Text and refit photos by Maarten JanssenFollowing the recent arrival of the 32.89 metre classic Feadship Santa Maria (ex. Sea Star II; R.M. Eagle; Bystander), back to the Netherlands, SuperYacht Times’ Maarten Janssen visited the project with her owner, who spoke openly about the future plans for his classic superyacht.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151172/image/large-a8f4f487e1dcbf52fc6353d9d69151c9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/149493">Her owner purchased the 1963 yacht around six years ago, in 2008. When bought, she was in great condition for a boat of 47 years of age with plenty of history on the water, a state that came down to a lifetime of caring owners. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151173/image/large-91a59c3a919ed29d911013caebe68968.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151173">She started life as a vessel commissioned for the renowned car mogul Henry Ford II. Although Ford attempted to keep the yacht somewhat shrouded in secrecy, the secret inevitably got out, and the buzz surrounding Santa Maria was insatiable at the time. She was the most expensive Feadship yacht to be built by the shipyard in the early 60s, as well as the first keel to be laid in the new Van Lent construction shed. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151174/image/large-8ba65261511c21e064dc416478c0febd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151174">Her interior was unique at the time, with Ford requesting an ‘old chateau’ feel, and interior designer Jacques Frank was commissioned to produce the weather beaten effect desired. She accommodates 10 guests over four luxurious staterooms and a spacious master suite. She also accommodates up to five crew.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151175/image/large-4051d84cdf0d8730dae7808ecefeb46b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151175">Even though Santa Maria is still a very solid yacht, time came to replace some of her systems, and to perform some repairs. Interestingly, her hull is still in great condition. Tests were carried out to determine the thickness of the steel, and her hull was found to be in excellent condition, a true testament to Feadship's quality of construction.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151176/image/large-da83ba4d4aa3c86a080629fa366b6b70.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151176">The area around her anchor pockets however, needed attention, and some changes and updates in the engine room were long overdue. "We already made some changes to the electrical switchboards a couple of years ago, but time has come to really update all of those systems. As a former US owned yacht, she was built for 110V. We are changing all of that now to 220V".<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151177/image/large-1c35fa37bf8cfee3d1fde05d04f236f0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151177"> <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151178/image/large-8d8e99ce0f35bc9976883a747db51414.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151178">Her interior will also be updated, keeping however those lovely time period details, such as bathroom fittings, and the original tiles in the pantry. During my visit of the yacht, layout changes were still very much on the table, such as the transformation of the captain's cabin on the main deck, into a multi-purpose cabin. The original dining room, located fore on the main deck, might also be turned into an extra cabin, although this would requite a substantial modification of the main deck pantry, adding time, and cost to the refit.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151179/image/large-88863a2118a5cdd32e49a641a5be79b8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151179">Santa Maria's owner takes it all, in a typical Dutch down to earth approach. "You have to draw the line somewhere", he smiles. "If you don't draw the line, there's no telling where it will end".<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151180/image/large-a871ce74ff40a9242e4ec9f6e65478f8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151180">The refit, which is carried out under the supervision of the Feadship Refit team, is estimated to take around eight months in total, with completion in time for the summer 2015 charter season. With the refit taking place in Holland, her owner might take Santa Maria up North for her inaugural Scandinavian summer cruise. After that, Santa Maria intends to stay around the Western Mediterranean, and will be kept in the South of France or Mallorca.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151181/image/large-1a0bacb74c513b26b773a70029a9e0d1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151181">Santa Maria is part of the Feadship Heritage Fleet, an association for the owners of registered Feadships that are more than thirty years old, whose key objectives are to unite the owners of classic Feadship yachts, promote the continuance of the Feadship yachting heritage, and to organise events for members and offer them services related to their yachts.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151182/image/large-a59fc6b528f8d7ad42d456ca66fc941f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151182"> <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/151183/image/large-01a547c02faf4fe4aa509847ccb06fe4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/151183">SuperYacht Times will be following the refit of this classic Feadship, which is managed by Dutch Maritime Partners, closely over the next few months.

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The refit of classic Feadship superyacht Santa Maria

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/895" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lusben Shipyard (Company)">Lusben</a> has completed the refit of the 37-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a> Classic 120 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1886" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kos37.5m (123'0&quot;)Benetti SpA2009">Kos</a>, following a comprehensive programme of works spanning structural modifications, onboard systems, technical upgrades, exterior areas and interiors. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396976/image/large-40153e77114e1432e88b74a33b05ac53.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396976">Built in 2009 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Benetti SpA (Company)">Benetti</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1886" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kos37.5m (123'0&quot;)Benetti SpA2009">Kos</a> forms part of its Classic 37 series, featuring exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/254" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Stefano Righini Design (Company)">Stefano Righini Design</a>, interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/67" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zuretti Interior Design (Company)">Zuretti Interior Design</a> and naval architecture developed in-house by her builder.The refit of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1886" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kos37.5m (123'0&quot;)Benetti SpA2009">Kos</a> commenced in August 2025 shortly after the yacht was acquired by her new owner and was completed in approximately six months through the coordinated efforts of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/895" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lusben Shipyard (Company)">Lusben</a>'s project management team, specialised technicians, skilled craftsmen and interior designer Laura Rossi. According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/895" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lusben Shipyard (Company)">Lusben</a>, the programme was undertaken with the aim of improving operational efficiency, enhancing the onboard experience and extending the yacht's service life.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397008/image/large-c77ef9362600c70fc7acbd85faee16f2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397008">From the outset, the owner and project team sought to preserve the yacht's original layout and distinctive character while improving her functionality, comfort and the perception of space. On the main deck, the refit scope included the installation of new full-height windows in her main saloon alongside the reconfiguration of the staircase area between the main and upper decks.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397007/image/large-91d720dd0c041da15a467ac85b61b3da.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397007">Laura Rossi oversaw the interior redesign, introducing what <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/895" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lusben Shipyard (Company)">Lusben</a> described as "greater fluidity, brightness and visual continuity." A new transparent balustrade around the staircase would allow natural light to flow between decks, while satin-finish glass panels replaced selected opaque surfaces in the corridors. New fabrics and materials were also integrated throughout the guest accommodations to enhance comfort, durability and ease of maintenance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397009/image/large-f3728f4818fd2bd0f7063bd374fc9a4e.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397009">"<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1886" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kos37.5m (123'0&quot;)Benetti SpA2009">Kos</a> does not deny what she has been, nor does she try to become something else," commented Rossi. "The project was conceived to lighten, simplify and enhance the yacht's original identity, creating spaces that are brighter, more fluid and more natural to experience every day."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397006/image/large-04998d04550196299f04c73e269ea5f1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397006">In addition to the living areas, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/895" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lusben Shipyard (Company)">Lusben</a> carried out a myriad of technical upgrades involving the main engines, generators and essential onboard systems. The entire lighting system was replaced with energy-efficient LEDs, while the bridge and onboard electronics were updated to make them easier to use and improve navigation safety. Exterior works included restoring the teak decks, reconfiguring the sundeck after removing the existing Jacuzzi and completely repainting the hull and superstructure.&nbsp;

Lusben completes refit of 37m Benetti yacht Kos

Lusben has completed an extensive refit of the 37m Benetti Classic yacht Kos.

