The Horizon Group held a traditional Chinese ceremony to celebrate the start of construction of its latest new model – the Bandido 148 Explorer. The first steel for its hull was cut on November 17. Horizon Group used the occasion to announce it is entering a new era by expanding its current model lines to include the steel luxury superyacht market.
Building at Premier Shipyard, a member of Horizon Group, the latest Bandido 148 Explorer is born from a close collaboration between Horizon Group-Premier team, its dealer Drettmann GmbH in Germany, and the designer Juan Carlos “J.C.” Espinosa. Following the success of the Premier 130 and Bandido 75, Horizon asked J.C. Espinosa to develop a larger Bandido model – a long-range superyacht with world-wide cruising capability in all types of weather, while affording luxury yacht comforts to all onboard.
To meet every need and assure superior sea-keeping, the Bandido 148 will be designed, built and certified to BV Classification, ICE Class as well as MCA LY2 Compliance. Powered by twin MTU 12V4000M60 1,800-hp engines, the 148 will have a maximum speed of 15.6 knots, a cruising speed of 12 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles. This superyacht will feature ABT’s TRAC stabilizers. Four 22-squar-foot fins driven by TRACSTAR technology will provide stability when at anchor or underway.
While each yacht will receive a customized interior designed according to its owner’s requirements, the first Bandido 148 Explorer houses an expansive interior in its rugged, though elegant, superstructure. Accommodations are for eight guests in four staterooms on the lower deck amidships. Eight crews are housed in four cabins (all with private bathrooms) forward, plus laundry facilities and crew’s lounge. A full-beam master suite with king-size bed, office, and his and her baths with Jacuzzi is located on the main deck forward. Also on main deck are a large galley, full-beam dining salon and main salon. An additional dining area is on the aft deck. Besides the pilothouse and the captain’s stateroom, the upper deck features a large skylounge, an exercise room and a sauna, both which are designed with fold-down balconies.
The vessel will further accommodate an atrium staircase connecting all levels plus an expansive flybridge with spa pool for ten, lounging areas, bar and dining amenities. Finally, the tender will be housed in a garage aft of the engine room and accessed via an hydraulic garage door off the transom.
The first yacht to be built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure by the Horizon Group, the Bandido 148 Explorer superyacht is scheduled to deliver in 2010.