Yacht news

The 117 meter Alexis is a marriage between elegance and capability. She boasts a massive owner’s suite at the stern with a private swimming pool. There is an additional swimming pool at the bow of Alexis. Her two pools boast hard retractable covers so draining is not required in rough conditions.She features a huge open sky bar with two spas on the 6th level. The Alexis has many private indoor and outdoor areas, boasts 3 master suites, and can carry 20 guests in full luxury. She has four freefall lifeboats that can be deployed in the worst of conditions.The integrated aircraft hangar has 3000 ft², enough to store four small helicopters or 3 medium helicopters. The huge landing area permits safe aircraft operations during rough conditions. The two large cranes can help load and off load special research equipment easily. The Alexis also features heated handrails and heated doors to minimizes icing problems.The Alexis’ cavernous garage can handle 2 submarines, multiple tenders, and other water toys. She can take you to any port on earth nonstop without having to refuel and can be on station for extended periods of time. Her ice class hull can break through moderate ice conditions easily. The Alexis is large enough to be configured for standard diesel-electric propulsion or hybrid. This decision is at the owner's discretion. She is luxurious, beautiful and safe for any type of sea voyage.

A dutch shipyard Heesen has announced that the hull and superstructure of Project Castor were joined together at the facility in Oss. Castor is the fourth yacht in the 55m Steel Class, after the Azamanta being the world’s first Fast Displacement steel-hulled super yacht over 50 metres, Laurentia, which was delivered in 2017 and Project Antares. Project Castor features exterior lines by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. At 760GT, Castor is the largest by volume 55-metre currently in build in the Netherlands. Her interior comes from the boards of renowned design studio Bannenerg & Rowell, marking their eighth collaboration with Heesen.Frank Laupman has given the exterior lines muscular overtones, but these design cues are cleverly integrated into the traditional Heesen sleek look. The design is efficient and rational, with iconic elements such as the vertical floor-to-ceiling windows in the forward section of the main deck as well as full height windows in the main saloon and skylounge, open bulwarks, and the “shark tooth” on the overhang of the superstructure. All these elements help make the Heesen 55m Steel Class distinct and recognizable from afar.Like her sister ships, Castor sports the fast displacement hull form (FDHF) devised by Van Oossanen, which delivers high levels of efficiency across the whole speed spectrum. Besides efficiency and low resistance, the 55m Steel FDHF provides fantastic comfort, and thanks to the large stabiliser fins by Naiad – installed forward of centre – this includes exceptional roll reduction at anchor. Another advantage of a slippery hull is that it can be powered by smaller engines and decreasing the engine power comes with many benefits – in particular increased space and reduced noise. Two MTU 8V 4000 M63 main engines (which meet IMO Tier III emissions regulations) will deliver 1,000kW each, allowing Castor to reach a maximum speed of 15.5 knots. She will have an impressive transatlantic range of 4,500 nautical miles at a cruise speed of 13 knots, making her a true bluewater motor yacht.Project Castor features some innovations from her predecessors: a full-beam sky lounge, a larger master stateroom now measuring 73 square meters, and larger lower deck suites as the VIP has been moved to the bridge deck. Her contemporary Bannenberg & Rowell interior, which features signature woods and natural stones, draws on a subtle but warm colour palette which maximises the sense of airiness delivered by the generous interior spaces and the natural light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Project Castor is available for delivery in Spring 2020.

Bering Yachts has a new order for a 32-meter semi-custom yacht (Bering 106) with the contract signed during the Monaco Yacht Show 2018. Like all Bering yachts, B106 is able to cross the ocean, providing maximum safety and modern comfort with fuel efficiency, as well as cruising to any destinations. Bering 106 is 32 meter in length and has 7.5 meter beam, with a displacement of 212. With a fuel capacity of 30,000 liters this model can travel over 4,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 9 knots and maximum speed of 13 knots.The master stateroom is located on the upper deck immediately behind the pilothouse. On the main deck, the living and dining areas are combined into a single living space with an excellent panoramic view from almost any point due to the large glass area. Forward on the main deck there is a huge island kitchen with access to the front deck, where you can relax on the sun loungers or in the jacuzzi. There are 4 guest staterooms, including a game room, 2 crew cabins and a crew quarters on the lower deck. The flybridge equipped with a second control station and with a lounge area, including wet bar, chairs and settee.

