A South Korean designer is working on plans for a yacht that, if built, will be worthy of a James Bond villain. The so-called ‘Valkyrie Project’ gigayacht measures an incredible 750 feet, or 229 metres – nearly a quarter of a kilometre.
To put that into perspective, 750 feet is the equivalent of 24 nose to nose double decker busses, or two whole football pitches. That puts the world’s current biggest yacht, Azzam to 2nd place. Azzam measures 590 feet.
It puts even the likes of research expedition superyacht REV, currently being built in Romania, in the shade. The new boat will top Azzam, but come in at a significantly smaller length than Valkyrie Project with its 600 feet.
Even more impressive, the yacht would have its own casino, art galleries, theatre and restaurants. It could house 52 guests along with 92 crew members, though the owner would have an entire deck entirely for their own use. It would sail at a respectable speed of 25 knots.
So who will buy it?
That all comes with a hefty price tag, however, with the cost of the yacht projected to be a massive $775 million, or £600 million.
The massive project is the design of Chulhun Park, 36, and was designed in partnership with yacht builders Palmer Johnson as part of his university course. Park, who comes from Seoul in South Korea, says that the vessel would be made of aluminium wrapped around a carbon fibre structure. He has some interesting thoughts on the shape of the ship, too.
"When I decided to be a yacht designer, I realized that most yachts are white coloured and stacked up like wedding cakes," Park says. "Therefore, I was determined to design a very unique looking yacht which would stand out of the fleet. I tried to manipulate the structure's surface skin and create non-rectilinear shapes which appear to distort and dislocate elements of shape."
While the yacht would most likely be privately owned, as the inclusion of an exclusive deck for the owner suggests, Mr Park doesn’t envisage it as exclusively for the use of one ultra-rich owner, but rather as an exclusive and luxurious hub for dining, entertainment and gambling.
"Most people consider super yachts to be an exclusive property for billionaires to show off their wealth,” Mr Park said. "However, what if we create floating architecture to be used by everyone?”
‘Everyone’ would most likely, in this case, be relative given the cost of building and maintaining a yacht so decadent. It could, however, become the playground of the merely rich rather than the exclusive preserve of the mega rich.
The on-board casino
One particularly unique feature would be the inclusion of a casino. While casinos are relatively commonplace on commercial cruise liners and have been found on them for years (and you probably wouldn’t struggle too hard to find poker rooms or limited table games on many larger private yachts), this may be the only fully featured gambling house built in a private yacht.
The casino feature certainly furthers Mr Park’s conception of the boat as a sort of private, highly exclusive cruise ship for entertaining the rich. It’s easy to imagine private, high stakes games taking place out on the high seas.
One thing that would have to be accommodated for, however, is the pitching and rolling created by the yacht’s motion in the water. Larger cruise ships tend to be more stable thanks to their size, but on a ‘smaller’ boat, even one that’s 750 feet long, the movement of the boat on the water could result in affecting how a roulette ball settles on the wheel or how a dice rolls. There are, of course, mechanisms and systems that can limit a ship’s movement.
Another concern might be security, and if high stakes casino games were played on the yacht it might be necessary to take out measures beyond the norm and stick to safer waters. Modern day piracy can be a serious concern for ships that find themselves in the wrong waters.
The games on offer
Of course, where the boat is, and the demographic of the guests, could have an impact on the selection of games on-board. If Mr Park’s dream comes true and the yacht is available for everyone, the games will need to reflect that. There are a whole host of weird and wonderful casino games out there, and their inclusion on the yacht should be considered if everyone is to feel welcome.
Pachinko would be a welcome addition, the complex laws surrounding gambling in Japan mean the machines often double up as an arcade game – making them perfect for younger guests and for use when the ship is close to the coastline in certain parts of the world.
Abiding by the law
There are also the complex gambling laws governing the world’s oceans to contend with. In the US, for example, the yacht will have to be three or more miles from the coastline around most of the country if it wants to avoid falling under the jurisdiction of state gambling laws. Along the coastline of Florida and Texas that distance jumps even further to nine nautical miles.
In the waters surrounding other countries the necessary distance can be even greater still to escape the reach of prohibitive legislation. In many places it’s as many as 12 nautical miles.
