Yacht news

Australian naval architecture company Incat Crowther has opened up about their involvement in the creation of the long-awaited 66-metre support yacht Hodor by Spanish builder Astilleros Armón. The vessel is designed to support the new 87-metre Feadship superyacht Lonian.Acting as designers and naval architects of the project, Incat Crowther worked closely with Lonian’s owner for a fully customised solution., aimed to serve the mothership with safe guest transfers, extended recreational capabilities and additional supplies such as crew and equipment.First time for the Shadow Cat range, Hodor’s platform offers vast amounts of deck and storage space, flexibility, stability, efficiency and capability.The design uses the robust engineering of hulls proven in offshore platform service, such as the SEACOR CREWzer class and Incat Crowther 70m Fast Crew Boat (FCB) class. The hull incorporates a reverse bow, a deadweight capacity of 240 tonnes and a low propeller draft of 3.1 metres.The yacht features a helipad compliant for helicopters of 6 tonnes and up to D-value of 16 metres, and can accommodate five tenders (the largest one makes 17 metres in length), jet skis, quad bikes, a submarine garage, a large complement of crew, staff and support equipment.The tenders and submarine can be launched both from the upper and main decks. A portable davit on the fore deck facilitates the launch and recovery of the vessels ROV and can also be used for additional jet ski storage.The yacht comes with special zones dedicated for fresh and frozen food storage, additional storage for the mother vessel, waste treatment and general and spares stores. She comes with dive equipment fully integrated with compressors, NITROX and O2 facilities, as well as a hospital with decompression chamber.Propelled by two main engines, Hodor will reach her top speed at 22.5 knots, and cruise comfortably at 14 knots for up to 5,500 nautical miles. The catamaran platform allows fuel savings of around 40%, according to the builder.Fitted with an exhaust cleaning SCR system for IMO Tier 3 and EPA Tier 4 compliance, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced, allowing the Incat Crowther 66 design to be more environmentally friendly.Thanks to her twin anchoring system, combined with the widely spaced twin hulls, the yacht ensures reduced motions whilst at anchor.Hodor can accommodate up to 20 crew members on-board.

Mr. Pier Luigi Loro Piana, the owner of the 40-metre Baltic custom sailing yacht My Song, confirmed that his vessel was ‘not salvageable’. The yacht was hauled out to Palma de Mallorca earlier this month, after she had fallen from a cargo ship in the Atlantic.The incident took on May 26, when My Song fell from the 138-metre cargo ship Brattinsborg. Yacht transport company Peters & May that was responsible for the transportation, released an official statement in response, claiming that My Song might have fallen due to the collapse of her cradle. My Song was salvaged from the coast of Menorca by MCS Marine Claim Services Germany. Then, the vessel was towed into Palma's STP shipyard for assessment.Built in 2016, the 39.6-metre tall and 8.5-metre wide sailboat with sleek outline of designs by Nauta Design studio, was well-known for her racing achievements. The yacht has been owned by Pier Luigi Loro Piana (net worth $1.6 billion - Forbes), an heir to the high end clothing company Loro Piana and a host of eponymous yacht racing events.The owner’s spokesman shared with the The Times: The damage outside and to the interiors of the yacht mean it is not savable. It may have hit the side of the cargo ship as it fell.In an interview with Italian newspaper, the owner expressed: 'For anyone who loves the sea, his boat is like a second home, and it is as if my home has burnt down.'Photographs and videos taken showed extensive damage to the yacht, with several holes in the hull. in 2008, is expected to credit one of his assistants, Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, in an upcoming book.

