MDL Marinas Invests £2.2 Million in Ocean Village Marina Upgrades

The new Otam 90 GTS, a 28-meter yacht, recently completed its sea trials and exceeded its contractual speed expectations, achieving a top speed of 45 knots, surpassing the expected 42 knots. Designed by Umberto Tagliavini and Aldo Scorzoni of Marine Design & Services, and featuring custom interiors by Giuseppe Bagnardi of BG Design Firm, this yacht is set to debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024.The Otam 90 GTS is powered by two 2,600 horsepower MTU engines and Arneson surface propellers, ensuring smooth and responsive navigation. The hull design supports excellent sea-handling capabilities. Despite additional onboard weight due to specific owner requests, such as a customized rotating gangway, stabilizers, extensive marble use, and an advanced stereo system, the yacht's performance remains impressive.The yacht's semi-open design offers notable silence at all speeds, and meticulous attention to sound insulation enhances onboard comfort. The helm console, inspired by racing cars, features a carbon-fiber structure with an integrated cooling system for the electronics. Air intakes and a snorkel on the hardtop echo high-performance luxury car designs.The Otam 90 GTS's metallic silver hull with bronze accents, developed by Awlgrip, reflects its unique personality. The custom layout includes three ensuite cabins: a full-beam owner's suite, a VIP cabin, a guest cabin, and a lounge with an office rack room for the stereo system. The main deck features a spacious cockpit with an opening hard top and a separated kitchen. The crew area has independent access, a large sunbathing space, and a bathing platform. Forward, a dinette provides relaxation and dining areas.Customization options include varying side window heights, garage sizes, and the option for a hard top version with a closed saloon. This flexibility highlights Otam's commitment to meeting the diverse demands of its clients.Otam Sales & Communication Manager Matteo Belardinelli expressed pride in the new model: "The Otam 90 GTS is versatile, elegant, and capable of meeting diverse requests. We are extremely pleased with this new product, which is already generating interest ahead of its official presentation."The Otam 90 GTS will make its international debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024 from September 10 to 15, coinciding with Otam's 70th anniversary.The shipyard’s history started in 1954 in Liguria. Its professionalism is what made it stand out, very quickly becoming the first authorized Riva yacht Service Center for the Med Sea. In the 80’s Otam fit around 25 yachts for an American builder before starting his own production of Otam 45’ and 55’, earning significant attention. Today Otam has produced around 90 yachts, becoming an Italian specialist, and, together with its custom range, offers a limitless choice between 45’ and 130’.Credits: Andrea Vignone Bulkmedia.it/Otam

Van der Valk Shipyard has secured a new order for a 35-meter yacht, the latest addition to the Jangada series. This project follows the 25-meter Jangada and the 32-meter Jangada, a nominee for the World Superyacht Award. The new yacht, set to be delivered in January 2026, demonstrates the yard's ability to adapt to evolving client needs with flexibility and precision.The client, who commissioned the first Jangada in 2013, has worked closely with Van der Valk and designers Nick Top and Guido de Groot on all three projects. The initial Jangada was one of Van der Valk's earliest raised pilothouse models, a concept that has since influenced other notable builds.The Jangada yachts have evolved alongside the client's changing requirements, including the need for more space to accommodate a growing family and adjustments to home berths in the Bay of St Tropez. The latest vessel will feature a steel hull and aluminium superstructure to enhance sound insulation and reduce noise and vibration.A key feature of the new Jangada is a jet-stream pool integrated into the aft of the flybridge deck. The pool, measuring 4.5 meters in length and 1.5 meters in depth, will hold 7,200 liters of warm water stored in a tank under the tender garage. Incorporating the pool required intricate exterior design adjustments, maintaining the yacht's elegant raised pilothouse profile while adding an extra deck.The new Jangada will boast large windows in the main saloon and 2.6-meter ceilings, made possible by a raised seating area above the recessed pool. These design choices were made to enhance interior views, as requested by the owner. Additionally, the wheelhouse lounge will feature fold-away dashboard screens for unobstructed vistas when anchored.Outdoor seating areas on the aft deck, flybridge, and bow will offer panoramic views, with a specific seat on the bow positioned for sunset views in the owner’s home bay on the French Riviera. A portside passarelle will be adapted to the pontoon height for easier access.The new Jangada will prioritize safety and comfort with wide stairs and walkways, twin Seakeeper gyros, and Humphree fin stabilizers. The full-beam master suite is located forward on the main deck, while the lower deck cabins are tailored for the owner's children and grandchildren. The interior will be exquisitely detailed to match the family's lifestyle.Van der Valk is a family-run company building comfortable, innovative and efficient (semi) custom motor yachts from 18m to 45m. From its humble roots in the 1960s, Van der Valk today has a global fleet of over 1000 motor yachts. Credits: Van der Valk

Damen Yachting has announced the launch of the latest Amels 60, marking the sixth yacht in their Amels Limited Editions series. This event took place at the Damen Yachting shipyard in Vlissingen, the main Amels facility.The Amels 60 features a forward-thinking design, built on Damen Yachting's established craftsmanship and proven naval architecture platform. The exterior design, created by naval architect Espen Øino, combines experience, elegance, and innovation. The interiors, customized by Winch Design, were appointed by the yacht’s owner.Following the launch, the Amels 60 will undergo final outfitting at the Damen Yachting yard, with delivery scheduled for the end of 2024.Project Manager Paul Deurloo remarked, "It's always an exciting moment to see the yacht coming out of the shed in all her glory. The spectacular color of this hull will certainly stand out."Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Tom van Oossanen/all provided by Damen Yachting

