“Bering Yachts — The Soul of the Explorer”

An exclusive conversation with Alexei Mikhailov, founder of Bering Yachts

When Alexei Mikhailov founded Bering Yachts in 2007, he wasn’t planning to start a shipbuilding company. He simply wanted to build a steel boat for himself — something solid, ocean-ready, and capable of crossing any sea. “It all started as a passion project,” he recalls. “I was in China at the time, building a boat for personal use. But once it was launched, people wanted to buy it. That’s how the first Bering yacht was sold, and then came the second, the third… and the brand was born.”

Nearly two decades later, Bering Yachts has evolved from a private experiment into a global builder of true expedition vessels. The company now operates facilities in Antalya and Bulgaria, developing a diverse portfolio: five models under 24 meters, five above that, and a growing catamaran line. Seventeen yachts are currently under construction, ranging from 60 to 165 feet, with a 175-footer on the drawing board. “The boats have grown with us — in size, capability, and spirit,” Alexei Mikhailov says. “But the essence has not changed. Bering Yachts is still driven by passion.”

The idea of steel construction came from a personal turning point. Years before Bering Yachts began, Alexei Mikhailov owned a fiberglass sport-fishing boat that caught fire. “It went from the first smoke to a fireball in minutes,” he remembers. “That experience shaped everything. I realized I could never feel safe offshore on fiberglass again.”

Steel became the foundation of Bering Yachts’ DNA. Every yacht above 65 feet is built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure — a structure designed not only for endurance but also for peace of mind. “We use non-flammable materials, we duplicate critical systems, and we design for real autonomy,” he explains. “Each Bering yacht must be self-sufficient — able to cruise thousands of miles away from civilization.”

This philosophy defines the entire fleet. Long-range endurance, heavy-duty structure, and redundancy are not optional. Twin engines, twin or triple generators, dual water heaters and pumps — everything essential is duplicated. “If you are a thousand miles from shore, you must rely only on yourself,” he says. “That’s why we build this way.”

For Alexei Mikhailov, Bering yachts are more than vessels — they are escape vehicles for the modern world. “Many of our owners see them as ways to regain freedom,” he explains. “They can travel where there are no marinas, no airports, no people. The boat is a self-contained world.”

That philosophy resonated strongly during the pandemic years. “After COVID, interest in our boats spiked,” he says. “People suddenly understood how fragile mobility can be. Our yachts became symbols of independence, just like off-road vehicles on land. Most SUVs never leave the highway, but people love knowing they could. It’s the same with our explorers.”

Although many associate Bering Yachts with Turkey, Alexei Mikhailov clarifies that the brand is international. “Bering Yachts was founded in North Carolina, and we’ve built in China, now Turkey and Bulgaria. But Antalya is a wonderful base — 330 days of sunshine, a coastline framed by mountains, and one of the best maritime Free Zones in the world.”

The Antalya Free Zone provides a dense ecosystem of subcontractors and suppliers, making production efficient. “It’s not by coincidence,” he says. “Turkey is now the second largest yacht-building nation after Italy. The industry, the talent, the climate — it all works.”

Behind every Bering yacht lies an obsession with comfort and sea-kindness. “If a boat is noisy or vibrates, it pushes you away,” Alexei Mikhailov says. “But if you plan to live aboard for months, the boat must embrace you.”

To achieve this, Bering Yachts increases hull thickness beyond class requirements and tunes the metacentric height to ensure predictable, gentle motion. “We design them like ships, not moving villas,” he smiles. “That’s why people immediately say, ‘It feels like a ship.’”

He illustrates comfort with a simple analogy: “A 24-meter fiberglass boat may weigh 100 tons, while a steel Bering yacht of the same size displaces 200 tons. It’s like driving a 900-kg car versus a two-ton one. The heavier one moves quietly, smoothly, confidently — that’s the feeling of a Bering yacht.”

In recent years, Bering Yachts expanded into expedition catamarans — aluminum, full-displacement, and designed for long-term living. “Cats are a different philosophy,” Alexei Mikhailov explains. “They offer enormous volume and stability. Our 24-meter BC80 has 320 gross tons of interior space — equal to a 40-meter monohull.”

Six catamarans are currently under construction in Bering Yachts Bulgaria Shipyard, making up roughly 30 percent of new inquiries. “They attract people who want the same endurance but in a lighter, faster format — 10 to 12 knots cruising, up to 14 maximum, with all the comfort of a home.”

As Bering Yachts continues to evolve, the company has established a dedicated Superyachts division that embodies a fresh philosophy of luxury. “We’re not building bigger boats just for the sake of size,” Alexei Mikhailov explains. “We’re creating a new approach to superyacht design — one that rejects excess in favor of essentials for relaxation, long voyages, and genuine living aboard.” The division’s flagship models, including the newly launched Bering 165 designed by Valentin Design and the innovative Bering 110 developed with Red Yacht Design, retain the recognizable DNA of Bering’s explorer yachts while offering enhanced comfort and more spacious interiors. Every vessel over 24 meters is semi-custom, adapted to each client’s specific vision and requirements. 

“We’re seeing younger clients entering this segment — people in their thirties and early forties who value both design and functionality,” Alexei Mikhailov notes. “They want yachts that take them somewhere, not just sit at the dock. That’s exactly what we build.” Through collaborations with top design studios, Bering’s superyachts blend rugged expedition capability with refined elegance, offering the same steel construction, redundant systems, and self-sufficiency that define the brand — now wrapped in a more sophisticated package. It’s luxury redefined for the modern explorer: functional, durable, and ready for any horizon.