AUSTRALIAN CATAMARAN GIANT SEAWIND STARTS PRODUCTION IN TÜRKİYE

In catamaran production the first investment of Seawind, one of the world's leading brands, in Türkiye it started production in Izmir Free Zone (İZBAŞ). Australian company the only production center of the "Seawind 1170" model, which was recently launched worldwide, will be Izmir.

Factory opening ceremony Australian Ambassador to Ankara Miles Armitage, Seawind World President Richard Ward, Presidential Investment Office Investment Supports General Manager Zahid Tuncel, İZBAŞ Board of Directors Eyüp Sevimli and many guests attended.

“OUR FATE GATHERED US AT SEAWIND”

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, Seawind Türkiye Managing Partner and General Manager Kıvanç Kardeş said; shared with the guests a remarkable detail in his private life that brought him together with this investment.

His daughter's name is Deniz, his son's name is Rüzgâr, the boat they own as a family consists of the names of their children. Kardeş who said it was “Seawind” “Mr. Richard Ward and I have the same birthday and our meeting to produce Seawind in my hometown Izmir, it shows that our destinies unite us.” said.

Stating that they are at the beginning of a long journey, Kardeş said, he pointed out that they have important missions such as providing employment and added value in Türkiye.

“YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF SEAWINDS IN THE AEGEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN”

By increasing the production capacity of its targets, Kıvanç Kardeş emphasized that they want to produce the new models of Saewind in Türkiye. “Together with all my colleagues in this facility, we will manufacture one of the most beautiful performance cruise catamarans in the world. First we dreamed, then we chased after our dreams. I hope in the coming years in the Aegean and Mediterranean waters hundreds of Seawind catamarans you will see it while sailing.” said.

“I COULD NOT TURN MY BACK ON KIVANÇ'S STORY”

Speaking at the ceremony, Seawind World President Richard Ward said: he was amazed by Türkiye, which he came to for the first time in 2019 for his daughter's wedding, and he stated that he returned with the dream of being able to produce boats one day. After a three-year forced break due to the pandemic ward stated that he was very happy to make an investment in Türkiye. “When I heard the interesting story that Kıvanç told me, that our birthdays are the same, I couldn't turn my back on this investment," he said.

Ward stated that Seawind is a fast-growing company made the following assessment:

“We want to expand our market worldwide. Currently, the American and Australian markets are very important for us. With our new facility established in Izmir, we now see Europe as one of our most important markets. “We plan to produce and launch a total of 18 boats in 2024.”

FROM HOSTILITY TO ROOT-ROOTED FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIP…

Miles Armitage, Ambassador of Australia to Ankara starting with hostility between the two countries a relationship that leads to a deep-rooted friendship he said believed it was the inspiration for this investment. Miles, reminding that most of the population in his country lives by the ocean, he noted that he felt at home in Izmir, where he spent two days.

“THE CONTRIBUTION THEY WILL MAKE TO OUR COUNTRY IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS INVESTMENT"

Izmir Free Zone Chairman of the Board Eyüp Sevimli, interest in marine vessels around the world reminding that there was a significant increase after the pandemic, he made the following assessment:

“Seawind as an investment place of course, it is not a coincidence that he chose Türkiye. Our country has been achieving very successful work in this field for many years added value and we are talking about a sector with a high demand for qualified employees. That's why we do not see Seawind's arrival in İZBAŞ merely as an investment. To our country and their trust in İZBAŞ, their contribution to making our city a production base in this sector, “It is at least as important to us as the investment they make.”

SEAWIND CELEBRATED ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A NEW FACTORY

Seawind, which started production in 1983, the world's leading performance catamaran and is among the trimaran manufacturers.

Mainly the USA and the company produces for Australian markets, together with the Izmir factory it also wants to be effective in the European market.

The company's most popular and the "Seawind 1170" model, which was recently launched worldwide in the first phase of the İzmir factory, which will be the only production center 18 per year, at final capacity it is aimed to produce 24 catamarans per year.