Yacht news

he team behind the 182.9-meter research expedition vessel REV has posted a construction update on the project. This world's largest superyacht is taking shape at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania. Week by week the REV vessel is slowly coming together. It currently sits in 6 large blocks and will be assembled over the coming months into one large superstructure. The ship is scheduled for delivery early 2021.Built for environmental research missions in partnership with WWF Norway, the Research Expedition Vessel (REV) will also be available for charter for recreational purposes and expeditions. George Gill the Director of Miller Compton Maritime Ltd was asked by Norwegian businessman and owner of the project Mr Kjell Inge Røkke in May 2016 to develop the enormous 183-meter research expedition vessel which is expected to secure the title of the world’s largest yacht, both in terms of length and volume.REV is a very important project for all Norwegians. As Norway is one of a world-leading maritime nation and has the opportunities for taking on a global leadership role for exploring and taking care of the ocean. The Prime Minister of Norway supports the vision that ‘oceans are under pressure due to climate change, overfishing and waste pollution. To ensure the future growth of the ocean economy, we need to harvest resources in a sustainable way’.The Executive Secretary Vladimir Ryabinin of IOC of UNESCO also are very looking forward to REV: ‘It is exciting to know that a newest and most advanced research vessel will soon ply the global ocean and that she will be available to host scientists from all the world, especially from developing countries’.REV is a unique vessel: is designed to operate in remote and vulnerable waters for long periods without additional external support, the ship will be equipped for research and investigation of the entire marine ecosystem. The ship has the range and equipment to explore, document and collect. It also applies the Polar Code adopted by The International Maritime Organization for ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic conditions and can operate autonomously for 114 days. Depends on request of the project the capacity of the ship is up to 90 persons total including passengers, crew, scientists. Designed by famous Espen Øino, REV is tailored for research and expedition activities. Her robust exterior lines and modern features ensure she is able to cruise in arctic and tropical areas alike, with a hull built to ICE PC6 for navigation in ice. Two helipads can host drones and helicopter, while overhead cranes can lift and launch equipment weighing up to 20T over the side. Her drop keels enable echo sounders and sonars to be placed in undisturbed water below the hull for research of the world’s ecosystems, and built into her stern is a trawl hangar and pelagic trawling system.Built to the highest standards for both expeditions and recreational purposes the ship includes such features as a hospital with a medic cabin, High-tech equipment to monitor and survey marine areas, currents, the seabed, fish and plant life, while cutting-edge laboratory facilities enable onboard analysis. There will be an auditorium for lectures, and the capacity for live streaming, also a Moonpool, an eco-harvesting system for live catch and release of biomass and pelagic samples, and an underwater hydrophone system for listening to ocean mammals.Photos via REV Ocean

The Palm Beach International Yacht Show 2019 is scheduled for March 28-31 this year. The show will highlight yachts and day boats worth in the whole more than $1 billion, displayed along with entertaining activities, live music and floating lounge zones. As the X date approaches, Yacht Harbour overviews the largest vessels to be seen at the event.#5 ChasseurLength: 50 mBuilder: ChristensenAsking price: $33,750,000A three-deck motor yacht Chasseur was launched by American yard Christensen in 2016. With interior volume of 499 GT, her contemporary interior styling was developed by VARO Interior Design studio based in Vancouver. The yacht’s exterior styling and naval architecture were developed in-house. She is trademarked with a silver hull, a 9-metre beam and light GRP construction ensure spacious sitting areas for the guests at the waterline. As to her accommodation capacity, Chasseur can house up to 12 guests on board within six suites, including a full-beam master suite.#4 Lazy ZLength: 51,4 mBuilder: OceancoAsking price: $16,900,000Built by Oceanco in 1997, this yacht features a steel hull and aluminum superstructure within a beam of 9,45 metres. She underwent two significant refits in 2015 and 2017, marking interior improvements and installation of new MTU engines. Powered by the latter, Lazy Z can reach her maximum speed at 17 knots and cruises comfortably at 15 knots. Interior volume amounts to 638 GT. The yacht’s exterior design was developed by Richard Hein, with interior design commissioned to The A Group. Up to 12 guests can be comfortably accommodated in 6 cabins on-board, as well as 12 crew members.#3 ElixirLength: 55 mBuilder: AmelsAsking price: €38,900,000Elixir was delivered by Dutch shipyard Amels in 2016. Her exterior design concept was developed by Tim Heywood, with interior designed by Laura Sessa. Her owner contributes to modern interior look with jet black gloss and stainless steel around the superstructure. The magnificent outdoor spaces include a huge Sun Deck, folding bulwarks for Main Deck indoor dining with an al fresco feeling, along with the owner's Suite balcony. #2 MinderellaLength: 58,82 m Builder: FeadshipAsking price: $16,900,000The yacht was built by Feadship in 1986. With her interior volume of 702 GT, she features steel hull and aluminum superstructure within a 9,51-meter beam. The yacht’s total gross tonnage makes up 702 tons. Minderella reaches her maximum speed at 16 knots and cruises comfortably at 13,5 knots. Her accommodation capacity enables having up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. Her exterior design was developed by De Voogt, with her interior design elaborated by Terence Disdale.# 1. Excellence VLength: 60mBuilder: Abeking & RasmussenAsking price: €69,500,000The leader of the list was built in 2012 by Abeking & Rasmussen for American billionaire Herb Chambers. Moving all the way up from a 30ft Trojan fishing boat in the 70s, the automotive dealership mogul held Excellence V as his flagship since it was built. The 60-meter is now for sale as Chambers prepares to take delivery of a 88-meter yacht in build at Abeking.Excellence V features multiple on-board amenities, including a dedicated cinema and waterfront gym, oversized beach club, full owner's deck and multiple outdoor lounge areas with spa pool. Excellence V can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 cabins on-board.

