Built in 2016, the 107-meter Ulysses has become the clearest yet definition of an explorer yacht, incorporating swimming pools, spas with a helipad and a myriad of tenders, the largest of which is 22-meters long.
Sold in 2017 by her original owner, Graeme Hart, she became the largest brokerage yacht sold in 2017 with an asking price of $195 million. The deal lead to widespread rumours that Facebook's founder, Mark Zuckerberg had bought the yacht, a rumour that has since been debunked by Facebook and its CEO. Since the yacht was renamed to Andromeda.
Andromeda's story starts back in 2013 when Graeme Hart, whose net worth is valued at $10.2 billion by Forbes, commissioned the 107-meter yacht (351 ft) from Kleven, a shipyard in Norway that builds commercial ships. According to designers, Hart's choice was driven by quicker delivery times, a better price point than traditional yacht builders and high enough quality standards.
I am very pleased with the quality of the work that has been done by Kleven, and how our organizations have worked together to bring this exciting project to life.
Graeme Hart in November 2014
Hart's statement was however more than just a PR gesture for the Norwegian shipyard. Shortly after his statement on Kleven's quality, Hart signed an order for a new 116-meter explorer yacht with delivery scheduled for 2018. A move that surprised the industry as the first Ulysses was still two years away from completion but made the yacht one of the most anticipated builds of the past year.
In building Ulysses, Hart already had a clear vision of the yacht he wanted to create, having already owned a 60-meter explorer yacht built by Trinity in 2004. The key points of his design brief in creating the 107-meter Behemoth were reportedly to focus on interior volume, aft-facing guest spaces, a fully-functional helipad and large tenders. Ahead of Ulysses' delivery, the billionaire also sold the 60-meter, which is now known as Grand Russalina. The 116-meter explorer currently in build will become Hart's seventh yacht in total.
One of the most astonishing amenities on Ulysses is her large swimming pool, located aft of the upper deck at a height of nearly 9 meters above sea level. Partly covered by the third deck for shade, the swimming pool stretches for 12 meters and is surrounded by lounging areas for her guests to bathe in the sun.
Aft of this 400 square-meter pool deck is an extensive Jacuzzi, surrounded by sun pads, that overlook the yacht's aft. Although an undeniable advantage of being on a yacht is the ability to swim in the sea, Ulysses is purpose built to be able to navigate in remote areas where the sea could be too rough for humans to bathe in, which is when the 100% jellyfish-proof pool deck comes in.
Near the swimming pool is also located a large dinning table, covered by a solid rooftop and ideal for informal lunches during the summer. The table is however in no way the only option on the 107-meter. In addition to many casual tables located all around the yacht's 6 decks, a formal dinning area is located aft of the main deck with direct access to the kitchen for improved service.
Directly opposite from the formal dinning area can be found a wine degustation area with circular walls filled with the most prestigious wines from all around the world. A small bar is also located in front of 4 large windows directly in this area to allow Ulysses' guests to enjoy a glass of wine whilst taking in the view.
Ulysses' hull and superstructure were built by Kleven in Norway with a clear purpose of having a boat that would have no limits in any respect. The expedition style created by New Zealand-based designer Kyle Dick for the yacht's exterior is a clear translation of this philosophy.
The interior outfitting, penned by London-based studio H2 Yacht Design, was on the other hand done in Germany by Finnish company, Europlan who had in the past mostly focused on cruise ships with only a few superyachts under its belt. According to several reports, the interior cost €20,000 per square meter.
Ulysses features a variety of spaces to entertain its guests, from informal to formal locations. With light colors found throughout its interior, Ulysses boasts a large salon on the main deck with extensive sitting spaces and a large bar.
Unlike smaller yachts where most cabins typically look out onto the sea from a porthole, guest cabins on Ulysses have floor-to-ceiling windows directly opposite of the bed that let its guests take in the full view. Ulysses can accommodate a total of 36 guests.
The largest cabin on board is however the master cabin, which takes up an entire deck and stretches across the 107-meter's entire beam. With panoramic windows on both sides of the cabin, the master was however designed to face the yacht's aft. A lounging area is located forward of the cabin, making up the owner's private deck.
