When&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a>&nbsp;began building its first yacht with hybrid propulsion, the project was driven by an owner’s ambitious brief. Project Arrow — now&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11827" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="N2H76.3m (250'4&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2026">N2H</a>&nbsp;with exterior styling by&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1197" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi (Company)">Team for Design</a>&nbsp;— arrived with a partially developed system architecture already in place. The shipyard’s role was to take that vision and deliver it on an accelerated timeline, integrating the evolving hybrid technology into a fully realised superyacht platform.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400694/image/large-66314510c1e8dcb03efa8dae5c4f7c75.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400694">By the time <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a> received the first specification package for Project Arrow, the yacht was already framed with a hybrid propulsion architecture based on a feasibility study the owner’s team had carried out. That early work defined both expectations and constraints, shaping the technical discussions that followed. Turquoise’s role evolved beyond construction to one of integration and optimisation as it worked to refine a concept into a buildable, reliable system.“It wasn’t a case of the shipyard pushing hybrid technology as a flagship concept,” says <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a> CEO Burak Akgul. “The primary driver was the owner’s specification. That said, the idea of versatility – between diesel-electric and hybrid operation – was already a consideration within <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a>.”The keel was laid in January 2022, deliberately ahead of anticipated regulatory and classification rule changes, and by mid-year both hull and superstructure fabrication were underway. That stabilised the design basis, but it also locked the yard into a fast-moving engineering process where key technical decisions were still open, including the propulsion supplier and hybrid integration architecture. From that moment, Project Arrow became a parallel development exercise — design, procurement, and construction evolving simultaneously.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400689/image/large-c4cf72bcf8e129dbac5df1a4633df5fe.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400689">One supplier, one systemThrough early 2022, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a> continued parallel discussions with propulsion system suppliers, eventually choosing MTU to deliver not just the diesel engines, but a full hybrid ecosystem. Rather than coordinating multiple independent suppliers, this decision reduced interface risk across mechanical, electrical and control domains at a time when completed superstructure blocks were already stacked on site, waiting for the lower technical spaces to catch up.Scale emerged as a fundamental constraint early on. Initial hybrid system layouts included a DC switchboard approximately 22 metres long – much wider than the beam of the yacht platform. Even when split into sections, it could not be accommodated. That moment defined the trajectory of the project. Instead of forcing the system into the yacht, the yacht was scaled and reorganised around the system.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400693/image/large-c4b7e9cd9098b6f1e5a5317a8c4fd319.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400693">“The project was upgraded from a smaller concept to fit into our 80-metre platform with a beam of 13.2 metres,” says Bediz Döşemeciler, Technical Director at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a>. “This didn’t require a complete redesign of the hull form, but it did involve internal restructuring: bulkheads were moved, tank arrangements were redesigned, and technical volumes were redistributed. The external silhouette remained consistent, but internally the yacht was fundamentally re-engineered around machinery requirements.”At the centre was the hybrid propulsion package supplied by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a>. The system combines diesel engines rated at approximately 1,920 kW each, gearboxes supplied by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7488" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Company)">ZF Friedrichshafen</a>, electric motors, variable-speed generators with permanent magnet alternators, fixed-pitch propellers, a battery energy storage system, and a DC distribution grid.The propulsion concept is a parallel hybrid system, with electric motors mounted directly on the gearbox. This provides multiple operating modes: conventional diesel propulsion, full electric running using either batteries or generators, hybrid assist during acceleration and load transitions, and shore power operation. A ‘boost’ mode — where electric motors supplement diesel output — was deliberately excluded as the additional structural requirements on shaftlines and drivetrain components would not have been justified given the vessel’s intended speed range.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400690/image/large-001b47ead9f74541d2a237056582ac43.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400690">Integration is everythingEnergy storage is provided by a battery system supplied by EST-Floattech. The installation delivers 1.5 MWh of capacity, arranged across 144 modules with a total weight of around 12 tonnes. The system feeds into a DC grid architecture, which improves efficiency by reducing conversion losses and allows flexible distribution of energy between propulsion, hotel loads, and charging systems (sister project 80-metre NB76 under construction, with hull and superstructure already complete, features a higher-capacity battery system of nearly 2 MWh).Integrating this hybrid system into a shaftline yacht reshaped the internal architecture. Unlike diesel-electric vessels, where machinery can be distributed with greater freedom, a parallel hybrid system imposes constraints around shaft alignment and gearbox positioning.“Building a hybrid yacht isn’t just about adding batteries and electric motors,” says Döşemeciler. “The real complexity lies in integration, from thermal management across multiple power sources and control logic for mode transitions, to physical space allocation, weight distribution and stability.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400696/image/large-424d78858a641cef36368cde66a656c9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400696">The engine room became a tightly orchestrated space in which propulsion, energy storage, and hotel systems had to coexist within fixed structural boundaries. Central pipe tunnels and traditional service corridors were reduced or eliminated; fuel tanks were relocated; and generator placement was adjusted to accommodate hybrid equipment. The electrical architecture was divided into two main zones: an AC system for hotel and auxiliary loads, and a dedicated DC system for hybrid propulsion and energy management. The DC switchboard, originally envisioned at 22 metres, was progressively reduced through iterative redesign to approximately 11.5 metres in overall length.Propulsion is supported by Brunvoll tunnel and rim-drive units, including low-noise 300 kW thrusters, along with independent electro-hydraulic rudders. These systems were integrated to maintain manoeuvrability while minimising acoustic impact – an important requirement for a hybrid vessel designed for both silent operation and efficiency.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400691/image/large-d4516cc538bfcec36fa39a1ad628fb71.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400691">Open spaces, hidden systemsAs technical density increased below deck, every cubic metre became contested space. Cold storage, stabiliser compartments, crew accommodation, and technical voids all had to be carefully balanced against machinery requirements. Even standard yacht functions, such as provisioning and waste handling, required rethinking due to the reduction in unallocated structural volume. The result is a compact and densely engineered lower-deck environment in which nearly every compartment had multiple dependencies.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400697/image/large-defe0d01d4772b161d111a5e81a6e3cf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400697">Above deck, the focus shifted from machinery to architecture, relying heavily on openness with multiple fold-down balconies and sliding glass openings spanning up to 5.4 metres in width with four-panel configurations that disappear into concealed pockets. Supplied by Nau Tec in Germany, selected for their willingness to develop customised solutions, these systems required detailed 3D coordination of structure, cabling and drainage in constrained spaces.A defining feature of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="H2 Yacht Design (Company)">H2 Yacht Design</a>’s interior scheme is a six-metre, floor-to-ceiling wall of triple-laminated glass supplied by BCE Glass that forms part of the main staircase atrium and wine display area. Elsewhere, adhesive-bonded glazing spanning more than 15 metres without visible mullions underwent numerical analysis to assess load transfer and deflection behaviour. The interior outfitting by Ulutas, a long-standing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a> stakeholder, is executed to their customary high standard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400695/image/large-e224d5b10cb8d6a46993f4703d2fb6cd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400695">The bridge design reflects the same philosophy of minimal visual obstruction. Developed with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6426" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kongsberg Maritime (Company)">Kongsberg</a>, the bridge uses a commercial-style layout with three independent consoles and sliding operator chairs. Instead of traditional cabinetry, much of the computing hardware is relocated into concealed racks beneath or behind the bridge area, reducing visual clutter but increasing integration complexity.“Even systems as small as wipers were reimagined, using inverted rack-over mechanisms mounted above the glazing to preserve uninterrupted sightlines,” Döşemeciler points out. “Across the yacht, the design priority remains consistent: maximise visibility and openness while absorbing the engineering complexity elsewhere.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/314487/image/large-a54509ab117723ee8b938470ea132310.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/314487">Throughout the vessel, extensive external analysis supported the design process. Noise and vibration studies were carried out with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5472" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Van Cappellen Consultancy (Company)">Van Cappellen</a>, alongside structural, CFD, and systems analysis conducted with Mesh Engineering &amp; Software. These parallel workstreams ensured that acoustic performance, structural integrity, and hydrodynamic efficiency remained aligned despite continuous design evolution.The beach club introduced additional complexity. Incorporating a gym, sauna and hammam behind fold-down terraces and a transom arrangement that deliberately excludes a fixed swim platform for security reasons, the large shell doors were supplied by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="NewThex Ned BV. (Company)">NewThex</a> with structural fabrication carried out both in-house and by Makro Yacht Systems to retain control over tolerances and integration speed. Custom features such as passerelles and swim stairs went through several design iterations, driven by operational constraints and late-stage changes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391954/image/large-58000c8e4f271f77e61d57b879dea033.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391954">Moving targetsSome of these changes were significant. When construction was at an advanced stage, the hardtop was raised by approximately 200 mm, the number of balconies was increased from six to eight, and interior layouts were adjusted in response to real-world visualisation and owner feedback. The owner’s involvement remained constant throughout, with frequent site visits, weekly technical meetings, and continuous design iteration, generating more than 1,500 pages of meeting documentation.The most consistent challenge for the shipyard, however, remained unchanged: designing and building at the same time. In a conventional project, design might precede construction by a year or more. Here, both processes were fully interlocked, meaning constant recalibration between engineering intent and physical reality.“Systems were being defined while structure was being built, and structure was being modified while systems were being installed,” says Döşemeciler. “This created a constantly moving target in which engineering decisions had immediate physical consequences. But in the end, those challenges actually improved the final outcome.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11827" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="N2H76.3m (250'4&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2026">N2H</a> demonstrates how modern superyachts are increasingly defined by their systems rather than their form. Propulsion, energy storage and control architecture are no longer subsystems hidden within the hull – they are the primary forces shaping it. In this case, the hybrid system became the defining constraint that shaped platform size, internal architecture and structural layout. The yacht was not designed first and engineered later; rather it was engineered into existence from the inside out, with every major decision flowing from the requirements of its hybrid core.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391907/image/large-ba8aa8cc0b5d960c4d6a55ea9e9d26cf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391907">

Building N2H: Turquoise's first 76m hybrid propulsion yacht

Project Arrow yacht moves to outfitting

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N2H yacht launch

Project Arrow in build at Turquoise Yachts

Construction on Project Arrow at the Turquoise yard 

Project Arrow in-build at Turquoise Yachts

Construction on Project Arrow at the Turquoise Shipyard

A look inside the build of Turquoise's first hybrid-propulsion 76m superyacht.

