Superyacht Galley Project Management

A superyacht galley project is one of the most complex single-system deliveries within any new build or refit programme. It spans design, procurement, custom fabrication, logistics, installation, commissioning and crew training — with decisions at every stage that affect schedule, budget and the quality of the finished result. Our galley project management service provides a single specialist team to oversee the entire process, protecting the owner's investment and ensuring the galley is delivered to specification without unnecessary delays or cost overruns.

With more than 300 galley projects completed across vessels from 30 to over 100 metres, we understand exactly what it takes to deliver a superyacht galley to the highest standard — and where the risks sit at each phase of the project.

Why Galley Project Management Matters

Without dedicated management, a superyacht galley project is typically distributed across multiple parties — each responsible for a fragment of the total scope. The interior designer specifies the cabinetry. The owner's representative selects equipment. The yard manages installation. The equipment supplier coordinates delivery. Each party manages their portion independently, and nobody has a clear view of the whole.

The result is predictable: equipment arriving without correct utility provisions; fabrication not matching equipment dimensions; installation sequencing that creates rework; and commissioning deficiencies that only emerge when the vessel is in service. These problems are not the result of incompetence — they are the inevitable consequence of fragmented management without a single point of coordination.

Our project management service creates the single point of accountability that eliminates these gaps. From the first design meeting to the final commissioning sign-off, one team has complete visibility and responsibility for the galley package.

What Our Galley Project Management Service Covers

Programme Planning and Milestone Management

We develop a detailed galley programme from the outset, mapping all activities — design approvals, equipment lead times, fabrication schedules, delivery windows, installation phases and commissioning — against the overall vessel schedule. Galley lead times are frequently the longest single procurement item in a yacht build; marine-grade commercial cooking equipment from specialist European manufacturers can carry lead times of 16 to 24 weeks. Identifying these critical path items at programme stage, rather than discovering them as a delay, is one of the most valuable contributions project management provides.

Our programme is maintained throughout the project and updated as conditions change. Key milestones are flagged well in advance of their deadlines, allowing time to manage any issues before they become critical path problems.

Design and Specification Management

We manage the galley design process from brief through to approved for construction drawings, coordinating inputs from the chef, owner's representative, naval architect, interior designer and equipment suppliers. Design decisions are documented, tracked and communicated to all relevant parties — ensuring that changes are captured in the specification rather than existing only in email chains or verbal agreements that generate disputes later.

Specification management continues through the build — we review supplier submittals and fabrication drawings for compliance with the approved specification, and flag any deviations for resolution before they are manufactured or installed.

Equipment Procurement and Logistics

Equipment procurement for a superyacht galley involves sourcing from multiple specialist suppliers across Europe, North America and Asia. Lead times vary significantly by category — combi ovens, induction suites and custom ventilation canopies each have different delivery timescales from different manufacturers. We manage the entire procurement process: supplier selection, specification confirmation, order placement, lead time tracking, export documentation and delivery coordination to the build yard.

Our established relationships with major marine equipment manufacturers — including Miele Marine, Electrolux Professional, Rational, Bonnet, True Refrigeration and Henny Penny — allow us to secure accurate lead time commitments and priority scheduling that individual buyers rarely achieve.

Logistics coordination covers customs documentation for international shipments, insurance during transit, delivery scheduling to coincide with the installation window, and secure storage at or near the yard where delivery precedes installation readiness.

Yard Liaison and Installation Supervision

We maintain regular communication with the build yard or refit yard throughout the project, attending design coordination meetings, reviewing yard construction programmes and coordinating the timing of galley deliveries and installation activities with yard scheduling.

On-site during installation phases, our team supervises the installation of galley equipment and fittings against the approved specification, monitoring workmanship standards and ensuring that installation sequencing is correct. We manage the interface between the galley installation and the shipyard's own electrical, plumbing, ventilation and gas contractors, resolving coordination issues before they create delay or rework.

Quality Control and Snagging

Quality control is conducted throughout the project rather than only at the end. We inspect equipment as it is delivered, checking for transport damage and specification compliance. We inspect fabricated items against approved drawings before they leave the fabrication shop. During and after installation, we conduct systematic snagging inspections against the specification, generating defect lists and tracking resolution through to close-out.

A thorough snagging process before commissioning means that the first time the galley is tested under power, it is structurally complete and correctly installed — rather than using commissioning time to identify and resolve basic installation defects.

Commissioning and Sea Trials

Commissioning a superyacht galley involves more than switching on equipment and confirming it functions. Each appliance must be tested under load, calibrated where required and integrated with the vessel's utility systems. Ventilation must be balanced to provide correct extraction at each cooking position. Refrigeration must be run down to operating temperature and verified against specified temperature ranges. Induction suites and combi ovens require commissioning by manufacturer-trained engineers.

We coordinate and supervise the full commissioning programme, including manufacturer commissioning engineers where required, and attend sea trials to verify galley performance under real operational conditions.

Crew Handover and Training

A fully commissioned galley is only as effective as the crew who operate it. We coordinate structured crew training with equipment manufacturers and our own team, covering correct operation, cleaning procedures, preventive maintenance requirements and the location of service contacts and spare parts. Handover documentation is compiled — including equipment manuals, warranty certificates, commissioning records and spare parts inventories — and delivered to the captain and yacht management team.

Integration with Naval Architect, Interior Designer and Shipyard

Effective galley project management requires close integration with all parties in the build or refit programme. We operate as part of the wider project team, not as an independent subcontractor.

With the naval architect, we coordinate the galley's structural requirements — penetrations, load bearing, utility routing and ventilation paths — ensuring the galley's needs are reflected in the vessel's structural design.

With the interior designer, we align galley cabinetry, surface materials, lighting and finishes with the vessel's overall interior programme, managing the interface between the bespoke joinery and the technical galley equipment.

With the shipyard, we participate in the overall project coordination, attending site meetings, reviewing the master programme and managing the galley's critical path contributions within the wider vessel delivery schedule.

Project Management for New Build Galley Projects

New build galley project management typically begins at the design freeze stage — when the vessel's GA plan is confirmed and the galley footprint is established. From this point, we manage the full design-to-commissioning cycle over what may be an 18 to 36-month build programme.

Early programme planning is particularly important on new builds, where equipment lead times can exceed the time available if procurement is initiated late. We have managed galley projects for vessels under construction at major European yards including Lurssen, Nobiskrug, Abeking & Rasmussen, Perini Navi and Feadship, as well as specialist yards in the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey.

Project Management for Refit Galley Projects

Refit galley project management operates within a fundamentally different constraint set from new build: the drydock window. Time in yard is expensive — typically between €50,000 and €200,000 per week for a large superyacht, depending on the yard — which means that delays in the galley programme translate directly into disproportionate costs for the owner.

Our refit project management service is built around maximising preparation ahead of the yard period: completing all design approvals, ordering all equipment, manufacturing all fabricated items and confirming all specialist contractors before the vessel enters the yard. When the vessel arrives, the galley package is ready to install immediately.

We schedule all galley installation activities within the yard programme, coordinating with the yard's own project team to avoid conflicts with other refit activities and ensure that galley installation does not become a constraint on the vessel's departure date.

Frequently Asked Questions: Superyacht Galley Project Management