Yacht news

This year Design & Innovation Awards were held in person in Milan on 22 June. Al Waab scoops triple win. Coming in just below the 500 gross-tonnage mark, despite a generous length of 55m, Vripack-designed Al Waab, built by Alia Yachts, scooping ‘Outstanding Exterior Design, Motor Yachts 40m to 59.9m’, ‘Best Interior Design, Motor Yachts 499GT and Below’ and ‘Best Naval Architecture, Displacement Motor Yachts’, the judges singled Al Waab out for her holistic interior, exterior and naval architecture. It’s a design approach that Vripack has long championed and places Al Waab at the forefront of yacht design.“Al Waab pulled ahead as a solid, smart design that’s slightly more efficient than its fellow nominees,” commented the judges. “Further tipping the balance in her favor was the holistic element of her naval architecture, exterior styling and interior arrangement.”Commenting on the awards wins, Vripack’s co-creative director Bart M. Bouwhuis, says: “Since 1961, Vripack’s design ethos has been underpinned by our holistic vision. Creating world-class interior and exterior designs that are conceived with expert naval architecture in mind not only delivers a yacht that comprehensively answers an owner’s brief, but one that gains worldwide industry recognition too.” Al Waab was delivered in 2021 for an owner, represented by SF Yachts, who sought a family home at sea. Despite her generous volume and a top speed of 13.5-14 knots, Al Waab’s twin Caterpillar C18 (725hp/533 kW) diesel engines burn 35% less fuel than similar-sized yachts. The Dutch design firm Vripack’s expertise comes to the fore with an optimized interior that accommodates a split-level master suite forward, six large cabins and a glass-walled convertible gym-cabin aft. Key design features include multiple drop-down terraces – with two in the master suite – a luminous glass staircase that connects the three decks, and a ‘breakfast nook’ where the family can share a convivial morning meal together. On the exterior, 286 sq. m of deck space gives a life outdoors. Inside, a natural, muted color scheme is accented with eye-catching details, such as a glittering gold-studded acrylic bulkhead, floor-to-ceiling windows and the advanced use of indirect lighting to seamlessly transition the yacht interior from day to night mode.Alia Yachts was founded in 2008 by Gokhan Çelik and Omer Koray. Located in the port of Antalya on the beautiful Turkish Riviera, Alia Yachts shipyard currently occupies approximately 8,000 sq. m, including three construction halls with their suites of specialist workshops and a dedicated interiors facility. With an additional 16,000 sq. m under development for 2019, Alia Yachts will rank among the top facilities in the region.​​Vripack is a yacht-design studio with a portfolio that represents over 7400 designs, made strong through its extensive naval architecture and engineering experience. From the moment they opened their doors in 1961, Vripack studio’s approach to design has been governed by the playful interaction between form and function.Credits: Vripack

The Austrian-owned Silent-Yachts continues to grow. Following the news that the brand has been restructured as Silent Group, it was announced that it is now the sole shareholder of its Italian production site. Silent-Yachts has acquired a new-build facility in Fano on Italy’s Adriatic coast comprising several modern, well-equipped hangars for the building and outfitting of the Silent 60 series and Silent 80 series models. The site includes five construction sheds with 22,000 sq. m of covered space and a similar exterior surface area.Silent 80 under construction at Fano facility The new range of electric Silent-Tenders will also be produced at the Fano facility, which includes an Innovation Center for researching and developing new models, technologies and solutions."Our acquisition of the facility in Fano is a great opportunity for the city and for the nautical sector in the area,” says Michael Köhler, CEO of Silent-Yachts. “In 2022 we will employ approximately 250 people, both directly and indirectly, and we have expansion plans already under discussion to increase the production capacity of our sites and acquire new ones."Silent-Yachts is producing the world’s first fully solar-sustainable oceangoing production catamaran yachts. They are powered exclusively by solar energy and capable of cruising up to 100 miles per day. In 2009, founders Heike and Michael Köhler, who have spent 6,000 days cruising more than 75,000 miles all around the world, launched the Solarwave 46, the first fully self-sufficient blue-water catamaran after years of testing solar-powered propulsion, and they have been building boats ever since. Credits: Alessandro Guerrieri/Silent-Yachts

Viken Group has announced the acquisition of the Italian Yacht Design and Architecture firm Hot Lab. The acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic partnerships and acquisitions strengthening Viken Group’s global offering of comprehensive design, naval architecture and project management services to both the cruise line and yachting industries.Hot Lab joins TDoS and the Italian design and naval architecture firm Thalia Marine under the Viken Group umbrella, in a collaboration that will facilitate cost-efficient, customized service with streamlined production process for each client. Hot Lab will maintain its office and employees in Milan, Italy, with company founders Enrico Lumini and Antonio Romano remaining at the helm.Antonio Romano and Enrico Lumini “We have always focused on the quality of our design and on the professionalism of the entire Hot Lab team. As a proud extension of the Viken Group family, we can only increase both,” says Enrico Lumini, Design Manager Hot Lab.The acquisition allows TDoS to maintain its focus on cruise ships and large yachts while continuing to hone its unrivaled expertise in large ship back-of-house operations, meeting Solas regulations and cost-effective design solutions. Stefan Nilsson“We are thrilled to welcome Hot Lab and its employees to Viken Group. Hot Lab’s Architecture for Voyagers approach is a welcome addition to our Group’s global offerings, which also comprise TDoS’s expertise in comprehensive cruise ship and large yacht design, and Thalia Marine’s technical brilliance. We are well on our way to realizing our vision to be better together for our employees and our clients, while striving for our overall goal of a better tomorrow,” says Stefan Nilsson, Group CEO Viken.Established in early 2022, Viken Group was formed by world-renown design firm Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) in an effort to provide global expertise in multiple targeted areas of yacht and cruise line design and build. The Viken Group’s name refers to the small village of Viken in Sweden where TDoS once was founded by its pioneer Robert Tillberg.Established in Milan, Italy by Antonio Romano and Enrico Lumini, Hot Lab is a yacht design and naval architecture firm that has distinguished itself globally with forward-leaning, award-winning yacht designs that display the firm’s “Architecture for Voyagers” approach to balanced and purposeful luxury.Credits: Hot Lab; Viken Group

