hulled motor yacht built in Taiwan, marking an important development for Taiwan's yacht-manufacturing sector and demonstrating Jade's ability to apply commercial and industrial shipbuilding expertise to the leisure-yacht market. Steel construction is particularly relevant to large expedition and long-range yachts because it can support robust hulls, extensive onboard systems, and substantial cruising capability. The company has also undertaken major yacht conversion and refit projects. Beginning in 2006, Jade Yachts carried out a two-year conversion of the 70-metre vessel Amadeus, originally built in Germany in 1969 as a research vessel. The project was completed in 2007 and transformed the ship into an expedition-style superyacht. The conversion involved exterior redesign by Reymond Langton Design, interior styling by Zuretti, and naval-architecture input from Vripack. The finished vessel, reported at 1,622 gross tonnes, became an example of Jade's capacity to combine heavy marine engineering with high-end residential and hospitality spaces. Jade Yachts continued to build visibility through both public-facing projects and large-vessel work. In 2014, it created a floating pavilion for the Taiwan International Boat Show, an undertaking that displayed the company's ability to execute a substantial floating structure in addition to conventional yacht construction. In 2016, the yard completed a ten-year refit of the 65-metre Benetti Ambrosia III, further illustrating its role as a service and refit facility for existing superyachts. Its known vessel portfolio includes Jade 959, a 52-metre ice-class yacht launched in 2014, and the converted Amadeus. These projects place the brand in the custom superyacht, expedition-yacht, and large-yacht refit segments. Publicly available reference material does not establish a full current product range, detailed sales footprint, ownership structure beyond its Jong Shyn affiliation, or a named executive team. Jade Yachts is therefore best characterized as a specialized Taiwanese shipyard brand whose reputation is based on steel and aluminum construction, large-scale custom work, vessel transformation, and refit capability.
History
Jade Yachts was established in 2004 as a subsidiary of Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The brand was formed to specialize in steel and aluminum yacht construction, bringing the parent company's shipbuilding background into the custom yacht and superyacht market. Its documented activities combine new construction with complex conversion, refurbishment, and floating-structure projects. In 2006, Jade Yachts delivered Bandido, a 26.46-metre steel-hulled motor yacht. The vessel is identified as the first steel-hulled motor yacht built in Taiwan, making it an important early demonstration of the country's ability to produce substantial steel leisure vessels. The project also established a recurring characteristic of Jade's work: the use of industrial shipyard methods for large, robust yachts rather than reliance only on lightweight production-boat construction. That same year, the yard began a major conversion of Amadeus, a 70-metre German vessel originally constructed in 1969 by Neue Jadewerft as a research ship. Over approximately two years, Jade Yachts rebuilt and reconfigured the vessel, completing the transformation in 2007. The converted ship became an expedition-style superyacht with a reported gross tonnage of 1,622. Reymond Langton Design worked on the exterior, Zuretti handled the interior styling, and Vripack provided naval-architecture guidance. The project demonstrated that Jade could manage technically demanding transformations involving both commercial-vessel structure and luxury-yacht accommodation. Jade's later work included both vessel construction and industry-event infrastructure. In 2014, the company produced a floating pavilion for the Taiwan International Boat Show. The same year, it launched Jade 959, a 52-metre ice-class yacht, adding an expedition-oriented vessel to its documented portfolio. Ice-class capability is consistent with the brand's broader association with durable, long-range, and heavily engineered yachts. In 2016, Jade Yachts completed a ten-year refit of Benetti Ambrosia III, a 65-metre yacht. The project provided further evidence of the yard's role in the superyacht service market, where large vessels require specialized structural, mechanical, and interior work over extended operating lives. The available reference material does not provide a complete chronology of subsequent launches, a detailed list of current models, financial information, or named corporate executives. It does, however, establish a coherent business profile: Jade Yachts is a Taiwanese custom shipyard brand focused on steel and aluminum yachts, expedition and ice-class vessels, large-scale yacht conversions, and major refits. Its history is closely connected to Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company and to Taiwan's wider maritime-industrial development.
- 2016Benetti Ambrosia III refit is completed
Jade Yachts completes a ten-year refit of the 65-metre Benetti Ambrosia III.
- 2014Floating pavilion is built for the Taiwan International Boat Show
Jade Yachts creates a floating pavilion for the Taiwan International Boat Show.
- 2014Jade 959 is launched
The yard launches Jade 959, a 52-metre ice-class yacht.
- 2007Amadeus emerges as an expedition superyacht
The 70-metre Amadeus conversion is completed after extensive exterior, interior, and naval-architecture work.
