Yacht news

Earlier today, a large fire broke out at Lurssen's Bremen shipyard in a floating dock and building unit where a 100-meter+ yacht was under construction. Over 110 firefighters were dispatched to the site, no one was injured during the incident but the new build is expected to have taken serious damage.According to initial reports in the German media, the fire broke out around 02:00, the cause of which is still being investigated. Three of the yacht's deck are believed to have caught on fire. 35 to 40 vehicles were dispatched on site according to a spokesman for the local fire department.130-meters long and 30-meter wide according to German media, the floating dock caught fire early morning and was evacuated immediately, the new build inside also caught on fire as was confirmed by Lurssen to NWZ Online.For the moment it is unclear what new build was damaged by the fire. This morning, additional fire crews were requested to join the scene bringing the total to 170 people as the fire fighters are trying to get the situation under control. Throughout the night a large cloud of smoke was spreading out of the building hall.Seen on images outside the facility, it is know that the 135-meter Project Shu was not the new build in question to be damaged. The 135-meter Crescent was also already out of the shipyard and delivered by the time of the fire. The larger Project SASSI could have been candidate for the new build that burnt down.Operated by the Lurssen family for 4 generations, the shipyard has become a global leader in the megayacht space in recent decades. Initially founded in 1875 by Friedrich Lurssen, the company grew from building smaller motor yachts in a different era to building superyachts by 1962 when it delivered the 55-meter Pegasus. Now known as the company behind many of the world's largest yachts such as Azzam, Dilbar, Pelorus or Rising Sun amongst other, Lurssen is also active in the military space, having built patrol boats, frigates and even mine warfare vessels.The Lurssen fire becomes the second high profile one in yachting this month, shortly following the fire that destroyed the 40-meter CCN Kanga in Croatia.Lurssen released a statement, regarding this situtation : "In the early morning at approximately 02:00 a fire broke out in the floating dock of the Fr. Lürssen Shipyard in Bremen-Aumund and onboard the yacht within it. The emergency procedures commenced immediately, in the course of which the persons still working on board were evacuated and examined with respect to possible smoke intoxication and the fire fighting department and emergency response teams were alarmed. Additionally the whole premises were evacuated. Currently, no casualties are known. At the moment, 110 fire fighters and rescuers are onsite, also supported by a team of the Jos. L. Meyer shipyard. Further buildings or other ships were not affected. No statement can be made so far towards the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage".Photos via Twitter

The major fire that broke out at Lurssen's Bremen facility earlier this week, destroying a 100-meter plus new build, became a major story in the yachting field. The development is now set to hit the insurance sector with a group of marine insurers that could be facing a payment of up to €590 million over the fire at Lurssen.Various social media posts have been quick to point out the damaged new build, 3 decks of which at least have caught on fire, to be the 140-meter Project Sassi, which was reportedly due to be launched in coming months. The identity of the ship has so far not been confirmed.Industry reports say the insurance policy for the new build was started in October 2014, in a building risk slip led by QBE, a leading Australian insurer with a market capitalisation of over €9 billion. Yet, the 4.6% exposure QBE is understood to have in the slip, potentially equivalent to €27 million in losses, would amount to a loss of nearly 12% of its net profits for the first half of 2018.Dr Duu / Project Sassi before assemblyQBE would in fact not be the insurance company with the largest exposure in the new build, with Lancashire potentially on the hook for €70 million as a 9.4% slip stakeholder. RSA, Atrium and Beazly could also each have to payout between €40m - €45m.The policy, which could now have the largest maritime insurance payout since the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, is understood to be designed to cover the vessel as well as the related property and construction materials used to build it through to the final delivery.This large insurance payout threat comes at a difficult time for marine insurance providers, which has been prone to a large number of changes and consolidation in recent years. Less than 20% of the yachting premiums written by syndicates turned a profit between 2011 and 2017 according to Re-Insurance, leading to many insurers stepping away from the maritime market.Photos via Instagram and DrDuu

