The second Heesen largest superyacht, 65-metre Galactica Star, was announced sold on July 25, with Fraser representing the seller and Burgess representing the buyer. The vessel was listed for sale earlier this year asking $ 42,000,000, as a result of a notorious corruption case in Nigeria.
Custom-built by Dutch yard Heesen in 2013, the vessel seconds only to the builder’s 70-metre Galactica Super Nova in terms of LOA. She features exterior styling by Omega Architects, engineering by Van Oossanen & Associates, finished by interiors from the boards of Bannenberg & Rowell.
In April 2019, the vessel was offered for sale in a sealed bid arrangement, proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and approved by U.S. federal court. The sale process roots back to corruption case against two Nigerian nationals.
Allegedly, the superyacht was originally owned by Nigerian oil magnate Kolawole Aluko, who is one of four defendants accused of cheating Nigeria out of almost $1.8 billion in siphoned crude oil sales, reports The Marine News. The U.S. government also accused Aluko and another oil executive, Olajide Omokore, of laundering money in the United States and using it to acquire the yacht, among other assets.
The sale followed a court-ordered seizure of the yacht's owner's assets due to possible connections to an ongoing Nigerian oil corruption scandal, triggered by the Panama Papers investigation. The latter refers to 11.5 million leaked encrypted confidential documents that were the property of Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, exposing the network of more than 214,000 tax havens.
Thus, the US and Nigerian governments received Federal Court approval to sell the arrested superyacht due to high maintenance and dockage fees, estimating the combined cost at around $170,000 per month. Managed by Fraser, the vessel was listed at $42,000,000.
Galactica Star accommodates up to 12 guests overnight in 6 cabins, comprising a master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, and 4 double cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 13 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.
The most alluring feature about the vessel is what goes on below the waterline. Van Ossaanen Naval Architects successfully created a yacht that cruises 30% more efficiently than a conventional round-bilged motor yacht in this size range.
Powered by 2 MTU 5,592 HP diesel engines and propelled by twin screw propellers, Galactica Star is capable of a top speed of 27 knots, and comfortably cruises at 24 knots. With her 90,000 fuel tanks she has a maximum range of 4,200 nautical miles at 14 knots. Her water tanks store around 30,000 litres of fresh water.
The yacht used to be popular for charter among celebrities, for instance, once rented by American music industry power couple, Jay Z and Beyonce for a holiday cruise, according to WithinNigeria.
In the meantime, acting as the seller's representative Fraser, one of the world’s leading brokerage companies, has been recently announced acquired from the Italian AzimutBenetti Group by US broker MarineMax.
Van der Valk has just finished the latest stage of the build of 28-metre Explorer. The yacht will be ready for delivery this summer. Designed by Guido de Groot, the Van der Valk’s Explorer is one of the new generations of motor yachts in the Dutch yard’s portfolio. The yard has gone to great lengths to ensure the best possible sailing and seakeeping qualities for this design, including a distinctive round-bilged hull. Van der Valk Explorer yachts are designed and built to withstand the toughest environments and boast an extensive fuel capacity that enables them to easily make long ocean passages.The yacht has twin MAN V12 1650 hp engines that can get top speed of 20 knots with VEEM VG145 zero-speed gyroscopic stabiliser system and two 32 kW Northern Lights generators.
March 26, 2020
Turkish yacht builder Mazu Yachts has launched and delivered its 24.5 metre Mazu 82 flagship superyacht.Mazu Yachts 82 is one of the larger Open Motor Yachts in the market featuring endless outdoor areas as well as the interior comfort. October last year yacht was "rapidly" approaching completion in. Now the yacht has been delivered to its Turkish owner.The Mazu 82 is built from carbon composite in lightweight construction. Power comes from three Volvo Penta IPS 1350 1000hp engines with a cruising speed of 35 knots and a maximum speed of 40 knots. Other features include a beam of 5.9 metres and a draft of 1.6 metres.The Mazu 82 will have its official debut at the 2020 Cannes Yachting Festival.