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Turquoise HTBI tumbnail

What began as a four-month mission to complete the interior of a 78-metre custom yacht has evolved into a major interior manufacturing operation. Founded in 2020 by long-time industry colleagues Roger Myers and Cyril Bieri,&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7319" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht Interiors (Company)">Superyacht Interiors Dubai</a>&nbsp;has grown from a team of 172 craftsmen into a workforce of more than 350 specialists, delivering complex yacht interiors, bespoke furniture packages and high-end residential projects from facilities in Dubai and Oman. We spoke with Roger about the systems, facilities and strategies that underpin their approach.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400470/image/large-4ceb08833994d9b729841ee78f6e196b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400470">What has been the most significant change in the business since completing your first yacht project?The biggest transformation has been in our engineering and manufacturing capabilities. In the beginning, our focus was on assembling the right team and delivering the interior of the 78-metre yacht to the standards expected by European shipyards and designers. Since then, we have invested heavily in engineering, production systems and machinery. What started as a project-driven operation has evolved into a fully integrated manufacturing business with dedicated engineering departments, advanced CNC machining capabilities, specialised finishing facilities and robust quality control systems. Our objective has always been to combine traditional yacht craftsmanship with modern manufacturing processes while maintaining the standards expected within the superyacht sector.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400467/image/large-60153eb48725bce03601f1af50379f27.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400467">How has your production capacity evolved as the company has grown?When we launched, we had 172 employees. Today, our core workforce sits at around 350 specialists, although we have demonstrated the ability to scale significantly when projects require it. During peak production on an ongoing Northern European project, we expanded to almost 500 personnel to support areas such as finishing, veneer preparation and painting. At standard production levels, we’re able to deliver approximately 1,200-square-metres of luxury yacht interiors annually. With extended shifts and overtime, that capacity increases to around 1,500-square-metres.One of the key lessons we've learned is that capacity is not simply about workforce numbers. It’s about understanding production bottlenecks and investing in the areas that create the greatest efficiencies. Paint, veneer processing and machining all involve curing or drying periods, so extending operations through additional shifts allows us to maximise utilisation of those assets.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400468/image/large-bbfff37808bf54abf0581945a33727ca.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400468">You have recently invested significantly in engineering and digital manufacturing. What is driving that strategy?Efficiency is a major focus for us as we look towards the future. Over the past year, we have invested heavily in CAD+T engineering software alongside ERP and SAP systems that allow us to track materials and components throughout the production process. Traditionally, yacht interiors have relied heavily on 2D engineering. We’re now transitioning towards fully integrated 3D workflows. The advantage is that the engineering model automatically generates bills of materials, cut lists and manufacturing information, which can then be transferred directly to our production machinery. Alongside the software investment, we have recruited highly experienced specialists from leading European yacht interior companies to support the implementation. Our goal is for the majority of our engineering output to be delivered through these integrated digital systems over the next 12 months.What investments have you made on the manufacturing side?We’ve invested approximately €2 million in machinery and equipment, with a long-term investment plan of around €4 million over the next five years. This includes new 5-axis and 4-axis CNC machining centres, upgraded spray-line systems and additional finishing capabilities. We have also expanded our paint operations significantly, with two large spray facilities now fully operational and a third currently being introduced. These investments are already generating substantial gains in efficiency, production quality and programme reliability. At the same time, we continue to invest in people. Technology is important, but it still relies on skilled craftsmen, engineers and project managers to deliver the final result.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400471/image/large-0fb460c7fc1ccd3662c37cb698e733d6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400471">How does the new Oman facility fit into your manufacturing strategy?Capacity was certainly one factor, but the facility is really about manufacturing optimisation. The Oman facility has been established as a dedicated machining centre and houses much of our newest CNC equipment, focusing on high-volume cutting and machining operations. By relocating these activities, we can maintain a cleaner, quieter and more controlled production environment in Dubai, which is where clients visit for factory acceptance tests, mock-ups and project reviews. Machining generates dust, noise and material movement. Separating those activities allows us to improve workflow efficiency while creating a better environment for assembly, finishing and client interaction.&nbsp;How important is vertical integration to your business model?It’s fundamental. One of the reasons we remain competitive internationally is because we undertake a significant amount of work in-house. We have dedicated engineering, joinery, upholstery, finishing and metalworking capabilities operating within the same organisation. That allows us to maintain control over programme schedules, quality standards and costs. It also improves communication between departments and reduces reliance on external suppliers. For yacht projects, where tolerances are extremely tight and schedules are often compressed, that level of integration is a major advantage.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400469/image/large-d88220b7d5cbb05fa65d2796fe97e3df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400469">Looking ahead, what will define the next stage of growth for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7319" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht Interiors (Company)">Superyacht Interiors Dubai</a>?Growth remains important, but craftsmanship remains at the centre of everything we do. Technology improves efficiency and accuracy, but ultimately every yacht interior is still built by skilled craftsmen. Our objective is to combine those traditional skills with modern engineering and manufacturing systems, creating an environment where designers, shipyards and owners can realise increasingly ambitious projects. That balance between craftsmanship, innovation and collaboration is what will continue to define <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7319" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Superyacht Interiors (Company)">Superyacht Interiors Dubai</a> in the years ahead.

Superyacht Interiors Dubai CEO Interview

SuperYacht Times interviews Superyacht Interiors CEO

CEO in Conversation: Roger Myers on scaling Superyacht Interiors Dubai

Refitting Oceanco's 93m Draak

 A look inside the refit journey of Draak, and how the project has changed what 'refit' can mean

Behind the refit of Oceanco's 93m superyacht Draak

How To Build It - Issue 11 is live! This issue is all about the age of integration and explores the elements of superyacht building that we don't often see or read about.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397625/image/large-6f596041bc2383cda85f8633a4fbeb4d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397625">How large yachts are conceived, engineered and operated? Issue 11 explores the increasing complexity of superyachts and how integration must ensure that elements such as propulsion, energy management, digital systems, operational flexibility, environmental considerations and long-term adaptability function as one coherent whole.We take a look at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise</a>'s first hybrid yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11827" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="N2H76.3m (250'4&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2026">N2H</a>, and how the role of shipyard extended well beyond the construction to take on the integration of an evolving technological vision into a reliable operational reality. The yacht was effectively engineered into existence from the inside out (p 38). <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397623/image/large-61941b2e6c557f081414c700d2475688.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397623">The story of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4018" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Draak92.8m (304'6&quot;)Oceanco2014">Draak</a> reflects a similar story: a refit by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> that evolved into something far more ambitious: the reconstruction of a large superyacht into a hybrid expedition and support platform; the refit journey can be found on page 60.Also in this issue is a look into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6143" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ABB Group (Company)">ABB</a>'s podded electric propulsion systems and how they are changing the way designers think about yacht architecture all together (p 73) and a dive into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8273" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ferrari (Company)">Ferrari</a>'s Hypersail that is taking shape in Pisa after decades of automotive ingenuity (p 52).<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397622/image/large-272f02d54be4badd9ce3e471113908e1.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397622">We take a look at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/119" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Horizon Yachts (Company)">Horizon Yachts</a>, which has grown from a small OEM to a global builder of semi-custom motor yachts larger than 24-metres (p 27), and dive into the changing regulations surrounding paint and coatings (p 88). Issue 11 also includes a sit-down with Patrick Bray on how to build a better boat (p 127), and we speak with Donna Green, Head of New Build at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Y.CO (Company)">Y.CO</a> about modern yacht building and the importance of collaboration.All that and more, Issue 11 of How To Build It is now <a href="https://issuu.com/superyachttimes/docs/how_to_build_it_-_issue_11_-_summer_2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">live</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397621/image/large-10a7028b56089751c54a4399cebba417.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397621">

how to build it issue 11

Issue 11 of How To Build It is live and available! We dive into the age of integration in the superyacht industry.

How To Build It - Issue 11: The integration age is live!

