1. 33m Perla Nero ran aground in Croatia
85.6m Aquila (ex. Cakewalk) was re-delivered by the Cornwall-based, Pendennis Shipyard following a year-long refit programme which mainly focused on 750 square meters of the yacht's interior space. The largest yacht ever built in the US, Aquila has now become the largest yacht to have been refitted in the UK. Redman Whiteley Dixon and Susan Young Interiors collaborated on the refit which reconfigured the owner's suite, adding a 60-square meter private deck area and repositioned the Jacuzzi to the forward sun deck.
33m Perla Nero ran aground in the Sibenik channel, Croatia as shows footage that surfaced on social media on August, 8th. According to local publication, SibenikIn, the incident occurred during the night from Friday to Saturday. The publication further reported that the owners of Perla Nero had 5 days to remove the yacht before the task would fall on local authorities. No pollution, injuries or any significant damage to the yacht have been reported.
The 9th largest yacht in the world, 141m Yas, has been seen in Tarragona, Spain. She is based on the hull of a former Dutch navy frigate, the 130m HNLMS Piet Hein, a Kortenaer-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy which was built by the Koninklijke Schelde Groep and launched in 1978. The frigate was sold in 1998 to the United Arab Emirates Navy where she was operated under the name Al Emirat and was decommissioned in 2008.
Prince Khaled bin Sultan, son of the late Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, is best known in the yachting industry as the owner of the Golden Fleet which recently grew in size with the launch of the 123-meter Golden Odyssey. The Golden Fleet, which set up its home base in Porto Montenegro in 2012 through a 30-year lease, is however known not only for its size but also for its contribution to the conservation of the oceans through her owner's Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. As such, the fleet has travelled worldwide with scientists onboard to learn more about the world's oceans and their wildlife. In recognition of his contributions through the foundation, Prince Khaled bin Sultan was awarded the Perseus Award in 2012.
28.6m, Ferretti Yachts-built, Bellissima ran aground on August, 4th (approximately 14:00) near Pender Harbour, British Columbia, Canada. Water then poured from into the yacht from a hole in its hull. No one was injured as a result of the incident and no pollution was reported. According to witnesses, the yacht hit underwater rocks off Daniel Point, while coming out of the harbour and started heading back as it realized it had difficulties. The hole in the yacht's hull was eventually patched and the yacht was anchored near the harbour for further inspection.
Pelorus, the 115-meter superyacht built in 2003 by Lurssen, has reportedly been sold to Chinese billionaire, Samuel Tak Lee according to several sources in the industry. Built for the Saudi owner of 72m Coral Island, Pelorus was the 11th largest yacht in the world at the time of her launch and became Lurssen's newest flagship. A few months after delivery, the owner decided however to sell his masterpiece and it was Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich who came in with the highest bid to acquire the superyacht.
Maria La Via, former CEO of Privilege Yard, and finance director Antonio Battista were placed under house arrest by order of the Civitavecchia power of attorney for alleged fraudulent bankruptcy filings, tax crimes and violation of the anti-mafia legislation, La Repubblica reports. The men are accused of having used the shipyard’s money to purchase luxury cars such as a Ferrari and a Maserati for a total of €320,000. It is also turned out that Privilege Yard paid the rent for the house of Pasqualino Monti, president of the Civitavecchia port authority.
South China Morning Post linked Malaysian financier Jho Low to 91.5m yacht Equanimity, which has recently entered Hong Kong with an unclear purpose of stay. The yachting press often cited Jho Low as the owner of the vessel, but his lawyers have denied this. You may know Low from his alleged involvement in the 1MDB scandal. Some sources claim that he sold some artwork earlier this year, giving rise to speculation the yacht may be sold to raise funds for Low and his associates before it can be seized by the US authorities.
Earlier this week, footage emerged on social media of David Guetta and MC Hammer performing concerts on the 115-meter Pelorus. The #YachtCert involved no less than 5 superyachts, all anchored near the remote island of Bisevo in Croatia. Local sources suggest 115-meter Pelorus, 72m Kogo, 65m Infinite Shades (ex. Imagine), 54m Sea Force One, and 36m Galeocerdo were all gathered for the event in the Adriatic sea by Jimmy Lee, the son of a Chinese industrial. According to several reports, the yachts have been cruising together for a large portion of the summer.