The 50m motor yacht concept was created by Spanish design studio Daroca Design in collaboration with London studio SP.9. The powerful and edgy Odisye’s exterior contrasts with soft and curvy interior and expresses the Yin/Yang concept. “Odisye is designed with the modern yacht owner in mind. Energetic and elegant, showing faceted angles and straight lines, the exterior design of Odisye reflects the way of thinking of this new generation,” says Alejandro Crespo, Daroca’s founder and chief executive officer. The yacht spreads across four decks. The sundeck features a hot tub and a bar, the outside dining area with a large al fresco table that seats up to 16 guests can be found on the bridge deck. The main deck includes sofa seating, the beach club with 360 ocean view and a sea-level deck with a TV lounge located on the lower level. The interior includes calm and curvilinear forms, soft textures, and welcoming color palette. The Odisye’s main saloon has marble floors that reflect along the ceiling, a curved sofa and a dining table. The 50m yacht can accommodate 10 guests across five cabins, including one master suite, three VIP guest staterooms and a twin. Each room features a meticulous choice of textures and materials including green onyx, panels of leather and embroidered silk.“I was inspired by the strong personality of the new owners, who love the antithesis of sporty chicness and curvilinear elegance with a touch of ancestral artistry,” says Pei Li, SP.9’s creative director.Credits: Daroca Design

After the success of 38m Emocean, the Ravenna-based shipyard Rosetti Superyachts "relaunches" with RSY 40m EXP, a Hydro Tec project which bears the signature of Luxury Living Group in interior design and décor. The Luxury Living Group has been a leader in four continents for 40 years in the design, production and distribution of luxury furniture for some of the most important international brands: Versace, Dolce&Gabbana, Trussardi, Bentley Motors and Bugatti, in addition to its own brand Luxence Luxury Living.RSY 40m EXPFor the RSY 40m EXP, Rosetti Superyachts has also chosen to present the client with a considerably defined interior design proposal.Main saloon "The collaboration with Luxury Living Group stems from our desire to present a project such as the 40m EXP in a different way, already proposing an elegant and modern furnishing solution developed with a company that has made luxury and custom-designed furniture its hallmark. The 40m EXP gives us the opportunity to explore some features already glimpsed in the 38m EXP and to offer them in different solutions on the interiors as well, with customisation tips which can clearly be adjusted to the client's needs," said Andrea Giora, sales & marketing Director of RSY.Exterior The new explorer has already been proven by the 38m EXP's naval platform, and an optimal bow section and a longer, flatter and relatively drystern. The yacht combines the excellent qualities of an explorer (cruising range of more than 5,000 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots, considerable fuel and water tank capacities as well as galley and storage), with the exquisite elegance and taste.After having carefully studied the characteristics of the RSY 40m EXP, Luxury Living Group opted for a décor of rare elegance where the keyword is consistency: both in terms of loose furniture (with items selected from all LLG collections) and in terms of fabrics, essences and metals. A neutral and restful palette prevails on board "lit up" by touches of color that warm the environment and liven it up, allowing the owner or decorator to customize it as desired.Main saloonThe main saloon is striking for its brightness, accentuated by the play of reflections on the ceiling mirror: the white "cloud" of the walls, the sofa and the large dining table with a Carrara marble top is warmed by the metal finishes (a leitmotif we will find throughout the yacht), by the marble or bronze coffee tables, the lamps and the delightful dining chairs, which, like the poufs, come in the particular tones of acid yellow to liven up the ambient.Owner suiteIn the owner's suite neutral dove-grey colors prevail, warmed by flashes of cognac, blue and the sculptural movement of the wall which, from the head of the bed, extends to the ceiling. Highly refined are the dark wood vanity and the iconic Kingston armchair by Bentley Home.Owner suiteThe lounge on the bridge deck, responding to the same pursuit of contrast between neutral tones and color and texture, offers a cozy modular sofa from the Trussardi Casa line that lights up with touches of blue to complement the D&G Casa armchairs in their Mediterranean blue theme. The finishing touches added to this space are the accessories and decorations that match the ones in the main saloon.Sky loungeThe bridge deck in its outdoor version is enhanced with unique furniture from the Stiletto line by Versace Home presented at the Salone del Mobile 2022, decorated with a jungle pattern."It is a pleasure to collaborate with a shipyard as young and full of potential as Rosetti Superyachts, which received some important recognition awards from the nautical world this year in London and last year in Cannes,” commented Andrea Gentilini, CEO of Luxury Living Group. Rosetti, evolution of Rosetti Menotti, was established in 1925, and they're a global leader in both the engineering and construction of on-shore and off-shore plants, as well as a wide range of commercial ships ranging from ocean-going tugs and platform supply vessels to passenger ferries equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for propulsion, automation, navigational aids and control systems. Credits: Rosetti Superyachts