In recent years explorers have become a particularly popular class amongst new superyacht deliveries, reason being that they allow their owners to cruise to places that may be inaccessible otherwise, places where one would not expect to find yachts such as polar regions. Several yachts have however already been exploring those regions.
Shipyard: IHC Holland / Icon Yachts (1974 / 2016)
Location: Antartica
Originally built in the Netherlands in 1974, Legend recently completed a transformation into an icebreaking explorer yacht that was relaunched in March 2016 for Jan Verkerk, owner of Sherakhan. Accommodating up to 30 guests on board, Legend boasts a large Jacuzzi, movie theatre, fitness room and large swimming platform amongst her key amenities.
Length: 45m (148 ft)
Shipyard: Timmerman Yachts
Location: Northwest passage
Perhaps not boasting the traditional look one would expect from an explorer, Latitude has proven to be a true explorer at heart. Built by Russian shipyard, Timmerman Yachts to a design by Vripack for Singaporean owner, Anil Thadani, Latitude has crossed the Northwest Passage twice. In her exploration she cruised by orcas and even by polar bears seen in the shot above.
Length: 46.2m (151 ft)
Shipyard: Palmer Johnson (1996)
Location: Northwest passage
Built for a man that wanted to explore the world as Turmoil by US shipyard, Palmer Johnson in 1996, the yacht has since been renamed Pioneer and counts over 450,000 nautical miles under her belt.
Length: 47.7m (156 ft)
Shipyard: Fassmer Werft (2006)
Location: Arctic circle
Built in 2006 by German shipyard, Fassmer with exploration in mind, Hanse Explorer has a mind boggling range of 9,000 nautical miles and can produce up to 20 tons of fresh water per day on its own.
Photo by Justin Hoffman/EYOS Expeditions
Length: 71m (234 ft)
Shipyard: Richards Shipbuilde / Atlantic Refit Center (1987 / 2013)
Location: Northwest passage
Originally built for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in 1988 as Norna, her first mission was to prevent illegal fishing in the North Atlantic. Decommissioned in 2010, she was sold to her current owner who refitted her into a 71-meter superyacht with an exterior design by Philippe Briand. The yacht since embarked on a mission to explore both poles.
Length: 45m (147 ft)
Shipyard: McMullen & Wing (2010)
Location: Antartica
Delivered in 2010 by Auckland-based, McMullen & Wing to Hong-Kong businessman, Richard Beattie, Big Fish became a pioneer in exploring icy regions in stellar levels of comfort. With a master cabin on the upper deck surrounded by floor-to-ceilling glass, Big Fish is one of the best ways to explore the world.
Length: 59.6m (147 ft)
Shipyard: Trinity Yachts (2006)
Location: Arctic
Built in the US for New Zealand's richest man, Graeme Hart, current owner of Ulysses, the 59-meter was damaged by fire shortly before delivery. As a result, a 2-year refit worth nearly 30 million Australian dollars followed and produced the explorer we see today. The yacht was sold in 2014 and renamed from Ulysses to Grand Russalina.
Photo by EYOS Expeditions
Length: 87.5m (287 ft)
Shipyard: Schichau Unterwesser (1969)
Location: Antarctica
Arctic was built in 1969 in Germany as one of two of the largest salvage tugs in the world. She was ultimately purchased by her current owner in 1993 who undertook a two-year refit in Malta to transform the vessel into a superyacht.
Gulf Craft's production is continued at both its facilities in the UAE and the Maldives.Shipyard comments that it is taking all of the precautionary measures necessary in terms of physical distancing and hygiene requirements to ensure the safety of employees, visitors and contractors such as disinfection, tests and daily health checks. Mostly, the majority of administrative staff are working from home.Monaco Marine announced the temporary closure of their shipyards since March 19, 2020. This includes the shutdown of certain subcontractors and suppliers and closure of ports. In spite of this, the management teams will remain operational to answer clients’ concerns.
April 3, 2020
German design studio Beiderbeck Designs relieved the 65-meter explorer superyacht concept.The design studio was founded in the 1990s by its eponym Jörg Beiderbeck. In 2010 Immo Lüdeling and Tim Ulrich took over the studio as owner and the team now includes 8 designers, interior designers and engineers.The five-deck explorer concept is fully SOLAS certified and features a diesel-electric propulsion system. Key features include “outstanding sea-going, stability and manoeuvring characteristics.”Accommodation onboard has the owner's deck (the master cabin with a large saloon and bathroom), two lounges and a private terrace, six double guest cabins, a saloon large enough to accommodate 12 people and an alfresco lounge area also four single cabins and two twins on the main deck, gym, spa, galley and pantry. Crew accommodation comprises nine twin cabins for a staff of 18. The 65m explorer has a helipad and hangar, car garage and storage for three tenders.Other technical details include a 14-metre beam, draught of 4.2 metres and a top speed of 12.8 knots.
April 3, 2020
Turkish yard Mengi Yay shares an update on the 42.5m sailing yacht L'Aquila II, which is approaching to the end of hull construction.The builder says its production capabilities were reduced by 30% due to the safety measures because of COVID-19.Key features of L'Aquila II include a steel hull and aluminium superstructure with naval architecture and an exterior design by Ginton Naval Architects and interiors by BTA Design.Accommodation will be for up to 10 guests in five cabins, with a further three cabins sleeping up to six crew members.Technical characteristics include 911hp Yanmar engine with a maximum speed of 14.6 knots and a cruising speed of 13.5 knots. The sailing yacht will have a beam of nine metres and a four-metre draft.Her construction is set to take 24 months with the delivery planned for 2021.
April 2, 2020
Sixth Amels Limited Edition 242 hull has been recently launched at the Damen facility in Romania. This 74-metre Amels 242 with an exterior design by Tim Heywood will be delivered in autumn 2021.Currently listed as a yacht for sale, she can accomodate up to 12 guests across two main-deck VIP suites and three lower-deck suites. Her interior will be decorated to the custom design of the owner.Since the delivery of the first Amels 242 five years ago, the Amels 242 has quickly become the world’s most successful yacht in the 75-metre segment. The Amels 242 features an entire private 374 square-metre Owners Deck with spectacular forward-facing Stateroom; a large swimming pool; and the award-winning full beam midships wellness and relaxing spa area with a unique 19.5 square metre folding beach platform.
April 2, 2020
The Azimut/Benetti Group has announced some initiatives to distribute PPE to those in need. It comes after Princess Yachts and Sunseeker International had announced about their donations of PPE to workers fighting coronavirus a while ago.The Italian yard Azimut/Benetti Group is donating equipment to different social groups located near the company’s facilities in Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany and Marche: hospitals, police officers and port authorities.The yard has organized a dedicated team that is working to procure, package and deliver the kits, which are usually used by the yard’s production employees.The group chairman Paolo Vitelli:“With this practical contribution we want to express our closeness with and gratitude with local areas that have welcomed us and helped the company to develop. Our ties with them are stronger than they have ever been.”
April 2, 2020