85.6m Aquila (ex. Cakewalk) was re-delivered by the Cornwall-based, Pendennis Shipyard following a year-long refit programme which mainly focused on 750 square meters of the yacht's interior space. The largest yacht ever built in the US, Aquila has now become the largest yacht to have been refitted in the UK. Redman Whiteley Dixon and Susan Young Interiors collaborated on the refit which reconfigured the owner's suite, adding a 60-square meter private deck area and repositioned the Jacuzzi to the forward sun deck.
Dutch Yachting has recently shared the pictures of 53m trimaran Galaxy leaving IJmuiden, the Netherlands. Splashed at Latitude Yachts in Riga two months ago, the spaceship-like vessel features the exterior by Jean-Jacques Coste. The yacht was built from a GRP and carbon fibre composite and runs at 28 knots through twin 2600hp engines.
Zeelander Yachts will present its new flagship model, the 24-meter Zeelander 8, for the first time at the Monaco Yacht Show 2025. The yacht will be located at berth C27 Quai Chicane during the event, which takes place from September 24 to 27.The yacht features a layout with social areas on the main deck, including lounging and dining spaces, along with a galley. The lower deck contains three guest cabins. The master stateroom is positioned amidships and includes windows and a headroom exceeding 2.1 meters. The first hull includes customized modifications, such as relocating the galley to the starboard side of the salon and integrating the bar area with the cockpit.The yacht is equipped with a large targa sunroof and retractable aft doors. Sound levels are reported to measure below 65 dBA at its full speed of 32 knots. The yacht can reach speeds of up to 40 knots with optional larger engines.Each hull is built to owner specifications, with customization handled by the shipyard's engineering team. The exterior design maintains the stylistic features consistent with other yachts in the Zeelander range.Zeelander Yachts was founded in 2002 in the Netherlands by Sietse Koopmans. The first model was unveiled to the public in 2008. The launch model Z44 received positive reviews at the Monaco Yacht Show and drew enormous crowds, despite being at an event dominated by much larger yachts. Within three years, the Z44 had been successfully introduced to the US as well as Europe, and it was an obvious direction to add a larger model to the fleet. The first Z55 was delivered in November 2015, and the flagship Z72 was launched in March 2019.Credit: Tom van Oossanen/Zeelander Yachts
September 16, 2025
Pearl Yachts has established a new French dealership, Pearl France, with an office in Antibes. The facility is located at Avenue de Verdun, 06600 Antibes, in the Port Vauban area. The office is operated by Cenk Efe, Founder and Director of the Mallorca Marine Group 1994, and will serve as the brand's exclusive representative in France.Iain Smallridge, Founder and Managing Director of Pearl Yachts, stated: “France has always been one of the most important markets for Pearl Yachts. With the opening of Pearl France, we are strengthening our presence in the Mediterranean’s most vibrant yachting hub. Cenk’s expertise and reputation are second to none, and we are confident that this new chapter will bring our boutique philosophy and unique approach even closer to every client and brand enthusiast based in France.”Iain Smallridge and Cenk Efe Cenk Efe, Director of Pearl France, added: “We are honoured to be launching Pearl France in Antibes. French clients value elegance, craftsmanship, innovation, and discretion; qualities that Pearl embodies in every detail. The response so far has been exceptional, and we look forward to growing the brand’s legacy along the Côte d’Azur and beyond.”This opening follows the establishment of Pearl Germany and Pearl Gulf earlier this year.Founded in 1998, Pearl Yachts has established itself as one of the UK’s leading shipyards, specializing in designing luxury motor yachts known for their voluminous interiors, opulence, and design excellence. Credits: Pearl Yachts
September 16, 2025
