The Bering Method

«Boats have always been my passion, but I could never have imagined that it would become my job». The first boat Alexei Mikhailov had built in China was entirely designed by himself. He didn’t have much time to enjoy it, because within a few months he found its first buyer. He didn’t hesitate, he sold it and immediately started again: he put two more into production. What began as a passion for boats and the sea soon turned into a business opportunity. Fifteen years later, Bering Yachts has become one of the leading shipyards in Turkey, and building boats is now his profession. et the passion that drives the design and construction of the explorer yachts launched in Antalya is the same that inspired his very first boat: to create yachts capable of long-range cruising toward less conventional destinations. After all, onboard comfort is not measured by the luxury of the interiors, but by the sense of safety that a yacht, regardless of its size, can guarantee in any sea and weather condition.

Your shipyards mainly produce trawlers and explorers. This success has made you well known in the nautical world. Are there specific reasons why you chose this type of boat?

Explorers are safe vessels, and I like building this kind of yacht because years ago I had a serious accident at sea: I was sailing on a fiberglass boat when it suddenly caught fire. It was terrible, we survived, but the experience left such a mark that I decided I would never again set foot on a fiberglass boat. Since then, I’ve only built steel yachts, or steel-and-aluminum ones for models over 65 feet.

Does that apply to catamaran sas well?

Of course. They’re built entirely in aluminum.

So there’s no fiberglass used in your shipyard?

Only the bare minimum — for small onboard components where alternative materials weren’t feasible.

Is this also why you specialized in explorer yachts?

In a way, yes. Explorers represent the idea of a solid and safe vessel that I believe in: a yacht capable of facing all kinds of navigation and sea conditions. In today’s superyacht market, design often prioritizes comfort, interiors, and lavish beach clubs with dreamlike pools, but I like to imagine a boat that can remain self-sufficient in any situation.

How are Bering maxi yachts built?

Our yachts are designed for long-range cruising. On average, they have a range of about 6,000 nautical miles. And like every superyacht, they cannot compromise on onboard comfort, spatial ergonomics, or material quality, from the choice of steel for the hull to the chairs in the beach club. But the core principle we never overlook is redundancy.

What does it mean on a maxi yacht??

Building a yacht with 6,000-mile range doesn’t just mean calculating fuel consumption and installing large tanks. It means having duplicates of everything — from water heaters to watermakers. Spare parts and generous storage space are essential for the success of a long voyage, especially toward remote destinations where finding replacements or provisions can be a real challenge.

The nautical industry seems to be acyclical and unaffected by the global crisis. Turnover in this sector has been growing for years. How are things going here in Turkey?

That’s not entirely true. Our industry has also suffered during crises. The current international situation does not favor yachting, and the uncertainty of this period certainly affects the sector’s development. But there’s one important point: Bering is not a Turkish company, it’s an American brand that sells yachts worldwide. We chose Antalya for our shipyard because Turkey offered the best conditions to grow our operations.

What makes Antalya so special compared to other locations?

First of all, I love Antalya for its climate, its lifestyle. On top of that, we found here excellent conditions for setting up a shipyard: there are incentives for industrial activity, lower labor costs compared to many other parts of the world, and a high level of professional expertise. Let’s not forget that Turkey is the world’s second-largest producer of maxi yachts, after Italy, and Turkish shipyards maintain very high standards of craftsmanship and quality.

What makes Bering so attractive to shipowners?

As I’ve said, our yachts meet and guarantee exceptionally high safety standards. Beyond self-sufficiency and redundancy, which define our approach, onboard safety isn’t just a feeling that comes from the solid structure of our explorer yachts. It stems from our experience building commercial fishing vessels. Our maxi yachts are designed for different purposes, but they must still handle any kind of sea or weather condition while maintaining full onboard comfort.

And so?

We install advanced stabilization systems, that according to the yacht’s size uses fins or the gyroscopic stabilizer.

In addition to continuing along these lines, which seem to be rewarding your work, are there other types of boats that you want or would like to build in your projects?

We’ve recently added catamarans to our production line. Compared to explorers, they’re completely different: built in aluminum, lighter, and offering a distinct kind of experience despite their comparable size.

For example?

They give a greater sense of freedom, they are lighter, easier to handle, and able to reach shallower bays and coastlines. At the same time, they’re more stable at sea and feel more like home, thanks to their spacious and well-balanced layouts. Currently, catamarans represent 30% of our global turnover.

And they’re faster than monohulls, too.

Absolutely. They’re also lighter. A 24-meter catamaran doesn’t exceed 300 GT, and where a monohull cruises at 10 knots, a catamaran easily reaches 14.

Shipyards in Northern Europe and Italy pay particular attention to design. Is it the same in Turkey?

Italian yachts are unique, the attention to beauty and design is deeply rooted in Italian culture and tradition. Design is also crucial for us, especially from a functionality standpoint. Here in Antalya, we have an in-house design team working on all our yachts under 24 meters. For larger projects, where there’s more flexibility and creative freedom, we collaborate with external designers. And then, of course, there are the owners, with their needs, desires, and sometimes whims.

In Italy, there’s a saying: “the customer is always right.” Does that apply in Turkey and at Bering?

I don’t believe the owner is always right, but the project must start from their requirements: the customer drives. I like to begin with the yacht’s functional aspects: autonomy, technical areas, storage, and then move to the living spaces. That’s where the owner’s requests come into play. Usually, if a yacht starts as a 100-meter design, by the time we integrate most of the owner’s wishes, it becomes 110. It’s like building a house, except that on a yacht designed to cross oceans, there are balances that must never be compromised.

Design is not just about aesthetics and functionality, it is also about sustainability. In boating, this starts with the design of the hull and then moves up to the engine room and then to the various decks reserved for the owner and his guests. What role does design play in the construction of Bering boats?

The arrival and installation of hybrid propulsion systems has led to a complete reorganization of onboard spaces, particularly around the engine room and crew quarters, areas to which Bering has always devoted great attention.

Really?

Of course. Design is ergonomics, functionality, and aesthetics, all aimed at improving livability and comfort for both owner and guests. But comfort also depends on the working conditions of the crew. On a long transatlantic voyage to adventurous destinations, the crew’s well-being directly enhances the onboard experience, even on the main deck or by the pool.