GX: From Slovenia with love – and silence
Vladimir Zinchenko is founder and CEO of GX Superyachts.
Building superyachts in the heart of the Slovenian mountains might seem an odd choice but for Vladimir Zinchenko it makes sense.
Or it would, if it wasn’t for the logistical issues of transporting big yachts to the sea. Zinchenko already builds his Greenline range of mainly diesel-electric hybrid recreational boats under the peaks in Begunje in northern Slovenia. But he concedes the “five tunnels and a zillion bridges” on the 100-mile (160km) drive to Slovenia’s tiny coastline makes manufacturing his larger GX Superyachts in the mountains a little awkward.
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Instead, the GX CEO and his co-founder Luca Raumland scoured yards in Turkey and Italy before settling on 50-year-old Turkish family yard SES Yachts in Tuzla to build the first unit − a 42m already sold − for launch in June 2026.
Zinchenko announced GX Superyachts at the Monaco Boat Show last September, a concept based on the philosophy and success of Greenline Yachts. He is also touting a 34m and a 56m version and has partnered with Northrop & Johnson in the US to push the brand.
“Our concept lies in offering custom aluminium superyachts ranging from 24-56m, equipped with advanced hybrid propulsion systems and integrated solar arrays,” he tells us from his office in the mountains.
“This combination ensures luxurious comfort while significantly reducing environmental impact, setting us apart in the market.”
GX Superyachts will launch its first vessel in June 2026.
Responsibility
Their insights gleaned from the sale of more than 1,000 Greenline boats showed most clients crave anchoring in silence without the hum of a generator powering air conditioning or other appliances. About 75% of clients choose the hybrid option.
“We attract clients by emphasising our commitment to responsible yachting,” he says. “This means our clients care about how they sail, where they sail, how their yacht is built and the lifestyle it enables on board.
“Sustainability is a responsibility. However, the next level of comfort our boats offer is the ability to enjoy silence on board during anchorage or marina stays.
“We guarantee 48 hours of operation without any generators running on board − one of the most crucial features our customers love. You can swim at the beach club with no smoke, no vibrations, no pollution − just pure silence.”
Zinchenko hails from St Petersburg in Russia and was a military aerospace engineer before retiring in the 1990s and moving into the automotive industry. But in 2004 he and his wife made a lifestyle pivot and bought a sailing yacht in Germany with a plan to voyage around the world. They sailed to the Canary Islands and then across to the Caribbean and the US east coast, venturing back to the Mediterranean for the summers.
“We never completed our journey around the world, but we did six Atlantic crossings and logged 250,000 miles at sea,” he says.
Order book shifting
At the same time, Zinchenko became a dealer for Shipman sailing yachts and then in 2008 for the Greenline brand out of the same yard. After seven years’ travelling and living on a boat, the Zinchenkos decided to settle in Slovenia.
In 2015, the shipyard went into bankruptcy, so Zinchenko stepped in to continue production because “in my view, there was nothing wrong with the product that Greenline Yachts was producing”. He purchased the yard in 2017 and ongoing conversations with clients have spurred him to take the concept to a “different level”.
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Looking at the wider economic landscape, Zinchenko is optimistic for the superyacht sector.
“The superyacht industry is not as impacted by the global situation,” he says. “Most people are hesitant to spend their savings because they are uncertain about the coming months. However, wealthy individuals are not spending the last of their savings.”
He adds: “The market appears to be slowing down in terms of the number of boats, but financially, it is growing. The order book is shifting towards larger yachts, starting from 45m and up.”
Hybrid vs hydrogen
For him, the “biggest challenge is always technology”. “Additionally, meeting the high expectations of clients for luxury and performance while adhering to environmental standards requires continuous innovation and meticulous planning,” he says.
He acknowledges the direction of shipyards pursuing alternative fuel systems, such as hydrogen, but he is confident in his business model with the hybrid solution coupled with a solar array.
“Why do we need to compete?” he says. “Sure, it’s a discussion about what is more efficient, but the customer will decide on that.”
He points out that while hydrogen might be the cleanest solution, the refuelling options and other infrastructure needed for alternative fuel yachts is scarce and expensive because of the paucity of demand.
“We firmly believe that hybrids will remain on the market for years to come. Even as battery technology advances, establishing the necessary facilities and infrastructure at marinas and ports for supercharging large batteries is not an easy task,” he says.
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He adds that “hydrogen is not very production-friendly” and argues that a diesel-electric hybrid is a superior option to pure electric.
“With hydrogen, you are pushing yourself down a very narrow corridor with numerous restrictions,” he explains.
“An electric yacht offers maximum silence and comfort but with limited travel range and speed. A hybrid yacht provides the best of both worlds: silence and comfort when you want it, and the freedom to travel with good speed when you need it.”
To take the Greenline concept into the realm of superyachts Zinchenko turned to designer Marco Casali and renowned owner’s representative Andrea Armas to act as a consultant.
“We aim to push the boundaries and remain one of the most sustainable shipyards in the world as we continue to pioneer hybrid propulsion systems,” adds Zinchenko.
Those tunnels will remain a challenge.
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