Horizon Yachts | Fifth Largest Global Custom Luxury Yacht Builder

Innovation

Horizon is committed to exceeding customer expectations and continuously improving upon the safety, design and construction of its yachts—while also keeping an eye on the future with new product development.
From initial models to the birth of each yacht, Horizon steadfastly maintains 100% in-house production within the Group and in Taiwan, controlling every design detail to ensure the highest standards of navigational safety and quality. Horizon offers flexible customization while maintaining superior efficiency, garnering the trust of yacht owners worldwide.

Moreover, Horizon collaborates with internationally-renowned designers and authoritative organizations to uphold our cutting-edge technology, multi-faceted designs, and top-tier safety certifications. With a global network of offices and dealers, alongside our dedicated shipyard, the Group provides high-level, exclusive maintenance and service to Horizon owners across all five continents.

Advanced Technology

Pioneers in innovation, Horizon’s world-renowned team of naval architects and engineers are dedicated to the creation of safe and durable yachts that exceed client expectations. Continuous research, development and improvement allows for the most advanced technologies to be incorporated into the design, construction and operation of each Horizon-built yacht.

Excellence in Engineering

Backed by a highly trained and experienced in-house team, Horizon possesses the engineering strength and technology to construct safe, durable and unique yachts that meet our clients’ most demanding requirements.

Quality Assurance

Horizon’s commitment to high-quality vessels guarantees state-of-the-art design, exceptional finish and excellent seakeeping. Each Horizon vessel is subject to stringent and continuous inspections at every stage of the build, from initial lay-up, fit and finish to the final installation of engineering systems.

Tank Testing

A tank test is comparable to a wind tunnel for aerospace and automobiles and is vital to the creation and design of new Horizon models. With this test, a variety of scale models of the hull design, from 1:8 to 1:12, are created and towed along a water-filled tank up to 1,000 feet (300M) in length. A towing cart equipped with sensors and microprocessors tows the model and collects results for computer analysis.

All Horizon yachts undergo resistance and wave-encountering tests in cooperation with international test tanks such as SSPA and HSVA as well as local academies including USDDC, NTU (National Taiwan University) and NTOU (National Taiwan Ocean University). A series of tunnel wedge angle change tests at NCKU (National Cheng Kung University).

Material Testing

Quality control is an integral part of the Horizon yacht build process, and the Horizon R&D team firmly believes that the highest quality products are derived only through the integration of high-caliber and thorough inspection technologies.

Raw materials, FRP and hull appearance testing are performed at Horizon’s own in-house laboratory, which first selects and tests all raw materials to be used in construction. Routine tests include Mechanical Property, Resin Flow, Weather Resistance, Discoloration, Processability, and Fire-Retardant Testing. Horizon technicians conduct inspections at each production stage, and all test results and manufacturing parameters are uploaded to a materials database, which serves as a valuable reference for further design and analysis.

Component Testing

Horizon implements Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technology—the most advanced technology used in aerospace and military applications—to analyze the internal quality and structural integrity of its hull components without damaging the component. Horizon is the only shipyard in Asia to utilize this technology, which includes three techniques: Ultrasonic Inspection, Infrared Thermography and Laser Shearography.

• Ultrasonic Inspection emits high-frequency sound waves to test the density of the composite material and identify any internal flaws
• Infrared Thermography uses radiation waves to detect inner defects. A high-resolution camera can detect a 0.025℃ (0.045℉) temperature difference
• Laser Shearography is a more advanced aerospace-level NDT inspection technology that utilizes laser light to provide information about the quality of different materials in a strain measurement

Leak Testing

As a yacht is prepared for delivery, Horizon performs a series of water leak tests that simulate weather conditions during a monsoon, using thousands of gallons water to shower the yacht from various angles for 2-4 hours. This leak test is important in guaranteeing the yacht is completely watertight and safe from outside water sources.

Sea Trials

Every Horizon yacht undergoes a rigorous sea trial involving a third-party survey to ensure proper systems operation and maneuverability. The Horizon team conducts trim level tests at various loads; maneuvering trials, such as emergency stern propulsion, stopping inertia, zigzagging with power loss stability tests and a full-power endurance test; and a sophisticated data analysis of frequency and harmonics onboard. All major equipment systems are fully tested and detailed records of these tests are stored in a database for future reference.

ERP Management System

Managing the various requirements of each client requires an extensive system of checks and balances to assure every detail and request is addressed. To do this, Horizon developed its own ERP system to supervise all yacht orders, from the initial discussion and layout customizations to delivery and after-sales service. This system covers the client’s input and final decisions, construction details, production schedule, material procurement, and quality checks. A client’s visions are translated into thousands of construction orders and material lists, and the ERP system organizes this information, delivering it to the right person at the right time.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Building a luxury yacht is a challenging endeavor; thousands of details are addressed during construction, and even the most minor design change requires in-depth analysis by an experienced team to ensure that safety, comfort, performance and delivery schedule are not compromised. Decades of quality yacht building experience allows Horizon to solve the inevitable challenges that arise with efficiency, innovation and professionalism. The Group’s state-of-the-art facilities embody the latest in technology, equipment and systems and are backed by a highly skilled workforce, including expert in-house teams who provide clients with support every step of the way. Focused on the future, the Horizon Group continues to improve its manufacturing processes and facilities, recently upgrading the PaR Systems 5-Axis CNC (Computer Numerical Control) routing machine; integrating Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing for creating scale models of clients’ yachts; and expanding the Horizon shipyard to increase and streamline production as well as now include hull production, so that each critical stage of construction will be carried out in the same location.