Yacht news

Oceanco, Pininfarina and Lateral present a new project Kairos. Kairos is a new kind of living space that allows an owner and their guests to connect, share and create by synchronously experiencing multiple environments onboard. It offers 90 meters of onboard life without boundaries, created in harmony with Oceanco’s NXT initiative on sustainability and innovation. The yacht is the result of a first-time collaboration between renowned design studio Pininfarina and large custom yacht builder Oceanco, with technical design and engineering development provided by Lateral Naval Architects.“Kairos is a remarkable Tomorrow’s Design yacht born out of a vision shared by three passionate, forward-thinking partners in Pininfarina, Lateral and Oceanco. It exemplifies how Oceanco is looking to the future through the integrated NXT approach to yacht design, tapping into the latest developments in technical and propulsion systems while also reflecting how our experience of living spaces is changing,” comments Marcel Onkenhout, Oceanco’s CEO. “When owners see the Oceanco NXT endorsement on a yacht’s design, they know they can expect to enjoy a certain elevated standard of life onboard; one that is in tune with forward-thinking perspectives on sustainability and lifestyle.”The yacht’s exterior has been shaped to evoke a peaceful oasis in which to relax and enjoy time on your own terms. Like a floating, living island, KAIROS has a symmetrical profile with no ‘forward’ direction to aim towards. This elimination of momentum frees those onboard to live fully in the moment, without the sense of urgency to move to a new destination.“A standard-bearer of Italian style for over 90 years, Pininfarina has developed over the years high end yachting projects through its nautical division. The continuous search for beauty and innovation resulted in Kairos, a breakthrough project designed for Oceanco. Taking inspiration from the long experience in bespoke projects - from cars to architecture - Pininfarina together with Oceanco has created a brand new yachting experience."The heart of life onboard is the vast, theatrical piazza, to which all entry points of Kairos lead. Vertically developed across three levels, the piazza breaks from the canons of conventional yacht design. Intricate design combines stunning asymmetric shapes, transparent structures and a lack of physical barriers, influenced by the contrasting, multidimensional landscapes that exist in our daily lives. It is a captivating space where it's great to share inspiring moments, conveying a sense of liberty and joy.“Our passion as designers is to imagine new concepts of space that are capable of bringing enchantment to every moment of the experience,” comments Paolo Pininfarina. “On Kairos, time, space and people connect to be one in the moment. The owner and their guests are at the epicenter of the onboard experience, and the surrounding space adapts to their every desire. A 360-degree approach to design at once connects you to the sea below, to the light above and to the spaces and people beside you. It nourishes your curiosity on an instinctive level and encourages you to explore new experiences and perspectives.”The cabins on Kairos have all been positioned on the lower level, allowing for a greater sense of space and flow across the main level’s guest areas while also delivering outstanding views in close proximity to the water.The layout on Kairos encourages social interaction while at the same time preserves the magic of intimate moments in private places. For example, on the panoramic balcony accessed above the upper deck via an elevator, guests can enjoy a quiet moment of sanctuary while taking in the sea view.Kairos has been created to align with Oceanco’s NXT initiative on sustainability and innovation, thanks to the naval architecture and engineering development from Lateral. In recent years, the builder and naval architecture studio have partnered on a number of innovative projects including Black Pearl, the most eco-conscious yacht in the world, and Bravo Eugenia, Oceanco’s first LIFE Design superyacht that delivers a 30% increase in fuel efficiency.The creative layout of Kairos is enabled via an innovative, all-electric propulsion and energy system architecture. The e-Hybrid system incorporates batteries as the primary means of energy delivery, permitting the varying power demands of hotel, propulsion and maneuvering loads to be seamlessly met. Diesel generators are provided for battery charging and high-speed cruising, selected free from the constraints of a conventional diesel electric and purely on the basis of efficiency and energy density.The result is an elegant solution with flexibility in space distribution and a compact arrangement that allows the primary machinery space to be accommodated within a single-tier compartment. Guest space is consequently maximized on the prized lower deck by the waterline, allowing for KAIROS’s alluring piazza to take center stage.The e-Hybrid architecture permits extensive operation with no noise, lower vibrations and zero local emissions.“Kairos is the first project undertaken within the Oceanco NXT initiative. Via collaboration with uniquely creative minds, the key elements of NXT have been brought into focus to deliver a next-generation-of-user experience” adds James Roy, Managing Director of Lateral. “Capable of zero-emission operation, the propulsion and energy system architecture incorporates many elements of our future-proofing strategy to ensure Kairos will avoid technical obsolescence as emerging sustainable technologies come to market. The engineering platform we have developed has enabled greater creative freedom to realize the unique design elements of Kairos. These have presented us with an edifying technical challenge as naval architects and engineers, and the result delivers a next-generation onboard experience.”Oceanco sees its future clients – the ones who are a good fit with the company’s outlook and culture – as being the ‘young minded’ owners who look for something unique and forward thinking in their yachts. To best serve them, it needs to understand what they will want from their yachts tomorrow, and offer solutions today. These solutions require a rethinking of everything, from assumptions about how we use the spaces we live in, to the primary drivers of why someone would want to own a yacht.In collaborating with trailblazers from inside and outside the industry to answer these questions, it became clear that we are living in a period of dynamic change. This new era demands meaningful innovation that is aligned with emerging ideologies and approaches, with a focus on heightened sustainability awareness and stewardship of the planet.What started out as a conversation about sustainable innovation in yachting quickly grew to a far wider appraisal of every aspect of life onboard, from deck arrangements and the kinds of modern spaces that best serve owners and guests, to the integration of technology and wellness.Oceanco calls this dialogue and its outputs Oceanco NXT. Like the coming together of the brightest minds in an experimental thought lab, Oceanco is working with a global collective of experts from a wide array of industries to bring fresh perspectives on its vision for the future of yachting, with inspiring results. The work on Oceanco NXT innovation never stops. It is a continual process of meaningful progress. An enduring investment in our future.