More than 1000 people went to watch how the catamaran 'The Beast' takes to the water for the first time at Manawatū Marine Boating Club in Foxton Beach on the New Zealand North Island. The 39.5-meter tri-deck catamaran 'The Beast' becoming one of the biggest boats built in the country. New Zealand-based builder of motoryachts, fishing boats, and commercial ships - Profab Engineering - is responsible for her construction. In-build images of 'The Beast' were released in March 2018, showcasing its all-aluminium design features with naval architecture and exterior styling by LOMOcean.The owner, Michael Hill, New Zealand native wanted an adventure-seeking superyacht capable of taking on challenging conditions. This extravagant 40-metre-long superyacht could soon be available for the chart at $273,000 a week in the South Pacific through Charter Company 37 South.'The Beast' offers plenty of space on board in the 12-meter beam with a total interior volume of 493GT. She also includes a 9.3-meter amphibious tender, a 4.5-meter rescue boat and a Japanese teppanyaki-style barbecue on the upper deck. 'The Beast' comes complete with fishing equipment, kayaks, paddle boards. The five-cabin catamaran can also be used for scuba diving, ferrying crews to oil and gas rigs, and even has a remote-operated submarine for investigating underwater sites. This universal catamaran can also be used for scuba diving challenge or investigating underwater with the remote-operated submarine.According to Profab, this super catamaran has an impressive cruising range about 5,000 nautical miles with speed between 12 and 13 knots, she carries more than 76,000 litres of fuel. It can go almost anywhere in the world except Antarctica as she doesn't have reinforced hull plating for navigating in ice. It doesn’t matter. The owner is planning plenty of cruising around the Southern Hemisphere. And this is quite a big area to explore if you accompanied with up to 10 additional friends and family, as well as 10 crewmembers. Master cabin and four double cabins which are convertible into twins and one twin cabin with Pullman berths and of course three outdoor dining experiences.Power comes from a pair of Caterpillar C32 diesel engines with 715 horsepower and full weighs at 480 tonnes. Before settling in Auckland 'The Beast' will have the testing on the route from Foxton to Wellington.Name: THE BEASTYacht Type: Motor YachtYacht Subtype: Expedition Yacht, MultihullLength: 39,5 mBeam: 12,0 mTop speed: 13 knots

