Yacht news

US yacht market player Voyager Maritime Alliance Group (VMAG), has announced the successful completion of the largest superyacht conversion on the territory of the USA. VMAG project managed a complex refit of a 90-metre commercial ship initially launched in 1997, to become a fully integrated ocean-going superyacht named Voyager.The transformation work on the vessel began at Leevac Shipyards in Louisiana in 2015. Back then, Voyager was bought by Hornbeck Offshore, a company that provides logistics support and specialty services to the offshore oil and gas exploration and production, mainly in the USA. Then, a three-year conversion into an explorer yacht was ordered.First works done on Voyager included the lengthening of the platform, redesigning the bow area, and adding several superstructure decks for a completely new look. Then, Voyager was towed to Fort Lauderdale’s Dania Cut. During completion works, the superyacht was impowered with the new generators and took a complete interior rejuvenation. Overall, the vessel now boasts six decks with a helipad, spa room, dive centre, and extensive storage for tenders and water toys. Due to the complexity of the project, the delivery was postponed several times from December 2016. VMAG fitted the vessel with over 3,000 monitored points, a customised console with touch screen technology, multiple screens at the bridge enhancing view angles and displaying readability, integrated video switching that shows strategic areas of the vessel using laser detection sensors. David Leone, President of VMAG commented: With our team of technical engineers, I knew we could accomplish this particularly complex project. Impeccable Project Management was a key element to control the early stages that encompassed customised carpentry, welding, fabrication, vessel infrastructure cabling and detailed CAD design utilising naval architecture design and services. Very little was left untouched throughout the vessel, so it was crucial to manage each section of the refit, in the right order, to avoid any delays and additional costs.

Dutch yacht design and naval architecture company Jinlong has shared news on the launch of a 46.48-metre flagship superyacht of Chinese builder Jinlong. The vessel was designed for her owner, the martial arts movie star and producer Jackie Chan, who was also present at the ceremony.The order on the new 46.5-metre vessel was signed in October 2017, with production taking place at Jinglong’s Huludao Yacht Industry Park facility. Mulder design was responsible for both exteriors and interiors of the yacht, as well as her naval architecture.The full-aluminium vessel was built to RINA classification standards. Propelled by twin MTU 16V 2000 engines, the yacht will demonstrate a top speed of 21 knots and is designed to cruise at 19 knots. At a 12-knot speed though, she will be able to cover an impressive range of 3,000 nautical miles.Jackie Chan is considered one of the highest-payed actors in the world. Thus, in 2015 Forbes listed him second in the Highest Paid Actors ranking with $50 million earnings in 2014, seconding only to Robert Downey Jr. In 2019, Jackie Chan has earned $58 million, according to Forbes. Except for appearances in movies, he earns extra from a vast array of endorsements, producer credits and even his own line of movie theatres, states Forbes.In 2017, Jackie Chan took delivery of a 38.1-metre yacht by Chinese builder Ruiying.

The 43-metre yacht Adastra, one of the world's most amazing superyachts thanks to her futuristic design, has been listed for sale. According to media sources, such as CNN Travel, the world’s first luxury power trimaran of its size is owned by Hong-Kong-based billionaire and shipping tycoon Anto Marden.This futuristic projectile was built by Australian McConaghyyard in Hong-Kong in 2012—at a reported cost exceeding $20 million, to cruise Indonesia and Southeast Asia. In the seven years since the launch, she has crossed the Atlantic several times, taking Marden and his wife around the globe. Her reported estimated price now might amount to $ 12,000,000, states Robb Report.Designed by British studio Shuttleworth Design, Adastra was created with environmental impact in mind. Her aerodynamic wings help her float on the water, thus her drag is significantly reduced through only 20% of the vessel submerged in water. In light of this, the lightweight glass and carbon boat consumes only about 14% of the fuel used by more traditional yachts with the same specs. Before fuel and water, Adastra tips the scales at just 52 tonnes.According to comments shared by Marden with Robb Report, the yacht has a range of 10,000 nautical miles, as cruising at 10 knots, she burns only 4.5 gallons per hour. Meanwhile, Adastra has a top speed of 23 knots. The owner reported to recently sail from St. Maarten to Vigo in Spain, having enough fuel left to head back to the Caribbean.Hong Kong–based interior designers Jepsen Design developed the interiors for nine guests and six crew, offering five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and an open-air bar. One of her most innovative features is an option for remote control by an iPad from up to 164 feet away. Collecting several design awards, the yacht as also awarded Most Innovative Design at the World Superyacht Awards in 2013.According to Robb Report, the reason the owners have put the vessel on sale is that she is not getting enough use, as they cruised to all the places they wanted to cruise.Generally, the innovative vessel has been attracting the attention of press and yachting enthusiasts ever since her launch, spotted here and there, for instance in Gibraltar or in Fijian waters.

