Record yacht shipment to the US

Australia’s luxury boatbuilder Riviera has made its largest ever single shipment to the US.

Believed to be a world first, the shipment consisted of 15 motor yachts worth a total of around $45 million.

The yachts, ranging from 43 to 72 feet, were loaded at the Port of Brisbane onto a single cargo ship bound for Florida.

Three of the models will make their American premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show which opens on October 29 2025.

“This is a great achievement for our highly skilled team that create our world class motor yachts, right here in Queensland,” said Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst.

“We are proud to be a strong contributor to the Queensland economy and to showcase our award-winning craftsmanship on the global stage.

“It’s certainly an amazing sight, seeing this many of our motor yachts being lifted into the air and onto the ship.”

“Since shipping our first yacht to the United States in 1982, America has become Riviera’s largest international market.”

The shipment, with yachts believe to range in value from $1.6 million to $6.8 million, is up from the previous high of 11 vessels exported to the US in 2024.

The logistics of shipping represents a major challenge for the boatbuilder.

Introduction of tariffs

“It’s taken a lot of work to get them ready at the same time,” added Riviera’s Andy Clayton.

“To prepare for shipping, wrapped, protected, then transported to the port and loaded onto the ship.”

The shipyard exports around 28 shipments to the US each year with this latest its largest ever.

The yachts in this shipment were ordered up to two years’ ago before the introduction of President Trump’s 10% tariffs.

So far the yard, which also exports to New Zealand, Europe and Asia, has not been impacted following the introduction of US tariffs on goods imported from Australia with sales benefitting from a favourable exchange rate which has been tracking below US70c for the past two years.