- 2006Bandido is delivered
The yard delivers the 26.46-metre Bandido, described as Taiwan's first steel-hulled motor yacht.
- 2006Amadeus conversion begins
Jade Yachts begins a two-year conversion of the former research vessel Amadeus into an expedition-style superyacht.
- 2004Jade Yachts is established
Jade Yachts is founded as a subsidiary of Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company, with a focus on steel and aluminum yachts.
Products and positioning
A Taiwan-based custom yacht and shipyard brand emphasizing steel and aluminum construction, expedition-oriented vessels, large yacht conversions, and major refit projects.
BandidoSteel motor yacht2006
Bandido is a 26.46-metre steel-hulled motor yacht delivered by Jade Yachts in 2006. It is notable in the company's history because it is described as the first steel-hulled motor yacht built in Taiwan. The project represents Jade's early application of heavy shipbuilding techniques to custom leisure vessels and helped establish the yard's credentials in steel yacht construction.
AmadeusConverted expedition-style superyacht2007
Amadeus is a 70-metre vessel originally built in Germany in 1969 as a research ship. Jade Yachts undertook a two-year conversion beginning in 2006 and completed it in 2007, transforming the vessel into an expedition-style superyacht. The work included exterior redesign by Reymond Langton Design, interior styling by Zuretti, and naval-architecture guidance from Vripack. The completed vessel is reported at 1,622 gross tonnes.
Jade 959Ice-class yacht2014
Jade 959 is a 52-metre ice-class yacht launched by Jade Yachts in 2014. Its ice-class designation places it among the yard's documented expedition-oriented vessels, designed around enhanced durability and operation in demanding marine environments. Public reference material does not provide further specifications, accommodation details, or propulsion information.
Large yacht refit servicesSuperyacht refit
Jade Yachts undertakes substantial refit work on large yachts. A documented example is the ten-year refit of the 65-metre Benetti Ambrosia III, completed in 2016. The available source does not itemize the work performed, but the project demonstrates the yard's ability to accommodate major superyacht refurbishment and lifecycle-support assignments.
Flagship businesses
- Bandido
- Amadeus
- Jade 959
- Refit services for large superyachts
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Taiwan International Boat Show floating pavilion
Taiwan
Jade Yachts created a floating pavilion for the Taiwan International Boat Show, providing a prominent project that connected the shipyard with Taiwan's boating and marine-industry exhibition sector.
Outcome. The pavilion was completed for the boat show; broader commercial or promotional results are not reported.
Brand decisions
- 2006Delivery of BandidoProduct launch
The yard pursued steel yacht construction as part of its specialization in steel and aluminum vessels.
What changed. Jade Yachts delivered the 26.46-metre steel-hulled motor yacht Bandido.
Aftermath. The vessel became a notable early example of Taiwan-built steel motor-yacht construction.
- 2006Conversion of AmadeusOther
A 1969 research vessel was selected for conversion into a large private expedition yacht.
What changed. Jade Yachts undertook a two-year structural and design conversion of Amadeus, completed in 2007.
Aftermath. The project expanded the yard's documented profile from new construction into technically complex superyacht conversion.
- 2004Launch of a dedicated yacht subsidiaryStrategy
Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company established Jade Yachts to develop a dedicated focus on steel and aluminum yacht construction.
What changed. The new brand pursued custom yacht building alongside the parent company's broader shipbuilding activities.
Aftermath. The strategy led to documented work in new yacht construction, expedition vessels, large-vessel conversion, and superyacht refit.
Recent events
- 2016Jade Yachts completes a major refit of Benetti Ambrosia III
The yard completed a ten-year refit of the 65-metre Benetti Ambrosia III, underscoring its large-superyacht maintenance and refurbishment capabilities.
Other - 2014Jade Yachts creates a floating pavilion for the Taiwan International Boat Show
The yard constructed a floating pavilion for the Taiwan International Boat Show, expanding its public exhibition work beyond conventional yacht projects.
Campaign - 2014Jade 959 launches as a 52-metre ice-class yacht
Jade Yachts launched Jade 959, a 52-metre yacht built with ice-class capability.
Product launch - 2007Jade Yachts completes the Amadeus conversion
Following a two-year project at the Taiwanese yard, the former research vessel Amadeus emerged as a 70-metre expedition-style superyacht.
Product generationOther - 2006Jade Yachts delivers the steel-hulled motor yacht Bandido
Jade Yachts delivered the 26.46-metre Bandido, described as the first steel-hulled motor yacht built in Taiwan.
Product launch
Sources
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