Currently the 10th largest superyacht in the world and one of the most futuristic ones, the 142.8-metre sailing yacht A has been spotted in Monaco, reports The Sun. The vessel is owned by a Russian industrialist tycoon Andrey Melnichenko, whose net worth is estimated at $13.4 billion by Forbes.Photo Credit: BackGrid via The SunEstimated at about $500 million, the yacht was built by German yard Nobiskrug in 2017. Although her 142.8-metre LOA would give Melnichenko's new flagship the title of largest sailing yacht in the world, many experts rather consider her more of a hybrid between the two types due to her technical classification as a sail-assisted motor yacht.Part of the renowned A fleet, the yacht features exterior and interior designs by Philippe Starck. With masts taller than Big Ben at nearly 100 meters in height, S/Y A reaches a top speed of 20 knots without using her sails. Photo Credit: BackGrid via The SunS/Y A boasts a digital control system that has a touch-sensitive sheet of black glass, allowing the crew to raise and lower sails and the anchor with a simple swipe.The vessel offers accommodation to up to 20 guests as well as a crew of 54 across her eight floors. Shrouded in secrecy throughout her build and following her delivery, very little details are known about the amenities onboard the sailing yacht. Photo Credit: BackGrid via The SunAmong the yacht's key known features is an underwater observation pod and a large swimming pool with a retractable roof located towards the bow of the boat. She is also equipped with a helipad.Reportedly, Melnichenko also owns the $300 million motor yacht A, a custom Boeing 737 private jet as well as properties around the world, including a penthouse in New York City and a villa in the French Riviera. He lives a jet-setting lifestyle with his wife Aleksandra, former model and pop star from Serbia. The pair married in an opulent wedding in the south of France in 2005, which featured performances by Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera.

Previously known as Equanimity, the 91.5-metre Oceanco superyacht Tranquility is on her way to the Mediterranean. She is one of the latest additions to the charter fleet of Camper & Nicholsons brokerage company, according to this week’s announcement. Built by Oceanco in 2014, Tranquility has been hitting headlines since summer 2018. Previously owned by Low Taek Jho, the yacht was ordered seized by the Malaysian government, and sold to Genting Malaysia Bhd for $126,000,000 as part of months-long sealed-bid process.Tranquility was the first superyacht designed and built to be fully Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) compliant. She features exteriors by Oceanco’s in-house design team and interiors by Winch Design.The yacht can accommodate up to 26 guests on-board, along with 28 crew members. The yacht is also trademarked with extensive spa area on the lower deck, plunge pools and customised interior. Tranquility’s interior was designed by Andrew Winch and along with Travatino Veluto marble and bleached oak with wenge finishing, the decor has a subtle, oriental influence. In the upper saloon, a fully operational, perspex-cased piano is a spectacular show piece, and there’s a luxuriously comfortable lounge area as well as a formal dining room for 12.Guest facilities include a spectacular aft beach club next to a fully-equipped gym with a large balcony on the starboard side allowing direct access to the sea, and an indulgent spa suite - complete with a sauna, Hammam, experiential showers, plunge pool and a massage/treatment room.On Tranquility’s aft upper deck, the large Jacuzzi pool takes centre stage, with an outdoor bar and sun loungers. Another Jacuzzi lays found forward, with this area directly accessible from the master stateroom.The master suite features a private owner’s study and a large bathroom with a free-standing bathtub. The interior configuration allows for 9 further guest cabins, with two VIP suites. Furthermore, there are separate crew quarters for up to 29 people.Tranquility achieves a top speed of 18 knots and comfortably cruises at 15 knots. She is fitted with zero speed stabilisers which increase on-board comfort when the yacht is at anchor.The yacht will be available for charter in the Western Mediterranean in summer, and in Caribbean Sea in winter, all from from €1,100,000 per week.

