Yacht news

On May 16, 2019, Dutch builder Feadship opened officially its new eco-conscious superyacht facility in Amsterdam, with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands being the key figure of the ceremony. It is the builder’s second facility operated by Royal Van Lent, brought into operation after five years of planning, design and construction.Accommodating the general trend towards ever-larger superyachts, the facility was designed for construction and refit of Feadship superyachts of up to 160 metres in LOA. With its total volume of 425,000 cubic metres, the new facility measures 38 metres in height, allowing plenty of air above the yacht’s mast array.Feadship declares the new yard ‘the most eco-friendly superyacht yard in the world’ thanks to its eco credentials, namely energy efficiency, heating by local waste-to-energy sources and LED lighting. What is more, the main building roof is covered with over 2,000 solar panels, for generation of estimated 550,000 kWh of energy yearly.The Amsterdam site will become Feadship’s fourth facility and the second one to be operated by Royal Van Lent, along with the Kaag Island yard. The two premises will share the same management by LVMH Group and the workforce of 450. LVMH Group managing director, Antoni Belloni highlights: This new facility will allow Feadship to stay at the cutting edge of innovation and continue to build superyachts that will change history.Following the opening, Queen Máxima viewed nineteen classic yachts presented on the Feadship quay and met young graduates of the Feadship Academy.The yard's operation has already began earlier this year, with a 110-metre Feadship Anna undergoing refit works at the yard in Amsterdam, while 93-metre Lady S has become the first yacht completed at the newest facility. A couple of days prior to the opening, the latest Feadship unit, a 88-metre Project 816 was moved to the new facility for completion.

Millennial superyacht owners are on the rise, reports Business Insider. They have already caused a shift in most industries, and the world of yachting is not an exception. In order to cater the younger generation needs, yacht brokers will have to adapt to their preferences and lifestyle, while those who stick to the traditional ways of yachting will be inevitably left behind. Image courtesy: Kuznetcov_Konstantin/Shutterstock via Business Insider#1. The yacht owners will get 10-15 years younger in the next 20 years.Of the top 100 billionaires worldwide, 20% are below age 50, while superyacht owners are 10 to 15 years younger compared to 20 years ago, according to a new research by shipyard Rossinavi and the International University of Monaco. Furthermore, they are expected to get even younger — within the next 20 years, the median age of superyacht owners will decrease from the 45 to 55 range to the 35 to 45 range, according to Business Insider.#2. The mindset is changing, with the trend towards chartering over ownership.This new group of superyacht owners views yachting as "an occasional pastime rather than an enduring passion," according to the Monaco Yacht Show media packet. Still developing their business interests, self-made millennials consider a yacht as only one component of their fast-moving lifestyle.Instead of materialistic attributes of luxury lifestyle, millennial superyacht owners prioritise adventure, water sports and exterior space. For them, life experiences take priority over material possessions.For Millennials, travel is no longer a planned venture to be prepared and booked well in advance. The younger crowd prefers the freedom of chartering as it allows them to jump from one yacht in Monaco to another in Santorini without being tied to a physical boat. It is definitely a different concept from the traditional two-week summer cruise.Erwin Bamps, CEO of Emirates-based shipyard Gulf Craft expresses his opinion as follows:We are going to see a time when the traditional idea of yacht ownership starts to follow the same path as car sharing services; more convenient than a traditional taxi, and a real alternative to owning a car. The same principle will easily apply to luxury yachts. Imagine a global, technology-driven service that delivers the yacht you want, at the location you want, at the time you want, and can arrange a private jet to fly you there.#3. The Millennials' different preferences may change yachting in terms of design and selling tactics.The way people consume superyachts has changed, also reflecting in yacht design. According to the MYS packet, formal dining rooms and salons will be less evident as yacht designers turn to gyms, spa, water sports and spaces that enable open-air socialising to accommodate millennials' desires.And those who custom order superyachts are no longer requesting offices on-board, according to Business Insider. They prefer to be able to relax during their yachting cruises instead.With this upcoming wave of superyacht owners preferring to charter, yachting companies will likely have to shift their tactics of yachts selling. Most likely, they will need to make contacts with potential buyers through social media for a more immediate, personal form of communication.However, in general, all the changes should be understood as an evolution rather than a drastic change. The MYS packet stated:According to the study, millennials are going to do things differently and the product will have to be re-packaged, but the yachts will not change that much and the ownership concept will not go away anytime soon. They will want their own product like the rest of us. Things change, but human nature stays the same.