Beyond those distances, the ship would legally be in the territory of whatever country it is registered in. For the casino to run smoothly, whoever was in command of the yacht would have to have a firm grasp of the intricacies of gambling laws in different countries to avoid running afoul of them.
This is all academic at this point, of course, as Project Valkyrie hasn’t made it off the drawing board. Still, a billionaire wanting to gamble within reach of his or her home might buy or build the boat, register it somewhere with relatively liberal gambling laws like the United Kingdom and then use it as a floating base for gambling that they can’t take part in on their home shores.
One thing’s for certain, with its $755 million price tag, expect any games that do get played on Project Valkyrie to be the territory of some serious high rollers.
Heesen Yachts has delivered the 50-meter hybrid superyacht Orion (YN 20750), marking the Dutch shipyard's third delivery this year. The aluminum-hulled vessel completed successful sea trials in the North Sea before handover to its owner.Orion features Heesen's Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) with hybrid propulsion, achieving silent electric cruising at 10 knots. The propulsion system combines two MTU 12V 2000 M61 (IMO III) engines with electric motors, reducing fuel consumption to 45 liters per hour in hybrid mode. The yacht offers a transatlantic range of 3,750 nautical miles at 12 knots (98 liters/hour) and reaches a top speed of 16.3 knots.Ruud vand der Stroom, Heesen CCO"The delivery of Orion is a moment of great pride for everyone at Heesen," said Ruud van der Stroom. "This yacht perfectly encapsulates our DNA: precise Dutch engineering, innovative hybrid technology, and the ability to deliver a high-quality product through dedicated collaboration."Designed by Omega Architects' Frank Laupman, Orion features a vertical bow and extensive glazing. The 499 GT interior by Cristiano Gatto incorporates 37 material varieties including Italian marble and woven leather. Accommodation includes six staterooms for twelve guests, with a main-deck owner's suite and full-beam VIP.Peter van der Zanden, General Manager Design & Development, Engineering and HeesenPeter van der Zanden, Heesen's Head of Engineering, noted: "Our expertise in lightweight aluminum construction, combined with the efficiency of the Fast Displacement Hull Form and hybrid system make ORION exceptional. This synergy reduces environmental impact while enhancing owner experience."Broker Anton Foord of Ocean Intelligence commented: "Orion offers an exceptional experience defined by performance, elegance, and technical innovation." The yacht will be available for Mediterranean charter this summer.Orion represents Heesen's continued focus on sustainable yachting solutions, following previous hybrid deliveries in its 50-meter series. The shipyard currently has five yachts under construction at its Oss facility, with scheduled deliveries through 2026.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
June 6, 2025
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June 6, 2025
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June 6, 2025
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June 5, 2025
Viken Group, a global marine design firm specializing in cruise ships and superyachts, has appointed Anna Silvesjö as Chief Executive Officer. Silvesjö previously served as Partner and Group Chief Financial Officer of the company, which owns design studios TDoS (Tillberg Design of Sweden), Hot Lab, and Thalia Marine.Silvesjö outlined her strategic priorities for the group: "Viken Group will continue to expand into new market segments while deepening partnerships with clients through our on-brand design philosophy. Our design solutions align with each client's brand identity, culture, and target audience." She emphasized design excellence, commercial performance, and talent retention as key focus areas.Anna SilvesjöA central initiative under Silvesjö's leadership will be the development of Navigator, the group's integrated service platform for maritime projects. "Rooted in decades of experience across cruise ships, expedition yachts, and private yachts, Navigator simplifies the complexity of shipbuilding while ensuring rigorous cost control throughout development and construction," said Fredrik Johansson, Viken Group Co-Founder.The leadership transition occurs as the marine design industry continues to evolve, with Silvesjö representing one of few female executives in the sector. Her appointment reflects the group's emphasis on financial and operational management combined with design expertise.Viken Group's three subsidiaries maintain distinct specializations: TDoS in cruise ship design, Hot Lab in superyacht concepts, and Thalia Marine in naval architecture and engineering. The group currently operates across multiple international markets, serving both new construction and refit projects.No additional executive changes were announced alongside Silvesjö's promotion. The transition takes immediate effect, with Silvesjö assuming full operational responsibility for the group's global activities.Credits: Viken Group
June 5, 2025