There are over 50 billion light bulbs in circulation globally, the vast majority LED-based. But the evolution from incandescent to fluorescent and now LED has come with unintended consequences, particularly for our biology. Increasingly, that means bringing wellness into the heart of onboard systems, and lighting is one of the most powerful tools for doing that. Michael Meeneghan, founder of system integrators MP Tech in the UK, looks into engineering circadian-friendly lighting at sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397073/image/large-8a6f614768b4a055483b03c753d7fccc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397073">Modern mass-market LED luminaires are predominantly built around a “blue pump” architecture. This architecture boosts luminous efficacy by amplifying the blue portion of the spectrum (typically ~450nm) and then converting some of it into other wavelengths using phosphors.&nbsp;While technically impressive and energy-efficient, the issue is spectral imbalance. Blue-rich white light, especially in the evening hours, suppresses melatonin production, the hormone responsible for sleep onset. This leads to circadian rhythm disruption (SCRD), manifesting in poor sleep quality, fatigue, cognitive decline, and long-term health risks. For those at sea, crossing time zones, working night shifts, or living in enclosed, artificially lit environments, the risks are magnified. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397074/image/large-0b490baf7772bd1cbd895380dbf78c73.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397074">What is Circadian-friendly lighting?&nbsp;Circadian lighting is about aligning artificial illumination with the body’s internal 24-hour clock. Human-centric lighting (HCL) systems do this by varying both colour temperature and intensity throughout the day:&nbsp;• Cool, bright light (~5000–6500K) in the morning stimulates alertness and cognitive performance.&nbsp;• Warm, dimmed light (~1800–2700K) in the evening promotes relaxation and sleep readiness.&nbsp;But HCL is not just about colour temperature; it’s also about spectral fidelity, flicker control, and CRI (colour rendering index). Truly circadian-supportive lighting delivers high CRI (ideally 95+), flicker-free performance, and a balanced spectral output that respects human biology.&nbsp;These are the standards that MP Tech has adopted when designing and commissioning lighting schemes for yachts, with a focus on ensuring biological alignment without compromising visual quality.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397075/image/large-3c2a7a8b5196bdcbc153ad8c24a44620.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397075">Why this matters on a superyacht&nbsp;Unlike land-based homes, yacht interiors are removed from natural daylight cycles. Guests move across time zones, crew work non-traditional shifts, and spaces are often enclosed with limited exposure to sunlight. In such conditions, artificial lighting becomes the dominant environmental cue for the body. For crew, this means supporting shift-work without compromising health. For guests, it means enhancing comfort, reducing jet lag, and creating spaces that feel intuitively “right”, whether waking up in the Med or winding down in the Caribbean.&nbsp;Sleep and Circadian Disruption (SCRD) isn’t always dramatic – it accumulates. But its impact is real and can lead to reduced sleep quality, lower productivity, mood volatility and slower recovery. In luxury hospitality, where every detail matters, lighting becomes both an aesthetic and a physiological asset.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397071/image/large-4e5955784fa2513194673e69d7f36b4a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397071">Moving to better standards It’s not uncommon to find beautifully crafted, high-value luminaires aboard yachts that are fitted with subpar light engines. The result? Ornate fixtures delivering flickering, low-CRI, spectrally imbalanced light that undercuts both wellness and visual impact. This dissonance between decorative quality and lighting quality requires thoughtful re-engineering to resolve. The key is to respect the design intent while addressing performance shortfalls that can affect wellbeing.&nbsp;Fortunately, the lighting industry is progressing. New human-centric lighting standards now prioritise:&nbsp;• Flicker-free drivers with high-frequency PWM or DC dimming • High CRI LED chips, often approaching CRI 98+&nbsp;• Tunable white modules with dynamic CCT from warm white to cool white&nbsp;• Full-spectrum LEDs that eliminate blue spike and restore spectral balance&nbsp;These technologies are more compact, marine-compatible, increasingly retrofit- friendly, and typically combine: • Tunable white luminaires with dual-channel or multi-channel LED modules • Intelligent controls that adjust scenes automatically or via user inputs • Sensors and automation that adapt to time of day, presence or ambient light&nbsp;When lighting designers work closely with yacht architects and AV-integrators to specify, program and commission these systems, the result is lighting that flows with the rhythm of life, not against it. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397076/image/large-d9c9e416c484bc6996c480d8739d824c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397076">From design to delivery&nbsp;For new builds, early engagement is critical. Lighting design conversations should be had at concept stage to ensure that both technical and experiential requirements are addressed holistically. Each project starts with a light-use audit, mapping the way each space is used throughout the day and night. From there, tailored control strategies are developed and appropriate luminaires and drivers supplied, managing installation and commissioning through to final handover.&nbsp;For refits, improvements can still be significant, from replacing existing fittings and fixtures with flicker-free, high CRI LED, all the way to upgrading ornate and bespoke fixtures through re-chipping – replacing old LED modules with high-spec, flicker-free alternatives – preserving visual continuity while delivering a measurable step forward in performance and wellbeing.&nbsp;While guest areas are often the focus of design, crew quarters, corridors and service areas require just as much attention. Lighting in these spaces influences alertness, fatigue and productivity – key factors in operational excellence. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397072/image/large-af2a3cfb4818d508d6436e785f8eefe2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397072">The future of Circadian lighting&nbsp;As understanding of circadian biology continues to evolve, so too does lighting technology. We are now exploring full-spectrum lighting profiles that better simulate sunrise, midday and dusk; the integration of near-infrared (IR) and UV elements for skin stimulation and environmental hygiene; and wearable data integration to adapt lighting in real time based on user chronotype or sleep cycles.&nbsp;These innovations will likely become part of the next generation of wellness-centred yacht systems. Whether in a new build or a smart retrofit, lighting doesn’t just illuminate, it enhances life at sea.&nbsp;

How human-centric light design is transforming wellness at sea

Blue-rich LEDs disrupt sleep at sea. Here's how circadian-friendly lighting systems are improving wellbeing for superyacht crew and guests

“Without data you’re just a person with an opinion,” says Giovanni Palamà. For the data &amp; measurement specialist, entrepreneur, and founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a>, the quote is not a provocation – it is the premise on which he built an entire company.&nbsp;After years as a professional sailor on the international race circuit, Giovanni Palamà understands that performance on the water is never the product of instinct alone: it is the result of consistent, objective and repeatable measurement.&nbsp;“When I left racing and moved into consultancy, I realised the superyacht industry lacked this scientific discipline,” he says. “Extremely complex vessels were being delivered, yet there was no standardised way to quantify whether they actually performed according to their design. I founded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a> in 2015 to answer that question.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396519/image/large-66c4d58023dbf7660b99d59595acd406.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396519">By not only gathering but also precisely interpreting data, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a> is going beyond the limits of “traditional” industry processes. It works with the major Italian shipyards to provide sea-trial analyses, onboard monitoring and long-term performance assessment via a broad spectrum of diagnostic data, including vibration readings, power-management behaviour, thermographic imagery, 3D scans, strain-gauge load measurements, and its onboard AI platform D.gree.The goal is not simply to identify faults, but to understand how every component behaves within the broader system. This is where the approach becomes transformative. Indeed, at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/285" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade - 2025">Metstrade 2025</a> the company presented itself as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV Group</a>, where “group” is intended as a set of multidisciplinary services and brands, organised into specialised areas covering the entire yacht lifecycle, from management and analysis to value preservation and innovation.With operational offices in Ancona, Pisa and La Spezia in Italy, a service point in Palma de Mallorca, and an innovation hub in Palo Alto, California, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a> employs technologies rarely seen outside high-end industrial sectors. Motion Amplification, for example, transforms ordinary video into a magnified analysis tool that reveals vibrations far too subtle for the human eye to see – vibrations that can lead to premature wear, reduced efficiency, or outright failure. And as diesel-electric and hybrid propulsion systems become the norm, high-frequency sampling is used to detect issues that traditional monitoring systems would miss. These measurement techniques allow shipyards and crew to shift from reactive maintenance to true condition-based maintenance.“In commercial shipping, predictive maintenance is standard,” says Palamà. “But superyachts behave differently. Their operational profiles vary dramatically from vessel to vessel, making uniform maintenance intervals unreliable. A charter yacht that spends its summer shuttling between Sardinia and the Amalfi Coast wears very differently from one that crosses the Atlantic or spends long periods at anchor.”Because every supplier uses its own communication protocol, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a> has designed its systems to ‘speak’ with virtually every machine on board, from the main engines to the stabilisers and HVAC system. The company has a multi-year programme with both <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6046" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azimut-Benetti Group (Company)">Azimut|Benetti</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> to optimise the performance of their superyacht fleet. During sea trials of all <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benett</a>i’s 100-metre-plus yachts, for example, it used its own certified technology to log up to 5,000 variables.“The results are measurable,” continues Palamà. “For example, after monitoring a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> Tradition for several seasons, we recommended switching propellers – a change that saved roughly €30,000 in fuel in a single season.”Also during <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade (Company)">Metstrade</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a> presented its newest development: D.gree V26, and its first AI Agent, Sailly, as the industry moves toward intelligent autonomy at sea. Offered in three configurations – One, Pro and Ultra – D.gree V26 is designed to adapt to both new-build and refit projects by fully leveraging intelligent node technology. Accessible both locally and remotely, the system is aboard a current fleet of around 70 yachts (expected to grow to 300 within three years), processing over 5 million data points per hour and predicting failures before they occur. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396518/image/large-6c625f4bf1121bf5cbf12eb760b705ae.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396518">D.gree can also track external conditions, such as weather, to provide an even more complete picture of the yacht’s actual operating environment. The benefits ripple across the industry: owners gain transparency and asset protection; captains receive a clear overview; engineers can plan work rather than firefight; fleet managers can monitor multiple vessels through a single coherent system; and shipyards are able to draw on a continuous closed loop between design, operations and service.As younger, more tech-oriented owners enter the market, expectations are shifting. They demand accountability, connectivity and smarter systems. Anchored by solid engineering and strengthened by data, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8890" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SailADV Group (Company)">SailADV</a> is working to meet those expectations. In a sector built on craftsmanship, beauty and tradition, the company aims to bring something more tangible: proof. And as Palamà likes to remind people, in modern yachting, proof is power.

What data reveals about a superyacht’s operating environment

SailADV founder Giovanni Palamà explains how data, diagnostics and AI-led monitoring are changing superyacht performance analysis and maintenance.

