As you may have noticed, the number of yachts over 80 meters has sharply increased over the past few decades, which makes us think that we have now entered into the golden age of megayachts. As 2016 is coming to an end, we've rounded up some of the most impressive launches of the year. Here is the list of the 10 superyachts, that made quite a splash in 2016.
1. Jupiter
On 27th October 2016 Lurssen launched 123m Project Jupiter at its facility in Bremen, Germany. She features a very sporty and aggressive look similar to the owner's first yacht. With exterior design by H2 Yacht Design and interiors by March & White the yacht is scheduled for delivery in spring 2017. For both design teams this is their first Lürssen yacht, and the collaboration between all parties, including Winterbothams technical services and Y.CO Management team, has worked extremely well.
2. 116m Ulysses
Norwegian ship builder Kleven have announced the launch of their 116m yacht project in March 2016. The yacht has been built for Graeme Hart, 60-year old businessman from New Zealand with a net worth currently valued by Forbes at 6.9 billion dollars. Designed by Marin Teknikk, a ship design company based in Norway, with the help of naval architect, Kyle Dick, the yacht is intended for long expeditions with a luxurious feel. Last week the megayacht has been handed over to her owner.
3. Y712
Dutch superyacht builder Oceanco has launched its 106m sailing yacht Y712 in September. She becomes the first sailing yacht to be entirely constructed by the shipyard. The superyacht has exterior and interior design by Nuvolari & Lenard, whilst Oceanco & Dykstra Naval Architects were responsible for the naval architecture. The 2,700 GT superyacht features a DynaRig having the ability to operate entirely on solar power.
4. Mistral
On Saturday, April 16, Lürssen launched project Mistral - a 100+ metre yacht, which has been designed by Espen Oeino. In June the megayacht has been spotted undergoing her sea trials.
5. Vertigo
Feadship Vertigo saw the light of day on Wednesday 23 November, which is when this 96.55-metre superyacht left the construction hall at the Feadship yard in Makkum. With the interior and exterior design by Redman Whiteley Dixon and Chahan Interior Design and Azure acting as Owner’s project manager, Vertigo’s creative execution raises the bar of superyacht design to new levels of sophistication.
6. Aquarius
92-meter Aquarius (Project Touchdown) was launched by Feadship's De Vries yard in September. The superyacht became Steve Wynn's newest flagship, replacing his previous 67-meter Aquarius. Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design is responsible for both the exterior and interior of the superyacht, whilst the naval architecture comes from De Voogt. Aquarius' key features include a helipad on the bow, a beauty salon, a large pool on the aft main deck, a gym, massage and therapy room, jacuzzi and large outdoor deck spaces.
7. Lionheart
Benetti has launched its largest yacht to date, the 90m Lionheart, in January 2016. 90m Lionheart was built for British business tycoon, Philip Green, who took delivery of a 63m Benetti yacht by the same name in 2006, now known as Lioness V. Lionheart overtakes the 86m Kingdom 5KR, launched in 1980, as Benetti's new flagship. Though the project has been shrouded in secrecy, it is known that Stefano Natucci collaborated with the Italian shipyard on the exterior design and Green & Mingarelli Design is responsible for the interior design.
8. Y715
Oceanco's highly confidential 88.5m superyacht, Y715, has been recently lowered into the water in Keppel Veroime in November. Launched at the end of October, she has a beam of 14.5m and a draft of 3.95m. Exterior styling and interior design are by Sam Sorgiovanni Designs. She presents a modern sporty look with a dark blue hull which is generously offset with a contrasting white superstructure. With no sharp edges, she has a very organic form with large elliptical-shaped hull windows that complement Y715’s curvilinear profile. Further details remain confidential at this time.
The largest Amels superyacht to date emerged at its facility in Vlissingen at the end of June. Measuring 83m, HERE COMES THE SUN features an exterior design by Tim Heywood and interior style by Winch Design. As for the accommodation, there are 8 guest cabins on board and space for 27 crew. The six-decks yacht's key features include 5.5m swimming pool, 87 sqm beach club with a spa, 900 sqm of outside deck space and a garage capable of storing four jet skis and two 11m tenders.