With the date on which IMO Tier III regulations come into force for all superyachts fast approaching, suppliers such as MarQuip are increasingly in demand. This year’s Monaco Yacht Show will set the stage for the Dutch experts in exhaust systems and silencers for the industrial, energy and marine markets to showcase its unrivalled solutions and know-how.The IMO Tier III regulations stipulate that nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions must be some 70% lower than those permitted under the Tier II rules. These latest standards have applied to large vessels built in or after 2016 which are intended to sail the world’s major sailing areas, and will come into force for all superyachts from 2021 onwards.While this eco-friendly measure has been applauded by the boating community, it will create many new challenges for the builders and operators of yacht engines. Boats on the smaller side will be subject to particular constraints – in most cases it will not be enough to just tune the engine, with a combination of new techniques and technologies required instead.The problem is essentially one of size. “After-treatment units are heavy and bulky, and smaller yachts have smaller engine rooms,” explains Jeroen van der Matten, MarQuip’s general manager of operations. “On larger boats, engine manufacturers are producing engines with standardised after-treatment. This has the added value of allowing producers to deal with a single supplier, and facilitates certification, servicing and warranty issues.”“With yachts below 500 GT, however, there will often not be enough space for these standard solutions,” Van der Matten points out. “This is where MarQuip can provide serious added value: we can deliver custom solutions that will fit each engine room, and we have the capability to combine a silencer and an after-treatment system in a single unit – both things that engine manufacturers cannot.”Thanks to its many years of experience and unrivalled expertise in yacht exhaust systems, MarQuip is well placed to respond to these challenges with a selection of innovative solutions. The company has experience in a wide range of custom exhaust projects and is particularly good at merging existing components with its own solutions.MarQuip looks resolutely to the future. “We would like to challenge engine manufacturers to come up with better options and better solutions,” Van der Matten continues. “Normally enginesand after-treatment units are delivered as big standardised boxes and that’s it – more often than not they will be slightly adapted versions of solutions originally designed for onshore applications. This may work for tankers or large commercial vessels, but is a far cry from what many owners of smaller yachts need. The industry could benefit from a more maritime-centric perspective.“There are very few superyachts on the water with the latest after-treatment systems; they are mostly still being built. The first problems will come up – and be managed – over the coming few years. We are already seeing a lot of discussions about factors such as which materials to use and the best ways to tackle corrosion. These are all new topics, new problems and new challenges. In partnership with its customers and partners, MarQuip stands ready to provide the solutions.”MarQuip will have a representation without a fixed stand at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, which will take place from 26 to 29 September. The company’s team will be on hand to discuss the IMO Tier III regulations and their implications for the period beyond 2021, as well as other new developments and projects.

Gulf Craft's superyacht the Majesty 140 wins the prestigious award for 'Best Yacht Layout' at the 17th edition of the coveted World Yacht Trophies. Competing with superyachts from leading top European yacht manufacturers, the Majesty 140 made her global debut at Dubai International Boat Show this year. One of the sought-after awards in the yachting sector, the famous World Yachts Trophies is held every year during the Cannes Yachting Festival. Organized by Yachts France, the entries were judged by a panel of experts made up of highly qualified members belonging to the steering committee of the publishing network. The panel was entrusted with the task of selecting and evaluating the boats and the winners for each category.A masterpiece created by Gulf Craft’s very own Design Studio, the Majesty 140 sets new standards in on-board space and entertainment features. In a class of its own, the luxurious tri-deck superyacht boasts a Gross Tonnage of 360 tons and features 6 staterooms with the option to increase up to 7 staterooms. The elegant 140-foot superyacht's extensive glass side windows allow plenty of sunlight inside and give the guests stunning panoramic views of the seascape around. Recently, the first hull renamed as C'est La Vie, which translates as "This is Life" was delivered to her owner. The Majesty 140 is the successor of the other award winning superyacht, Majesty 135. Notis Meneloau, VP of Sales and Mahmoud Itani, Marketing and Communications Manager received the prestigious award during the glittering ceremony that took place on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel, Cannes.The invitation-only night is a great bonding evening for yachting professionals, owners, shipyards and media to meet and reward the best innovations of the luxury nautical industry of last season. Over 300 guests attended this exclusive cocktail gala night comprising a prestige dinner, yacht parade, awards ceremony, fireworks and party.

