Cruisers Yachts Unveils Flybridge Series, Debuting with the 55 Fly in 2024

A fire that broke out at Lürssen's Rendsburg shipyard on July 2, 2024, has now been extinguished, and clean-up operations are underway. The blaze, which began around 9:20 a.m. local time, raged for approximately 20 hours before being brought under control in the early hours of the morning.According to the fire department, the fire originated in a shipbuilding hall and quickly spread to other areas of the yard. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions and thick columns of dark smoke emanating from the site. Local news sources have mentioned that the hall's roof and façade partially collapsed, and a superyacht under construction, reportedly named Honolulu, sustained damage. The 75-meter vessel, valued at $250 million, is being built for a Saudi Arabian billionaire.Approximately 100 employees were present at the yard when the fire broke out. They were promptly evacuated, and one person sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical treatment. During the height of the fire, Lürssen issued a statement: "All necessary evacuation measures were initiated immediately. One person was slightly injured and is receiving emergency medical treatment. The fire brigade and police are on site. We are currently unable to say anything about the cause of the fire."In total, 400 emergency service personnel and two rescue helicopters were deployed to combat the blaze.This morning, Lürssen provided an updated statement: "The fire that occurred on Tuesday in a shipbuilding hall at the Lürssen-Kröger shipyard has been extinguished since the early hours of the morning. We will now begin the clean-up work step by step in coordination with the responsible authorities. Shipyard operations have been suspended for today and will be gradually restarted in designated areas of the shipyard site from tomorrow, depending on the circumstances. Employees will be kept informed of the latest developments."<iframe width=560 height=315 src=https://www.youtube.com/embed/W9XYbuSYIh8?si=UbFNDxDEfaeUp9zL title=YouTube video player frameborder=0 allow=accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>Authorities plan to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire once the temperature in the affected area has sufficiently decreased.Lürssen is a German shipyard with headquarters in Bremen-Vegesack and shipbuilding facilities in Lemwerder, Berne and Bremen-Aumund. Founded in 1875, Lürssen is one of the world's leading builders of custom luxury superyachts and has launched many of the largest yachts in the global fleet.Credits: Pirlz/YouTube

Benetti has announced the sale of Project Iron Man, an 80-meter custom yacht, highlighting the company's global reputation as a premier builder of bespoke mega yachts. This project embodies the owner's vision, skillfully realized by Benetti and designer Giorgio Maria Cassetta.Introduced to her new owner by Joe Foggia of Northrop & Johnson in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with assistance from the Benetti Americas office, Project Iron Man reflects Benetti’s dedication to excellence in yacht building. The client, a repeat Benetti owner, sought to push the limits of design, technology, and seakeeping. The yacht's exterior, crafted by Cassetta and his design team, meets the highest standards of refinement and quality.“We are deeply proud of this yacht, as it marks a significant milestone both for the owner, who is a treasured loyal customer, and for us as a shipyard,” said Daniela Petrozzi, Sales Director at Benetti Yachts. “This new build reinforces our valued relationship and shared commitment to excellence.”The owner, who appreciated the aesthetics, functionality, and reliability of their previous Benetti vessel, returned to the shipyard for this new project, engaging deeply in the design process. A key focus was creating expansive outdoor areas for multi-generational family gatherings, ensuring relaxing and scenic environments.“The owner and their team really appreciate the open and receptive experience Benetti is known for, along with their ability to make the whole experience a win-win situation for all parties involved,” said Joe F. Foggia, Yacht Broker and New Construction Expert at Northrop & Johnson.Giorgio M. Cassetta, the exterior designer of Project Iron Man, commented, “We are honored to create a new, beautiful design for a client who has shown us great support from our first meeting five years ago, continuously backing our vision through both his first and now second build with us. The dedication he and his family have shown in defining the design will be key to creating a new masterpiece.”Project Iron Man is scheduled for delivery in late 2028.Founded in 1873, Benetti is the oldest Italian shipyard specializing in luxury yachts. Benetti designs, builds and sells composite vessels from 29 to 44m and steel and aluminum boats from 37 to over 100m. The fleet consists of five categories: Class, Oasis, B.Yond, B.Now and Custom to meet all the needs of the market. Benetti belongs to the Azimut|Benetti Group, the largest privately owned luxury yachting group in the world.Credits: Benetti

On Monday, July 15th at 8 am, Patrick Coote, Managing Director of Northrop & Johnson Europe, will set off from Inverness Marina on the east coast of Scotland, aiming to row unsupported across the North Sea to Stavanger, Norway.The journey, influenced by wind, weather, tides, and exhaustion, is expected to take approximately one week. Coote, along with a team of 12 adventurers, will row around the clock in 3-hour shifts, facing all weather conditions.Coote's team includes experienced ocean rowers with previous Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean crossings. However, the North Sea presents unique challenges, such as navigating around offshore oil and gas platforms and dealing with unpredictable weather.The 24ft ocean rowing boat is designed to self-right if it capsizes and withstand severe weather. It features a water-tight cabin, solar panels for powering the navigation system, and a water-maker to convert sea water into drinking water.This expedition follows in the footsteps of previous successful North Sea crossings. Norwegian adventurer Ragnar Thorseth first achieved the feat alone in 1969. Olav Lie Gundersen and Tommy Skeide repeated it in 2005, and Henrik Yksnøy and Erik Schouw-Hansen completed it in 2012.Coote's endeavor is also a fundraising effort for the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF). "The health of our oceans is critical for the health of our planet, and the WWF has numerous projects to protect marine wildlife. I want to support them and increase awareness of their efforts," Coote stated.Supported by Northrop & Johnson, Coote has raised over 40,000 Euros for various causes in the past three years through physical challenges, including the first-ever circumnavigation of Scotland by rowing boat in 2022 and a race from Barcelona to Ibiza in 2023.Credits: Northrop & Johnson