Construction of the new 44.6-meter full-custom sailing yacht Baltic 146 has begun this month in Yakobstad, Finland. Baltic 146 is a new composite superyacht, developed by Baltic Yachts taking into account the design of cruise ships, and it will have a naval architecture and interior design from famous design studio Judel / Vrolijk & Co. This is the third largest project after 66.7 meters Hetairos (2011) and 55 meters Pink Gin 175 (2017). This superyacht will be built using advanced composites using epoxy SPRINT and pre-preg carbon with a lightship displacement target 167 tons. Due to the reducing draft to just 3.4m and twin rudders, the yacht has the opportunity to facilitate manoeuvring in the port. The forward-facing pull-propeller can be rotated and used as a stern thruster, so it can be safely said that this yacht is designed for long-distance, independent global cruises, and for this purpose, along protective solid bimini has been developed that extends over most of the cabin. The hull is built in four parts; the lower section, the two side sections and the transom section, which will cover the stern of the yacht. “Building the yacht in sections means our workers can access the mould more easily for improved accuracy and speed,” comments Baltic Yachts.The lower deck consists of a master cabin with three additional double cabins. Inside there is a lounge area and a dining room, which receives a lot of natural light from the surrounding windows and skylights. The cab is equipped with chairs for outdoor recreation and lunch. They have dual controls, and all have skylights for optimal natural light during sunny days. The foredeck hosts a tender well for storing the tender and leaving the deck area flush for sunbathing, observation and exercise. The production of the new yacht will take about 24 months and goes on a cruise after its launch in 2021. Baltic Yachts currently have two additional custom projects under construction: the Baltic 142 Canova and Baltic 112 Liaratake are going to be launched later this year. Main features of Baltic 146: Carbon composite construction - Covered cabin for outdoor life - Four spacious double cabins - Third largest yacht by volume built by Baltic.Baltic Yachts/2021 LOA: 44.60mLWL: 41.80mBeam: 9.35mDraft: 5.9m/3.4m

After nearly 30 years of building yachts in Vancouver, Washington, Christensen Shipyards finishes relocation process within several months, moving to a new facility at Tellico Lake, Tennessee. The move follows a long-lasting court battle between the co-owners of US yard, Dave Christensen and Henry Luken. Yacht Harbour takes a closer look at the story behind the decision.Dave Christensen founded the Christensen Shipyards, Ltd. in 1985. Since then, the company specialised in building yachts of up to 45 metres LOA and a maximum beam of 10 metres within its 17,000 m2 facility. During the 1990s, affected by general crisis in the industry and high costs of yacht construction, the company’s revenue became inconsistent. Often unable to get bank loans to finance projects, they were selling yachts in advance, with ongoing operations financed by not very frequent customers.Dave Christensen and Henry Luken first met in 1997, when the latter purchased a yacht from the yard. In 2003, Luken bought 50 percent share of the company’s stock, joining the board of directors. The remaining shares were split between Christensen and his family.As it was later revealed from the legal filings, the owners parties’ discontent with each other had been raising from that time, as Luken claimed his funds were allocated on company expenses and operations or even ended up missing, instead of being held in trust while the boats were being built. The Christensens argued that Luken demanded large commissions on every yacht sale, reducing the company’s revenue.In 2006, Luken began construction of another facility at the Tellico Lake in his home state of Tennessee. He aimed to open an eastern division of Christensen yachts, suitable for construction of larger vessels. However, due to economical problems the building was soon frozen. The economic downturn also hit the company’s Vancouver operation, eventually forcing the company to lay off up to 80 percent of its local workforce.Starting from the end of 2014, multiple creditors began to file notices under the Uniform Commercial Code, declaring interest in the property as collateral for debts. The edge of bankruptcy led Luken to file a lawsuit in 2015 asking for the company to be placed into receivership. After a period of receiveship, the court decided that the best way to repay creditors would have been through selling the company to a buyer willing to keep its operation. Thus, the shipyard was sold to Luken for $5,500,000 despite objections from the Christensens. The acquisition implied name and all the company’s assets including a long-term lease on the shipyard and reforming Christensen Yachts as a new business entity. The Christensens though argued that Luken used his financial influence and position on the board to draw the company into receivership so that he could purchase it cheaply.A second lawsuit between the parties was filed one year later, lasting more than two years until both parties agreed on selling Vancouver facility to Vigor Industries, American shipbuilder and ship repairer, in February, 2019. The latter plans to manufacture a new type of landing craft for the U.S. Army called the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) at the yard. Vigor plans to start with employing 130 workers and grow up to 400 after a few years, as Christensen used to employ 500 people at the peak.According to Christensen’s President, Jim Gilbert, the company is now negotiotiating for the first contracts to be implemented within the new facility. The construction processes at the new yard finishes in 6 months, and the company is to come up with some fresh designs models within the time. However, they are going to stick to the traditional focus on large volume boats in general.The company is currently building a 50-metre Hull 42 at Vancouver facility, but the vessel will be moved to Tennessee this summer for completion. Christensen yachts currently employs about 70, Gilbert said, and all of them are being offered the chance to stay with the company at their current salary if they move to Tennessee.All in all, members of the Christensen family have not commented on the details of the settlement. According to Luken, it implied a lien on the shipyard property, and that he would receive nearly $ 5,000,000 from the sale. Despite that, Luken still claims that his involvement with the company caused him in an estimated net loss of nearly $15,000,000, largely due to a yacht he bought from the yard, never seeing her delivery.