March 26, 2020
TYBA Yacht Charter Show has been postponed until 2021. The exact dates of the 2021 TYBA Show will be announced at a later stage. Superyacht Cup Palma has been postponed until June. New dates for the 25th-anniversary edition have been set for 23-26th June 2021.The Monaco Yacht Show is set to go ahead as planned from 23-25 September 2020 on the Port Hercule.The St Barths Bucket has been cancelled.All shows postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Taking into consideration the information that is currently available organizers said that health of Members and all Show participants being one of the key priorities, so now it is not possible to ensure the show is organised in the safe and productive environment.
March 26, 2020
Dubai International Boat Show have been postponed until November due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The event will be held in Dubai Harbour (formerly Dubai International Marine Club) on November 24 - 28 November. By words of organisers they “continue to focus on prioritising the delivery of a strong international participation in these extraordinary times.” They have been working closely to assure that clients’ needs are most effectively addressed for the delivery of strong international participation considered. The event will be held coinciding with the Expo Dubai 2020.
March 25, 2020
Built by Sanlorenzo and delivered in 2019, 64.25m luxury yacht Attila he 64Steel offers features usually found on larger superyachts – such as the 275 m2 private Owner’s Deck – which combine with innovative layout solutions and elegant exterior lines to create a truly remarkable superyacht.In 2019, 64Steel Attila was awarded the ‘Best Interior Design’ Trophy for yachts over 30m at the Cannes Yachting Festival World Yacht Trophies Gala Dinner.She can accommodate up to 12 people with 18 crew members. With a gross tonnage of 1600 GRT and at a striking 64 metres in length, 64Steel Attila is the result of close collaboration between the studio Officina Italiana Design and the styling division of Sanlorenzo. Her internal décor is the work of Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini.The Main Deck at the stern and the Beach Club on the Lower Deck surely represent the most distinctive areas of the project. A strong hallmark of design and layout is the double stairway that connects the pool and dining area to the Beach Club equipped with a sauna, hammam, massage room, and gym, right at the waterline. With the bow mirror and the side platforms open, the Beach Club covers an area of 78 square meters.“The most important aspect that has characterized yatcht’s concept has been the will to obtain continuity between the beach club and an area we could call an “al fresco” veranda, that is the rear part of the Main Deck where the pool is also located, passing along an impressive stairway. The idea behind the layout in fact enables us to integrate the main aft deck and the beach club as much as possible. This characteristic thus enables us to enjoy both areas, around which the social life on board is focused, simultaneously, without separating the guests.” Antonio Santella, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Sanlorenzo Superyacht Division.A real challenge for the production team was the creation of an enormous barbecue in the dining area of the main deck, a request which was particularly connected to the nationality of the owner, an Argentine entrepreneur who was already a Sanlorenzo client with the 46Steel Achille delivered in 2012 and was closely involved with the planning and construction of the new yacht from the beginning. The arrangement of an open fire in an enclosed space in fact required the use of A60 fireproof stainless steel and the installation of an advanced smoke removal system.The crew, located in the Lower Deck, has private and independent routes with two service stairs and an elevator for the rapid transfer of cold and dry goods into the storage rooms. Below the Lower Deck, lies the Tank Deck with a refrigeration chamber, a refrigerated waste room, a multimedia room for the crew, a large laundry, and a climate-controlled “wine cellar” with a capacity of up to 500 bottles.The four guest rooms and the full beam VIP suite are located on the Main Deck. The 64Steel Attila interiors were furnished and decorated by Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini. “We worked full speed with the owner and the shipyard – recalls Francesco Paszkowski – defining a modern space in South American style with natural elements such as teak, near which the owner wanted to add and mix many other materials he loves, and which are part of his personal experience. Attila is the yacht of a man who lives life to the fullest. And lives his yacht.”Regarding the furnishings, many pieces were custom designed, while others were created by some Italian and international leading design companies such as Summit, De Sede, Flexform and Catellani & SmithHer top speed is 18kn and her power comes from two 2375hp Caterpillar 3516-C diesel engines.
March 25, 2020