Alia Yachts has launched the Sea Club 53, a 53-meter full custom superyacht designed for ultimate toy and tender carrying capabilities. This new vessel, launched in Antalya, Turkey, is set for final outfitting and sea trials before its delivery in August.The Sea Club 53 is designed to be highly capable and flexible within the sub-500GT size range. It includes a fully certified H-145 helicopter deck and offers extensive storage for a submersible, a 13m tender, an 8m crew tender, two sailing catamarans, two dinghies, two Waverunners, and various other water sports equipment and toys. The yacht accommodates six guests in three cabins, including a master cabin, with additional luxurious amenities.“The Sea Club 53 showcases the very best of our capabilities here at Alia Yachts,” said president Gökhan Çelik. “We’re thrilled to see her in the water demonstrating her full potential for operating in great comfort at speeds up to 15 knots. It is a testament to our expert technical, engineering, and boatbuilding teams here at Alia, as well as the close collaboration we have enjoyed with Azure Yacht Design for the exterior design and layout development, and with Diana Yacht Design for the naval architecture underpinning the hull. The Sea Club 53 has been an ambitiously rapid build. Thanks to an excellent relationship with the owner’s team at Technical Marine UK and quick thinking at our end, we have brought the project from dream to floating reality in a little over two years.”Built entirely in-house, the yacht was constructed for an owner seeking a combination of a chaseboat's fun and a superyacht's finish and styling. The Sea Club 53 is designed for water sports, undersea exploration, and helicopter operations, while maintaining the luxury expected of a modern superyacht. The yacht offers top-notch overnight accommodation and large exterior deck areas suitable for social gatherings.Constructed in three parts—hull, superstructure, and heli deck—the yacht was joined together in late 2022. It features 50 square meters of toy storage on the lower deck and a dedicated water sports center, which includes more than 20 modular water park elements for varied daily setups.“The launch of project Sea Club marks the start of a whole new concept in the yachting industry,” said Onne Logger of Azure Yacht Design. “A unique combination of luxurious guest accommodation, enormous storage for tenders and toys, and an unparalleled number of entertainment possibilities. The owner’s goal was to fit the storage and the entertainment amenities which would be usually found on an 80m+ vessel, while keeping the rich and elegant look of a superyacht.”The successful realization of the Sea Club 53 is attributed to the collaboration between the owner, Alia Yachts, Azure Yacht Design, Diana Yacht Design, and Technical Marine UK.Alia Yachts was founded in 2008 by Gokhan Çelik and Omer Koray. Located in the port of Antalya on the beautiful Turkish Riviera, Alia Yachts shipyard currently occupies approximately 8,000 m2, including three construction halls with their suites of specialist workshops and a dedicated interiors facility. With an additional 16,000 sq. m under development for 2019, Alia Yachts will rank among the top facilities in the region.Credits: Alia Yachts

Summer is in full swing, but the yachting industry gears up for the major September boat shows. Nautor Swan will showcase its latest launches, including the much-anticipated worldwide premieres Swan 88 and Swan Arrow.Swan 88 DreamCatcher with hybrid propulsionFrom September 10th to 15th, Nautor Swan will be a key exhibitor at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The event will feature five of their yachts, with the highlight being the premiere of three models: the Swan 88 and ClubSwan 43 in Port Canto, and the Swan Arrow in Port Vieux.Swan 88 DreamCatcher with hybrid propulsionIn Port Canto, the Swan 88 will debut in its electric version, powered by a fully integrated Deep Blue system by Torqeedo. This model, designed in collaboration with German Frers, Misa Poggi, and Lucio Micheletti, represents an evolution of the brand's previous yachts. It combines elegant design with an efficient and easy-to-maintain platform, aimed at providing a superyacht experience.ClubSwan 43The ClubSwan 43, also premiering in Port Canto, is positioned as a versatile racer. Designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian with interiors by Micheletti + Partners, it is intended for competitive racing while also offering options for a sporty-cruising experience. Additionally, Nautor Swan will display the Swan 55 and Swan 58, models known for their suitability for family cruising and long-distance sailing.Swan ArrowIn Port Vieux, the Swan Arrow will make its international debut. This 75-foot model is the largest in the Nautor Swan motor yacht range, designed to embody the iconic Swan DNA. It features a 23-meter ‘walkaround’ design and a sustainable approach to fuel consumption. One notable innovation is the opening platform that creates a 50 sqm beach area, elevated above the water thanks to powered side openings, creating a terrace on the sea. The Swan Arrow will be accompanied by Swan Shadow, the first motoryacht launched by Nautor and designed by Jarkko Jamsen.From September 13th to 22nd, the latest evolution of the Swan 48 series, the Swan 48MKII, will be displayed at the Southampton International Boat Show, Britain's largest boating festival.Swan 48MKIIFollowing the Cannes Yachting Festival, Nautor Swan will present the Swan 88 at the Monaco Yacht Show from September 25th to 28th. This prestigious event provides an ideal platform to showcase the Swan 88's design and performance to an international audience of yachting enthusiasts and industry professionals.Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts. Credits: Sara Torrini/Nautor Swan