Hanse Yachts was founded by German yachtsman Michael Schmidt in 1990, when he acquired a small shipyard in Greifswald. Initially, the company focused solely on yacht refits. In 1993, Hanse Yachts launched its first new project, the sailing yacht Hanse 291, which generated significant excitement among sailors. At its presentation, orders for 30 hulls were placed immediately. The subsequent model, the Hanse 331, also achieved success and was based on the Finngulf 33.

Over the years, Hanse Yachts has transformed from a small enterprise into a major shipbuilding conglomerate. It now fully owns several subsidiaries, including Hanse (Deutschland) Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG, Verwaltung Hanse (Deutschland) Vertriebs GmbH, HanseYachts Marken Portfolio AG & Co. KG, Moody Yachts GmbH, Dehler Yachts GmbH, Sealine Yachts GmbH, Hanse Yachts US, LLC in the USA, HanseYachts Sp. z o.o. in Poland (formerly known as Technologie Tworzyw Sztucznych Sp. z o.o. until October 3, 2022), Balticdesign Institut Sp. z o.o., and Yachtzentrum Greifswald Beteiligungs-GmbH in France.

Due to this expansion, Hanse Yachts is included in the consolidated financial statements of AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA in Grünwald and has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the General Standard segment since 2007.

Hanse Yachts operates two main production facilities:

• Greifswald, Germany: Located on the Baltic Sea, this shipyard handles all assembly and final finishing of the yachts.
• Goleniów, Poland: This facility focuses on building six models from the Dehler, Sealine, and Ryck brands. It also produces key yacht components, including hulls, decks, and floors, and houses a laminate production workshop.

Hanse Yachts boasts a diverse fleet of sailing and motor yachts ranging from 9 to 22 meters across several prestigious brands:

Sailing Yachts:

• Hanse: Cruising yachts with a Mediterranean-style cockpit (9–22 meters). 
• Dehler: Sport-cruiser yachts and sport keel monotypes (10–15 meters).
• Moody: Deck-salon yachts (12–18 meters).

Motor Yachts:

• Sealine: Open and hardtop cruising yachts (10–14 meters).
• Fjord: Cruising yachts (11–17 meters).
• Ryck: Outboard motorboat RYCK 280 (9.5 meters).

Hanse Yachts is known for producing high-performance yet comfortable yachts with distinctive design features such as low displacement, high hull rigidity, spacious interiors, ease of handling, and minimalist interiors.

The latest projects from Hanse Yachts include the Hanse 410 and Hanse 510, set to debut in 2024 at leading yacht shows across Europe.