SailADV: What data reveals about a superyacht’s operating environment

Just as physical tank test models are giving way to computational fluid dynamics, so another form of virtual modelling is coming to the fore – the digital twin. But what is a digital twin, and how can we use them to streamline superyacht design, construction and operation?Providing an exact definition of a digital twin can be tricky, not least because different people use the term in different ways. With conceptual origins tracing back to NASA in the 1960s, the truth is that digital twins come in a variety of forms and offer multiple applications – all of which have the potential to change the approach to design and enhance the operational effectiveness of superyachts.“I haven’t found a consistent way that people use the term,” says software developer Boudewijn van Groos. “For example, some call a simple 3D model a digital twin, even if it doesn’t make predictions. It might show live sensor data from the vessel, but it’s really just a portal into the actual ship. That is fundamentally different to a software model that mimics the behaviour of a system based on physical or statistical calculations. Yet people refer to both as digital twins.”Models created in a software environment are arguably the purest form of digital twinning. They are increasingly being used both to train AI and to enable systems developers to code the core parts of a yacht’s controllers while the physical yacht itself is still in build – a decisive factor when faced with tight construction and delivery schedules.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397081/image/large-c63a38ee887c535cd43a28154e353077.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397081">Virtual virtuesVan Groos is leading a team of software developers who are undertaking the coding of a multifaceted monitoring and control system aboard Project Zero, the renewables-powered sailing yacht under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters Shipyard</a>. In collaboration with German company XRG Simulation, they have been building a virtual version of the yacht’s systems in Modelica, which allows them to write the code for the programmable logic controller (PLC) for the thermal harvesting and recovery system, for example, and test it before the physical system has been completed. While the team has also been using a current sailing superyacht as a test bed, creating a digital twin has brought additional benefits.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397079/image/large-c1ba2f94baf775740a49c5322a0b5621.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397079">“For everything we’re doing we first write the physical thing into code to form the digital twin,” Van explains. “That simulation can be very basic, or a deep mechanical simulation. It gives us an opportunity to prevent regression bugs and it means we can avoid having to run our code on a physical system that means needing the real machine every time, which is just a hassle.”Developing a digital twin not only creates a platform for virtual testing, it also provides an opportunity to explore or to train AI, which can have real-world applications in a finished project. Indeed, this is the approach that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3559" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Videoworks Group (Company)">Videoworks</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1080" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rossinavi (Company)">Rossinavi</a> took, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, to develop the systems on the 42.84-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12135" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Seawolf X42.84m (140'7&quot;)Rossinavi2024">Seawolf X</a> catamaran.“On a yacht you have a lot of very high-tech systems, each optimised and each with sensor actuators,” explains Maurizio Minossi, CEO and CTO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3559" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Videoworks Group (Company)">Videoworks</a>. “The idea is to create a sort of manager that grabs the data coming from the different subsystems and, thanks to the use of AI algorithms, gives it added value in terms of monitoring and control.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397078/image/large-3bbe7f4296cb60275d58eb400d1d5976.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397078">“AI algorithms need to train on something – you need a story,” adds Sergio Saponara, director of the Department of Informational Engineering at the University of Pisa. “But if the technology is new, how do you create that story? Creating a digital model of a yacht allows you to fill the AI with data. You analyse the chiller in a model, then you combine it with all the other models to create the whole ship.”The system they have developed, which has been designed to be modular for use across multiple yacht designs and configurations, integrates various network-connected sensors, smart plugs, and actuators, such as HVAC systems, lighting, and automated blinds, orchestrated by an advanced AI algorithm. The digital twin enables the simulation of different configurations and operational scenarios, generating virtual data that can be used to train AI models – a useful approach given the challenges of limited experimental data on energy consumption and passenger habits.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397077/image/large-efe714be9d6f415bcddaf70b66ca2da0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397077">Test rig&nbsp;It’s not just in systems design that digital twins are being utilised. For Dale Morris, Group Head of Global Design at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2447" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Spars (Company)">Southern Spars</a>, the development of digital twins has enabled advanced, in-the-box testing before a rig is stepped – a serious advantage given the one-off nature and complexity of superyacht masts and sail plans.&nbsp;“The outcome is what’s on the water, but the model that came before it has been through all the conditions,” he says. “It starts with base mast properties, rigging pre-tension and tuning, but we add in the actual moulded sail shape and structural files from North Sails, and then we can assess the rig to a whole other level.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397082/image/large-2efc90f958531c34f23220a01c23ffdf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397082">This allows the team to see the effect of their rig design choices even down to its impact on the actual shape of the sails. They can go into a whole CFD loop, where the fluid structure interaction (FSI) loops back into the non-linear FEA – non-linear because the mast is flexible. That essentially means they can sea-trial the yacht before any carbon fibre even gets laid in the mast mould.“That also flows through into how we communicate the safe operation to the customer with all the sheet runs and all the load interfaces, so that boatbuilders can build-in the right safety factors,” &nbsp;Morris explains. “You can assess all that within the digital twin.”It also impacts the initial sea trial phases because, rather than the traditional method of stepping a mast and eyeballing the rig to tune it and ensure it is set up symmetrically, it can effectively be pre-set. Gone are the days where you put the rig in, go sailing and flop from tack to tack, make changes, rinse and repeat, which can be a two-day operation.“We are able to virtually go sailing before we even put carbon in the mast tooling, and for yacht designers, owners and crew that’s a huge benefit because it elevates confidence before you get further into the project,” &nbsp;says Vincent Guiot, Group Sales Director at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2447" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Southern Spars (Company)">Southern Spars</a>. &nbsp;Further, the applications extend to the operational phase. By using the information from the load sensors from specific conditions. If something doesn’t look quite right, the team can plug that data back into the digital twin and help someone on board diagnose the issue more efficiently.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397080/image/large-77d39333b2a17751661ad462a20fdfc0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397080">Practical magic&nbsp;As CAD has advanced, so 3D models have become commonplace, not only in terms of determining the underlying engineering layout of a vessel but also to ensure the vessel can be built as efficiently as possible. But when one superyacht project approached Dutch company Goltens to take that 3D model further, the potential for an all-encompassing digital twin quickly became apparent.“Normally we design, engineer and create 3D models, and during that process a lot of information on the components – size, material, capacity, make, model – is put into a database,” says Sandra Jutte of Goltens’ Green Technologies division. “But when the vessel departs, most of that information, which can number thousands of data files, stays behind. For this project, we were asked how we could collect all the engineering data in one place during construction and use it to make the yacht smarter in operation.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397085/image/large-8490e120db5880a524554f471c7eb9b6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397085">To achieve that, the Goltens team combined ongoing 3D scanning during the build with CAD and engineering drawings to create a digital version of Project Zero that is a perfect match for the real thing. The result is that all the information on the build, systems and components is available for easy access – especially useful when it comes to fault-finding or in the event of a system alarm.&nbsp;“You need an exact copy of the yacht, so during the entire build our team has been on site with a 3D scanner capturing every stage of the build,” says Jutte. “We’ve scanned every detail, including 100,000 metres of cables and six kilometres of piping.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397086/image/large-39fff693692206113bdc5e36b8ec672b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397086">Every pump, pipe and system is connected and with e-sharing it’s possible to click into the engineering drawing and instantly jump to the same spot in the 3D model, and vice versa. All relevant details and spare parts listings are available with a click. What’s more, the digital twin will form the backbone for predictive maintenance and, potentially, AI-rooted energy efficiency and systems analysis during the operational phase – an aspect that could have huge impact for a project where every kilowatt counts.The potential goes further, however, because wherever the vessel goes, the digital twin goes too. This means designers can use the digital twin to experiment with new ideas or test layouts without ever touching the real vessel, while engineers can follow system performance and simulate improvements, and and owners can explore their yacht anytime, anywhere.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397087/image/large-8c4ef31785ce28bc95f037d27cf282ff.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397087">Such a comprehensive scan-based digital twin improves maintenance aspects – with all manuals and spare parts lists easily accessible, and with the potential to add predictive maintenance algorithms – but also aids efficiency in a refit phase.&nbsp;“Refits and repairs are no longer a guessing game,” says Jutte. “Because if a component needs to be replaced or a new component fitted, the digital twin already knows what’s there currently and if the new one will fit. It means you can order or prefabricate parts with confidence. It’s a complete feedback loop between design, operation, maintenance, fault-finding and improvement.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397089/image/large-cbdce16aec81ad92d4d28edb2f355442.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397089">

How is virtual modelling transforming superyacht design and operation

From rig testing to predictive maintenance, digital twins are reshaping how superyachts are designed, built and operated.