10. Plvs Vltra
The sale of Amels' first Limited Edition 242 (Project Freefall) was announced back in November 2013 by the Dutch shipyard. With an exterior by Tim Heywood and an interior by Andrew Winch, the 74-meter yacht has a beam of 12.25m and a gross tonnage of 1725GT. Plvs Vltra's construction was managed by Moran Yacht & Ship.
The 38.6-meter motor yacht Areti I has changed ownership in a transaction brokered by IYC and Hamilton Marine International. Michael Rafferty and Dimitri Blaimer of IYC represented the buyer, while David Ross of Hamilton Marine acted for the seller.Built in 2007 by U.S. shipyard Burger, the aluminum-hulled vessel was designed by longtime Burger naval architect Don O'Keeffe. The yacht had one owner since delivery and never entered charter service.Areti I accommodates 10 guests across five cabins, including a full-beam master suite on the main deck. Crew quarters house up to eight staff. Douglas Richey designed the interior featuring wood paneling and neutral-toned furnishings.Recent updates include a 2024 refit and full repaint at Rybovich in North Palm Beach. The yacht carries ABS classification and MCA compliance.Powered by twin 1,300hp Caterpillar engines, Areti I achieves 14.5-knot top speed with 5,500-nautical-mile range at 10 knots. The vessel was listed at $9.95 million prior to sale.The transaction demonstrates continued market activity for well-maintained American-built superyachts in the 35-40 meter range. Burger's aluminum construction and single-owner history likely contributed to the yacht's market appeal.Credits: Hamilton Marine International
August 18, 2025
Horizon Group has completed installation of a new 1,800-ton shiplift system at its Premier Shipyard facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The 60-meter by 13.7-meter Pearlson Shiplift System represents a two-year development project, expanding the yard's capacity to service superyachts exceeding 70 meters in length.The 24,000-square-meter shipyard occupies 200 meters of waterfront at Taiwan's largest commercial port. The new infrastructure strengthens Premier's position in the Asian refit market, where it has previously serviced vessels up to 69 meters from builders including Feadship and Riva.John Lu, Horizon Group CEO, stated: "The shiplift provides our shipyard with vastly increased capabilities and capacity, helping to fulfill unprecedented demand for global superyacht owners." The yard maintains certifications from classification societies including Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, RINA and DNV.The installation follows Horizon's ongoing investment in service infrastructure, complementing its core yacht construction business. The Taiwanese facility becomes one of few Asian yards capable of handling large superyacht refits with its new lifting system.Premier Shipyard has serviced over 30 yachts since establishing its refit operations. The shiplift project aligns with growing demand for maintenance facilities in Asia as the regional superyacht fleet expands. Horizon continues production at its main yacht-building facilities while expanding aftermarket services through the Kaohsiung location.The completed shiplift enters service immediately, with the yard prepared to accommodate vessels for scheduled winter maintenance work. Horizon confirms the facility will participate in upcoming regional boat shows to demonstrate its enhanced capabilities to potential clients.Horizon Yachts, the subsidiary company of Horizon Group, was co-founded in 1987 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Since then, Horizon has become the leading Asian yacht brand in the luxury yacht market.Credits: Horizon Yachts
August 18, 2025
Dutch yacht builder Heesen Yachts has appointed Jeroen van der Meer as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2025. The leadership change follows the shipyard's recent acquisition by owner Laurens Last.Van der Meer replaces Niels Vaessen, who departs after thirteen years with the company, including service as both CFO and CEO. The new CEO holds a mechanical engineering degree and MBA from Eindhoven University, with professional experience focused on manufacturing optimization and strategic restructuring.Laurens Last stated: "Our goal is to build upon Heesen's legendary status by focusing relentlessly on quality, innovation, and the client experience. Jeroen's appointment is a strategic move to accelerate this vision." The owner emphasized plans to enhance production processes and invest in sustainable technologies under the new leadership.Vaessen