Despite its go-anywhere capability, Ulysses has also all of the amenities one could expand from a superyacht and perhaps even more. One of those is the yacht's spa, which includes a plunge pool, sauna, steam room, massage room and more all designed with white and dark blue theme.
The wellness area is completed by a gym located aft of the main deck with a large variety of equipment and a breathtaking view out of a series of tall windows.
Another one of Ulysses' highlights is her fully-functional cinema room. Packed with comfortable sofas and equipped with a pro-level projector and screen, the room is fully optimized for a great sound and viewing experience.
Ulysses' technical capabilities however perhaps best set in to guests when they go up to the guest lounge, located inside the explorer's bridge on the top deck. This acts as a dedicated area for guests to take in the view without being bother by crew operations and vice-versa.
One of the key requirements set forth by Hart was the development of a fully-functional helipad. This took the form of a large, dedicated helicopter landing pad located at the top of the yacht, with the capacity of taking up the world's largest helicopters up to 3,6 tons.
One of the key aspects of the explorer is of course her gigantic toy garage, containing anything from jetskis to motorbikes to SUVs to seabobs, bikes and flyboards. It's not unseen for superyachts to carry a lot of toys but this amount of toys on a 107-meter is something that few have ever seen before.
The most unique feature amongst the whole boat may however be the 21-meter tender that Ulysses carries on its bow. The two-deck boat, which most would call a yacht in her own right, requires to custom built cranes to lift in an operation that takes just over an hour to execute.
Sold at an asking price of $195 million, Ulysses became the largest brokerage yacht sold so far this year, topping the 85-meter Solandge, which sold at an asking price of €155 million. An even larger version of Ulysses is however set to be delivered to Hart later this year with the 116-meter explorer already now in the final phases of construction.
Valued at $10,2 billion by Forbes, Graeme Hart is currently the wealthiest man in New Zealand. Having made his fortune in the leveraged buyout private equity space, Hart consolidated a number of under-performing assets in the packaging space to create an empire in everyday products such as milk cartons, water bottles, paper and foil.
Prior to his successes in acquiring large companies and optimising them as part of his empire, Hart started off as a tow-truck driver after leaving school at 16 years old. He completed an MBA from the University of Ortego in 1987. His first big buy was the Government Printing Office in New Zealand, which he managed to acquire for less than capital value.
Although it is yet unclear who has acquired Ulysses from Hart, rumours within the yachting sector of a buyer from the US tech scene has led to media firing off guesses in all directions, without any concrete evidence. The most high profile of these guesses became Facebook's founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, which emanated from a Turkish newspaper that since deleted that article. "The reports related to Mark purchasing a yacht are completely inaccurate as he did not purchase a yacht." a spokesman for Facebook rapidly debunked.
Whilst it is yet unclear who purchased the 107-meter explorer, its sheer scale can't be denied. In November 2017, her new owner decided to cruise the yacht to Molokai in Hawai but wasn't able to anchor there. Indeed local militants initiated a protest to prevent the yacht from anchoring there to protect their island due to its large size, with Ulysses eventually cruising away on its own will. At the time, the yacht's owner was presumed by media to be Russian billionaire investor, Yuri Milner. "Yuri Milner does not own the boat Ulysses" a spokeswoman for the investor was, however, quick to debunk. The yacht was since renamed Andromeda by her current owner.
