Yacht news

The season is in full swing and we're delighted to check out superyachts from around the world. Here's where some of them have been seen.Nord at St. Maarten Lürssen has delivered the 142m megayacht in the beginning of 2021. Her first journey was to Gibraltar. At the end of April she was seen at St. Maarten. The Daily HeraldShe was designed by the Italian design studio Nuvolari & Lenard. She spreads across six decks and can accommodate thirty-six guests in twenty staterooms. Lady S at St George’sThe 93m Feadship superyacht Lady S has been spotted at St George’s. Representing one of the largest yachts ever built by Feadship, this 93m masterpiece has set a new standard in luxury. Working hand in hand with the experienced owners, Michael Leach Design has drawn an elegant and timeless exterior with breathtaking lines. Reymond Langton’s stunning interior is akin to a “beautiful and contemporary jewelry box”.Her features a two-deck IMAX theatre, a fully certified helipad with Jet A fuel, four VIP suites each with 8k TVs, and facilities that cater to a wide range of sports including golf, basketball, volleyball and soccer.Cloudbreak at Cornwall The 72m explorer yacht from Abeking & Rasmussen was just seen in Falmouth Harbour, according to local press. She was launched in 2016 and since then has cruised in Antarctica, South East Asia and Papua New Guinea.BPM MediaThe superyacht features exterior design by Espen Oeino, and has been named after one of the best surfing locations, situated in Fiji in the South Pacific. Interior style comes from the boards of Paris-based designer Christian Liaigre, with furnishings carefully selected by PH.D architectural bureau.Cloudbreak reportedly hosts a large helipad, an observation platform, multiple kitesurfers, windsurfers, wakeboards, kayaks and scuba gear. During the globe-trotting trips, charter guests can cruise in comfort and luxury plus visit remote areas of the world.Credits: The Daily Herald, BPM Media

