United States

Campbell Shipyards

The worlds largest yacht support vessels

SuperYacht Times takes a look at the largest yacht support vessels that are currently in operation from across the globe.

The world’s largest yacht support vessels

The owners of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> have issued a press release to SuperYacht Times stating that the 66.75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/702" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campbell Shipyards (Company)">Campbell Shipyards</a> superyacht has been released and has departed Cape Town following a protracted legal battle regarding the superyacht’s ownership. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/117651/image/large-1be2e510bf34a3ef9375d4ad9bec2d55.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/117651"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> was arrested at the request of Daniel Janse van Rensburg in Cape Town, South Africa in regards to a legal dispute he had with Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Equatorial Guinea's Vice-President, on 7 February 2023. The local businessman alleges that he was unlawfully detained in Equatorial Guinea for about 500 days after a business deal went sour.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> was preparing to depart from Cape Town, following technical maintenance and a flag and class survey, when Daniel Janse van Rensburg’s lawyer executed a writ alleging that the superyacht belonged to Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/96064/image/large-efe0c2578964b8b81737e3d665147eca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/96064">On 10 February, the owners of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> requested supporting evidence from Daniel Janse van Rensburg that the yacht belonged to Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, but none were provided. On 16 February, a response was received conceding to the release of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> since their ownership allegations were incorrect.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> was formally released on 21 February, and has since departed Cape Town. The owners of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> are now pursuing potential options to seek financial damages caused by the unlawful actions of Daniel Janse van Rensburg.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/96065/image/large-5cd98b2394dac6cc5d77a5fa0d7f0dfc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/96065">(14-02-2023 16:15) Equatorial Guinea vice-president's 67m superyacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a>&nbsp;seizedAccording to local media companies, South African officials have seized the 66.75-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> and two palatial homes owned by Equatorial Guinea's Vice-President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/117652/image/large-b7d35b48e29f5943cddedb12d8281c06.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/117652">A court ordered the seizures after local businessman Daniel Janse van Rensburg won a lawsuit against the Vice-President for unlawful arrest and torture. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/702" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campbell Shipyards (Company)">Campbell Shipyards</a> superyacht has been seized in the Victoria &amp; Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa.Daniel Janse van Rensburg alleges that he was unlawfully detained in Equatorial Guinea for about 500 days after a business deal went wrong. The businessman has also demanded around $2.2 million (€2 million) in compensation.&nbsp;Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is the son of the world’s longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has served as the second president of Equatorial Guinea since August 1979. Both father and son have previously been accused of abusing wealth and resources surrounding oil in Equatorial Guinea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/96063/image/large-c0779a5a76c12eac7d01aa8141899278.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/96063">Daniel Janse van Rensburg has been involved in a lengthy legal battle against the Vice-President in the South African courts. Last year he published a book on how a business trip to Equatorial Guinea in 2013 "turned into a journey to the depths of hell" following his "harrowing incarceration" at the notorious Black Beach prison.Lawyer Errol Eldson, who is representing the businessman, told the news agency AFP that his client had set up an airline in Equatorial Guinea with a local politician who withdrew from the venture at the last minute and demanded a financial refund.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/33196/image/large-e4c554de8b062993e622bddbf9fbfe57.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/33196">According to Errol Eldson, the dispute led to the politician phoning Vice-President Obiang. Within 10 minutes, an elite security force unit “picked Daniel up and threw him into Black Beach prison.”Previously named Golden Shadow, the 1,293 GT superyacht was built at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/702" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campbell Shipyards (Company)">Campbell Shipyard</a> in 1994 to a design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/236" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Francis Design (Company)">Francis Design</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> can accommodate up to 20 guests across 11 staterooms, as well as a crew of 22.An application to auction the assets has been filed.

Seized superyacht Blue Shadow released following lawsuit

The 67m seized superyacht Blue Shadow has been released following a lawsuit with Equatorial Guinea's Vice-President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.

67m seized superyacht Blue Shadow released following lawsuit

<img src="/uploads/store/photo/96060/image/large-c1fc0c551f4009affd622e95733e2fbc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/96060">Built at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/702" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campbell Shipyards (Company)">Campbell Shipyard</a> in 1994 to a design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/236" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Francis Design (Company)">Francis Design</a>, the 66.7-metre motor yacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> combines the best of luxury living and serious adventure in a rugged oceangoing package. Known before as Golden Shadow having operated as part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/45202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen superyacht Golden Odyssey in Tivat (2015-12-01 23:00:00 +0100)">Golden Fleet</a>, the vessel was sold in April this year. With a diverse fleet of tenders and exploration craft along with an on-deck dive chamber and full SCUBA centre on board, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Blue Shadow</a> was made for the adventurous. Her 11 staterooms onboard can host up to 20 guests which all benefited from an extensive refit in 2017. Ideal for world cruising, the steel-hulled motor yacht is fitted with stabilisers and can cover an incredible range of 13,000nm. Here she is seen off Cala di Volpe on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda earlier this summer.

67m expedition yacht Blue Shadow in Sardinia

Spotted at anchor off Cala di Volpe over the summer season is the 67-metre expedition yacht Blue Shadow, built in America in 1994. 

The expedition yacht Blue Shadow in Sardinia

After over 24 years under the same ownership, the 66.7-metre expedition-ready superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Golden Shadow</a>&nbsp;has changed hands in a recent deal where <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser’s</a> Jan Jaap Minnema represented the seller. Manuele Thiella of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4680" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Yacht Brokers SARL (Company)">Royal Yacht Brokers</a> represented the buyer in the deal.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/29747/image/large-30d231b8c7ed86bef8e5b13d3b8413f2.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29747">Built at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/702" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Campbell Shipyards (Company)">Campbell Shipyard</a> in 1994 to a design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/236" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Francis Design (Company)">Francis Design</a>, superyacht&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Golden Shadow</a> combines the best of luxury living and serious adventure in a rugged oceangoing package. With a diverse fleet of tenders and exploration craft along with an on-deck dive chamber and full SCUBA centre on board,<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">&nbsp;Golden Shadow</a> was made for the adventurous.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/31441/image/large-7d465e4126ba18ceaf95ec60022272e8.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/31441">Her 11 staterooms on board can host up to 20 guests on board which all benefited from an extensive refit in 2017. Ideal for world cruising, the steel-hulled motor yacht is fitted with stabilisers and can cover an incredible 13,000nm.Currently lying in Tivat, Montenegro, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/946" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Shadow66.75m (218'12&quot;)Campbell Shipyards1995">Golden Shadow</a> was asking €9,950,000.

New owner for 67m superyacht Golden Shadow

In a recent deal brokered by Fraser and Royal Yacht Brokers, the 67m expedition superyacht Golden Shadow has been sold.