37m Benetti yacht Kos completes extensive refit at Lusben

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> has announced that the 47.1-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/864" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Halcyon47.1m (154'6&quot;)Feadship2001">Halcyon</a> has emerged from one of the most extensive rebuild programmes undertaken in recent years by its Refit &amp; Services division.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396848/image/large-8821793a232d9fd6e300af307993cb86.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396848">Launched in 2001 as Northern Lights, the yacht arrived at the Kaag facility in 2025. Initial works focused on a redesigned stern arrangement, a full repaint and a series of technical upgrades. However, it soon became clear that returning the vessel to proper standards, given her age, would require a far wider scope of intervention.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396849/image/large-fc76ffca2e26a85305672b12c99c6657.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396849">"When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/864" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Halcyon47.1m (154'6&quot;)Feadship2001">Halcyon</a> arrived, we expected a major refit," said Captain Joe Gallegos. "As the project developed, it became clear that we had the opportunity to do much more. With a knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner involved, it all came together."The yacht now features major structural, mechanical, technical and cosmetic improvements, while still retaining her original build heritage.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396846/image/large-3c005ecf41d31b63211896ec2b37e432.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396846">Among her most visible changes is a new staircase linking her main deck to her swim platform, together with a completely renewed exterior finish across both hull and superstructure. A number of exterior elements have also been refreshed, alongside modifications made to her mast as part of her broader works.Moreover, the project extended deep into the yacht’s systems. This amounted to a full technical renewal rather than a standard refit.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396847/image/large-a4569b2d5318908af6126f84b323a9f6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396847"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/864" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Halcyon47.1m (154'6&quot;)Feadship2001">Halcyon's</a> bridge was fully updated with new equipment and related interior adjustments. Throughout the yacht, electrical systems were checked and upgraded, with new alarm, monitoring and power management systems fitted. The HVAC system was completely replaced, including new chillers, air handling units and fan coils.&nbsp;Guest and crew areas were also refreshed, including refurbished staterooms, restored marble surfaces, new blinds and updated interior finishes throughout. On deck, new teak was laid across most exterior areas. Key running gear was serviced and overhauled, including steering, shafts, bow thruster and rudders. Cold storage systems were renewed, diving equipment improved, tanks and technical rooms repainted, and her underwater hull coating fully redone after sandblasting.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396850/image/large-75c81ae7c7f8ec276ac58002cfd81609.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396850">The works carried out in her engine room and technical spaces were also substantial. Main engines and gearboxes were overhauled, two new generators installed, and core onboard systems replaced or upgraded. This included water production, ventilation, tank systems, sewage treatment, heating, freshwater distribution and fuel handling. Piping, wiring and supporting infrastructure were also replaced throughout the vessel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396851/image/large-cf76487ddc9091f4c992dfd8f969de75.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396851">"What started as a refit became something much closer to a modified new build. The result is a classic <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, renewed and ready for years of successful cruising,” Captain Joe concluded.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/864" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Halcyon47.1m (154'6&quot;)Feadship2001">Halcyon</a> is now in the final commissioning phase ahead of her scheduled redelivery to her owner in July.

Feadship yacht Halcyon following refit

47m Feadship superyacht Halcyon emerges from extensive refit

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> has announced that the 29.26-metre yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4911" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Belle de Jour29.26m (95'12&quot;)Flevo Ship Holland2013">Belle de Jour</a> is in the final stages of preparation for the summer season, following an extensive four-month pre-season service programme.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396661/image/large-59b36989f4aa73b87960aaeded560f41.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396661"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4911" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Belle de Jour29.26m (95'12&quot;)Flevo Ship Holland2013">Belle de Jour</a> was built in 2013 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2991" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Flevo Ship Holland (Company)">Flevo Jachtbouw</a> in Nijkerk, east of Amsterdam, and remains the family-run Dutch shipyard's flagship yacht. The builder's roots can be traced to a region with a rich maritime heritage dating back to the 15th century.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396663/image/large-a76a2257572d193c6ee22731af08e161.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396663">Best known today as a refit and ReCraft specialist, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> was responsible for the recent works, collaborating closely with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2991" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Flevo Ship Holland (Company)">Flevo Jachtbouw</a> throughout the programme. According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard's</a>Evan Kortmann, the yard's focus is on ensuring that ‘vessels are primed for their next chapter’.&nbsp;The refit scope encompassed a range of structural, cosmetic and technical upgrades. This included spot hull repairs, rudder works, full antifouling treatment and a fresh pastel blue finish applied below the waterline. Elsewhere, the mast deck was refinished, while routine inspections and maintenance were carried out across the yacht's technical and electrical systems.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396665/image/large-44630482bb229c90ed56421e588a457a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396665">Designed inside and out by the late Dutch designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/45" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pieter Beeldsnijder Design (Company)">Pieter Beeldsnijder</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4911" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Belle de Jour29.26m (95'12&quot;)Flevo Ship Holland2013">Belle de Jour</a> is distinguished by her robust profile, high freeboard and clean, purposeful lines. The yacht offers 140 GT of internal volume, with her layout carefully configured to maximise onboard living space.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396664/image/large-347f2ca78604be0589317fe632ee5d78.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396664">“Every vessel has a story worth preserving,” concluded Evan. "Our primary &nbsp;role as a refit and ReCraft specialist is to ensure vessels are primed for their next chapter, while honouring those that came before. Belle de Jour represents precisely the Dutch &nbsp;excellence we're committed to stewarding."

Belle de Jour yacht Refit Balk Shipyard

Balk Shipyard has announced that the 29.26-metre yacht Belle de Jour is in the final stages of preparation for the summer season.