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom Yacht Equipment</a>&nbsp;has earned a prominent position in the superyacht supply chain for its bespoke boarding equipment, platforms, cranes, watertight doors and integrated control systems. Yet the engineering philosophy behind its custom-designed solutions is based on a resolutely modular approach.When Mervyn van der Ploeg was appointed managing director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom Yacht Equipment</a> in 2015, the company was going through a bad patch. It routinely redesigned everything from scratch for each new yacht project, leading to prototype-level inefficiencies and financial strain. A small but telling example is that it used to produce 32 different types of locking pins. Today, through a process of standardisation and modularisation, that number has been reduced to just two sizes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396743/image/large-c20dda6c39f046eea94eaa71057b9e2c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396743">“Previously, when designing a platform for a yacht, four different locking pins might have been specified, requiring multiple suppliers,” explains van der Ploeg. “Now, we buy 200 locking pins per year in two sizes from a single supplier at half the cost.”The process began by redesigning a prototype passerelle from scratch using a fully modular approach, which then became a template for other equipment. While remaining a supplier of custom equipment, modular components are now reused across <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s product range, reducing design complexity and streamlining production.“A key technical insight came from looking outside the yachting industry,” continues van der Ploeg. “For example, swivel joints originally designed for excavators have been incorporated into our gangways. These components are proven, industrial-grade and standardised, which means we can build highly reliable systems without reinventing core mechanisms.”In the ten years since van der Ploeg joined the company, turnover has more than doubled from €12 million to €25 million, driven by increased efficiency along with larger yachts and a rising demand for integrated equipment.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396739/image/large-d48d0f06ceeb5a00cfda9bafe1c96878.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396739">Make it modularThe spin-off from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s modular way of thinking are innovations designed to maximise open space while eliminating visual clutter. Many of these solutions revolve around relocating drive systems into hinge lines and the platform structures themselves. In one recent project, a large side platform was initially conceived as two separate elements with a manually installed infill piece. While technically feasible, it was operationally awkward. Instead, by introducing an internal hinge drive already proven elsewhere, the entire system was re-engineered as a single monolithic platform. The infill was eliminated, deployment became faster, crew workload was reduced, and the geometry became cleaner.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396744/image/large-4feaec6057dc57f70fe27a2f2a88296b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396744">The Sliding Stairs Access Hatch is another example. Developed in response to a request to optimise the passage from the main deck to the beach platform on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship’s</a> 79.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Valor79.5m (260'10&quot;)Feadship2025">Valor</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s engineers merged door, hatch and boarding equipment components to create a completely new solution. Essentially, the staircases on each side of the pool form the hatch itself, with half of each staircase retracting into the deckhead like a gangway to provide access to the beach club.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396742/image/large-bd76338bca2c0e5436acede35e416f93.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396742">“This marked a next step in modular engineering for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>,” says van der Ploeg. “Our approach not only accelerated the development process, but also showed how modularity enables flexible, cross-disciplinary solutions without compromising quality.”As both staircases form part of the watertight boundary of the vessel certified by Class, one of the main challenges was ensuring watertight integrity, given the angle at which the stair hatches are installed, as well as aligning the treads between the hatches and the fixed structures. In fact, sealing has become a central issue as stern structures grow more complex – folding, rotating and closing at compound angles. While inflatable seals are often the go-to solution and offer excellent theoretical performance, they also represent a single point of failure. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> typically prefers D-profile rubber seals, which wear gradually, remain locally manageable, and allow temporary mitigation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396741/image/large-cf52ffb86158af5f4ac7a5922058d9b5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396741">“This approach is especially critical for Lloyd’s-certified watertight items such as split transom doors closing at different angles, where corners and junctions between curved surfaces become critical failure points,” van der Ploeg points out.Such solutions highlight how <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> has evolved beyond developing hardware to innovating the onboard experience, a strategy that has resulted in multiple patented solutions, from pop-up gangways embedded in the stern platform to protective cabrio covers engineered to fold, stack or nest completely out of sight when not in use. At the last edition of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade (Company)">Metstrade</a>, the company presented five interactive aft deck models through immersive 3D visualisations showcasing how engineering, design and user experience increasingly converge in the early phases of yacht development.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396745/image/large-b406b1bef2a73b0811b05344a273be7e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396745">Under controlAnother defining feature of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s approach is that its control systems and programming are all developed in-house. Precise timing between electronic commands, hydraulic oil flow and mechanical motion is critical, as are programmed delays that account for inertia and mass. Most systems employ frequency-driven power packs rather than simple on/off hydraulics, resulting in smoother movement, lower noise levels and the elimination of hydraulic ‘hammer’ effects. Automated operating cycles manage sequencing, speed and end-of-stroke deceleration automatically, reducing the risk of impact damage and operator error. Before delivery, full functional testing is carried out in-house, often with owner representatives present.Enclosed helicopter lifts represent some of the most complex control systems <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> has delivered. On yachts such as the 85.95-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/234" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ecstasea85.95m (281'12&quot;)Feadship2004">Ecstasea</a>, the 96.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sophia96.6m (316'11&quot;)Feadship2017">Sophia</a> (ex-Faith), 99-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2074" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Madame Gu99.0m (324'10&quot;)Feadship2013">Madame Gu</a> and the 102.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10678" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulysses102.6m (336'7&quot;)Feadship2024">Ulysses</a>, these lift assemblies rely on synchronised spindles and highly precise control algorithms to ensure uniform vertical motion. Ironically, real-world usage of helicopter lifts has revealed an interesting pattern:&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396746/image/large-793a08021cda2fc7bab19c3cd8f1a821.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396746">“On some yachts, the heli hangars are no longer actively used and instead function as static storage platforms,” reveals van der Ploeg. “In such cases, owners may even suspend servicing altogether – an illustration of how operational reality can diverge from original design intent.”Developments in control systems are being matched by advances in data intelligence. During the COVID period, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> expanded its remote-support capabilities and identified a recurring issue: when faults occur, crews often cannot describe what happened beyond “pressing the button”. To address this, its latest systems incorporate data logging that records each operating cycle, sequence order, timing, load condition and fault event with precise timestamps.“When an issue arises, engineers can trace it back to the exact operating condition that caused it,” explains van der Ploeg. “While still being rolled out primarily on new-build projects, data logging represents a shift towards evidence-based rather than purely scheduled maintenance.”Across <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s predominantly hydraulic product range, failures rarely originate in the actuators themselves. Instead, the most vulnerable areas are where forces converge – locations where multiple loads are transferred into a single structural interface. Passerelles are a prime example:“Forces are transmitted through long, slender structures back to a limited number of mounting points,” explains van der Ploeg. “When additional functionality is introduced, such as lateral slewing rather than straight-line deployment, those forces increase substantially.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396750/image/large-74a75f9786460908e4bf98d749448420.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396750">Bonding and bolt-inSome <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> passerelles now extend up to 16-metres in length, pushing the limits of lightweight structural engineering while maintaining stiffness, safety margins and regulatory compliance. Designing these interfaces requires careful attention to geometry, material thickness and fatigue behaviour.Marine-grade aluminium remains the primary structural material, selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Steel is used selectively in high-load interfaces where stiffness and wear resistance are critical. Carbon fibre has also been deployed strategically, particularly in the outermost sections of passerelles. Reducing mass at the extremity lowers bending moments throughout the structure, enabling greater reach without adding reinforcements.&nbsp;A more recent addition to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a>’s fabrication methodology is the introduction of structural adhesive bonding. In lightweight aluminium constructions, particularly passerelles, welding thin sections sometimes caused unacceptable deformation due to heat input. To address this, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> now uses a hybrid method: components are positioned with bolts to prevent movement, while the structural adhesive provides the primary load-bearing bond. In this configuration, the bolts act purely as locators and the adhesive carries the load.Another key evolution is the move towards bolt-in housings for boarding equipment such as passerelles and swim ladders. Historically, these housings were built directly into the hull, placing installation and testing squarely on the shipyard’s critical path. This new approach uses self-contained housings that are assembled and factory-tested in-house, accepted by owners or representatives, and installed later as plug-and-play units.“Once delivered, the housing is bolted into place, hydraulics and electrics are connected, and functionality is assured – eliminating the risk of delays, rework and repainting,” says van der Ploeg.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396752/image/large-1ea3884318d73cd6441f8d9cf8801f9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396752">Breaking outSolely owned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4951" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw (Company)">Koninklijke De Vries,</a> until recently <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> worked exclusively within <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>. It is now pursuing a more open strategy, with roughly 60% of turnover derived from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> new-build projects, 25% from service and refit work on existing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadships</a>, and the rest from other shipyards – a share that continues to grow as the company expands its marketing network.An early major non-<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> contract was with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4644" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="AKYACHT (Company)">AKYACHT</a> in Turkey for its 120-metre-plus project (NB012) due for delivery in 2030. Another is the new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> Custom 80 currently under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a> in Ancona. The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA</a> client, an experienced <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> charterer, specified <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> to supply the boarding systems with which he directly interacts – in total, five independent mechanical systems with fully integrated control logic.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396754/image/large-0eae94a6e941a08764d18f82632bee1f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396754">Across all these developments, a clear evolution emerges. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akerboom Yacht Equipment (Company)">Akerboom</a> has progressed from boatbuilder to specialist supplier, system integrator and, ultimately, lifestyle collaborator. Each project begins by asking what experience the owner, designer or shipyard wants to achieve. From there, complexity is carefully analysed and engineered so that systems are notable precisely for their absence – seeming to disappear once installed, leaving spaces that feel more open, intuitive and fully resolved.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396753/image/large-24074ca4b4f597fe6f6d7ba61d16b96a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396753">

Standardising the bespoke: The engineering behind custom superyacht equipment

Akerboom Yacht Equipment explains how modular engineering is reshaping its custom superyacht boarding systems, platforms, cranes and control systems.