Most drones provide a fun way for you capture beautiful outdoor views and while hiking or traveling. But with an underwater drone, anyone can explore the unknown ocean depths. The functionality of a standard, airborne drone expands to meet challenging ocean currents with high-performance motion technology.Titan is the most affordable underwater drone on the market with the highest available water pressure rating, built to go wherever your underwater adventure takes you. With its powerful 4K 30fps camera and streamlined, game-like control system, Titan can be your eyes under the sea. Able to withstand depths up to 150m, farther than any other drone to date, you can pilot Titan with an easy to use smartphone/tablet app. Capture stunning underwater images and videos, find plentiful locations to fish, or even carry out accurate technical inspections of underwater equipment. Whether you are scuba diver, underwater photographer, drone enthusiast, marine naturalist, educator or just want to have fun, Titan is your best choice. Titan’s built-in camera features a 160° ultra-wide angle lens, creating cinematic 4K videos and spectacular 8MP photos in rich detail and color.Titan is designed with a diving range of up to 150m, so it can dive down and unravel the mysteries of the deep blue sea, while you stay high and dry, enjoying the adventure. Powered by 6 high-performance thrusters and guided by a precise steering algorithm, Titan commands the speed, endurance, and agility needed to withstand demanding deep dives and strong currents.<iframe width="1063" height="517" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FSpNnhNXB8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ocean Alliance has hosted a select group of international charter agents, travel designers and media representatives onboard motor yacht Oneworld to discover the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef. The outstanding feedback from the guests highlighted a greater appreciation of the destination, delight in its vibrancy and a desire to protect and celebrate this UNESCO World Heritage Listed location.Among the six hand-picked guests were three representatives of world’s leading brokerage houses - Camper & Nicholsons (France), Northrop & Johnson (USA), and the Luxury Charter Group. Thanks to the growing interest for superyacht bookings in the travel agency world, the group included a representative from influential Australian high-end inbound agency, The Tailor. A journalist contributor to Forbes, Bloomberg and Michelin guides flew in from New York with Tourism Australia’s support, to join The CEO Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. Setting out from Hamilton Island, the five-day familiarisation trip took in the highlights of the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef from both above, on and below the water’s surface. The invaluable support received from Tourism Australia allowed guests access engaging experiences alongside Oneworld’s unique offering in the domestic charter market. These wide and varied experiences included cuddling a koala; wandering along the iconic Whitehaven Beach on the south east coastline of Whitsunday Island (recently voted the best island in the world by Condé Nast’s 2018 readers survey); a trek to the heights of Hamilton Island’s Passage Peak to expansive views of the entire region under an iconic Australian crisp blue sky; undertaking a scenic seaplane flight over the islands and reef, spotting mantarays and turtles under the clear surface; diving into the depths from the aft deck during a brief yet memorable Outer Reef experience; and an adrenaline-fueled slide down the inflatable slide at Chance Bay. “It was wonderful to experience first-hand the latest addition to the Australian charter fleet. Oneworld is a beautiful, well-equipped Majesty 100 that delivers a premium charter experience. The Crew and Chef were so professional and the service, the food and the ambience were exceptional. I have a renewed enthusiasm for the Whitsundays and the Reef, thanks to the amazing Oneworld charter. We were able to explore the region's picturesque islands, from the most remote and untouched bays to the 5-star luxury of qualia and the boutiques, restaurants and attractions of Hamilton Island,” said Jeni Tidmarsh of Luxury Charter Group.The compact trip also included cruising out to the Great Barrier Reef, in a short 3-hour motoring passage, and taking the opportunity to dive on the reef guided by Reef Safari’s insightful Instructor.“'I've dived in many places in the world and the clarity on the reef was exceptional at the Stepping Stones dive site. I was so excited to dive in the Great Barrier Reef, and my expectations were way surpassed. I was blown away. The team at Reef Safari were wonderful guides, pointing out different types of fish and, after our dive, giving a great mini lesson on the fascinating life of reef and coral,” said journalist Sophie Friedman.The Stepping Stones are a unique feature of Bait Reef. They are made up of 18 or more flat topped, thus the name, coral pinnacles lined up in a row. At the Southern Face shallow waters are dominated by flat terrain completely covered by hard corals with the odd sand patch. Large turtles, manta rays and some pelagic fishes such as mackerel and barracuda are often seen cruising along the drop-off. “I recently read a quote by renowned marine biologist, Sylvia Earle, where she said ‘Please get out into wild places…. And get under the sea. Look at creatures and how they live. It's hard to be reckless with nature if you have spent time in a wild place. So be a curious explorer!’ and without doubt, we now have six of the most committed ambassadors for the reef and chartering a superyacht in the Whitsunday Islands,” said Laurie Foulon, Charter Experience Manager of Ocean Alliance. The familiarisation trip wasn’t all at sea as the group had the opportunity to discover Hamilton Island and its leading resort, qualia, for a private tour of its private pavilions and sumptuous hosted lunch. The final leg was returning to Airlie Beach on the mainland of Australia, whilst Tourism Australia’s representative Ingrid Sellarulo guided the group through the Signature Experiences program, followed by Captain Matt Baily who imparted his immense knowledge of the area and secret spots for beach BBQs and exploration.Oneworld was launched onto the Australian superyacht charter market earlier in the year. Built to the exacting standards of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the yacht is available for charter along the east coast of Australia offering guests a quintessentially Australian experience on a leading superyacht.As superyachts are limited to no more than 12 guests, the impact of international guests discovering a destination as unique and sensitive as the Great Barrier Marine Park is very low. Whilst the tourism expenditure is high yielding, a recent Economic Impact study undertaken by peak industry body, Superyacht Australia, calculated that superyacht guests spend AUD$7500 per guest per day ashore.“Our partners from this trip onboard Oneworld will return to their desk invigorated by the experience of cruising on a superyacht on the Queensland coast. Their recommendations will result in discerning travellers selecting the destination for their next holiday bringing tourism dollars to this regional centre not to mention a heightened awareness, appreciation and celebration of the reef. We see it often, guests return from a reef experience with altered perspectives and committed to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef,” offered Joachim Howard, Managing Director of Ocean Alliance.