29m Belle de Jour yacht emerges from Balk Shipyard post-refit

The +80-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7044" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Simek AS (Company)">Simek AS</a> support vessel <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a> (ex-FS Cygnus) has been spotted in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, following an extensive conversion at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5453" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zwijnenburg Shipyard (Company)">Zwijnenburg Shipyard</a> in Krimpen aan den Ijssel. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396515/image/large-da084f97851c09220f0042934a65c899.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396515">The support yacht, converted from an offshore support vessel for the oil and gas industries, is now displaying the name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a> on her stern and side profile. This suggests she is related to the previous 80.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6617" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shipyards (Company)">Damen Shipyards</a> support yacht U-81, which has since been sold and renamed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11888" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wingman80.1m (262'10&quot;)Damen Shipyards2022">Wingman</a>. The previous U-81 also spent considerable time in the care of Zwijnenburg Shipyard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396508/image/large-3ccc75bc4a4dd9f3638766f01df949a3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396508"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a> arrived in the Netherlands in April 2026 and spent 11 weeks at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5453" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zwijnenburg Shipyard (Company)">Zwijnenburg Shipyard</a>. Originally launched in 2014, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a> featured exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4539" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ulstein Verft AS (Company)">Ulstein Verft AS</a>. The re-design of the vessel was done <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8891" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio ZEA (Company)">Studio ZEA</a>, which is the new design firm by founded by renowned yacht designer Zlatko Imamovic, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure Yacht Design &amp; Naval Architecture</a> acting as the owners representative<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396507/image/large-1b0612ad97ae9c22a02e570688fb80eb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396507"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a> previously operated as an offshore vessel, displaying a red hull and a continuous working deck aft. Details surrounding the full extent of her rebuild have not yet been disclosed, but the first images show a white hull and superstructure, a more pronounced bulbous bow and an additional deck extending her aft profile.&nbsp;Her elevated deck provides a sheltered space beneath, as well as giving her a more traditional yacht-like appearance. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a> now also displays a helideck and hangar, expanding her capabilities as a yacht support vessel.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/389111/image/large-0de1e59efd5df286448fcc404464721f.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/389111">SuperYacht Times has reached out to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5453" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Zwijnenburg Shipyard (Company)">Zwijnenburg Shipyard</a> for more information on the rebuild of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16977" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="U-8176.6m (251'4&quot;)Simek AS2014">U-81</a>, but they were unavailable for comment.

U81: 77m support vessel rebuild in Rotterdam

The 76m Simek AS support vessel FS Cygnus has emerged from the Zwijnenburg Shipyard as U-81, following an extensive rebuild.

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Newly converted yacht support vessel U-81 emerges from major rebuild

For owner Paul Andrews, the search for the right yacht was a journey that spanned more than a decade. However, when he first came across the 25.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/121" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palmer Johnson Yachts (Company)">Palmer Johnson</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> online, something about her caught his attention. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394762/image/large-d54e9461baa90d5794ad964df495e456.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394762">“I first saw her in a video while I was searching for yachts,” he explained. “She was located in Thailand at the time, which was quite literally on the other side of the world from me, but her presence immediately stood out.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394534/image/large-bfddc47ecaf6a83efc8300953b5b19d9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394534">Originally launched in 1967, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> was the largest aluminium hulled sailing yacht in the world when she first hit the water. Built as a classic world cruising yacht, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> had circumnavigated the world three times, with voyages to the Antarctic and Arctic regions when she entered the market in 2022. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394541/image/large-c96b4ebc0ab5a9453459421e627799d7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394541">“The beam, the proportions and the sheer character of the yacht caught my attention straight away,” recalled Andrews. “I wasn’t specifically searching for a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/121" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palmer Johnson Yachts (Company)">Palmer Johnson</a>, but when she was built, she was engineered to a commercial, almost military-grade standard and built to navy specs, which gave her a genuine pedigree, strength and a fascinating story behind her.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394543/image/large-0b87ef55ef9559c3dc95e76eca2db6c7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394543">However, when Andrews finally travelled to Thailand to inspect the yacht in person, the initial impression was far from ideal. “It was raining heavily and she looked tired and neglected.” But returning the following day to see the yacht in clear conditions revealed a completely different vessel. “Her lines were beautiful and the potential became obvious. She simply needed vision and attention.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394544/image/large-f191bd60c4deb3732c009830efb76fc3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394544">In 2015 under the ownership of her previous owners, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> had started a refit programme spanning more than $1 million, which lasted five years and saw her receive a full teak interior refit. “It was clear that previous owners had already invested heavily in the yacht,” added Andrews. “The teak interior joinery was exceptional and the hull structure was sound. However, the layout did not fully make use of the yacht’s size.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394540/image/large-3bd64f4dfb231598384875f28fc57a05.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394540">With the help of Martin Holmes and his team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2262" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lee Marine International Brokerage (Company)">Lee Marine</a>, Andrews took a boat from Langkawi, Malaysia where he purchased <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> and started the process of refitting her in Phuket. “My vision was always to maximise the yacht without taking away the character that makes Firebird special,” he explained. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394689/image/large-066bcffa01ddea4816fadbefefba6fb6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394689">“Rather than remove that character, the refit focused on respecting the craftsmanship already onboard, while improving the functionality and layout for modern cruising. So the very first thing I wanted to do was lay a completely new teak deck.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394684/image/large-59c92dfa1c2c4dfaf499558c82520e13.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394684">The refit saw beautifully laid teak installed throughout, which instantly transformed her appearance and the feeling underfoot. From here, Andrews had a large swim platform and gangway at the stern installed for easy access, as well as an alfresco dining area for 12, with a large three-metre teak L-shaped sofa added and a circular seating area for eight at her stern.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394683/image/large-ccd9dbe381bbc98da19e89f67500eafb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394683">Additional work saw her saloon and guest staterooms reworked to create a larger and more comfortable interior, while technical works included the installation of a new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4062" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Raymarine UK Ltd (Company)">Raymarine</a> navigation suite, electric furling systems and the recommissioning of her <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1497" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Detroit Diesel (Company)">Detroit Diesel</a> engine and generators.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394537/image/large-a9744df0db0cb9126710320c8ad8f685.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394537">&nbsp;“I was involved in every stage of the project!” beamed Andrews. “Working alongside skilled craftsmen in Thailand allowed the ideas I had for the yacht to be executed properly.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394682/image/large-6c7c43f1ab3dc6151b36ef4b9e0c6d90.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394682">“The region has an impressive concentration of marine specialists including riggers, carpenters, sailmakers and marine engineers. The quality of teak craftsmanship in Thailand is also exceptional and the cost of skilled labour is significantly lower than in many other parts of the world. By chance I also discovered a local boat carpenter whose family had been building boats in the region for generations. His team worked tirelessly and played a crucial role in transforming the yacht.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394536/image/large-a684c5dbb17405c08f59b474c49fe63e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394536">A large portion of the refit work was carried out at Premier Superyacht Shipyard near <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3209" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yacht Haven Marina (Company)">Yacht Haven Marina</a> in Phuket. The yard operates an 890-tonne travel lift and regularly handles vessels significantly larger than <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a>, so during her haul-out, hull works, repainting, mechanical servicing and installation of the bow thruster were completed at the yard. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394535/image/large-fe228dc87c3eb4c006007450d0644190.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394535">The refit started almost immediately after Andrews had stepped onboard and he remained involved throughout the process. “After studying the layout of an <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oyster Yachts (Company)">Oyster</a> 85, I realised it might be possible to alter the companionway arrangement and open access to unused space within the yacht. By cutting through the bulkhead at the end of the galley we created a new passageway that allowed an entirely new guest stateroom to be built.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394687/image/large-2e193db0a4b19958ca9e5ecb0fbbb3b1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394687">The result allowed for unused areas to be converted into additional guest accommodation, while maintaining the logical flow through her companionway and saloon areas. Thanks to this, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> is now able to comfortably accommodate up to 13 guests, while still feeling spacious. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394691/image/large-d359643ead180961dcf469e992df6a3a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394691">“The onboard experience is exceptional now! <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> is incredibly comfortable and she has become a wonderful place to spend time. I have several comfortable homes on land, but I genuinely did not expect living aboard a yacht to feel this enjoyable.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394775/image/large-19d12ff20ebf8798893858104887e523.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394775">From a technical standpoint the most important upgrade was the installation of a Max Power bow thruster. At 71 tonnes, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> is not a small yacht and the thruster significantly improved manoeuvrability for docking. Paired with electric furling systems, her sails can now be easily controlled from the cockpit, &nbsp;which means the yacht can be sailed comfortably by a small crew. “Together with the bow thruster and upgraded navigation systems, the yacht is now far easier and safer to operate,” added Andrews.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394782/image/large-7d015b051a954c975849eb73b943caa0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394782">Currently available for charter, Andrews noted that there had already been interest from charter clients in the Seychelles and the Maldives. “It would feel rather selfish to keep such a yacht entirely to myself! Our goal is to have her operating in the Greek islands by 2027.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394781/image/large-71d773016ba60ca5be3610663cfc2a04.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394781">The refit took approximately 18 months to complete, with the project bringing the yacht a new lease of life. “I have restored historic buildings and classic cars before, but <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> has been the most rewarding project of them all! Working on her felt almost like giving a living vessel a new chapter in her life. I feel incredibly privileged to have been part of that transformation.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394773/image/large-89483fb30e91ef0842117ed871bea925.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394773">“<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12413" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Firebird25.6m (83'12&quot;)Palmer Johnson Yachts1967">Firebird</a> has had an extraordinary life with many different owners over the decades, with each leaving their own mark on the vessel,” concluded Andrews. “If I had to describe her in just a few words, I would say she is an iconic, unique superyacht and I hope she continues to bring joy to many future owners and guests.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394763/image/large-26cc3acdb14ea54697eb754a850e1393.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394763">