Project YB256 is a 45-metre steel and aluminium motor yacht under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort Shipyard</a> in the Netherlands. The first collaboration between the family-run yard and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design Naval Architects</a>, the yacht’s retro styling masks a modern and highly capable cruiser engineered for long-distance voyaging.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396216/image/large-6096248c4df8137326bee068ed36838f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396216">The impossibly picturesque village of Monnickendam on the western shore of the Markermeer, a vast freshwater reservoir not far from Amsterdam, has been home to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort Shipyard</a> for more than a century. Wedged into a narrow strip of dockland between the old town centre and the water’s edge, space is as precious as the custom yachts it builds, but over the years the management has perfected a choreography of space and timing to ensure multiple projects can progress without tripping over one another.“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> is just a few kilometres down the road and we’ve often wanted to work with them, but the stars never aligned,” affirms Klaas Hakvoort, fourth generation director of the shipyard with his brother Albert Jr. “In this case, the client wanted Dutch pedigree, was happy with our pricing, and the complexity of the project was a perfect match for a custom builder like us.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396206/image/large-71da8891dd01ddb5eed6ecc0455c82e1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396206">Project YB256 was inspired by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6037" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue II55.99m (183'8&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2020">Blue II</a>, the 56-metre expedition vessel with classic lines by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> launched by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Turquoise Yachts (Company)">Turquoise Yachts</a> in 2020. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> partners Andre Hoek and Ruurt Meulemans translated the client’s admiration for the retro-influenced yacht into a more compact platform that would echo the same timeless elegance free of nostalgic mimicry, while embracing modern technology and efficiency. The owner’s exacting brief included full wheelchair accessibility, an elevator connecting all deck levels, and transatlantic capability.“The hull and superstructure were conceived to balance classic proportions with today’s efficient hydrodynamics,” says Ruurt Meulemans. “Computational fluid dynamics [CFD] analysis informed every curve, refining the bow shape and optimising volume distribution to reduce resistance as much as possible and improve wake flow to the twin propellers. The objective was a smooth, efficient ride across a transatlantic cruising envelope of close to 4,000 nautical miles – no small achievement for a vessel under 400 gross tons.“<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396218/image/large-f219694742e3fedf1f00ff2c0b5c4003.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396218">Meeting these requirements called for some clever engineering based on robust, proven solutions. Finite element analysis (FEA) guided the placement of bulkheads, stringers, and the keel to ensure structural integrity under long passages without compromising interior volume. The challenge was compounded by hybrid-assisted propulsion comprising twin 1,000-hp MAN diesel engines paired with electric motors and supported by a lithium-ion battery bank.The system integrated by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eekels Technology BV (Company)">Eekels Technology</a> allows for flexible operational modes. Electric mode provides a few hours of silent propulsion at low speed, ideal for manoeuvring in harbours or environmentally sensitive zones. In diesel mode the electric motors can function as shaft generators to reduce fuel burn on extended passages. The electric motors also add redundancy for additional peace of mind far from home. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort</a> had direct experience of the latter: during sea trials of 61-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8621" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Asia61.0m (200'2&quot;)Royal Hakvoort Shipyard2024">Asia</a>, an electrical fault caused an engine shutdown, but the gearbox-mounted e-motors allowed the crew to manoeuvre safely away from an offshore wind farm.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396210/image/large-bfbd4613c1cb6d84c9fb37fa9b5d37a0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396210">The battle for spaceA signature feature of the yacht is the continuous ribbon of wraparound glazing on the main and bridge decks – 17 tonnes of it. The bulwarks are also glass and the hull windows incorporate a dot-fade pattern that blends with the white hull from a distance. Combined with the classic sheer line and bronze-metallic funnel, the green-tinted glass adds a touch of understated elegance that hints at an era that never quite existed – but should have. The wheelhouse windows are not full-height, but the aluminium surfaces beneath will be clad with glass and the same green reflective finish to create the visual effect of uninterrupted glass.&nbsp;Extensive glazing has a downside, however: heat. Solar load becomes a critical issue, especially for a yacht destined for hot climates. One option is to increase HVAC capacity, but a smarter one is to engineer better insulation. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Hakvoort</a> chose the latter. A two-year development programme with glass specialist Royal-Maritiem sought the ideal balance of solar control, privacy, clarity, structural strength, and colour uniformity. Each double-glazed laminated pane is filled with argon gas and coated with a low-emissivity metal film tuned to deliver the desired green tint. The result is a 50 precent reduction in heat transfer compared to conventional marine glass.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396219/image/large-043a6cfbb4c2ee18f77e9eca62c4d295.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396219">But heat is not the only issue. Full-height windows also eliminate the storage units and hidden cavities normally used to route ducting, wiring, and AC trunking, pushing the technical infrastructure inward. As a result, space became the defining constraint and the build team had to fight for every cubic centimetre. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/33" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hoek Design Naval Architects B.V. (Company)">Hoek Design</a> has deep experience of designing sailboats where space is always at a premium, but it was up to the shipyard to find ways to integrate complex systems into tight envelopes.“Nothing fitted, so we had to make it fit,” says Klaas, which could be the unofficial motto of the project. “By the time everything is installed, the engine room will be very full, but accessible and maintainable. Not cluttered – engineered.”The electrical switchboards span the full height of the engine from port to starboard across, an unavoidable result of the hybrid system. The engine room itself relies on seawater-fed heat exchangers because there wasn’t room for conventional air-cooling systems. The pool doubles as a tender bay with a dump tank and its own dedicated crane compartment that closes flush with the teak deck. Under the sunbed on the foredeck is a two-storey garage for the crew tender and a pair of PWCs. Add the elevator, wider side decks and interior passages sized for wheelchair access, and every available every void had to serve a purpose.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396209/image/large-486995c89e482f3860ee5f1204771fb6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396209">Hidden in plain sightThe metallic bronze faux funnel is more than a charming styling cue; it also highlights the kind of engineering concealment that defines the whole project. Since the yacht has underwater exhausts, there was no need for a traditional dry stack – nor was there space to route ducting up to one. Instead, the funnel became the home of the fresh-air unit that draws in and purifies outside air for the HVAC system. Fitting it inside that tight volume meant some early design assumptions had to be reworked.&nbsp;Routing the air quietly around the yacht from high up in the vessel posed further challenges. The onboard noise targets are uncompromising and the owner’s suite is engineered for a harbour maximum of 44 decibels, although <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Hakvoort</a> typically achieves lower. Underway, the expected levels sit in the low 50s – quiet enough that the only audible sound should be the soft splash of water along the hull. Modern superyachts achieve such low mechanical noise levels that airflow has become the primary acoustic concern, not the engines or generators.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396212/image/large-a2aeb88e2ca030f7dc36a4bed74abb21.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396212">“You won’t hear machinery these days – you’ll hear air moving through the ducting,” confirms Klaas. “That’s why we focus obsessively on silencing ducts, bends and terminations.”Consider the HVAC ducting for the crew quarters. To reach the lower deck forward, it has to pass under the bed in the owner’s stateroom, negotiating several dog-leg bends in the process. Air accelerates noisily through tight turns due to mass conservation and pressure shifts, so the yard routinely uses flexible elbow sections with larger diameters and internal damping to reduce turbulence and suppress sound. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396214/image/large-892daf254a9606fb0d0d5fed5e58dda4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396214">Elegance with an edgeThe aluminium superstructure was built at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5231" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alu-bouw Fryslân BV (Company)">Alubouw Fryslan</a> in Franeker and joined to the steel hull at Buijs Shipyard – the hull builder – before being towed to Monnickendam, but <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort</a> has its own joinery division and stainless-steel department that produce most of the fixed furniture and deck hardware in-house. Klaas points out the custom-engineered hinges used for the exterior doors as an example of the shipyard’s hands-on approach. During development, these hinges were tested in the most practical way imaginable: by suspending 40 kg weights to a toilet door heavily used by shop-floor workers. Any weaknesses that surfaced were corrected before installation.&nbsp;Another example is the aluminium hull platform that folds out from the topsides amidships and connects to the main deck by way of a boarding ladder for tender access. The platform being assembled in the metalworking department uses a hydraulic rotary or slew drive – more compact than conventional rams and able to generate high torque in tight spaces, it is a solution that has been refined by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort</a> over years of building canoe-stern vessels.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396211/image/large-9d9af2d4a7ba3a495473f7ac81ad923c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396211">Although capable of crossing the Atlantic, YB256 will primarily be used for short, comfortable runs with the frequent returns to port and high hospitality demands typical of most operational profiles. Every aspect of the interior has been conceived with wheelchair accessibility in mind, including a transformer-style platform in the stern. Guest and crew flows remain fully separated, which is not always the case on yachts of this size. The lower deck houses two full-beam VIP suites arranged around the main lobby and elevator; a third space will be used as an office/gym with a built-in recess for a running machine. The bridge deck is reserved for the owner’s sky lounge, while the captain’s cabin has been relocated to the lower deck. Crew areas have been configured to maximise discretion and operational efficiency with service and storage areas scaled to support day-use cruising.After touring the shipyard and the yacht, the lasting impression is that YB256 is not just a modern yacht in retro clothing. It is a study in constraint-driven design and smart engineering by a shipyard for whom “custom” is a vocation, not a marketing term. Its timeless elegance is more than skin deep, the result of many difficult decisions made in the belief that contemporary and classic can comfortably coexist – both in appearance and in engineering.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396220/image/large-95656d748cc09cc4e461acdaecb835d0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396220">

Inside the build of a 45m Royal Hakvoort superyacht

Inside Royal Hakvoort's Project YB256, in collaboration with Hoek Design.

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>&nbsp;is both a leader in the field of waterjet technology and a point of reference for serial production tenders. Active across the military, commercial, and superyacht sectors, the Italian brand is now applying its propulsion and manufacturing know-how to the specialist market for limousine tenders.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396631/image/large-062ebf001bce4c2cc3c7a9d7b4ad2e91.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396631">The small town of Albairate in landlocked Lombardy might seem a strange place for a boatbuilder to set up shop, but it is closely linked to the brand’s origins in one of Italy’s richest agricultural regions. Luigi Castoldi was a pioneering engineer in the agricultural machinery sector through his company BCS, which is still extant today. He began exploring waterjet propulsion – still a novelty in the early 1960s – because boats were damaging their propellers on the shallow bottom of the nearby River Ticino.&nbsp;After importing a waterjet drive, he set about re-engineering it to create a more durable and effective design. His first mass-produced <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> waterjet, model Jet 05, made its debut at the 1969 Genoa Boat Show. Since then, over 40,000 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> waterjets have been delivered around the world, from the compact 224 unit up to the mighty 600 HCT drive that can support installed power of up to 2,700 horsepower.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396632/image/large-4d83f3db58d65cf02a38baa8d387c061.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396632">Today, the company is still family-owned under the directorship of Giacomo Castoldi, Luigi’s grandson, who with his father Franco spearheaded the company’s diversification into the tender market with its own range of diesel-powered jet tenders. The first model, the JT 18 Pro in 1998, served as the blueprint for the current range, from the entry-level Jet Tender 14 up to the 10.5-metre Jet Tender 34. The latter also provides the technical platform for the Jet Tender 34 Limo, the company’s first venture into the limousine market.Why waterjetsWaterjet propulsion for superyacht tenders offers several advantages over traditional propeller-based systems. These include enhanced manoeuvrability, higher efficiency and durability, lower noise and vibration, and the reversing bucket can ‘crash stop’ a boat in less than twice its own length. But arguably the most critical feature – as Luigi Castoldi was quick to realise – is shallow draft.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396635/image/large-accb3204fb1c42a0f2bfa16fdfac9f5c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396635">“Jet tenders can drive right up to a beach, and most of our models are equipped with bow ramps as standard,” says Giacomo Castoldi. “Combined with a folding console, low draft also means they occupy less vertical space inside the tender garage, while the lack of exposed propeller blades reduces the potential for injury to swimmers, divers, or marine life.”Over the years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> has finessed its waterjet technology. Unlike other systems requiring external gearboxes, all <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> waterjets except the entry-level Turbodrive 224 DD have integrated gearboxes. This results in a more compact overall footprint, which means more space for passengers and luggage storage, and simplifies the installation process while reducing the potential for errors or rework. They are also equipped with a patented anti-clogging system that enhances the waterjet’s reliability in challenging conditions. The Clear-Duct unclogging system works by reversing the direction of the impeller and simultaneously opening the protective intake grid to flush out any debris that may have accumulated.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396660/image/large-44d8926e35b1304d60e5cdbcb14c3137.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396660"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s latest waterjet drives that carry the HCT acronym have been redesigned to offer a 12% increase in performance compared to previous iterations. Advancements in impeller design, a pre-stator vane system, and an updated post-impeller stator work together to improve the flow of water through the system, reduce cavitation, and ultimately deliver more thrust combined with lower fuel consumption.&nbsp;“These enhancements are largely thanks to investment in CFD analysis,” says Giacomo, “Combining fluid dynamics with our own practical engineering know-how has generated a lot of new ideas."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396615/image/large-28e2be0f5dedca48b4f2f92405172d02.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396615">Total control<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> also produces its own control systems, from simple mechanical options to the sophisticated ACES system developed in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Xenta (Company)">Xenta</a>. Powered by a 32-bit embedded processor and utilising a proprietary CAN bus network protocol, the ACES system delivers precision control of engine RPM, waterjet steering nozzles and reversing buckets when transitioning between docking and cruising modes. Additional functions include dynamic positioning and smart anchoring, which simulates mechanical anchoring by swinging around a virtual GPS point. Adaptive steering logic can even provide ‘propeller mode,’ which recognises when the vessel is in reverse to simulate conventional propeller behaviour – a useful feature for operators transitioning to waterjets.To maintain quality control, most of the waterjet components are machined in-house, an exception being the Duplex stainless-steel impellers that rely on precision investment casting technology. With regard to tender production, the whole process – from the 3D design, hull lamination and tube fabrication to the hydraulic and electrical systems – is carried out internally before final testing in its own water basin in front of the factory.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396658/image/large-b3c15147d7d49ce31a9b749e8a305ff2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396658">When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> began production of jet tenders in the mid-90s, it decided from the start to take a platform-based approach with fixed hull forms designed around its own propulsion system. By standardising the production process, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> ensures consistent quality while reducing unit costs through repeated tooling and manufacturing processes. Additionally, serial production provides opportunities for continuous optimisation, further enhancing the performance and quality of each new upgraded model. As the range evolved, customised interior materials, finishes and layouts have become the norm to meet the specific needs of individual clients without having to build costly and time-consuming one-offs.&nbsp;The company has applied exactly the same production philosophy to its new Jet Tender 34 Limo designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/153" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nauta Yachts S.r.l. (Company)">Nauta Design</a>. Conceived initially for a fleet of luxury cruise ships currently under construction, each ship will carry four <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> Jet Tender 34 Limo tenders to deliver a sophisticated ship-to-shore guest experience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396657/image/large-a20e0e70cb5a086260c495f6e811d4a1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396657">Limo luxury&nbsp;Historically, the limousine tender segment has been defined by high levels of customisation, where each unit is tailored specifically to the design and needs of a particular superyacht. While this approach allows for alignment with the mothership’s aesthetic, it often results in longer lead times, higher costs, and compromises in terms of performance and systems integration. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396633/image/large-bb3ca9a1c828124e6a74dc5b67525448.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396633"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s entry into this market introduces a shift toward standardised, platform-based design, which allows for quicker production times and greater system optimisation, while still providing owners with a high degree of personalisation, particularly in the interior architecture. Two primary interior layouts are offered: one with all-seated configurations for maximum comfort, and another combining seating with a pantry and bathroom for longer transfers. Material finishes can also be tailored to suit individual preferences."This project represents a new chapter for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> that expands our offerings to new markets, while maintaining the commitment to innovation, quality, and luxury we are known for,” says Giacomo. “The opportunity arose to enter the limousine tender market with a semi-serial product that embodies our construction philosophy of creating optimised vessels rather than one-offs.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396625/image/large-24bbf67840c4bba049f3423e568ddbaa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396625">“In practical terms, we estimate that our serial-produced limousine tenders are priced at least 35% lower than equivalent full-custom examples,” adds <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s commercial director Luca Taccani, “without sacrificing the luxurious finish or technical sophistication that clients expect.”In addition to the four limo tenders, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> is also supplying the cruise ships with two customised Jet Tender 28 SV units. The ‘SV’ stands for ‘Support Vessel,’ and the model is specifically designed to work in tandem with the limousine tenders, with an enhanced bow sun-pad, extensive storage, pantry, and premium features like a T-top.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396622/image/large-6c33afd5ceeb462bb96cd2592a9fa250.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396622">The flywheel effect&nbsp;As <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> has expanded its offerings and capabilities, its workforce has grown accordingly and is now nearing 100 direct employees. In terms of business performance, the company has seen consistent growth, especially over the past two years since Luca Taccani joined the company. Annual turnover is currently distributed fairly equally across the waterjet and tender markets (50% and 40% respectively) with the remainder from spare parts and commissioning activities.&nbsp;Although <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> builds its tenders in series, each sale is essentially a one-off transaction with an end client. Its propulsion products, on the other hand, can generate recurring clients that expect reliable and ongoing service. Naval procurement involving multiple waterjet units is an expanding sector for the company, for example. To meet this demand, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a> has made a deliberate effort to ensure the availability of components, stocking spare parts for older models well beyond customary timelines – often for more than ten years.“We’ve focused strongly on spare parts and after-sales support with dedicated back-office staff for service management,” says Luca Taccani. “This long-term outlook not only boosts customer loyalty but has also proven financially advantageous. As raw material costs have risen sharply, having a ready stock of components means we’ve been able to avoid significant cost increases.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Castoldi S.p.A. (Company)">Castoldi</a>’s trajectory over the past few years reflects a competitive company that is expanding its product range while also refining its operational efficiency and service capabilities. By focusing on technical innovation and long-term service, it has effectively created a “flywheel” effect, whereby small but consistent wins build momentum over time in a self-sustaining cycle of growth. Moreover, the brand’s entry into the limo tender market aims to demonstrate how serial production methodologies, when combined with proprietary propulsion and rigorous quality control, can challenge the prevailing bespoke approach.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396659/image/large-9f4ecad812d4f5c94c3664909275b1d8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396659">