Custom Line concluded 2024 with the launch of two new yachts, bringing the total number of vessels introduced at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona to 18 over the past year. Among the launches were the Custom Line 50, the brand’s first all-aluminium 50-meter displacement superyacht, and the Custom Line Navetta 38, a 299 GT displacement yacht. The first units of these models were launched in January and November, respectively.Custom Line 50The shipyard completed eleven launches in the Navetta line, six in the planing line, and one in the aluminium superyacht line. A new Custom Line Navetta 30 was launched on December 4, marking the 22nd hull in this displacement line. The yacht, measuring 28.43 metres in length with a beam of 7.3 metres, was developed by the Product Strategy Department and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, in collaboration with ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel for the interiors and Filippo Salvetti for the exterior styling. Custom Line Atelier provided strategic consulting to adapt the interior design to the owner's stylistic preferences. Custom Line Navetta 38The year concluded with the launch of the 33rd Custom Line Navetta 33 on December 16. The vessel was developed by the Product Strategy Committee and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, with Custom Line Atelier overseeing the owner's requests. The yacht, measuring 33 metres in length with a beam of 7.52 metres, was designed for charter operations and includes a number of customised features such as pullman beds in the guest cabins, additional storage units, and cocktail bars on the sun deck. The interior incorporates materials such as Irish Green marble in the master bathroom and American walnut flooring. The yacht’s colour scheme reflects the owner's preference for sage green, integrated in various elements throughout the interior.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
January 30, 2025
Ocean Independence recorded a 22% increase in retail charter income in 2024 compared to the previous year, with several yachts in its Central Agency Fleet surpassing typical seasonal booking targets. The most frequently booked yacht was Onyx, securing over ten weeks of charter, followed closely by E-Motion and Isotta.OnyxChief Commercial Officer Toby Maclaurin stated, “We are very pleased with the 2024 charter result. It was a key pillar to the company’s overall performance and we expect a similar, if not better, result in 2025. Chartering large yachts is in vogue and we are well prepared to meet the needs of a wide variety of customers with our portfolio. Of course, we can also reserve any other available charter yacht for our customers.”The list of top-performing charter yachts in 2024 was led by Onyx, a 25.48-meter Ferretti-built yacht from 2007. The vessel accommodates up to ten guests in four staterooms and offers a spacious aft deck, alfresco dining areas, and a hot tub. Charter rates start from EUR 40,000 per week.E-MotionE-Motion, a 40-metre Sunseeker, was also among the most-booked yachts. It offers accommodation for ten guests across five staterooms, including a full-beam master suite and convertible twin staterooms. Charter rates begin at EUR 170,000 per week.IsottaIsotta, a Ferretti 1000 motor yacht, was another high-performing vessel. It features an innovative aft beach area and a spacious flybridge. The yacht accommodates up to ten guests in five staterooms, with rates starting from EUR 114,000 per week.VertigeVertige, a 50-meter yacht built by Tankoa in 2017, also saw strong bookings. The aluminium-built vessel features minimalist deck spaces and a contemporary interior by Francesco Paszkowski, accommodating 12 guests in six staterooms. Charter rates start at EUR 270,000 per week.HuboHubo, an Azimut 85 delivered in 2015, remains a popular choice among charterers. The yacht accommodates eight guests in four staterooms, including a full-beam master suite. Rates start from EUR 40,000 per week.With demand for large yacht charters increasing, Ocean Independence is advising early bookings for the 2025 season. Helene Delstanche, Group Charter Fleet Manager, commented, “To secure your dream yacht, I suggest calling us rather sooner than later. 2025 bookings are already strong, and demand will only get higher as we get closer to springtime.”Credits: Ocean Independence
January 30, 2025
