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he team behind the 182.9-meter research expedition vessel REV has posted a construction update on the project. This world's largest superyacht is taking shape at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania. Week by week the REV vessel is slowly coming together. It currently sits in 6 large blocks and will be assembled over the coming months into one large superstructure. The ship is scheduled for delivery early 2021.Built for environmental research missions in partnership with WWF Norway, the Research Expedition Vessel (REV) will also be available for charter for recreational purposes and expeditions. George Gill the Director of Miller Compton Maritime Ltd was asked by Norwegian businessman and owner of the project Mr Kjell Inge Røkke in May 2016 to develop the enormous 183-meter research expedition vessel which is expected to secure the title of the world’s largest yacht, both in terms of length and volume.REV is a very important project for all Norwegians. As Norway is one of a world-leading maritime nation and has the opportunities for taking on a global leadership role for exploring and taking care of the ocean. The Prime Minister of Norway supports the vision that ‘oceans are under pressure due to climate change, overfishing and waste pollution. To ensure the future growth of the ocean economy, we need to harvest resources in a sustainable way’.The Executive Secretary Vladimir Ryabinin of IOC of UNESCO also are very looking forward to REV: ‘It is exciting to know that a newest and most advanced research vessel will soon ply the global ocean and that she will be available to host scientists from all the world, especially from developing countries’.REV is a unique vessel: is designed to operate in remote and vulnerable waters for long periods without additional external support, the ship will be equipped for research and investigation of the entire marine ecosystem. The ship has the range and equipment to explore, document and collect. It also applies the Polar Code adopted by The International Maritime Organization for ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic conditions and can operate autonomously for 114 days. Depends on request of the project the capacity of the ship is up to 90 persons total including passengers, crew, scientists. Designed by famous Espen Øino, REV is tailored for research and expedition activities. Her robust exterior lines and modern features ensure she is able to cruise in arctic and tropical areas alike, with a hull built to ICE PC6 for navigation in ice. Two helipads can host drones and helicopter, while overhead cranes can lift and launch equipment weighing up to 20T over the side. Her drop keels enable echo sounders and sonars to be placed in undisturbed water below the hull for research of the world’s ecosystems, and built into her stern is a trawl hangar and pelagic trawling system.Built to the highest standards for both expeditions and recreational purposes the ship includes such features as a hospital with a medic cabin, High-tech equipment to monitor and survey marine areas, currents, the seabed, fish and plant life, while cutting-edge laboratory facilities enable onboard analysis. There will be an auditorium for lectures, and the capacity for live streaming, also a Moonpool, an eco-harvesting system for live catch and release of biomass and pelagic samples, and an underwater hydrophone system for listening to ocean mammals.Photos via REV Ocean

The Palm Beach International Yacht Show 2019 is scheduled for March 28-31 this year. The show will highlight yachts and day boats worth in the whole more than $1 billion, displayed along with entertaining activities, live music and floating lounge zones. As the X date approaches, Yacht Harbour overviews the largest vessels to be seen at the event.#5 ChasseurLength: 50 mBuilder: ChristensenAsking price: $33,750,000A three-deck motor yacht Chasseur was launched by American yard Christensen in 2016. With interior volume of 499 GT, her contemporary interior styling was developed by VARO Interior Design studio based in Vancouver. The yacht’s exterior styling and naval architecture were developed in-house. She is trademarked with a silver hull, a 9-metre beam and light GRP construction ensure spacious sitting areas for the guests at the waterline. As to her accommodation capacity, Chasseur can house up to 12 guests on board within six suites, including a full-beam master suite.#4 Lazy ZLength: 51,4 mBuilder: OceancoAsking price: $16,900,000Built by Oceanco in 1997, this yacht features a steel hull and aluminum superstructure within a beam of 9,45 metres. She underwent two significant refits in 2015 and 2017, marking interior improvements and installation of new MTU engines. Powered by the latter, Lazy Z can reach her maximum speed at 17 knots and cruises comfortably at 15 knots. Interior volume amounts to 638 GT. The yacht’s exterior design was developed by Richard Hein, with interior design commissioned to The A Group. Up to 12 guests can be comfortably accommodated in 6 cabins on-board, as well as 12 crew members.#3 ElixirLength: 55 mBuilder: AmelsAsking price: €38,900,000Elixir was delivered by Dutch shipyard Amels in 2016. Her exterior design concept was developed by Tim Heywood, with interior designed by Laura Sessa. Her owner contributes to modern interior look with jet black gloss and stainless steel around the superstructure. The magnificent outdoor spaces include a huge Sun Deck, folding bulwarks for Main Deck indoor dining with an al fresco feeling, along with the owner's Suite balcony. #2 MinderellaLength: 58,82 m Builder: FeadshipAsking price: $16,900,000The yacht was built by Feadship in 1986. With her interior volume of 702 GT, she features steel hull and aluminum superstructure within a 9,51-meter beam. The yacht’s total gross tonnage makes up 702 tons. Minderella reaches her maximum speed at 16 knots and cruises comfortably at 13,5 knots. Her accommodation capacity enables having up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. Her exterior design was developed by De Voogt, with her interior design elaborated by Terence Disdale.# 1. Excellence VLength: 60mBuilder: Abeking & RasmussenAsking price: €69,500,000The leader of the list was built in 2012 by Abeking & Rasmussen for American billionaire Herb Chambers. Moving all the way up from a 30ft Trojan fishing boat in the 70s, the automotive dealership mogul held Excellence V as his flagship since it was built. The 60-meter is now for sale as Chambers prepares to take delivery of a 88-meter yacht in build at Abeking.Excellence V features multiple on-board amenities, including a dedicated cinema and waterfront gym, oversized beach club, full owner's deck and multiple outdoor lounge areas with spa pool. Excellence V can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 cabins on-board.