commented: "I have an immense respect for the craftspeople and colleagues at Heesen, and I am grateful for my long service. I have full confidence in the shipyard's continued success."Van der Meer outlined his priorities: "My focus will be on harnessing the incredible talent within the company. By optimizing our processes and integrating advanced systems, we will empower our people to build the most innovative and reliable yachts." He emphasized strengthening client relationships and after-sales support.The leadership transition comes as Heesen prepares for the Monaco Yacht Show in September 2025, where executives will meet with clients and partners. The shipyard continues production at its Oss facility, maintaining its focus on aluminum and steel superyacht construction.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
August 18, 2025
The 100.8-meter Kusch Yachts superyacht I Dynasty has been listed for sale with Merle A. Wood of Merle Wood & Associates and James Auld of SuperYachtsMonaco, with an asking price of €240,000,000. This places her as the fourth most expensive superyacht currently on the market.Built in Germany and delivered in July 2015, I Dynasty is the second-largest vessel from Kusch Yachts and the yard’s most recent delivery. The project was overseen by Vega Yachts, with The A Group’s Richard Hein responsible for exterior design and naval architecture. She was among the first superyachts to be fully certified to Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) standards.Her interior, designed by Massari Design, accommodates up to 34 guests in 12 cabins, plus four staff in three cabins and 36 crew in 19 cabins. Under PYC certification, she can carry up to 36 guests. The main deck hosts the owner’s suite, which includes separate his and hers marble en suites, while two master VIP suites are located on the bridge deck.With an interior volume of 4,437GT, I Dynasty offers a variety of amenities, including a bridge deck cinema, beach club, sauna, hair salon, massage room, hammam, gym, and a dive centre. Notable design features include an open staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a mix of classical and modern finishes, including warm woods, marble pillars, and glass “shark fins” acting as windbreakers.The yacht’s exterior spaces include multiple dining areas, a covered cinema, several pools, and a float-in tender garage that can be converted into a saltwater pool. She carries a range of tenders and water toys, including a Riva 33 Aquariva and a 9.6-metre Pascoe Limousine.Powered by a diesel-electric system with twin Rolls-Royce Bergen main engines and triple Caterpillar C32 auxiliary engines, I Dynasty has a top speed of 17 knots, a cruising speed of 14 knots, and a range of 7,000 nautical miles.She recently completed her Lloyd’s 10-year Special Survey in June 2025 and will be available for inspection by appointment during the Monaco Yacht Show.Credits: Merle Wood & Associates
August 15, 2025
The first unit from the Lazzara UHV 100 series has had its asking price reduced by €1,005,000. Represented for sale by Josh Gulbranson of Fraser and Richard Higgins of Northrop & Johnson, the 30.5-metre motor yacht is currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2026.Designed entirely in-house by Turkish shipyard Lazzara, the model has a reported gross tonnage of 222GT, which the builder claims is the largest in its class. The yacht is being built using a full epoxy construction with e-glass, a closed-cell aviation core, and no gelcoat or wood.Accommodation will be for up to 10 guests in five cabins, including a main-deck owner’s suite with private seating and en suite, and four guest cabins on the lower deck in a mix of queen and twin arrangements. Crew quarters will accommodate five.The interior is designed with multiple floor-to-ceiling windows and 2,800 square feet of living space, including a main deck lounge and dining area for 10, and a full-beam skylounge with a bar and lounge seating.Outdoor areas will include a beach club with a submersible swim platform, a foredeck lounge with a Jacuzzi, and alfresco dining and seating on both the main and upper aft decks.Powered by Volvo Penta engines, the yacht is expected to have a cruising speed of 12 knots and a maximum speed of 16 knots. She will also be equipped with CMC electric fin stabilisation and hydraulic bow and stern thrusters. Principal dimensions include a beam of 7.4 metres and a draft of 1.8 metres.The Lazzara UHV 100 is now listed for sale at €13,495,000.Credits: Northrop & Johnson
August 15, 2025