Yacht
A Yacht is a vessel used for pleasure, recreation, sport or luxury rather than commercial cargo carriage — ranging from small sailing yachts to large motor (or “super”) yachts. Yachts are used for cruising, racing and leisure, and the largest are effectively private ships with professional crews.
Though outside the cargo trades, yachts intersect with the maritime industry in yacht transport (as project/heavy-lift or RoRo cargo), marina and port operations, yacht management, crewing, and superyacht refit and repair — a significant business in hubs such as the Mediterranean and the Gulf. Large yachts are subject to their own class, flag and safety regimes (often under specialised codes), and their management mirrors ship management on a smaller scale. The yacht is the recreational counterpart to the merchant vessel, and a notable segment of the wider marine economy.
Yachts sit at the leisure end of the marine world, but they touch the industry in real ways — shipped as project cargo, managed and crewed like small ships, and serviced by a whole refit and marina economy. For marine-services and logistics businesses in yachting hubs, they are a distinct and valuable segment.
What is the difference between a yacht and a ship?
A yacht is used for recreation, sport or luxury rather than carrying cargo for hire; large yachts are effectively private ships with professional crews.
How are yachts transported long distances?
Often as cargo on specialised yacht-transport or heavy-lift/RoRo ships, in addition to sailing on their own bottom.