Yacht Harbour looks at the best images from the social media world over the past week.#1. 115m superyacht concept Art of Life Art of Life concept released by Sinot during Monaco Yacht Show 2018, represents a statement of elegance and a synthesis of beauty and functionality. Her striking exterior style, with its overhang at the stern and forward projecting bow, is reminiscent of a 16th century Dutch icon of shipbuilding, the schooner yacht. With ’Schoon’, meaning both ‘good looking’ and ‘clean’ in Dutch, the term ‘schooner’ stands for the yacht’s fast, versatile and efficient hull.The yacht is trademarked with panoramic stern lounge, fitted with a large floor-to-ceiling slanted window and a 384-inch retractable cinema screen, along with vast exterior al fresco spaces.#2. 91m Lady LaraPhoto by @loriansmithBuilt by Lurssen in 2015, the yacht features the exterior and interior design from Reymond Langton. Lady Lara's alluring amenities include VIP suites with fold down balconies, a large beach club, a gym, Jacuzzi, a swimming pool and a helipad.The yacht features feminine elegance when viewed at a distance, thanks to her sweeping curves and elegant proportions that allow her masculine details to emerge. #3. 123m Al Lusail captured in Gibraltar Photo by @superyachts_gibraltarLaunched in 2016 by Lurssen, the yacht features extravagant exterior by H2 Yacht Design and interior styling by March&White.This highly secretive build features a full-displacement steel hull that supports an aluminum superstructure and teak decks. This adds up to a gross tonnage of nearly 8,500 GT. Al Lusail boasts a top speed of 15 knots with a cruising speed of 12 knots.As to the yacht’s name, Lusail is the newest planned city in Qatar, located on the coast, 23 km north of the city centre of Doha. Construction is still ongoing but it is planned to have marinas, residential areas, island resorts, luxury shopping and leisure facilities.#4. 98m Aviva captured in Sardinia Photo by @p.gonschorekThis yacht was built by Abeking & Rasmussen in 2017 for Joe Lewis, becoming the 4th Aviva in the UK billionaire’s fleet.This latest Aviva boasts exterior and interior design by Reymond Langton that teamed up with Toby Silverton to developed her sleek and elegant profile. The boat’s modern interior notably features a 20x10x6-metre tennis court. Her efficient hull shape is said to reduce drag by up to 20%. While she cruises at the maximum speed of 30 knots, a very special hybrid drive system allows Aviva to run at up to 11 knots, using electric motors only.#5. 142,8 m S/Y A by NobiskrugPhoto by @julien_hubertThe yacht delivered in 2017 features masts stunningly taller than Big Ben. With the height of nearly 100 meters, S/Y A boasts over 12,600 GT of interior volume, just 3,100 less than Dilbar, the most voluminous yacht in the world. By this measurement, she's also 4.6 times larger than the largest sailing yacht in the world, the 108-meter Black Pearl.The yacht powered by twin MTU engines of 4,827 HP each, is projected to reach her top speed at 20 knots without using her sails and feature cruising speed of 16 knots under transatlantic range of 5,320 nautical miles.