Oceanco shares some of the options available for onboard technology that could have come straight out of the pages of a spy novel. For custom-built superyachts, there are some owners who choose to opt for secret-service level security and privacy onboard, maybe because they enjoy cutting edge gadgetry or they wish to continue their regular lifestyle while at sea. From drone blocking force fields to motion-detecting smart floors, the kinds of futuristic technologies we are used to seeing in action films are not so far from the reality of today’s top-level security and privacy options for large custom superyachts. Oceanco new reception“When it comes to creating a fully bespoke superyacht, we are accustomed to the challenges of specialist requests such as these. James Bond had ‘Q’ to supply his outlandish gadgets; superyacht owners have ‘O’, aka Oceanco,” comments Paris Baloumis, Oceanco’s Marketing Director. “Although the company naturally maintains full confidentiality regarding any specific client’s requirements as well as their identities. “We bring in experts from inside and outside yachting to consult on high-security projects and adopt technologies from other sectors. What’s more, we take our own security at Oceanco very seriously to maintain privacy during the construction of our yachts; the shipyard is fitted out with high-security systems, too.” And with increasing autonomy and range on today’s vessels, many are heading off the beaten track and into remote waters where local medical back-up might be in shorter supply. In response, the grandest and most well-equipped superyachts can be kitted out with fully functioning hospitals, manned by dedicated medical staff, to provide reassurance. Kaos (ex-Jubilee) Citadel RoomsIn the extremely rare case that an unwanted visitor boards their yacht, some owners like the reassurance of a secure location to go to. These places are known as ‘citadels’, and they were first put to use in commercial shipping before crossing over to yachting.Citadels are kitted out with independent, overriding access to the yacht’s navigational and satellite communications systems, so even when you don’t have access to the bridge, you can maintain full control. The rooms themselves are fitted with reinforced doors and have ballistic protection on the surrounding walls. Inside, they are equipped with their own ventilation systems as well as water and food supplies to provide total self-sufficiency.Emergency escape ‘life-pods’ for a rapid getawayAnd the next generation of citadels could be distinctly more mobile. Like crossing a lifeboat with a space ship, these emergency escape ‘Life-Pods’ provide a rapid getaway. The watertight pods are constructed from high-tech materials to resist impact and feature built-in GPS trackers, temperature and fire barrier controls, and air purification systems. Anti-drone systemsIn recent years, drones have been making headlines for their interference with commercial airports, and the military have been particularly keen to curb their capability to spy on top secret locations. As well as being a handy tool for the paparazzi to get up-close shots of a superyacht’s private enclaves and the guests within them, those involved in the murky waters of industrial espionage can thank drones for greatly increasing their capabilities, too. But a new generation of devices to detect and defeat these drones is emerging to neutralize the occasional threats to privacy and security on yachts. One such defense system identifies any commercial drones in operation within a 20 kilometer radius, providing GPS positions of both the drone and the pilot as well as an indication of said drone’s heading and speed. Outfitting facilities A 500-meter electronic ‘exclusion zone’ around the yachtOnce the drone threat has been confirmed, the system engages a 500-meter-plus electronic ‘exclusion zone’ around the yacht (not unlike the force fields we are used to seeing in sci-fi films) that blocks any unwanted airborne visitors. If the drone makes it to the perimeter of the exclusion zone, its controls and video feed are jammed, effectively rendering the pilot’s controls useless, and its ‘return to home’ function (which usually kicks in when the drone has a low battery) is triggered. Acoustic deterrentsThe Long-Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD for short, is an acoustic deterrent that was originally developed for military use. But as the threat of piracy to commercial shipping and yachting in certain areas such as the Gulf of Aden grew over recent decades, the device has been adopted to deter unwelcome visitors in non-military settings. Intruder diver detectorsThink someone could sneak up on a superyacht by pulling on a wet suit and scuba gear? Think again, as some superyachts are choosing to install sonar systems that detect, track and identify divers or underwater vehicles approaching from any direction. Keeping sonar environmentally friendlySonardyne’s Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar is the world’s most widely deployed system of its kind, used by naval vessels, commercial harbors and luxury yachts alike. With a functional range of up to 900 meters for diver detection, it is man-portable, making it particularly quick to deploy, and it can even be placed on the yacht’s tenders to increase your scope of situational awareness. What’s more, the manufacturer has created the system to be environmentally friendly, so it won’t have an adverse effect on the local sea life.Onboard hospitalsPerhaps a yacht is expecting to travel to remote regions where on-the-ground medical support is less accessible. Or maybe the Owners are more mature and have specific conditions that mean they seek the reassurance of an onsite doctor or nurse. Either way, an onboard hospital is not an uncommon request for custom superyacht builders. Emergency facilities like a private hospitalKitted out like an emergency room of a private hospital, they are equipped with oxygen tanks, defibrillators, specialized medications and intravenous fluids, while a number of yachts offer rehabilitation machines for injuries, such as decompression chambers for those who are planning on some serious scuba diving expeditions. And should a patient require further medical attention, most of today’s large yachts have a helipad with the possibility of bringing in medic air services to the yacht, or heli-evacuating them away to a larger facility ashore. A doctor on-callRemember the scene in Casino Royale where James Bond hooks himself up to a remote medical diagnostic system and the doctors talk him through his medical emergency with all his vitals up on their screens? Well, that scene is less fictional than you might at first have thought. With the right diagnostic kit placed onboard, crew or even medical professionals can link up to a remote medical support line such as MedAire from International SOS, allowing a team of doctors to see the patient’s condition in real time and provide advice on procedures or medication in order to stabilize the patient. Before an emergency has even arisen, the telehealth consultants will often provide guidance on medical room design and ventilation, lighting and medical wash facilities, as well as what diagnostic equipment to place onboard. Who needs the flying doctors when you can beam them into wherever you are in the world at a moment’s notice?A cyber security netJust as any home or office will likely choose to protect itself from outsiders accessing private and personal data, any superyacht could be vulnerable to cyber threats. With the increasing preponderance of wirelessly controlled systems featured onboard, those yachts that do not provide themselves with an added layer of technological security can leave themselves open to hacking. Oceanco works with a select range of top-tier cyber security professionals to ensure that its yachts are built with the kind of network protections that will keep its owners and crew safe, through a combination of initial risk assessments during the development phase of a project and ongoing upgrades as the digital landscape evolves. Bravo Eugenia Smart floors that track movementCurrently in development, these smart floors are like an upgraded surveillance system for the 21st century. A step beyond conventional security cameras, they are minimally invasive in the sense that they have no impact on an owner’s or guest’s experience of a room and their privacy within it, while also being able to alert the bridge if someone unexpectedly enters. And over time, the smart floor creates a digital pressure video of the visitor’s movement that can be tracked and re-evaluated. This makes them suitable for very private spaces, like bathrooms and bedrooms. The smart floors can also be used beyond security measures, to automatically switch lighting or heating and air conditioning systems on and off, allowing the yacht to become more energy efficient and therefore sustainable. Oceanco was established in 1987 by a group of South African private investors led by CEO, Richard Hein. The company built hulls and superstructures in South Africa before transporting them to various facilities in The Netherlands for fittings. Oceanco Yachts builds luxury yachts from 80m to 110m in steel and aluminum. Credits: Oceanco; Francisco Martinez; Tom Van Oossanen

