The Ferretti Group, a luxury yacht company whose stake is controlled by Chinese state-owned Weichai, is set to appear at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show despite drawing data sharing concerns that activists say could jeopardize military installations across the country.
They warn Ferretti, which makes Riva and Pershing connected yachts, are floating data centers that put national security and owners' personal data at risk. The luxury vessels are said to gather and transmit engine data, remote diagnostics, relay GPS position and route logs, satellite communications traffic, and navigation inputs that may be used to map marinas, harbors, and waters near the country's military installations if in the wrong hands, including right here in Florida.
Adding to it, Weichai, based in the Chinese province of Shandong, took eight of the nine seats on Ferretti Group's board of directors in May. That control includes allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 2017 National Intelligence Law supporting national intelligence efforts.
But that's not all. The CCP's National Defense Mobilization Law, revised just this month, also puts private companies and their data like Weichi under party control during wartime planning, presenting a scary predicament if the two superpowers were ever to collide.
Ferretti, which has operations in Fort Lauderdale, is expected to showcase the two yacht brands at the Florida International Boat Show (FLIBS) running from Wednesday to Sunday. FLIBS is billed as the "largest in-water boat show in the world" with 100,ooo expected attendees and over 1,300 yachts on display.
An estimated 1,500 Ferretti yachts sail in U.S. Waters, with many owned by sports stars and billionaires who might not be aware of the CCP's potential danger.
But activists do, and they are calling on Washington to add Weichai to a list of Chinese military companies. Specifically, Weichai's supply includes engines that power a Chinese rocket launcher sold to the People's Liberation Army.
The company also holds 46.5% stake in KION, whose US arm, Dematic, equips the U.S. Army and Navy.
Notably, D.C. has regulated Chinese software and hardware from connected vehicles sold in the U.S. citing similar collection and remote access concerns. Can it do the same for its waters?
While the company's presence might be too late for the boat show, Florida lawmakers are quickly looking to put a stop to it.
"You won’t believe what’s happening at the Florida Boat Show in Fort Lauderdale this week. Historic yacht builder and longtime attendee, Ferretti, is now controlled by a company run by the Chinese Communist Party - Weichai," Congressman Randy Fine wrote. "Why is a CCP-tied company in Florida’s backyard? We need answers and must get their influence out of Florida ASAP."
U.S. Sen Rick Scott responded to Rep. Fine, writing, "The Florida boat show is a great event and critical for our tourism and economy, but I am deeply concerned about this."
Rep. Fine also tagged Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Brian Mast, Carlos Gimenez, and Byron Donalds, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), reflecting the urgency.