Mondomarine shipyard, recently acquired by the Palumbo Group, has introduced a brand-new Classic line. The new line is conceived as a revisited version of the distinctive historic Mondomarine’ style.The Classic line models will initially range between 43, 50 and 63 metre, all with semi-displacement hull and low draft to access the most exclusive beaches and shallow waters, among others, the Caribbean.The first project out of the new line, the Classic 50 metres, will be developed by Luca Dini Design Studio, also entrusted by the yard for the new ‘Discovery' line.Luca Dini, for whom the 60-metre M/Y Sarastar delivered by Mondomarine in 2017 became a starting point, explains: Speaking of external lines, our target was an evolution, yes, but without distorting the original design of that boat characterised by a sporty and elegant footprint with a combination of corners and curves, sinuous shapes and angles that, far from being strident, was quite harmonious. In short, a creative review that, paradoxical as it may seem, translates into a Modern Classic.Remaining true to the distinctive Italian tradition, the new line bestows a contrast between sharp edges and sinuous lines, soft and pronounced curves, reaching an overall coherent and elegant look.Various aesthetic details and engravings have been added both to the hull and the superstructure, creating a play of light and shadows when in the sun. Those elements recall the typical design of classic Italian cars, as Luca Dini drew inspiration from the Ferrari and Lamborghini Gran Turismo models.The Classic 50 metres will offer accommodation for up to 10 people within four guest rooms on the lower deck and a spacious master suite with two private balconies on the main deck. The crew area is designed to house up to 10 people.Prior to financial difficulties, that lead to the company’s acquisition by Palumbo Superyachts, Mondomarine had been a significant player on the Italian yacht stage, delivering in excess of 30 yachts during a 25-year period. Some of the most recent ones have been the 60-meter Sarastar delivered in 2017 and the red-coloured 50m Ipanema launched in 2016.

On 14th May 2019, the Port of Amsterdam finalised the acquisition of the former Holland Jachtbouw shipyard in Zaandamm. Subsequently, Dutch builder Royal Huisman has moved into the facilities on a long-term agreement, strengthening its business position in Amsterdam.Jan Timmerman, CEO of Royal Huisman highlights: Extending our facilities in the Amsterdam region, we will be able to properly meet the growing demand among current and new customers. This second shipyard will, over a longer period of time, serve as an excellent addition to our existing site in Vollenhove, both for new builds and for refits.The new facility will add extra 12,000 sqm to 58,000 sqm of new build and refit space, combined together to 70,000 square metres under the Huisfit brand. The company aims to generate high-quality jobs in, as well as bring innovation and craftsmanship to the Amsterdam region.Koen Overtoom, CEO at the Port of Amsterdam, explained to Superyachtnews:Our acquisition of the shipyard and the decision to lease it to Royal Huisman is a boost to the manufacturing industry, which adds significant value to our port. The arrival of Royal Huisman to the Amsterdam port region is one step further towards fulfilling our goal of becoming a superyacht hub. The Amsterdam area is highly sought-after by yacht manufacturers owing to its highly skilled workforce, international airport and the celebrated Dutch sense of enterprise.Meanwhile, the port of Amsterdam is gradually enhancing the region as a superyacht hub, with not only Royal Huisman, but also Feadship officially opening new facilities in Amsterdam earlier this month.The Amsterdam location will become the third one operated by Royal Huisman, alongside its facilities in Vollenhove and Emden. The recent projects by Royal Huisman included the refit of two of the world’s largest sailing yachts, Eos and Athena, with 93m EOA relaunched earlier this year.

German builder Abeking & Rasmussen has revealed its 80-metre superyacht project Excellence, formerly known as Project 6505. The mammoth superyacht set to become the yard's sixth largest vessel, was rolled out of her shed earlier this morning. The yacht had been built to a steel hull at the Szczecin shipyard in Poland, moved to Germany in February 2018. The UK-based design studio Winch Design was responsible for Excellence’ both exterior and interior designs.The yacht’s framework bases on the same technical platform as that of the 81-metre Grace (ex. Kibo). She features a 12.6 metre beam and a maximum draught of 3.5 metres. Still, key trademarks of Excellence include vast expanses of glass on the three upper decks and a double-height effect, blurring the distinction between the upper deck and the panoramic skylounge. Excellence will offer accommodation to up to 14 guests.The yacht was commissioned by an experienced owner, with her delivery expected on time for the summer season, after completion of outfitting on-board and the official launch. Meanwhile, the most recent launch of a 70-metre-plus vessel was conducted by Abeking in 2018, with 75-metre Elandess.