After nearly 30 years of building yachts in Vancouver, Washington, Christensen Shipyards finishes relocation process within several months, moving to a new facility at Tellico Lake, Tennessee. The move follows a long-lasting court battle between the co-owners of US yard, Dave Christensen and Henry Luken. Yacht Harbour takes a closer look at the story behind the decision.Dave Christensen founded the Christensen Shipyards, Ltd. in 1985. Since then, the company specialised in building yachts of up to 45 metres LOA and a maximum beam of 10 metres within its 17,000 m2 facility. During the 1990s, affected by general crisis in the industry and high costs of yacht construction, the company’s revenue became inconsistent. Often unable to get bank loans to finance projects, they were selling yachts in advance, with ongoing operations financed by not very frequent customers.Dave Christensen and Henry Luken first met in 1997, when the latter purchased a yacht from the yard. In 2003, Luken bought 50 percent share of the company’s stock, joining the board of directors. The remaining shares were split between Christensen and his family.As it was later revealed from the legal filings, the owners parties’ discontent with each other had been raising from that time, as Luken claimed his funds were allocated on company expenses and operations or even ended up missing, instead of being held in trust while the boats were being built. The Christensens argued that Luken demanded large commissions on every yacht sale, reducing the company’s revenue.In 2006, Luken began construction of another facility at the Tellico Lake in his home state of Tennessee. He aimed to open an eastern division of Christensen yachts, suitable for construction of larger vessels. However, due to economical problems the building was soon frozen. The economic downturn also hit the company’s Vancouver operation, eventually forcing the company to lay off up to 80 percent of its local workforce.Starting from the end of 2014, multiple creditors began to file notices under the Uniform Commercial Code, declaring interest in the property as collateral for debts. The edge of bankruptcy led Luken to file a lawsuit in 2015 asking for the company to be placed into receivership. After a period of receiveship, the court decided that the best way to repay creditors would have been through selling the company to a buyer willing to keep its operation. Thus, the shipyard was sold to Luken for $5,500,000 despite objections from the Christensens. The acquisition implied name and all the company’s assets including a long-term lease on the shipyard and reforming Christensen Yachts as a new business entity. The Christensens though argued that Luken used his financial influence and position on the board to draw the company into receivership so that he could purchase it cheaply.A second lawsuit between the parties was filed one year later, lasting more than two years until both parties agreed on selling Vancouver facility to Vigor Industries, American shipbuilder and ship repairer, in February, 2019. The latter plans to manufacture a new type of landing craft for the U.S. Army called the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) at the yard. Vigor plans to start with employing 130 workers and grow up to 400 after a few years, as Christensen used to employ 500 people at the peak.According to Christensen’s President, Jim Gilbert, the company is now negotiotiating for the first contracts to be implemented within the new facility. The construction processes at the new yard finishes in 6 months, and the company is to come up with some fresh designs models within the time. However, they are going to stick to the traditional focus on large volume boats in general.The company is currently building a 50-metre Hull 42 at Vancouver facility, but the vessel will be moved to Tennessee this summer for completion. Christensen yachts currently employs about 70, Gilbert said, and all of them are being offered the chance to stay with the company at their current salary if they move to Tennessee.All in all, members of the Christensen family have not commented on the details of the settlement. According to Luken, it implied a lien on the shipyard property, and that he would receive nearly $ 5,000,000 from the sale. Despite that, Luken still claims that his involvement with the company caused him in an estimated net loss of nearly $15,000,000, largely due to a yacht he bought from the yard, never seeing her delivery.

Y.CO has announced the sale of the 77,4-meter expedition superyacht Legend. She was built in 1974 and called Giant I like an ice-breaking tug and firstly was used to clear passages for nuclear submarines into and out of Russia’s ports. She was built by IHC Verschure in Holland and extensively rebuilt in 2016 at Icon Yachts into a luxury expedition superyacht. In 2017, she was first listed asking €46.5 million.Since her re-launch, Legend has cruised from Antarctica to Greenland and beyond. After the completion of the technical and system upgrades, extensive modifications to her exterior were made. Her stern was extended by 3.6 meters and it was equipped with a swim platform. The project became the second led by her former owner, Jan Verkerk, following Sherakhan.She has a helicopter pad, on the forward deck there is the garage for a submarine and 4 tenders and many toys you can imagine from paddle boards to jet-skis to snow scooters and ice-diving equipment. So many features as a gym, a Balinese spa with sauna and massage room, Jacuzzi and beauty salon are available for guests. Also, a cinema room and entertainment system, a medical suite, and a swimming pool provide you with all the needed facilities. Legend can accommodate up to 26 guests in 13 luxurious guest cabins, consisting of a grand master suite, two VIP suites, five double cabins and five twin cabins. Also, she is capable of carrying up to 19 crew on board, plus an extra 10 expedition crew to include doctor, ice-pilot, expedition leaders and naturalists. All these features help to ensure the most relaxed luxury yacht experience combined with the unforgettable discovery adventure which is available for charter.