Heesen Yachts has completed the joining of the hull and superstructure for Project Grace, designated YN 21350. The yacht is the first unit in Heesen's new 50-meter Steel class. The operation, which lasted one week, began at the Talsma shipyard in Franeker, where the steel hull was fabricated. The hull was then transported by river and canal to Heesen's facility in Oss, where the main engines were installed prior to the joining procedure.The yacht is equipped with two MAN engines, each rated at 882kW and compliant with IMO Tier III emissions standards. This is the first Heesen yacht to use this specific engine model.Peter van der Zanden, Head of the Design & Development / Engineering Department, commented: "The new 50-metre Steel series gave us the opportunity to select the ideal engine for our brand-new platform. The MAN D2862LE438 was the clear choice, offering a power and efficiency profile that is perfectly calibrated for Project Grace's performance targets."The exterior design is by British studio Harrison Eidsgaard. The design includes features such as low bulwarks and full-height windows. The studio is also collaborating with Heesen's engineering team on the layout to optimize guest and crew areas.Ruud van der Stroom, Heesen CCO, commented: “Seeing the lines of this first 50-metre Steel yacht take shape is a powerful moment—it’s where the vision becomes a tangible reality. We are confident her iconic design will resonate strongly with a discerning owner.”Project Grace is currently available for sale, with a scheduled delivery date in the first quarter of 2028.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
September 16, 2025
Damen Yachting has confirmed the sale of a new 53-meter Yacht Support vessel from its Yacht Support range. The vessel, currently under construction at the company's facility in Antalya, Turkey, is scheduled for delivery in Spring 2026. This announcement follows the recent sale and delivery of the YS53 Emotional, which will be displayed at the Monaco Yacht Show.The YS53 model is designed to provide logistical support for main vessels, with facilities for additional crew, water toys, and helicopter operations. Its features include an expansive open main deck aft area equipped with a 15-tonne crane for handling submersibles, large tenders, and other heavy equipment. The vessel measures 53 meters with a gross tonnage of 499 and can accommodate 8 guests, 10 crew members, and a captain. The exterior design, interior design, and naval architecture were all developed by Damen Yachting.Jan van Hogerwou, Sales Director North America at Damen Yachting, stated: “This YS53 is the perfect addition to the Owner’s existing fleet and provides the extension of facilities the Owner is looking to achieve with the addition of a support vessel. We would like to thank Stuart Larsen for his collaboration throughout this project. We look forward to the remaining build period as we prepare for delivery in Spring next year."The next available delivery slot for a YS53 model is Spring 2028.Damen Yachting, the yacht-building division of Damen Shipyards Group, employs approximately 500 professionals across its Amels, SeaXplorer, and Yacht Support vessel programs. No purchase price was disclosed for the new build.Credits: Damen Yachting
September 15, 2025
Numarine has introduced a new explorer yacht model, the 27XP, at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025. The 27-meter yacht replaces the 26XP model, of which 30 units have been sold.The yacht's exterior design and interiors are by Can Yalman, with naval architecture by Umberto Tagliavini. Two layout options are available: one with five cabins and another with four cabins. The five-cabin configuration includes a main deck VIP cabin, a full-beam master suite below deck, and three additional VIP suites. The four-cabin option moves the wheelhouse to the main deck.The 27XP features an open kitchen concept and enlarged outdoor areas. The flybridge is larger than on the previous model. A raised bow lounge is also included.Twin MAN 560 engines provide a top speed of 13.5 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. The yacht has a maximum range of 2,200 nautical miles at 8 knots. An optional enclosed, glass flydeck helm station is available.Ömer Malaz, Founder and Chairman of Numarine, stated: “After keeping our cards close to our chests for a little while as we worked on refining the design, we are thrilled to unveil our latest model, the Numarine 27XP. Longer, roomier and more versatile than her predecessor, she introduces new levels of comfort, light and openness, while still keeping the rugged explorer spirit which defines our XP series. She sets a new standard of elegance and capability in the explorer yacht class.”Numarine, a European high-performance motor-yacht shipyard headquartered in Istanbul, offers a range of yachts from 19 to 45 meters.Credits: Numarine
September 15, 2025