Building on almost three decades of experience working on cruise ship newbuild and refurbishment projects, Trevor Young founded Ocean Ventures Advisory in late 2025 to support owners, shipyards, investors and new entrants navigating increasingly complex cruise projects. The consultancy focuses on helping clients with one critical phase often overlooked in large-scale shipbuilding projects: decision-making before contracts are signed. “The essence of the offer is early-stage clarity,” says Young. “We help clients make informed, defensible decisions before contracts are signed and options disappear.” Ocean Ventures Advisory aims to reduce uncertainty in the early design stages where relatively small interventions can have significant long-term impact. “For owners and investors entering new regions or working with new yards, that upfront work quickly pays for itself,” says Young. “It reduces uncertainty, sharpens specifications and creates confidence on all sides before serious capital is committed.” With many European shipbuilders at capacity until the mid-2030s, Ocean Ventures Advisory is particularly focused on the growing number of passenger shipping newbuild projects in Asia. “Growth in Asia is being driven by several overlapping factors: expanding regional cruise demand, government support for domestic cruise industries and the simple reality that global newbuild capacity is constrained elsewhere,” explains Young. “Asia is becoming the only realistic option for new market entrants and for owners who cannot afford to wait a decade. China is leading the way, with yards such as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding already building its second cruise ship and other Chinese yards signing orders. Over the next few years, I expect to see more standardisation, repetition and gradual increases in project ambition as experience grows. I set up Ocean Ventures Advisory in Hong Kong as it provides a natural base for my work, bridging established cruise 110 INTERVIEW Building smarter ships Trevor Young founded Ocean Ventures Advisory to help cruise lines perfect the early stages of newbuild design, both for the guest experience and to avoid costly retrofitting. He shares more with Jon Ingleton
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