Est. 2004 · Vancouver · Taiwan · Turkey · Build Specialists
From Keel to Commission.
Marine engineers and captains managing the full lifecycle of custom yacht builds for discerning clients worldwide.
What we do
A complete service from concept to delivery.
New Builds
We manage the construction of custom yachts from initial design brief through to sea trials — coordinating naval architects, class societies, and shipyards across North America, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
Refit & Restoration
Comprehensive refit management for vessels of all sizes. We oversee structural, mechanical, and interior works with the same rigour applied to a new build.
Project Management
Independent project management and owner representation throughout the build process — protecting your investment and ensuring specification compliance at every stage.
Delivery & Commissioning
Professional delivery voyages and full commissioning services, ensuring your vessel arrives ready for sea in the condition specified.
40+
Years Combined Experience
50+
Vessels Delivered
9
Shipyard Partners
"Over 40 years of combined experience across US, Canadian, Asian, and Mediterranean shipyards."
Yacht Consulting Group was founded on a simple principle: that the owner's interests are best served by an independent team with no commercial ties to any shipyard or builder. Our principals are working marine engineers and licensed captains — professionals who have stood watches, read drawings, and held classification surveyors to account. We are the literal boots on the ground — present at the shipyard, on the vessel, and accountable to you at every stage of the build.
The principals
Professionals who have projects, unique ideas, and delivered.
Our team comprises licensed masters, chief engineers, and naval architects with careers spanning commercial shipping, superyacht construction, and offshore operations. We do not employ sales staff — every client engagement is led by a working professional.
Captain Simpson
Master Mariner · Build & Refit Captain
With 30 years at sea across commercial shipping, private charter, and superyacht operations, Captain Simpson brings an exceptional depth of practical experience to every project. He has accumulated over 150,000 nautical miles under his command and has served as build captain or refit captain on more than 25 super and mega yachts. His involvement spans the full build cycle — from keel-laying and structural oversight through to sea trials, classification, and final delivery. Clients benefit from a captain who has not only managed the paperwork, but has stood the watch.
Ronald Ruiz
Chief Engineer · Refit Specialist
Ronald Ruiz brings over 15 years of hands-on experience as a yacht engineer and refit engineer, with a particular specialisation in our refit programme. He has overseen mechanical, electrical, and systems work across a wide range of vessel types and sizes, and is the lead engineer on all refit projects managed by Yacht Consulting Group. Ronald's practical approach and deep technical knowledge make him an invaluable presence at the shipyard — ensuring that every system is commissioned correctly and every specification is met before a vessel leaves the yard.
Elena Rostova, CEng
Chief Marine Engineer · Technical Director
A Chartered Engineer with 18 years as a naval shipyard supervisor, Elena Rostova brings rare institutional depth to the YCG technical team. Her career has centred on hybrid diesel-electric propulsion overhauls across naval and commercial fleets, with particular expertise in vibration attenuation and thermodynamic efficiency. Elena leads all technical due diligence on new build specifications and refit scopes, ensuring that engineering decisions are grounded in first-principles analysis rather than shipyard convenience.
Hsinyu Chang
Executive Manager · Asian Shipyard Operations
Hsinyu Chang is a seasoned Taiwan-based Executive Manager for Asian products, bringing over 25 years of cross-functional management experience and 15 years of specialised senior project management expertise. A versatile leader with a strong track record in translation and vendor relations, Hsinyu possesses a unique depth of knowledge spanning both shore-based and yacht-based management operations. Highly adept at navigating the strict standards of elite clientele, their career highlights a mastery of the cultural and commercial nuances that define successful build relationships across Asia's premier shipyards.
Owner's resources
Guides for owners commissioning a custom yacht
Custom Yacht Build Process — Every Stage Explained
A stage-by-stage walkthrough of the full build lifecycle, from owner's brief and naval architecture through construction oversight and sea trials.
What to Expect When Commissioning a Custom Yacht
An independent overview of the commissioning process — what decisions owners face, where costs arise, and how professional oversight protects your investment.
Commissioning a Superyacht — What to Know Before You Sign
Key contractual and technical considerations before signing a build contract, written for owners engaging a shipyard for the first time.
Begin your project with confidence.
Whether you are commissioning your first custom build or managing a complex refit, we welcome a confidential conversation.