Firebird: 26m Palmer Johnson yacht refit

Inside the 18-month Thai refit that transformed the 26m Palmer Johnson sailing yacht Firebird into a modern cruising yacht.

Firebird reborn: Behind the Thai refit of a classic 26m yacht

For more than 150 years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> has built its reputation on engineering excellence, delivering some of the world's most iconic superyachts. Yet behind the celebrated new-build programme lies another cornerstone of the German shipyard's offering: a comprehensive refit and services division that combines the same craftsmanship, innovation and technical expertise with a proactive approach to yacht ownership.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395685/image/large-6c0d99789964811f27b5ed79d23b7e34.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395685">Operating across one of the largest yacht-building infrastructures in the world, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>'s refit capabilities are available not only to yachts built by the shipyard itself, but to the entire global fleet. From routine maintenance and scheduled surveys to major conversions and sustainability upgrades, the shipyard has positioned itself as a destination for owners seeking complex solutions delivered to the highest standards.Scale, expertise and innovation<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>'s shipyard network spans northern Germany, supported by a design centre in Croatia and a sales office in Fort Lauderdale. At the heart of its refit operation is the former <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blohm & Voss GmbH (Company)">Blohm &amp; Voss</a> shipyard in Hamburg, acquired by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> in 2016.Covering 451,000 square-metres and featuring seven docks, the Hamburg facility represents approximately 40 percent of the Group's total shipyard footprint. With Lürssen's legacy for complex new-build projects at its other facilities, owners benefit from the same level of engineering knowledge, project management expertise and highly skilled workforce responsible for delivering some of the industry's most advanced yachts.This integration creates a distinct advantage when tackling technically demanding projects. Whether undertaking a major structural modification, a complete interior transformation or a full vessel conversion, clients gain access to the resources and experience of a shipyard accustomed to solving complex engineering challenges.Since acquiring the Hamburg site, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> has redelivered nearly 100 yachts, with close to half a kilometre of yachts undergoing refit work at the facility during the past 12 months alone.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395684/image/large-e860b8408cb8573130a03c0e4ccc63a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395684">A solution for every ownerWhile commissioning a custom new-build remains the ultimate expression of yacht ownership, lengthy construction schedules are often an unavoidable reality. For owners seeking a faster route to a highly personalised yacht, refit and conversion projects offer a compelling alternative.By identifying the right platform and investing in a carefully planned transformation, owners can create a yacht tailored to their individual requirements within a significantly shorter timeframe than a new construction project.The opportunities extend far beyond cosmetic upgrades. Leveraging its commercial shipbuilding heritage, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> is increasingly involved in large-scale conversion projects, transforming robust offshore and industrial vessels into capable exploration yachts designed for extended global cruising.These vessels, originally engineered to operate in demanding environments, provide strong foundations for owners seeking expedition capabilities without compromising on comfort, luxury or autonomy.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395663/image/large-fff7a51890ff3bb2699f3ff16be929a6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395663">Advancing sustainability through practical solutionsAs environmental considerations continue to shape the future of yachting, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> Refit &amp; Services is also helping owners reduce operational emissions through carefully assessed sustainability programmes.Every project begins with detailed feasibility studies, ensuring proposed upgrades align with the yacht's operational profile and owner requirements. Rather than prescribing a single solution, the shipyard focuses on identifying the most effective measures for each individual vessel.Depending on the programme, improvements can range from LED lighting upgrades and intelligent motion-sensing systems to advanced heat recovery technology and sophisticated energy management platforms that optimise onboard power consumption.Many of these initiatives can be incorporated into larger refit schedules, allowing owners to enhance efficiency while minimising disruption to cruising plans.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395686/image/large-760964d6aac379d57a85ccebad544ef4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395686">Supporting yachts beyond the shipyard<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>'s commitment to owners extends well beyond the completion of a refit project. Through its Fast Operations and Response Unit (FORU), the shipyard provides global technical support for large yachts, with specialist teams regularly deployed to resolve operational issues around the world.Many repairs can be completed remotely, at anchor or alongside, reducing downtime and ensuring yachts remain where they are intended to be: on the water and in active use.This lifecycle-focused approach is further supported by dedicated maintenance planning, extensive spare parts inventories and round-the-clock assistance, giving owners access to the expertise of one of the industry's most experienced shipbuilding organisations wherever their yacht may be operating.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395662/image/large-55a116c30cdaae0fb2a686b8dc25cbbc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395662">A partner for the global fleetFrom scheduled class surveys and technical upgrades to complete vessel conversions, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>'s refit division offers owners access to the same standards of engineering, craftsmanship and project execution that have defined the shipyard's new-build programme for generations.For owners seeking to extend a yacht's lifespan, improve performance or unlock new capabilities, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> Refit &amp; Services provides a pathway to maximise value while ensuring vessels continue to evolve alongside the demands of modern ownership.As the shipyard continues to expand its refit activities, one message remains clear: regardless of where a yacht was originally built, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>'s expertise is available to the entire global fleet.

Lürssen refit yacht shipyard 

For more than 150 years, Lürssen has built its reputation on engineering excellence, delivering some of the world's most iconic superyachts.