The landlocked yard building limousine tenders

Castoldi is entering the limousine tender market with the Jet Tender 34 Limo, combining waterjet technology with a serial-production approach.

The 24.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balance24.64m (80'10&quot;)Sanlorenzo2018">Balance</a> has been sold with Sebastian Jerolimov of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a> representing the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/179103/image/large-e2a336ea19d02a243cb5ee9baef2bb23.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/179103">Delivered in 2018 by Italian shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balance24.64m (80'10&quot;)Sanlorenzo2018">Balance</a> forms part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> SL78 series. She was designed inside and outside by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/366" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Officina Italiana Design (Mauro Micheli) (Company)">Officina Italiana Design (Mauro Micheli)</a>, while her naval architecture was crafted in-house by her builder.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balance24.64m (80'10&quot;)Sanlorenzo2018">Balance</a> is equipped with electric zero-speed stabilisers for comfort both underway and at anchor, as well as an additional <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6231" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kohler Engines (Company)">Kohler</a> generator. Her exterior decks provide multiple lounging and dining areas, creating a seamless connection with her interior spaces.Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, she has a beam of 5.74-metres and a draft of 1.84-metres. Spanning 70 GT, Balance accommodates up to eight guests across a four-stateroom configuration. Dedicated quarters are provided for up to three crew members, including her captain.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balance24.64m (80'10&quot;)Sanlorenzo2018">Balance</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, delivering a cruising speed of 23 knots and a top speed of 30 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balance24.64m (80'10&quot;)Sanlorenzo2018">Balance</a> had a last known asking price of €2,890,000. Image courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>.

25m Sanlorenzo motor yacht Balance sold

The 24.6-metre Sanlorenzo motor yacht Balance has been sold with a last known asking price of €2,890,000.

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3014" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rick Obey Yacht Sales (Company)">Rick Obey Yacht Sales</a> has announced the appointment of Bob Anslow to its Sales Team as Yacht Broker, bringing more than 30 years of industry experience to the company.Based in Florida, Anslow will serve clients both locally and internationally, drawing on an extensive background in yacht brokerage, consulting and project management.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400858/image/large-bac603089bcef7edabc854089b5bfcca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400858">His passion for boating began near Clearwater Beach, where early experiences on the water and building a pram with his father ignited an interest in yachting. Over the years, he has owned and operated a wide variety of sailing and motor yachts, building practical expertise that has underpinned his brokerage career.Throughout more than three decades in the industry, Anslow has worked with clients in over 40 countries. This has developed a reputation for providing tailored guidance throughout the yacht acquisition and ownership process. His experience also includes overseeing major refit projects, including the four-year restoration of a 65-metre triple-masted schooner involving extensive mechanical, electrical and cosmetic works."Bob's superyacht experience directly aligns with our strategic focus and will greatly benefit the team," concluded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3014" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rick Obey Yacht Sales (Company)">Rick Obey Yacht Sales</a> Founder Rick Obey. "We are excited to welcome him. His experience and client-first approach fit perfectly with our values and will be a great asset to our brokerage."

Bob Anslow Rick Obey Yachts Sales Broker

Rick Obey Yacht Sales has announced the appointment of Bob Anslow to its Sales Team.

Rick Obey Yacht Sales appoints Bob Anslow as Yacht Broker

The 40.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti Yachts (Company)">Benetti</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tosun40.8m (133'10&quot;)Benetti Yachts2022">Tosun</a> has been sold. Nikolas Daoutis of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Atalanta Marine (Company)">Atalanta Marine</a> represented the buyer, while Thibault Roi and Peter Brown of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a> represented the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/325909/image/large-c9f2d6c557cc9c5b2a2fbd725189d8e3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/325909">Delivered in 2022 by Italian shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tosun40.8m (133'10&quot;)Benetti Yachts2022">Tosun</a> is a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti Yachts (Company)">Benetti</a> Oasis featuring exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, while her interior design was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5263" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bonetti / Kozerski architecture DPC (Company)">Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture DPC</a>. Her naval architecture was crafted in-house by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti Yachts (Company)">Benetti</a>.Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, she has a beam of 8.5-metres and an interior volume of 386 GT. Accommodation onboard is arranged for up to 10 guests across five well-appointed staterooms. Dedicated quarters are available for a crew of nine, including her captain.In terms of propulsion, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tosun40.8m (133'10&quot;)Benetti Yachts2022">Tosun</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> engines, delivering a cruising speed of 12 knots and a maximum speed of 16 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10446" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tosun40.8m (133'10&quot;)Benetti Yachts2022">Tosun</a> had a last known asking price of €20,900,000. Image courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a>.

41m Benetti Oasis motor yacht Tosun sold

The 41-metre Benetti Oasis 40M motor yacht Tosun has been sold, involving Burgess and Atalanta Marine.

The 60-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1193" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caipirinha60.0m (196'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2009">Caipirinha</a> is now sold. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Person/392" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alex Banning, United Kingdom (Person)">Alex Banning</a> of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>, alongside Alex Busher and Cornelius Gerling of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a> represented the seller. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391218/image/large-ad1c49ce47e9ae5af2a9e2717400ac4b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391218">Delivered in 2009 by the German shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1193" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caipirinha60.0m (196'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2009">Caipirinha</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino International</a>, with interiors penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2091" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mark Berryman Design Ltd (Company)">Mark Berryman Design</a>. Her naval architecture was crafted in-house by her builder. The yacht most recently underwent an extensive refit in 2025.&nbsp;On deck, highlights include a generous aft dedicated to dining, lounging and sunbathing, alongside a sundeck Jacuzzi, sunpads and shaded social spaces. Inside, guests are welcomed in a spacious main saloon featuring large windows, sculptural furnishings and curated pieces.&nbsp;With an interior volume of 1,182 GT, accommodation onboard is arranged for up to 12 guests across six well-appointed staterooms, including a full-beam owner’s suite, a VIP suite and four guest staterooms. Separate quarters sleep up to 14 crew members, catering to private and charter operations.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1193" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caipirinha60.0m (196'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2009">Caipirinha</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, delivering a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 15.5 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1193" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caipirinha60.0m (196'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2009">Caipirinha</a> had a last known asking price of €39,900,000. Image courtesy of &nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYachtsMonaco (Company)">SuperYachtsMonaco</a>.