Florida based Norwegian designer Kurt Strand has revealed a number of interesting superyacht concepts. We picked up three of them. Miami 133m Miami is the explorer yacht with six decks. She has a 20m beam. She’s made for the ultimate yachting experience and has everything for an active-lifestyle – a large selection of water toys, including two tenders, two helicopter pads, two Mercedes G 6X6 off road trucks. She also features a 360 degree all-round view sky bar, a cinema and a night club. Miami can accommodate 20 guests in ten cabins. She has a top speed of 20 knots. Aurora Borealis 122m Aurora Borealis is a 122m explorer inspired by Norwegian nature. The yacht is 6-storeys high, has a length of 122m and a massive 20m beam. A large helicopter pod is located on the aft deck. In front of the landing pod is a swimming pool with a retractable glass floor, to move the helicopter inside the hangar, large enough to park two helicopters. Accommodation is for 20 guests and 48 crew and has a huge selection of tenders and toys. In the aft is a drive-in bay area for a submarine and a 45 feet tender. The owners will enjoy a 180 degree view from the 400 sq m suite with outdoor hot tub, gym, spa, office, library, wine cellar. She can reach a top speed of 20 knots. Florida 160m Florida is the 160m sailing superyacht concept. It has a space age technology wing masts made from carbon fiber. Three 80m tall wing sails are electro-hydraulic telescopic retractable. If that alone isn’t beyond spectacular, the wing sails are even covered with the latest state of art solar panels. In case of no wind this superyacht can transform into "solar sail" mode. The control system will automatically adjust the sails into an optimal angel against the sun rays. When it's windy, the yacht gets into sail mode and can also produce electric power from solar panels. To always keep the sun absorbing surface high glossy, a built-in system will wash and polish the wing mast every time it retracts. The “solar sails” can even be raised when the yacht is laying in a harbour. It will turn the sails automatically away if wind comes up. Power will be stored in the battery bank and can be used for the onboard Hydrogen production as well.At the bottom of the yacht are fitted hydro generators, which also produce electric power while the yacht is moving under sail. All electric power produced will be stored in a 5MW battery bank and can be used to create Hydrogen directly on board of the yacht . In case of no wind or sunshine the yacht can be run on hydrogen fuel power cells. The yacht also has a backup genset system, running on fossil fuel. However fossil fuel will be rarely used, depending on where in the world the yacht is situated.Sail yacht Florida provides an ultimate, luxury water travel experience. She will accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 luxury suites and 40 crew members.Credits: Kurt Strand

American legend, the famous NFL player and seven time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has announced that he will be one of the first to take delivery of the new Wajer 77.“I was in New England for a lot of years, which is kind of a boating community,” said Brady during the Wajer 77 livestream launch. “But moving down to Tampa Bay last year, I live right here on this beautiful bay. The first thing I did when I got here was I said, ‘I need a boat. I need to get out here on this beautiful water.”Brady already has the $2 million Wajer 55S. His newest Wajer 77 will cost around $6 million and will have the same name as the first one – “Viva a Vida” – which in portuguese means “celebration of life”. “It’s a great name and I think we're gonna stick with that one. It’s been great to us, it’s a beautiful boat and I look forward to having one that is just a little bit bigger,” explains Brady. The 23.5m yacht can accommodate nine people, which makes her the perfect companion for longer trips. All cabins have ensuite bathrooms, while thick doors, special sealings and a hovering interior reduce sound. The new Wajer’s vessel was designed in collaboration with Van Oossanen Naval Architects and Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design.Powered by triple 900 hp Volvo Penta IPS engines, the Wajer 77 has a top speed of 37 knots. A perfect boat for a real adventure!Wajer Yachts was founded in 1992 by Dorus Wajer on the lakes near Amsterdam. The first Wajer built was the Captain’s Launch 7m Classic. Now the model range includes the Wajer 38, Wajer 38S, Wajer 38 L, Wajer 55, Wajer 38 S, Wajer 38 HT and the newest Wajer 77. Credits: Wajer Yachts

The 57m former cable laying vessel is ready to be transformed into an expedition superyacht. The yacht was launched in Holland in 1968 by the E.J. Smit & Zoon shipyard. After over 30 years of successful commercial sailing, she has been stripped to her bare steel framework and is now prepared for a large scale conversion project. Following the transformation, she will sail as a luxurious superyacht, whilst preserving her excellent seakeeping abilities that once made her a successful cable laying ship.The project will be undertaken by Turkish shipyard ICT Yachts. The team will be full of superyacht experts such as Frank Laupman’s Omega Architects and the naval architecture has been penned by Van Oossanen Naval Architects.Project Phoenix can accommodate 12 guests in six staterooms, private owner deck is included. The yacht will be able to reach a top speed of 13.5 knots and will have a range of 11,000 nautical miles. Project Phoenix is now for sale with Ocean Independence. Her asking price is 29 500 000 euro. Credits: Ocean Independence