Why owners are turning to Lürssen for complex refit and conversion projects

The 45-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Royal Hakvoort</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awatea45.0m (147'8&quot;)Royal Hakvoort Shipyard2008">Awatea</a> has been relaunched following an extensive ReCraft programme at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> in the Netherlands. The yacht arrived at the Dutch yard earlier this year for a seven-month extensive refit.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394530/image/large-063953187846c7e6fd006700a792d554.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394530" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The yacht features naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a>, exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D. Rover</a> and interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/28" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Felix Buytendijk Yacht Design (Company)">Felix Buytendijk Yacht Design</a>. Her interiors fused contemporary yacht styling with subtle nods to New England, reflecting a design language that became a characteristic of post-millennium Dutch yacht design.Delivered in 2008, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awatea45.0m (147'8&quot;)Royal Hakvoort Shipyard2008">Awatea</a> was built 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> and was formerly known as My Trust. She was the first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/40" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Hakvoort Shipyard (Company)">Hakvoort</a> yacht designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D. Rover</a> and, at the time, the fourth-largest yacht ever delivered by the Dutch shipyard, as well as the largest yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/43" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cor D. Rover Design (Company)">Cor D. Rover</a> had designed up to that point in his career.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394528/image/large-c85e5094d51e0e5deaf795d66ed92688.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394528" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">“Choosing the Netherlands, and ultimately <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a>, to undertake this refit was a decision to uphold her pedigree with the standard of craftsmanship the nation is renowned for,” explained <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a>. According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a>, the project was approached with a strong emphasis on preserving the yacht’s original identity while modernising her onboard systems.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377931/image/large-9fabe150e01ddb3607e7f62fff6cddb4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377931" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Most visibly, the yacht has returned to a colour scheme inspired by her original 2008 appearance. Her hull, previously finished in a custom pastel blue, has been repainted in Poseidon Metallic Blue by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1546" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alexseal Yacht Coatings (Company)">Alexseal</a>, complementing her crisp white superstructure. Moreover, antifouling works and spot corrosion treatment were also completed to improve long-term maintenance and durability.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/377935/image/large-aaabe7ac55dcfcfce673a09ab47bb94f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/377935" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The technical refit programme included a full upgrade of the yacht’s AMS and PMCS systems, installation of new radar, depth and speed sensors, as well as a completely upgraded HVAC system. The onboard lighting system was also modernised throughout both the interior and exterior with integrated ambient lighting controls, while the galley underwent a full renovation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394531/image/large-4ca440ec534e53322e5291ec3a7958b8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394531" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> also highlighted the advantages of undertaking the refit within the Netherlands’ close-knit network, stating that several technical issues, including a long-standing problem involving the yacht’s bespoke door hinge system, were resolved shortly after <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awatea45.0m (147'8&quot;)Royal Hakvoort Shipyard2008">Awatea</a> arrived at the yard.Sourcing inventory proved equally straightforward. The crew had spent months searching for wine fridges in the U.S. that met the right specifications for dimensions, voltage, and connectivity, without success. At <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a>, they were ordered within 30 minutes. This is the practical dividend of the Dutch shipbuilding network: quality and access, together.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394529/image/large-508fc2b86142d5c0f9726a110bf04709.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394529"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> has acted as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awatea45.0m (147'8&quot;)Royal Hakvoort Shipyard2008">Awatea</a>’s gateway to Northern Europe. Having crossed the Atlantic for this significant programme of works, the yacht is now undergoing final preparations ahead of returning to the water with her cruising itinerary and schedule remaining unimpeded. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/32" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Awatea45.0m (147'8&quot;)Royal Hakvoort Shipyard2008">Awatea</a> and her crew are well-placed for the northerly remote waters ahead, and her owner and guests can enjoy the yacht refreshed, upgraded, and ready for the seasons to come.

45m Royal Hakvoort yacht Awatea relaunched following refit

The 45m Royal Hakvoort yacht Awatea has been relaunched following an extensive ReCraft programme at Balk Shipyard in the Netherlands.

45m Royal Hakvoort yacht Awatea relaunched following refit 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bergman Design House (Company)">Bergman Design House</a> has unveiled the first interior images of the 46.57-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/570" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Admiral (Company)">Admiral</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a>, following an extensive refit in Greece. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395063/image/large-824218241bd210f9285805c33bbe2f35.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395063">Originally delivered in 2014 by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5565" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Italian Sea Group (Company)">The Italian Sea Group</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/58" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luca Dini Design & Architecture (Company)">Luca Dini Design &amp; Architecture</a>, while her interior was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bergman Design House (Company)">Bergman Design House</a>, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/511" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tecnomar (Company)">Tecnomar</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395031/image/large-6915607b905990c456e3c72631f6cc67.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395031">Named after the Greek word meaning “the blessed one,” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> draws deeply from the luminous beauty of the Greek islands. “The vessel has undergone a complete rebirth,” explained <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bergman Design House (Company)">Bergman Design House</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395023/image/large-e27116897be38aed57e8ec08f56e1e43.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395023">“She has emerged as a serene floating sanctuary, inspired by the timeless elegance of the Mediterranean. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> redefines the language of contemporary yachting through a visionary approach to interior architecture, atmosphere, and experiential luxury.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395033/image/large-e40d731ac494e99a6ddb4122dbbdba49.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395033"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bergman Design House (Company)">Bergman Design House</a> approached the project with the philosophy of creating a private residence at sea, rather than a traditional yacht interior. Inspired by the crisp white architecture, warm golden light, and natural textures of coastal Greece, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> boasts a deeply intimate and effortlessly sophisticated atmosphere onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395041/image/large-fdfe1889625f39ea7d344d3ba49fdedb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395041"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395043/image/large-0874976dbd5ac38d1605721acbf6c18d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395043"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> is adorned with linens, woven finishes, soft brushed metals, sculptural lighting and a neutral colour palette. The perception of space has also been taken into account, with proportion, texture and natural light used to create airy and expansive spaces. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395047/image/large-adb0d8dc640afd876b7d3ec26fab336d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395047"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395050/image/large-415d46e3a7d189ffcb24fd614132c0e3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395050"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> can accommodate up to 12 guests across five sumptuous staterooms, each of which has been conceived as a tranquil retreat, layered with soft textures, bespoke detailing and a warm contemporary elegance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395073/image/large-06e8b6292da7a2b1626a8cf0821c2d86.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395073"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395052/image/large-9a2d7276ea81527925ca65bb34ed59b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395052"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395058/image/large-dd9ca9e55d6a2104bf43ede7a03be0fd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395058">Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</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, providing her with a cruising speed of 15 knots and a transoceanic range of 6,000 nautical miles. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395061/image/large-b04ec876caace722e7226a1b3da96681.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395061"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395054/image/large-592f4fdf9668bc04dd6529adc320687f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395054">Currently sailing beneath the Malta flag and moored in the crystalline waters of Greece, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> feels entirely at home within the Mediterranean landscape that inspired her rebirth. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4739" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Axios46.57m (152'9&quot;)Admiral2014">Axios</a> is ultimately more than a superyacht,” concluded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bergman Design House (Company)">Bergman Design House</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395070/image/large-d5fd60ac06ceeca62aed31ffb907a73d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395070"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395072/image/large-d1244a592b73d2fc06fa401136bfdacc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395072">“It is a true icon reimagined and a testament to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bergman Design House (Company)">Bergman Design House</a>’s ability to turn design into experience, and luxury into art.(Images courtesy of Bergman Design House.)<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395071/image/large-df0ae78007e217b8677b029e79934bfe.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395071">

Axios: 47m Admiral yacht completes extensive refit

Bergman Design House has unveiled the first interior images of the 46.57-metre Admiral motor yacht Axios, following an extensive refit in Greece.

