Claus CJ Santon

Originally established in Scandinavia to design naval protection and off-shore support vessels in addition to managing construction of shipyards, harbors and marinas, in 2012 it was decided to move all activities to England and Switzerland and House of Santon was established that year. With its staff of 20+ high level experts having 30 or more years direct hands-on experience in most aspects of naval architecture, maritime engineering and related IT industry, corporate banking and financial skills we feel confident in giving our markets the best possible service. The company is currently working on a two tier 160.000 square meter covered and climate controled super modern shipyard in the Middle East, and a large Mega Yacht Service Yard in the Mediterranean. With partners it is working on a Service Yard and a giant Inland Waterway Canal and Aquafarming system also in the Middle East in addition to a new Maritime Center for Europe. It is completing a revolutionary new line of "Off-the Shelf" Multi-Mission, Stealth, Super Fast Patrol Boats, Corvettes, LCSs and Frigates in production shortly and because of their production friendly and modular design, at highly competitive prices. Finally the company's Green Energy Sector is currently working on introducing a new "hydrogen energy storage battery system" to its plans of converting vessels from diesel to battery fed electric drive, in this way helping to reduce pollution in ports and from river transportation.

This was a Yacht Broker, Yacht Charter and Yacht Management company with offices in Nice, France, which among other activities owned and managed a famous 33 meter, 12 guests 1930 classic super yacht with a crew of 6, which over the years won first, second and honors prices at the Monaco Classic Yachs Show and was sold after many years as a successful charter yacht. During this period Claus began developing the first systems for placing utility and domestic buildings on concrete floats which later developed into a complete system of floating villages, but by now several old colleagues, friends and family members wanted him to bring together a group of the most hands-on experienced naval architects and marine engineers from Scandinavia, the USA and UK for the purpose of utilizing their substantial accumulated experience for the design of the next generation of commercial and naval vessels and the shipyards to build them.

After building a 20 ton Bullard Pull Tug, 10 Trawlers (a gift for an African country from the Danish government) two Philatic Trawlers for Iran and two Standby Vessels to the latest UK ministry of transport and IMO regulations the yard was closed together with 16 other yards in Denmark as a result of failed political decissions to discontinue all shipyard susidies with immediate effect leaving some 6000 shipbuilders unemployed nation-wide over the next three years. As a result, going from being one of the biggest shipbuilding nations of the world Denmark is today left with one small active shipbuilder. An almost criminal decision for which the then minister of industry was never to be held responsible. Needless to say Claus decided never to have a business or company registered in Denmark again.

As independent maritime consultants the company was hired for a diversified mix of jobs from improving the quality of shipbuilding in Turkey, working as technical diplomats, to establish a major foothold in Europe for Gulf+Western's subsidiary Wilcox, Crittenden's line of marine fittings by setting up agencies in 21 European countries where over a period of three years it managed to increase Wilcox's European sales ten fold. As production planners the company was hired to set up quality fabrication of stainless steel tanks for wineries and breweries and to design and organize one of the earliest powder coating factory in Northern Europe. During this very creative period, far too many projects were successfully completed to mention here.

As director of this the largest builder in Scandinavia of fiber-glass boats from the 21' Coronet Playmate to the bulb-nosed center cockpit Coronet Elvstrom 38 and the 42' Coronet Patrol Boat, Claus's major role was to work on the company's overseas expansion plans in Singapore, Brasil and Canada. After starting the Coronet Canada manufacturing plant simultaneous with experiencing the first oil-crisis however, he came to the conclusion that it would be better for his future plans if they were directed toward a measure of independence through self-employment by establishing Santon Marine Consulting.

After a 3 months training period in American Marine's yard in Junk Bay, Hong Kong, producers of Alaskans and the larger Grand Banks, Claus was transferred to the new plant in Singapore as production and later plant manager. This being the worlds absolute biggest producer of motor yachts, when he started there were 600 workers when finished the plant had grown to 2800. During his period with American Marine they developed the Laguna 33 and 42, they changed the Grand Banks production from wood to fiberglass, they developed the Ford Lehmen Marine Engine and the Ammarine super-charged Marine Conversion Kit. Claus left to start his new job as Director at CORONET, Botved Boats, Denmark

At Olympic Claus started with three fiber-glass molds, a large shed and 5 people knowing very little about yacht building, all domestic trades people from near-by Lavrion. When he left the yard had a complete production-line of sailing yachts such as the 32 foot Olympic Princess the 41 foot Olympic Queen both luxury cabin cruisers, they had a production of speedboats and small sailboats, they had completed the first Dick Carter One Ton racing yacht and they had 125 fully trained yacht builders in fiberglass work, stainless steel and aluminium fittings manufacture, interior carpentry, engine installation and rigging, and were exporting sailing yachts to Northern Europe, USA and Canada. Claus stopped after being offered the unique chance to join Amarican Marine in Singapore as production manager, builders of Grand Banks and Lagunas, the worlds most popular motor yachts.

After returning to Denmark having saved a goodly sum of money from from his jobs in Canada and Malaysia Claus bought the old Bandholm Sawmill and converted it into a boatyard. He built two complete sailing yachts and made several refits, but times in Denmark for yacht building was not conducive to maintaining a suitable living, so when he was offered to come to Greece to organized a complete new yacht manufacturing plant right after marriage, he accepted and in this way started on a most satisfying period of management of large production lines of yacht and commercial vessels in many parts of the world..