60m Lürssen superyacht Caipirinha sold

The 60-metre Lürssen superyacht Caipirinha has been sold, with SuperYachtsMonaco and Edmiston. 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4585" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Idea Yachting (Company)">Idea Yachting</a> has announced the sale of a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16782" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mangusta 104/1131.8m (104'4&quot;)Mangusta Yachts2027">new-build 31.8-metre Mangusta 104 REV</a>, with Marco Fiorani representing the buyer. She is the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16782" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mangusta 104/1131.8m (104'4&quot;)Mangusta Yachts2027">eleventh hull</a> in the series and is currently under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/473" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mangusta Yachts (Company)">Overmarine</a>'s shipyard in Viareggio. Delivery is scheduled for spring 2027.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400854/image/large-b120343d877e8c8104d8e7066d457f6d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400854">The 31.8-metre Mangusta 104 REV was developed through a collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/473" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mangusta Yachts (Company)">Overmarine Group</a>'s Engineering Department and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lobanov Design (Company)">Lobanov Design</a>. She features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lobanov Design (Company)">Lobanov Design</a>, while her naval architecture was developed in-house by her builder.Outside, she presents a sporty profile characterised by sleek lines and expansive glazing, strengthening the connection between the yacht's interior and exterior spaces.Designed as part of the Mangusta Maxi Open range, the yacht offers generous outdoor living areas alongside refined interiors defined by expansive glass surfaces seamlessly integrated into her architecture to enhance onboard comfort as well as aesthetics.According to the shipyard, the model combines the brand's design language with a contemporary approach to onboard living.Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, she has a beam of 7.06-metres and a shallow draft of 1.6-metres, allowing access to shallow reefs and remote anchorages. At an interior volume of 165 GT, accommodation onboard is arranged for up to 10 guests across four staterooms. Dedicated quarters sleep up to four crew members, including her captain.In terms of performance, she is powered by twin MTU engines, propelling her to a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 25 knots.&nbsp;

Eleventh new-build 32m Mangusta 104 REV sold

The eleventh new-build 32-metre Mangusta 104 REV has been sold, with Idea Yachting's Marco Fiorani representing the buyer.

 Eleventh new-build 32m Mangusta 104 REV sold

The 26.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN) (Company)">Cerri</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mr. K26.3m (86'3&quot;)Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN)2007">Mr. K</a> has been sold in an in-house deal, with Marco Fiorani of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4585" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Idea Yachting (Company)">Idea Yachting</a> representing both the buyer and seller. The transaction was concluded in Sardinia.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/387903/image/large-f0703e4e3913a7b93cf3bc71364e03e0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/387903">Delivered in 2007 by Italian shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN) (Company)">Cerri (CCN)</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mr. K26.3m (86'3&quot;)Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN)2007">Mr. K</a> is a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN) (Company)">Cerri</a> 86' FlyingSport model and was previously known as Dea. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1869" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN) (Company)">Cerri (CCN)</a> crafted the yacht entirely in-house, having developed her exterior design, naval architecture and interior design.&nbsp;Constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mr. K26.3m (86'3&quot;)Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN)2007">Mr. K</a> has a beam of 6.35-metres and a shallow draft of 1.3-metres, allowing her to cruise on shallow waters and access secluded reefs and bays.At an interior volume of 78 GT, accommodation onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mr. K26.3m (86'3&quot;)Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN)2007">Mr. K</a> is arranged for up to eight guests across four staterooms. Separate quarters sleep up to a crew of three, including her captain.In terms of propulsion, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mr. K26.3m (86'3&quot;)Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN)2007">Mr. K</a> is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, providing her a cruising speed of 31 knots and a top speed of 40 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mr. K26.3m (86'3&quot;)Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN)2007">Mr. K</a> had a last known asking price of €1,550,000.Image courtesy of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4585" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Idea Yachting (Company)">Idea Yachting</a>.

26m Cerri motor yacht Mr. K sold

26m Cerri motor yacht Mr. K has been sold with a last known asking price of €1,550,000.

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6468" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Next Yacht Group (Company)">Next Yacht Group</a> has announced the acquisition of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SIMAN Srl (Company)">SIMAN</a>, a specialist in metal fabrication and mechanical engineering for the yachting industry. The transaction was carried out by Continental Investment Srl, a company under the same ownership as the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6468" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Next Yacht Group (Company)">Group</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/400853/image/large-f2547e3819fbc69998c1cb50fe5c25dc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/400853">Founded in 1988, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SIMAN Srl (Company)">SIMAN</a> specialises in mechanical engineering, propulsion systems, and refit and maintenance services for yachts up to 60-metres in length. The company also operates in the commercial maritime and defence sectors, with an existing portfolio of contracts that includes projects for the Italian Navy.The acquisition forms part of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6468" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Next Yacht Group (Company)">Next Yacht Group</a>’s vertical integration plan and is intended to strengthen its capabilities in the construction of metal yachts across its <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/536" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Maiora (Company)">Maiora</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="AB Yachts (Company)">AB Yachts</a> brands.The transaction is accompanied by a €20 million industrial development programme, of which €11 million has already been invested. The programme will focus on upgrading production facilities, consolidating <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SIMAN Srl (Company)">SIMAN</a>’s order book and bringing the company to full profitability by 2027.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6468" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Next Yacht Group (Company)">Next Yacht Group</a> plans to expand its production capacity through <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SIMAN Srl (Company)">SIMAN</a>’s facilities in La Spezia and Pisa and establish a new division dedicated to the construction of metal yachts. According to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6468" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Next Yacht Group (Company)">Group</a>, the integration will provide greater direct oversight of its Italian production chain.New metal yacht projects are already under development for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/536" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Maiora (Company)">Maiora</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="AB Yachts (Company)">AB Yachts</a>, while the first 50-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/536" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Maiora (Company)">Maiora</a> is currently under construction. The first new models are scheduled to be unveiled by the end of 2026.“The acquisition of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SIMAN Srl (Company)">SIMAN</a> represents a natural evolution of our industrial growth strategy,” said Mario Petroni, chairman of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6468" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Next Yacht Group (Company)">Next Yacht Group</a>. “This transaction expands our manufacturing capabilities in the strategically important metal yacht segment while strengthening a highly specialised Italian industrial supply chain. At the same time, it creates new opportunities for growth, innovation and employment.”

Next Yacht Group acquires metal fabrication specialist SIMAN

Next Yacht Group has announced the acquisition of SIMAN, a specialist in metal fabrication and mechanical engineering for the yachting industry.

The 41.45-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amer Yachts S.p.A. (Company)">Amer</a> 42 Explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Even Further41.45m (135'12&quot;)Amer Yachts S.p.A.2026">Even Further</a> has been delivered, marking the first unit in the shipyard's new custom steel explorer yacht series.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398522/image/large-1acd72b04183e12e915641e259178b77.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398522">First unveiled as the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amer Yachts S.p.A. (Company)">Amer</a> Steel Explorer 41 at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2022">2022 Monaco Yacht Show</a>, the project represents <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amer Yachts S.p.A. (Company)">Amer Yachts</a>' entry into the long-range steel explorer market. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Even Further41.45m (135'12&quot;)Amer Yachts S.p.A.2026">Even Further</a> completed initial open-sea trials, recording a fuel consumption of just 60 litres per hour at 9.5 knots in Eco Mode following her launch.Read more: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/66433" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="First Amer 42 Explorer yacht Even Further launched (2026-06-30 09:45:00 +0200)">First Amer 42 Explorer yacht Even Further launched<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398526/image/large-de46c8c0cea990e0536ba4f8336639fe.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398526"></a>Penned inside and out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/283" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luiz de Basto Designs (Company)">Luiz de Basto</a>, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5771" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Optima Design (Company)">Optima Design</a>, the explorer yacht features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure built to Ice Class standards. She draws Mediterranean-inspired styling and is characterised by a high bow, a touch-and-go helipad, a 17-metre flybridge, and twin 8,000-kilogram cranes integrated into the superstructure for launching and retrieving tenders and water toys.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/340521/image/large-db11ea0b419c3e55bfefde60fad06051.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/340521">According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1364" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amer Yachts S.p.A. (Company)">Amer Yachts</a> CEO Barbara Amerio, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Even Further41.45m (135'12&quot;)Amer Yachts S.p.A.2026">Even Further</a> is the culmination of the shipyard's decades-long focus on improving performance while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. According to her, this strategy was first adopted in the late 1980s, well before sustainability became a major industry focus. She said the approach now provides a competitive advantage for both private owners and charter operators facing rising fuel costs.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/398523/image/large-ea3dd745dc2ddd33a90ca60521f2a84e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/398523">The 440-tonne explorer yacht is capable of a transoceanic range of 8,900 nautical miles in Eco Mode, drawing from her 56,300-litre fuel capacity. Powered by four <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a> D13 engines coupled to twin IPS40 pod drives, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12235" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Even Further41.45m (135'12&quot;)Amer Yachts S.p.A.2026">Even Further</a> has a cruising speed of 14 knots and a top speed of 16.3 knots. In Eco Mode, only two of the four engines are engaged, significantly reducing fuel consumption while maximising efficiency and range during extended passages.

First Amer 42 Explorer yacht Even Further delivered

 Italy-based shipyard Permare has announced the delivery of the 41.45-metre explorer yacht Amer 42 Explorer yacht Even Further.

The 36.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7519" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kokoro36.3m (119'1&quot;)Moonen Yachts2020">Kokoro</a> has been sold, with Ron Silvia of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6818" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales (Company)">Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales</a> introducing the buyer and Matthew Stone and Richard Gray of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a> representing the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371215/image/large-8f89a1ada7590f1c5c8553814e0bb9fa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371215">Delivered in 2020, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7519" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kokoro36.3m (119'1&quot;)Moonen Yachts2020">Kokoro</a> forms part of her builder’s Martinique series and was commissioned as her owner’s personal project. With exterior design created by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/241" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="René van der Velden Yacht Design (Company)">René van der Velden Yacht Design</a> and interiors crafted by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4664" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Indigo (Company)">Studio Indigo</a>, she has remained in private ownership since delivery.&nbsp;At a volume of 337 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7519" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kokoro36.3m (119'1&quot;)Moonen Yachts2020">Kokoro</a> can sleep up to 12 guests across five well-appointed staterooms. Her layout comprises a full-beam master suite and interior spaces suited for relaxation. Moving outside, her guests can dine alfresco or lounge on her sundeck.Regarding her propulsion system, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen</a> yacht is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, providing her with a cruising speed of 10 knots and a top speed of 16.5 knots.At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7519" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kokoro36.3m (119'1&quot;)Moonen Yachts2020">Kokoro</a> had a last known asking price of €20,000,000.Photo courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/244" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IYC (Company)">IYC</a>.

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