First look at 47m Admiral yacht Axios following extensive interior refit

The 46.35-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1080" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rossinavi (Company)">Rossinavi</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3727" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="2 Ladies46.35m (152'1&quot;)Rossinavi2012">2 Ladies</a> has completed her thorough refit programme at the Adria Docks shipyard in Trogir, Croatia, which is managed by Croatian engineering and project management company <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7165" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capax (Company)">Capax</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394841/image/large-95a90ed8460bb2ae2d40742ca0e4ed94.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394841">Delivered in 2012 by the Italian shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3727" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="2 Ladies46.35m (152'1&quot;)Rossinavi2012">2 Ladies</a> features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a>, with interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/118" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Arch. Tommaso Spadolini (Company)">Studio Arch. Tommaso Spadolini</a>.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/394868/image/large-e3c0c2f6dc2e7bb5594f2a60c17c20a0.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20260526%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20260526T145933Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=3810eb2c7ac4bed47a7c44d64c31cee9d757f9fa0b5641999a51ce9439ba3d46" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394868">According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7165" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capax (Company)">Capax</a>, the early relationship with the yacht that began during the 2023/24 shipyard season, which focused on technical upgrades and essential steel repairs, has paved the way for the owners to return in 2025, commissioning a more comprehensive transformation for the vessel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394861/image/large-a7861e86ca9abca0f8c1e378a97df3d5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394861">The latest works included the installation of new generators, a full replacement of teak decking across all decks and a complete repaint of both the hull and superstructure. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a>, the yacht’s original Dutch naval architecture studio, was also brought back into the project to redesign the sundeck bar and lounge areas.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394858/image/large-4b4bc9d3dbcda0f2392bf5cbe52c38d3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394858" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The sundeck has been reimagined as a contemporary retreat, thoughtfully crafted with Corian Arctic Ice, stainless steel and teak. This new layout breathes fresh life into the yacht’s social spaces, modernising her onboard experience while retaining her original design language.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394860/image/large-22659790347e451b24e230da23a601cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394860">“A project of this scale demands both technical precision and genuine care for the vessel,” commented Teo Petricevic, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7165" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capax (Company)">Capax</a>. “When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7165" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Capax (Company)">Capax</a> was entrusted with the refit, we understood that the standard expected was nothing less than exceptional. All works were executed within owner’s expectations, and we are proud to deliver a yacht that is not simply repaired but truly renewed.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394862/image/large-ae5d2b6ab0e3dd0dfd90ba974003b6da.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394862">Technical works were also completed in collaboration with several specialist partners, in addition to design upgrades. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/136" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ocean Independence (Company)">Ocean Independence</a> served as the yacht management company throughout the project, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2988" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wrede Consulting GmbH (Company)">Wrede Consulting</a> provided coating consultancy services to oversee paint application and surface preparation done to the right standards.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394867/image/large-17e614c04a10e23a0369ef825fe47003.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394867">During the steelwork phase, 3D scanning technology was also used to ensure the new steel plates and structural parts fit accurately all around the hull.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394850/image/large-5df65d013cfc2b9bb5f7b36710338d80.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394850">With a beam of 8.62-metres and a volume of 499 GT, accommodation onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3727" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="2 Ladies46.35m (152'1&quot;)Rossinavi2012">2 Ladies</a> is arranged for up to 12 guests across six staterooms, including two full-beam owner’s suites. Moreover, she features amenities such as a forward-facing gym, sauna, beach club, deck Jacuzzi and a glass-and-travertine lift connecting all decks.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394857/image/large-4af144c27d1fc63ea4eaba96fc16c531.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394857"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394856/image/large-e962de1d31695b5f2c89145b1f4c0734.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394856" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3727" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="2 Ladies46.35m (152'1&quot;)Rossinavi2012">2 Ladies</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, propelling her to a top speed of 15 knots, and a cruising speed of 12 knots with a range of 4,500 nautical miles.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394848/image/large-11e5e11f5f0045a213ad96a5edf2743a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394848">Following the completion of the refit works, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3727" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="2 Ladies46.35m (152'1&quot;)Rossinavi2012">2 Ladies</a> has now returned to the Mediterranean ahead of the 2026 charter season.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/394837/image/large-ed8658921e6154f504cad90f75d3559b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/394837">

46m rossinavi superyacht 2 ladies completes refit in croatia

The 46m Rossinavi superyacht 2 Ladies has completed an extensive refit programme at Adria Docks shipyard in Trogir, Croatia.

46m Rossinavi superyacht 2 Ladies completes extensive refit in Croatia

The 92.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> superyacht <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> has been spotted on sea trials, following a comprehensive re-build at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> facilities in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393450/image/large-7bd6a66971a3083336419b6df8bbcaed.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393450">Previously known as Tranquility, Draak was <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65335" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="93m Oceanco superyacht Draak completes comprehensive re-build (2026-02-09 08:00:00 +0100)">re-launched in February 2026</a> after a refit which saw her upgraded to meet the needs of her owner. In September 2025, it was revealed in an exclusive interview with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> shareholder and co-founder of Valve, Gabe Newell that he was the owner 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>.&nbsp;Read: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/64326" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="From gaming to yachting: Gabe Newell on life at sea and building the future with Oceanco (2025-09-25 13:30:00 +0200)">From gaming to yachting: Gabe Newell on life at sea and building the future with Oceanco</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393453/image/large-3a35e0c2a15ecfed482daa57941778c0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393453"><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> has been transformed into a support yacht for Newell’s 111-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leviathan111.0m (364'2&quot;)Oceanco2025">Leviathan</a>, with the ability to now carry a dedicated dive tender, as well as provide accommodation for additional crew and guests.Now displaying a white hull and grey superstructure, <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> was originally launched in 2014 and features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>, while her interior was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch Design</a>, with naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure Yacht Design &amp; Naval Architecture</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393451/image/large-0a599b315888c9babd3753f05c275564.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393451">Her rebuild saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>’s original design team work closely with her owner’s representative <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7198" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YTMC Limited (Company)">YTMC</a>, her co-makers, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vedder GmBH (Company)">Vedder</a> for her interior outfitting, as well as the crew of both <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> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leviathan111.0m (364'2&quot;)Oceanco2025">Leviathan</a>.&nbsp;The rebuild 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> included the removal of her upper deck aft helideck to allow for additional space on her main deck aft. This allowed for the accommodation of a large tender deck equipped with heavy-duty C-davits, while a 12.6-tonne jib crane was integrated on the upper deck aft to support hoisting manoeuvres.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393452/image/large-e22b76cacc7ba94b4812ed2715a107ca.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393452">As well as this, <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>’s boarding platform was extended for added safety, with the addition of retractable fenders and swim stairs, which increased her overall length by one-metre. Her former beach club and spa area has been converted into a fully equipped dive centre with a decompression chamber, while the main deck saloon has been transformed into a large crew mess.Inside, her main saloon has been converted into a chef’s lab, with facilities for preparing and hosting intimate dining experiences for both crew and guests. In terms of accommodation, new adaptive cabins now provide additional high-end crew accommodation capacity when required.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393449/image/large-f3bbaeab6ab337e2fd692866fa5e5714.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393449">(All images courtesy of Oceanco.)