Diana Yacht Design has unveiled a brand new concept for a 60-metre explorer yacht, designed to reach even the most remote areas of the world. The new explorer design follows on the success of Legend, a fully classified Class 1 ice-breaking ship which was previously converted into the world’s only ice-breaking charter yacht. Capable of taking her guests anywhere in the world, Legend was named the best superyacht in the Rebuild category at the World SuperYachts Awards in 2017.Now Diana Yacht Design has taken its expertise and know-how to the next level with the development of Beyond, a unique explorer yacht created with ocean and sky exploration in mind. The steel hull and forward aluminium superstructure paired with high bow give her exterior lines a sleek and strong appeal, indicating her readiness to master any cruising conditions. “I wanted to create an explorer yacht which really has the rugged look associated with this type of vessel,” explains Casper Marelis, a finalist at the prestigious young designer of the year awards. Presenting his first concept as designer and Naval architect at Diana Yacht Design, he talks us through his vision for Beyond and what makes her a one of a kind explorer yacht. “The grey border interrupts the green hull which makes the bow look even more impressive while ensuring the overall side view does not look too massive,” he says on her exterior styling.In addition to her robust exterior, Beyond also features a wide arrangement for tenders and storage space, which can be easily transformed to suit the needs of the voyage, highlighting the flexibility of her design. The low bulwarks, open decks and glass railing let guests relish the wide views, while the dedicated observatory, located on the sundeck, features a unique gyro-stabilised telescope. “The ability to adapt to and to get the most out of every exploring trip makes Beyond unique,” he explains. The first explorer yacht design to include a private observatory, the Dutch design firm aims to offer clients the chance go further than what is on the surface of the ocean by discovering the mysteries of the skies at night.Next to the observatory, the explorer design also includes a certified helideck on the bridge deck aft and space for a submersible and toys. “The multi-purpose tender garage on the main deck, which can be configured to the needs of the exploration to let you store snowmobiles, extra dinghies and skies all in a closed space ensure her owner is able to discover more than just the obvious,” adds Marelis. The tender garage can also be opened up and increase the outside deck, offering guests more space for an outside lounge for example. The sliding doors and four overhead cranes can be used to move the extra vessels or vehicles and are not in the way of the aft main deck for easy access to the swim platform.The interior layout of Beyond also supports the philosophy of extended living on board, which is why it includes a cinema on the cabin deck, a fully equipped dive store, an internal boarding room, gym and wellness centre as well as the observatory, with a direct connection to the owner’s lounge, with a private seating area, making it ideal for extended voyages at sea. The owner’s lounge has a complete glass aft all, which offers an uninterrupted view of their surroundings, while the owner’s suite features 180 degrees views and a private jacuzzi.Offering plenty of room for all, Beyond is able to accommodate up to 14 guests in seven staterooms, including four doubles and two twins cabins and the owner’s cabin. The crew quarters are spacious and can accommodate up to 17 crew members including the captain, who has a private cabin by the wheelhouse. The tank deck includes a dedicated laundry area and plenty of refrigeration facilities, with all decks being connected by a dumbwaiter. “One of the biggest challenges when designing Beyond was the proportioning of living spaces in combination with the big tender and equipment storage area,” notes Marelis.“The living spaces are positioned quite far forward, while the lower deck should still be accessible via the central elevator/staircase.” The addition of the observatory with the telescope, incorporated so owners can make full use of the zero to no light pollution zones the explorer yacht can travel to, has been position in a unique way to make sure it did not compromise the overall design and remained clear of the Bimini on the sundeck.Created for clients with a keen sense of adventure and an eagerness to explore the Beyond, this explorer yacht is sure to turn heads. “Beyond was created for a visionary owner, a self-made entrepreneur who made his dreams into a living. His dream is to see the world and beyond and get the most out of every exploration."