Sailing away: superyacht industry booms during Covid pandemic

Record-breaking number of vessels being built or on order worldwide, despite environmental concerns

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In an era of environmental awareness and conspicuous displays of sustainability, you might not expect a rise in the number of people with the means and appetite for a 50m floating fortress of solitude.

But, in part because of the coronavirus crisis, the superyacht industry is booming - and the number of vessels under construction or on order worldwide has hit a new record. According to figures revealed in the latest edition of Boat International's Global Order Book, more than 1,200 superyachts are slated to be built - a rise of 25% on last year.