Draak: 93m Oceanco yacht on sea trials following rebuild

The 92.8-metre Oceanco superyacht Draak has been spotted on sea trials, following a comprehensive re-build at Oceanco.

93m Oceanco superyacht Draak on sea trials following rebuild

The 49.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> sold in a deal with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1550" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marine Marketing (Company)">Marine Marketing</a> introducing the buyer, alongside Nathan Farrelly of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/124" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Edmiston (Company)">Edmiston</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="One Brokerage Australia (Company)">One Brokerage Australia</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397051/image/large-5a5dce9decb30e6d016cb98d7fde34c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397051">Delivered in 2018 as part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a> 5000 Semi-Displacement series, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/55" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Omega Architects (Company)">Omega Architects</a>, with interior design penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/205" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cristiano Gatto Design (Company)">Cristiano Gatto Design</a> and naval architecture by her Dutch builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen Yachts</a>.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests across a six stateroom configuration, with her master suite situated on the main deck forward, while her VIP suite, two doubles and two twin staterooms can be found on the lower deck.In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> is equipped with twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines, which propel her to a top speed of 23 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. At the time of the sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6105" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Daisy D49.8m (163'5&quot;)Heesen Yachts2018">Daisy D</a> had a last known asking price of €28,500,000.&nbsp;

Daisy D: 50m Heesen yacht sold

The 49.8-metre Heesen superyacht Daisy D sold, with a last known asking price of €28,500,000.

50m Heesen superyacht Daisy D sold

The 30.48-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/466" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hatteras Yachts (Company)">Hatteras</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> sold in a deal with Iain Lawrie of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/322" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merle Wood & Associates, Inc. (Company)">Merle Wood &amp; Associates</a> introducing the buyer and Michael Zaidan of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5149" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Borden and Associates Yacht Sales (Company)">Borden &amp; Associates Yacht Sales</a> representing the seller.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397019/image/large-1adf3cf22ae9625acf3be275898f7595.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397019">Delivered in 2001, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/326" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Jack Hargrave (Company)">Jack Hargrave</a>. Spanning 180 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests across a five stateroom configuration.&nbsp;In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> can reach a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots, thanks to twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1497" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Detroit Diesel (Company)">Detroit Diesel</a> engines. At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4478" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sunday Money30.48m (100'0&quot;)Hatteras Yachts2001">Sunday Money</a> had a last known asking price of $1,450,000.(Image courtesy of Merle Wood &amp; Associates.)

Sunday Money: 31m Hatteras yacht sold

The 30.48-metre Hatteras motor yacht Sunday Money sold with a last known asking price of $1,450,000.

31m Hatteras motor yacht Sunday Money sold

Travelling to Sydney, Leona Caanen speaks with Luke Geelan, family man and owner of the&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>&nbsp;fleet.Growing up with a passion for boating, and especially fishing, is Luke Geelan, Sydney native and owner of the 35.05-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>. Having spent most of his life around the water, it seems only natural for Luke to have moved into the world of boating. Overtime the yacht has come to resemble not only a connection to his past, but also to his future, getting to enjoy it with his family and friends, as well as sharing it with charter guests.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388213/image/large-0b83e89d1054e69437b37ff303a35921.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388213">A family passionGrowing up on a river in Sydney, Luke was introduced to the rhythms of tide and weather from an early age. “I’ve grown up with a passion for boating, my father taught me to water ski and sail as a young child” Luke shares. Over time, Luke exchanged sailing for wakeboarding and eventually game-fishing, depending his passion for being out at sea. This passion has remained a constant factor in Luke’s life, deepening even further once he could share it with his own kids.A few years ago, Luke sold his business and decided to step into boating in a more deliberate way by acquiring the 35-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>, built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/554" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lloyds Ships (Company)">Lloyd Ships</a> in Australia in 1986. Purchasing her in 2024, the yacht allowed for Luke and his family to explore the Australian coast with more comfort, as well as for them to get to share their passion for the sea. “My two boys are especially big on game fishing, and my daughter is very passionate about snorkelling and marine life”, says Luke. By acquiring <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>, it allows for the family to share their passions with one another.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396937/image/large-131bb2f788c31defa0822382f533d318.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396937">A three-part refitAs <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a> is from the 80s, she was in need of an upgrade when Luke purchased her. The refit has been phased and purposeful, with 2024 seeing the first of the three phases. The yacht spent September to November at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3255" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (Company)">Gold Coast City Marina &amp; Shipyard</a> where the bridge was upgraded, soft furnishings replaced and extensive paintwork completed. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388209/image/large-c74eb7958e3e321e611bea0e2d9fee9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388209">The second phase was centred around remodelling the saloon, with new flooring, carpeting and ceilings, as well as mechanical enhancements. Other upgrades included a beach club installation, complete with an inflatable pool, protective netting and a shaded cabana, which has proved particularly popular with charter guests. Possibly the most meaningful addition during this refit have been the zero-speed stabilisers, “my wife suffers from really severe seasickness, the stabilisers are essential in making the yacht comfortable for my family,” Luke shares.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388210/image/large-06ec6524534531dc1f3ac942dd743803.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388210"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>’s third and final refit will take place in 2027 and will see an upgrade of the crew quarters. Originally, Luke had hoped to finalise the refit this year, but the yacht’s agenda, both in charter and personal use, is almost fully booked for the calendar year, and Luke wants to ensure there is enough time for the refit: “Our crew is so amazing, I'm super lucky to have what I believe is the best crew.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388187/image/large-fde4622fb25e3e416358ace496ed0104.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388187"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a>&nbsp;juniorYet the 35-metre motor yacht is only half the story. Six months after acquiring the mothership, Luke secured what he describes as Australia’s leading game fishing platform: a custom-built 17.7-metre (58’0”) Assegai sportfisher. Designed specifically for marlin fishing along the country’s east coast, the yacht is equipped with a gyro stabiliser and, more recently, a Furuno Omni Sonar System capable of scanning 360 degrees around the vessel to significant depths, providing a technological edge in a pursuit that still relies on instinct and patience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396954/image/large-96857bf8151cfcd655d86dc3d061d704.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396954">The reason for acquiring the fishing vessel to cruise alongside the mothership are his sons. Luke shares that “my sons and I have been game fishing together for the last five years or so,” and have even partaken in various competitions in- and around Sydney. “We’ve won a couple of state titles and other competitions,” a hint of pride sits in Luke’s voice. “My children in particular, have a passion for fishing, and I've just shared that passion, and supported it”, he adds.Lukes really enjoys fishing with his family and friends, on a recent trip to the Great Barrier Reef, the Shore Thing 58' landed a 1,223 pound Black Marlin. Yet Luke is quick to note that they’re conscious about the way they fish. “We only catch what we eat; everything else goes right back in the ocean. We’re not hunters, we just fish for the joy of it.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388186/image/large-a98a34adf0095495d9e5f32f36eb458e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388186">The joy of cruisingSome of Luke’s most cherished moments onboard are those with friends and family. “We hosted my 50th birthday onboard,” Luke shares, having chartered the yacht to Whitehaven Beach, located in the Whitsundays, “there were about 40 guests, all friends and family.”&nbsp;Possibly Luke’s favourite memory is the recent Christmas holiday onboard. “Spending time with our family and another family, sitting around and just having deep belly laughs over some beautifully cooked meals by our chef onboard.” Luke describes this as delightful and quite possibly one of the most memorable times onboard. “Your kids grow up so quick, getting to share such a beautiful time together and feeling like, as your kids become young adults, that you can really share laughs and stories. It was just special.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396938/image/large-04bc34860fd9bc9b421321a8d9f42e09.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396938">The beauty of being on a boat is that it ties everyone together, whether that is his own family and friends, or guests who charter the yacht, for Luke, the joy of owning <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a> lies in “getting to share the joy with other people.”The yacht and her fishing counterpart offer not just a sense of luxury, but a space for guests to create memories and experience the beauty of the Australian coastline as they cruise <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3832" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shore Thing35.05m (114'12&quot;)Lloyds Ships1986">Shore Thing</a> between the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays and the Sydney Harbour.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/388177/image/large-2991a957e2fdb4ef0038789921600aa2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/388177">