Heesen Yachts has announced the sale of the 55-meter Steel YN 20655, also known as Project Venus. The client, a seasoned yacht connoisseur and former Heesen customer, is represented by Rupert Connor from Luxury Yachts. Connor noted, "Our client chose to return to Heesen due to their unwavering commitment to quality and their ability to meet our exacting standards. Heesen’s revised 55m platform offers a superior layout and engineering framework. The ability to sign for a yacht in June and have it delivered in ten months, customized to our needs, is unparalleled in the industry. Our entire build support team is enthusiastic about working with Heesen again."Project Venus, currently under construction, is scheduled for launch in January 2025. As part of Heesen's speculative program, this project allows clients to acquire a high-end vessel with reduced delivery times without compromising on quality.The yacht’s interior design is being customized by Silvia Margutti of Luca Dini Design and Architecture, ensuring it reflects the owner's refined taste and lifestyle.Construction of Project Venus began in November 2022. The steel hull, an iteration of van Oossanen Naval Architects' efficient FDHF design, was fabricated at Talsma in Friesland, Netherlands. Talsma has been a trusted Heesen partner for over a decade, collaborating closely with Heesen engineers to produce high-standard steel hulls. To maintain quality, steel hull fabrication occurs at a separate location to avoid cross-contamination with aluminium hulls, which are welded at Heesen's Oss facility.Heesen’s interior craftspeople will soon start working on the yacht’s interior to meet the owner's specifications, ensuring a luxurious and personalized experience.With a voluminous 760 GT enclosed space, Project Venus offers ample room for luxurious amenities while remaining small enough to navigate the Mediterranean's charming ports. The yacht is designed for exceptional seakeeping abilities, ensuring safe cruising even in rough seas. Forward-positioned stabilizer fins and a solid steel hull contribute to a comfortable cruising experience.Heesen CEO Niels Vaessen expressed his pleasure with the return of the esteemed client, stating, "The return of a valued client underscores the exceptional quality and reliability of our yachts. It reaffirms our dedication to delivering products that meet the highest standards of luxury and performance. The satisfaction and loyalty of returning clients motivate us to continuously innovate and excel in craftsmanship."The delivery of YN 20655 is scheduled for Q2 2025.Heesen Yachts is a Dutch ship building company that specializes in custom-built superyachts in aluminum and steel from 30m to 70m in size. Founded in 1978, it has launched more than 170 yachts since its inception.Credits: Heesen Yachts

Baglietto has announced the sale of the first unit in its new Fast50 line, a fast displacement yacht constructed from light alloy and designed by Francesco Paszkowski Design, with interiors co-designed by Margherita Casprini. This sale comes just a few months after the model was introduced to the public."We are pleased to have completed this sale shortly after presenting the Fast50 model to the press," said Fabio Ermetto, Baglietto's Chief Commercial Officer. "This project successfully merges high performance with timeless elegance, which are key features of Baglietto’s design philosophy. The Fast50 line underscores our shipyard's expertise in creating highly customized aluminium performance yachts. The yacht’s four powerful engines enable significant speeds while maintaining comfort and onboard liveability."The design of the Fast50 draws inspiration from Baglietto's historic models, such as the Pachamama, Monokini, and Rush. While maintaining the signature style of its predecessors, the Fast50 incorporates new design elements first introduced with the T52. Notably, the yacht's stern features a two-level layout with a fold-down gunwale that converts into a swimming platform, enhancing access to the sea. The aft area also includes chaise longue sunbeds, providing an exclusive view.The yacht emphasizes seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, featuring ceiling-high windows on the upper deck and lower gunwales that maximize views. The main saloon offers generous spaces with a lounge and TV area, while the dining area is situated in the sky lounge on the upper deck. Ventilation ducts are integrated into the hull structure, optimizing space.The Fast50 incorporates automotive design elements, including ventilation ducts and fairleads at the stern resembling sports car exhausts. Unlike previous fast models, the Fast50 has three full decks and a wide-body master cabin, providing larger volumes without compromising visibility. Two silk-screened hull windows enhance the view while maintaining the yacht's streamlined profile.The upper deck's outdoor areas include sun loungers and sofas at the stern, a conversation area, a private sunbathing area, and a hot tub at the bow. The lower deck accommodates guests in two VIP cabins and two twin cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms. The crew quarters feature a large dinette, the Captain’s cabin, and four additional cabins with pullman beds.<iframe width=560 height=315 src=https://www.youtube.com/embed/1F1c4a_6KL0?si=sD_mHasYAJsOSODO 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>The yacht also includes a float-in garage behind the engine room, capable of storing a tender up to 7 meters long. Powered by four MTU 2000M96L engines, the Fast50 can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots. The hull’s semi-tunnels ensure safe cruising in shallow waters.Baglietto Spa is an Italian boat builder based in La Spezia specializing in new aluminum light alloy yachts ranging between 35m and 50m in length and steel and light aluminum alloy displacement megayachts starting at 40m.Credits: Baglietto