With the recent loss of the 40-metre sailing superyacht My Song that has created a buzz in the media, Yacht Harbour takes a look over some of the major accidents resulting in superyachts destructions in the recent years.#1. 100-metre plus new build superyacht destroyed by fire at LürssenIn September 2018, a large fire broke out at Lürssen's Bremen shipyard in a floating dock and building unit where the over-100-metre yacht was under construction. Various social media posts pointed out the damaged new build, 3 decks of which at least have caught on fire, to be the 146-metre Project Sassi, which was reportedly due for delivery within several months.Over 110 firefighters were dispatched to the site, no one was injured during the incident but the new build reportedly took serious damage. The development was further set to hit the insurance sector with a group of marine insurers that could be facing a payment of up to €590 million over the fire.#2. Hundreds of luxury yachts destroyed by storm in Italian RappalloIn November 2018, coasts of Italy have been pounded by the waves of extreme weather, causing violent waves up to 10 metres and winds up to 180 km/h, breaking a lot of luxury yachts from their berths in Rapallo and killing at least 11 people. Local media described the landscape around the port of Rapallo as an apocalyptic. Marina's director told there were 390 yachts in the marina, with the half of them destroyed. There was storm barrier for 300 metres, rebuilt after the collapse in 2000, but it wasn't enough for such an extreme event. City of Venice is reported to be 75% submerged. Among others, the yacht of Silvio Berlusconi was also damaged in disaster.#3. 42-metre Benetti superyacht Lalibela destroyed by fireIn October 2018, a major fire broke out on board the 42 metre Benetti superyacht Lalibela built in 1972. The yacht was heavily damaged due to fire, which broke out at the night while she was docked near Cannes, France. The fire destroyed the top deck and cabins inside, reports Maritime Bulletin. Firefighters were called to the yacht, and worked for over 12 hours to extinguish the fire. The blaze was reported to have destroyed the top deck and cabins inside. Luckily, the two people on board at the time the fire broke out were safely evacuated.#4. Devastating fire on-board 40-metre superyacht KangaIn September 2018, he newly delivered CCN superyacht Kanga caught devastating fire, just days before her expected debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Kanga was heavily damaged, with the extent of the damage still unknown.The 40-metre superyacht caught fire while being between the isles of Olipa and Mali Vratnik in Croatia. All thirteen people - 9 guests and 4 crew members were successfully rescued from the vessel. #5. Hurricane Irma destroys numerous yachts and causes multiple fatalitiesThe biggest superyacht disaster of 2017, a category 4 Hurricane Irma caused severe damage to the Caribbean and Florida region. Yachts based in the region and moored in local marinas were also amongst the infrastructure ravaged in the area. Barbuda and St Maarten were among the worst affected areas, with multiple fatalities and declaring a state of emergency.With strong winds slamming yachts onto decks, snapping mooring lines and simply damaging some areas of yachts by themselves. Several yachts were reported destroyed, including the 40 metre Mondomarine superyacht Sierra Romeo, Benetti Delfino 93 and the 112 Westport, Pipe Dreams, built in 1999 by the American shipyard. In the months since, the superyacht community has come together to support Caribbean welfare and rebuilding efforts but it will be many months before the damage is fully repaired.#6. 71m The One and 52m Barbie damaged by fire in MarmarisIn January 2016, a major yacht fire broke out at Marmaris marina devastating two prominent superyachts. The blaze was understood to originate on-board the 70.68-metre Lürssen yacht The One, further spreading to a neighbouring vessel, the 52-metre Al Jadaf superyacht Barbie. Other yachts stationed in the harbor have left the harbor to escape the fire. London-based insurance firm Hiscox MGA later announced that Lloyd’s insurers had paid out $20 million to the owner of Barbie. Paul Miller, director of marine underwriting, said it was the largest superyacht claim that the insurance industry had dealt with in a long time.#7. 33m superyacht Aloha sunk in MykonosIn August 2015, shocking pictures of a superyacht sinking off of Mykonos, Greece rocked the web. The clarity of the water gave an unusually up-close glimpse at this sinking yacht, showing ever detail of the 33 metre yacht Aloha's demise. The yacht represented Navetta 33 custom line. According to the Mykonos Daily, the yacht hit a reef. Fortunately, the four guests on board when the Aloha grounded were able to escape unharmed.