This week, the U.S. women's football team celebrated their FIFA World Cup 2019 trophy aboard the 66-metre Delta Marine superyacht Invictus owned by U.S. billionaire and real estate magnate Rick Caruso, reports Forbes.The women won the cup on Sunday, July 7, defeating the Netherlands 2-0. Two days later, members of the team including Crystal Dunn, Ali Krieger and co-captain Alex Morgan posted Instagram stories from the yacht showcasing their cruise past the Statue of Liberty.According to Forbes, the visit was confirmed by Caruso’s representative, explaining that the owner of Invictus is a football fan, inviting the team onboard to demonstrate his support for equal pay to the male counterparts, which was the team’s long-time issue.Rick Caruso’s net worth estimated at $4 billion by Forbes, comes from a net of open-air shopping centres he developed around Los Angeles. His best-known property Grove, receives nearly 20 million visitors a year, overdoing the Great Wall of China or Disneyland.Delivered by Delta Marine in 2013, the yacht of a steel hull and aluminium superstructure features a 13.1-metre beam and a 4-metre draft. Within exteriors by Delta Design Group and interiors by Diane Johnson Design, Invictus can accommodate 12 guests across 6 cabins.Powered by engines of 2,575 hp, Invents boasts a maximum speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots.Invictus is available for charter starting from € 428,400 per week , through Burgess.

Along with the recent press hype over the forthcoming episode of the James Bond film series, Italian Videoworks Group has revealed the technologies they deployed on-board a 69-metre James-Bond-inspired Benetti superyacht Spectre, delivered in 2018.Even bearing her name after a James Bond film, the yacht represents a steel-hulled vessel with aluminium superstructure, pool and "touch ang go" helipad. Spectre features exterior design by Benetti, Mulder Design and Giorgio Cassetta, able to demonstrate a maximum speed of 21.2  knots.The indoor design concept has been created by the Benetti Interior Style Department, while Videoworks has built a highly technological installation that comprises audio-video, network, telephony, home automation and CCTV systems. Below is more information on the yacht’s amazing techno features.AUDIO-VIDEOThe AV system is fully centralised, installed in a small dedicated rack room, with 7 full-height racks. Their super-customised frame has been specifically designed to fit into the available space (the cabins have only TVs, speakers and iPads). A full-height rack is in the wheelhouse, whereas a small deck rack is dedicated to networking and communications.Audio-video contents are transmitted via fibre-optics. In addition to the Kaleidescape film and music server, there is a server dedicated to the crew, who can access it via iPads. With the Kaleidescape provider, Videoworks has managed the pre-loading of approximately 1800 DVDs and Blu-ray discs (music and films), complete with covers, metadata, info on actors, trailers and special content. In this way Owners are guaranteed a customised service that is certainly convenient to use.Every room in Spectre has its own HDMI socket near the TV, to display files from local sources. The skylounge hall in the upper deck has two TVs (with 75” and 49” screens) with independent audio systems, although they share the same group of sources. Everything is managed through a matrix that allows to configure the area with multiple combinations, depending on the purpose (party, show, institutional video + satellite channel, etc.). The Sea Tel 100 TV HD satellite dishes (SAT TV) can receive European and American HD channels. This kind of satellite dish works worldwide, which means there is no need for LNB replacement when changing hemisphere.HOME AUTOMATIONInternal and external LED lights are managed via Crestron keyboards and DALI protocol, with customised silk-screen printed buttons. Videoworks’s sister company, Itworks, has created a customised software for light management, which allows to restore previously saved settings and to save the new configuration as setting, uploading it when requested. A 'secret' procedure, known only to the crew, allows to return to the original settings and to easily restore the system. Owners can use an iPad to call staff from any part of the yacht; the call is received and displayed in the crew mess and in the pantry. The super-silent Lutron blinds can be controlled via Crestron touch-screen and iPad with customised silk-screen printed keyboards. NMEA navigation information (wind speed, direction, cruising speed, sea depth, etc.) can be viewed using the specific Myinfos App developed by Itworks.  NETWORK AND CYBERSECURITYOnboard network security (firewall, bandwidth manager, connection manager, etc.) is guaranteed by the Kerio NG500 system, which allows to surf securely while on board and to manage bandwidth as needed, e.g. if the Owner needs to work aboard, the system allows to limit bandwidth access and use. To guarantee the greatest security possible, the system uses Cisco products from the Catalyst and Aironet professional lines.TELEPHONYThe telephone switchboard is managed through a Cisco Router and the Cisco Unified Communication Manager software. The system includes 17 cordless telephones + 17 landlines, buzzer, fax line and light signals for calls from the Engine Room.CCTV SYSTEM The closed circuit television system manages 10 cameras, two PTZ cameras (one interior and one exterior), a number of external fixed cameras and a 360° fisheye camera, two observation and management stations (one in the wheelhouse and one in the crew mess), through a dedicated Panasonic software and PC touch panel. The Network Disk Recorder allows the captain to make recordings for security, control and surveillance purposes. The CCTV system is integrated in the entertainment section through the Itworks 'Myinfos' app.__________The yacht, which is a winner of the 2019 World Superyacht Awards category ‘Displacement yachts between 500 and 1,999 tonnes,’ was built for US entrepreneur John Staluppi (net worth $500 million, Celebrity Net Worth) with a passion for speed and technology in mind and as a part of his James-Bond inspired-fleet. Nevertheless, Staluppi sold Spectre in February 2019 asking €65,000,000.Meanwhile, the James Bond theme has been driving inspiration for numerous yacht enthusiasts through years. Some yachts have even become ultimate attributives of the story, with Spirit 54 Soufriere appearing in Casino Royale, or Sunseeker Sovereign 17 filmed in Quantum of Solace.Recommended articles : Serial yacht owners: Spectre; Inside John Staluppi's Bond themed superyacht fleet.