Sialia Yachts will showcase its fully electric 57-foot model, the Sialia 57 Deep Silence, at the Miami International Boat Show from February 12-16, 2025. The yacht will be presented in collaboration with Yacht Sales International, Sialia Yachts’ official dealer in North America, and will be located at One Herald Plaza, Dock B (3rd intersection).The Sialia 57 Deep Silence is equipped with a proprietary drivetrain featuring a 256 kWh battery, which can be upgraded to 1 MWh, and twin 400 kW electric motors. The yacht has a cruising speed of 16 knots and can exceed 25 knots at full speed. Its carbon fiber hull, optimized by Vripack, measures 16 feet in beam and is designed for stability and efficiency.The model accommodates up to 12 passengers and includes a climate-controlled cockpit, multiple lounge areas, a beach club with folding sides, and a garage for an 11-foot tender. It is also fitted with fast-charging capabilities to reduce downtime. A biofuel-compatible range extender is available to increase operational flexibility.Sialia Yachts emphasizes lifecycle considerations in its construction process, using carbon hulls that are more recyclable and durable than traditional GRP. The electric propulsion system is designed to require minimal maintenance, with electric motors needing only a grease change every 10 years. The batteries are rated for 30,000 cycles and come with a five-year guarantee, along with the rest of the propulsion system. The yacht’s technology is designed to be upgradable, allowing for extended operational longevity and reduced depreciation.Established in 2017, Sialia Yachts, owned by Silent Straits, is a company focused on sustainability and ocean-friendly innovation aiming to set new standards in yachting, with designs that inspire both enthusiasts and experts. The company offers the following models: 45, 59, and 80 Explorer. Sialia Yachts is based in Warsaw, Poland, with a team that includes members in the Netherlands and Italy.Credits: Blueiprod/Sialia Yachts
January 30, 2025
Arcon Yachts has confirmed the sale of two new-build Benetti Oasis 40M models, with both units scheduled for delivery in 2027. The 40.8-meter yachts will be constructed at Benetti’s facility in Livorno, Italy.The Oasis 40M series is one of Benetti’s most established lines, recognized for its Oasis Deck, which features a 90-square-meter open space with a flat platform, two unfolding gunwales that create overwater balconies, an infinity pool, and multiple seating areas. The design is intended to maximize outdoor living and provide an extended connection to the water.Accommodation is arranged across five cabins, including a main deck master suite. According to the broker, the interiors will emphasize contemporary design, though further details have yet to be disclosed. Exterior styling for the series is by British studio RWD, while the interiors are developed by Bonetti / Kozerski architecture.Powered by twin MAN engines, the standard performance specifications of the Oasis 40M include a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. The yacht has a beam of 8.5 meters and a draft of 2.1 meters.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
January 29, 2025
Italian yacht builder Pardo Yachts is charting a course for significant expansion into the Middle East, announcing an exclusive dealership agreement with Dubai-based Ocean 360 and a highly anticipated debut at the Dubai International Boat Show 2025. This strategic move underscores the brand's commitment to establishing a strong presence within one of the world's most discerning yachting markets.Pardo 43The partnership with Ocean 360, a leading provider of premium yacht services, will see Pardo Yachts showcase its renowned craftsmanship and innovative designs to the UAE and wider Gulf region. The Dubai International Boat Show, running from February 19th-23rd, 2025, will serve as the ideal platform to unveil the brand's flagship models, the Pardo 38 and Pardo 43.Pardo 38"The Middle East represents a strategically important market for Pardo Yachts' global growth," commented Marcello Veronesi, CEO of Cantiere del Pardo. "Partnering with the established and respected Ocean 360 provides us with the ideal platform to connect with discerning clients who appreciate the unparalleled quality and style synonymous with our yachts."Sebastian Dumitrescu, CEO of Ocean 360, added: "We are privileged to represent Pardo Yachts as their exclusive dealer in the UAE. Their commitment to innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship aligns seamlessly with our dedication to providing world-class yachting experiences. We are thrilled to introduce these stunning yachts to clients throughout the region."Marcello Veronesi, Sebastian Dumitrescu, Bogdan Borascu and Rok Babarovic (photo by Luca D'Ambrosio)Visitors to the Dubai International Boat Show can experience the epitome of Italian yachting excellence firsthand. The Pardo 38 and Pardo 43, both representing the pinnacle of Pardo's walkaround range, will be on display, showcasing the brand's intelligent use of space and unwavering commitment to bespoke luxury. These models epitomize the perfect harmony of aesthetic appeal and superior functionality, offering unparalleled comfort and performance.Cantiere del Pardo was founded in 1973 in Italy. Pardo Yachts, the brand of Cantiere del Pardo dedicated to powerboats, was born in 2016. The first model, the Pardo 43, was launched in 2017. Grand Soleil was founded in 1973 and is famous for its yachts, which ensure performance for regattas, autonomous long-distance navigation, as well as a high level of sustainable consciousness.Credits: Cantiere del Pardo
January 29, 2025