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven and The A group developed a 115 metre explorer concept. The extraordinary Apex has a range of 9000 miles, carries two 20 metre tenders and a helicopter in its own hangar.Apex is a 115-metre long and 18.50-metre wide full custom yacht with a volume of around 8000 gross tons. The robust exterior of the explorer was developed by The A Group from Monaco, the naval architecture comes from Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, where Apex will also be built. The concept behind this extraordinary yacht is called "without limits". No area is too remote or too rough for Apex not to reach. André Stegmann, Senior Project Manager at Lloyd Werft, comments: “Apex meets the demand of today's customers for stable, spacious and at the same time extremely robust yachts par excellence: the bow, which is almost four decks high, can cope with the heaviest weather and is also ice-going.” Up to 22 guests and 48 crew members travel on board and could cruise up to 9000 nautical miles non-stop at 16 knots. The exterior of Apex explains Matt Pegrum, Yachting Director at The A group, as follows: “It is characterized by large open spaces, especially at the stern. Standout features are two extra large and 20 metre long tenders parked to the side of the superstructure and launched via cranes and the infinity pool that forms the transition from the helipad to the party deck.” Even the side walls of the 12-metre pool are glazed and extend over the height of nearly an entire deck. Contrary to the rather open stern view, Apex gets a massive bow giving the explorer a powerful identity as well as a "ship-like" character and ensuring Apex safely reaches her destination even in very rough conditions on open sea. The yacht's exterior look is also defined by large window areas consisting of the largest panes ever used on a yacht. Behind the glazing, Apex's superstructures provides 2400 square metres of luxurious living space for owners and guests. The interior design will be completely customized to the owner’s requests. The A group developed an extremely progressive and unparalleled general arrangement for Apex that already amazes in the aft section. Beneath the fully certified helipad Apex shows a dedicated hangar for the helicopter to safely carry it even in adverse conditions. Also at aft and waterline level you will find the spa area including gym and massage room; a multifunctional room a bit further in front can be used as an infirmary. Guests sleep on the main or upper deck, with two of the four VIP suites each sharing a private saloon. The owner uses his own deck with dressing rooms, bathrooms, an office and a lounge, from which he has direct access to the party area and the infinity pool at the stern. Very remarkable are the two salons of Apex. On the upper deck, it has a spacious dining table for up to 26 guests. On the main deck, there is a cinema/conference room to port and an entertainment area to starboard with various game tables, including one for pool or snooker.Credits: Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven

Meyer Group continues to work on realizing innovative ship concepts in new market segments: At the Monaco Yacht Show, the family-owned company will show for the first time a concept for a mega yacht under the Meyer Yachts brand powered entirely by fuel cells and batteries, named ONE 50. The Meyer Group is thus further diversifying its product portfolio. "Since 1795, we have built more than 700 ships in Papenburg alone. So our references can be seen on all the world's oceans. Now we are opening the next chapter in our history and entering the market for mega yachts. We have already received very positive feedback because we can realize almost limitless ideas and ship sizes - even the seemingly craziest ones. We are currently seeing that the demand for mega yachts is increasing and there is room for another shipyard in this segment," says Bernard Meyer. Large and complex ships are part of the Meyer Group's core competence. In the shipbuilding halls, which can be up to 504 meters long, ships with a length of almost 350 meters have been built almost exclusively for years. "Mega yachts are a new market segment that we can serve at all our three shipyards. At Meyer, it is always our ambition to position ourselves at the top - in environmental protection as well as now in yacht size. That's why the ONE 50 is just the beginning of our ideas and plans," says Thomas Weigend.150-meter yacht concept with fuel cells and battery systemAs the first model from Meyer Yachts, ONE 50 immediately shows what the new brand stands for - pioneering spirit, exceptional excellence and no limits. At 150 metres long and 20 metres wide, ONE 50 has an enormous volume of 15,000 gross tons. On six decks, the yacht for a maximum of 44 guests offers a spa on two levels, a cinema with an adjoining billiard salon, an entertainment area including a stage, an art gallery and a huge infinity pool at the stern. Fuel cells and battery banks are installed in the engine room to make ONE 50 as sustainable as possible. Electrically powered by 25 000 kilowatts, ONE 50 will reach a maximum speed of 23 knots. Building megayachts may become next Meyer success story"We see a lot of potential in mega yachts for new environmentally friendly technologies, which we also use directly in the ONE 50, for example the fuel cell for emission-free ship operation. We attach very great importance to this. In addition to the many competencies and skills we already have, we will also bring additional specialists from the yacht building industry into our team and strengthen the Meyer Group," says Malte Poelmann.Bernard MeyerMega yachts have the potential to become the next Meyer success story and thus also secure employment at all locations. "We are experts in building special ships, we have proven that many times. Now we are working on making mega yachts even bigger and, above all, greener," says Bernard Meyer.

Feadship will unveil its latest Feadship Future Concept at the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show. Synthesising the very latest thinking on how owners and their guests actually enjoy their time on superyachts, the 81.75m Pure is also fully future-compatible in terms of likely developments over the next decade in propulsion and efficiency.From X-stream in 2006 to Choice in 2016, Feadship regularly made waves in the superyacht sector by releasing a Future Concept. These deep dives into the likely requirements of the next generation of owners by Feadship’s designers and naval architects were all based on client’s feedback, long brainstorming sessions and in-depth research studies. An impressive number of the ideas posited by these groundbreaking concepts have since seen the light of day on Feadship builds including the hybrid propulsion pioneered by F-stream, the low fuel consumption suggested by Breathe and the desire for eco-friendly design showcased by Aeon.Five years on, a meeting of the finest Feadship minds in terms of design, engineering, innovation and construction has resulted in the striking Future Concept Pure. Featuring the purest architecture both in its sculptural exterior profile and stunning open-plan interior, Pure is designed to offer a true sense of connectivity and togetherness for all who come aboard. Every aspect of this Future Concept is based on feasible elements that Feadship is certain could be built tomorrow with adventurous clients, including the lower deck command centre which replaces the traditional bridge.Designers Jan Schaffers and Tanno Weeda will be at the Feadship stand in Monaco and will explain the technologies and explore the potential with fascinated visitors. More details on Pure will be released very soon. Feadship was formed as a group in 1949 as a marketing partnership between six Dutch shipyards, de Vries Lentch, Van de Stadt, Witsen & Vis, Akerboom, De Vries Scheepsbouw and Van Lent Shipyard, and De Voogt Naval Architects. Feadship is well-known as one of the Netherlands’ most elite yacht builders and delivers superyachts from 50–100+ meters in length.Credits: Feadship

72-meter motor yacht Axioma is one of the most popular and successful charter boats on the market since her launch in 2013. She comfortably sleeps 12 guests but is often in demand among larger parties who wish to bring extra guests, be it more children, grandchildren, or friends. This left the owner with two options, to either build a larger boat or to create a support vessel that provides further accommodation.The Axioma and YPI team are delighted to announce that a new 48m (157.5ft) catamaran support vessel, My Bro is now in build, with delivery expected in 2023. Dunya Yachts are building the vessel and the project is a result of a new design and technical collaboration with industry expert Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architecture. The stylish yacht combines class-leading function in layout, engineering, performance, stability, and safety features. A unique beam ratio allows twice the capacity of any competition in the market at the same range. My Bro will be capable of reaching a speed of 18 knots. My Bro will operate alongside Axioma and carry an additional ten guests in five cabins, offering the same level of comfort and leisure as they would expect from a mega yacht. They will have use of their own dedicated main saloon, gym, spa, Jacuzzi and swim platform, and enjoy a non-stop water sports regime. Alongside an array of toys and tenders, My Bro will also carry a mini submarine. An additional stand-out feature of My Bro will be a touch-and-go helipad which has been designed for multi-purpose use, capable of transforming into an outdoor disco, open air cinema, basketball court, tennis court, yoga space or entertainment area suitable for a wide range of events.The multi-role vessel is also suitable for solo adventure-based charter operations or as a dedicated fleet support vessel to Axioma yacht.Credits: Yachting Partners International