Owning the shore thing fleet 

A look inside Luke Geelan's charter fleet: his 35m Shore Thing and the 58' sport fisher chartering around Sydney.

"The joy of owning Shore Thing is getting to share it with others"

<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.

The fourth 53.25-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> YS53 yacht support <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> has been delivered to her owner, following her launch in March 2026 from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> facility in Antalya, Turkey. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397013/image/large-c33b6dbec1e5da99757b484375d47d5b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397013">Designed to operate either alongside a mothership or independently, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> has been crafted in-house by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>, which were responsible for her interior, exterior and naval architecture.&nbsp;Created around family experiences, shared moments on the water and operational purpose <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> will now serve as a purposeful extension of her owner's fleet, where she has been developed to provide additional space, support and flexibility.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397012/image/large-e7a8adfa9276e3affbe8d0454cf3c3d4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397012">"From the outset, &nbsp;there was a clear vision for how the owner wanted to use YS53 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> and the role she would play within the fleet," explained Rob Dolling, Owner’s Representative. "Together with Damen Yachting, we were able to translate those wishes into a vessel that is highly functional, personal and closely aligned with the owner’s programme."<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests, as well as 10 crew plus her captain. Her interior reflects the owner’s personal style, combining timeless elegance with Old English influences throughout. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397011/image/large-c5c4c4fd9fd1617d2fa194c1f00b061d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397011"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> boasts the brand’s signature axe bow, while her reinforced deck supports touch-and-go helicopter operations. With a generous open main deck of more than 200 square-metres, this versatile space can be used for large tenders, toys and specialised equipment.This is complemented by a 15-tonne crane, enabling the handling of substantial tenders and heavy loads. With a volume just shy of 500 GT, she can accommodate up to eight guests, along with a crew of eight.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/397010/image/large-d904abeb9d80368dab56f223768c6958.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/397010">"As the fourth Yacht Support 53 delivered by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>, she reflects the versatility of the Yacht Support range within modern superyacht ownership and has been created with a very clear purpose," concluded Jan van Hogerwou, Commercial Executive USA.Crafted with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</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, which provide her with a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 19 knots. Once her sea trials are complete, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13202" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rafter53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2026">Rafter</a> will prepare for delivery to her owner. &nbsp;

Rafter: Fourth Damen Yachting YS53 yacht on sea trials

The fourth 53.25-metre Damen Yachting YS53 yacht support Rafter has been delivered following her launch in Antalya, Turkey in March 2026.

Fourth Damen Yachting YS53 yacht support Rafter delivered

The 25.75-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/7631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moon River 25.75m (84'6&quot;)Moonen Yachts2003">Moon River</a> sold in a deal with David Legrand of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> introducing the buyer and Derk Jan Rolff of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5652" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Holland Yacht Connection (Company)">Holland Yacht Connection</a> representing the seller. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/346966/image/large-acba5ebb2d4596b138324b59ae61deb9.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/346966">Delivered in 2003 as part of the Moonen 84 series, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moon River 25.75m (84'6&quot;)Moonen Yachts2003">Moon River</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/240" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Marimecs BV (Company)">Marimecs</a>, interior design penned in-house by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/130" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moonen Yachts (Company)">Moonen Yachts</a> and naval architecture 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>.Spanning 115 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moon River 25.75m (84'6&quot;)Moonen Yachts2003">Moon River</a> can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests across a four stateroom configuration on the lower deck, with her full-beam master suite situated amidships, alongside a VIP at her bow and two twin staterooms.&nbsp;In terms of performance, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moon River 25.75m (84'6&quot;)Moonen Yachts2003">Moon River</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, which provide her with a top speed of 12 knots and a cruising speed of 11 knots. At the time of her sale, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Moon River 25.75m (84'6&quot;)Moonen Yachts2003">Moon River</a> had a last known asking price of €2,200,000.&nbsp;(Image courtesy of Holland Yacht Connection.)

Moon River: 26m Moonen yacht sold

The 25.75-metre Moonen motor yacht Moon River sold with a last known asking price of €2,200,000.

26m Moonen motor yacht Moon River sold

As contemporary superyacht design continues to prioritise light, openness and seamless connections to the sea, glass has evolved from a purely functional element into a defining aesthetic feature and, with the use of significantly larger glass panels, has become an essential structural component. Expansive glazing now shapes not only the visual identity of a yacht but also its engineering framework, requiring a far more integrated and technically rigorous approach.For German specialist <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TILSE Glass (Company)">TILSE</a>, this shift represents both an opportunity and a responsibility – to ensure that increasingly ambitious designs are matched by uncompromising structural integrity, durability and precision.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/293944/image/large-ecdb75ea245212d313561b3fadf7f87c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/293944">Integrating glass from the concept stageLarger glass surfaces have fundamentally changed how glazing is approached in yacht construction. No longer a late-stage addition, glass must be embedded into the superstructure concept from the earliest design phases, with engineers analysing how forces move through the pane, adhesive bond and surrounding structure.Unlike static architectural environments, yachts operate under continuous dynamic loads, with hull flex, vibration and thermal variation all influencing performance. Safety margins must therefore reflect real marine conditions, while thickness, laminate composition, bonding strategy, edge detailing and installation methodology all need to be considered from the outset.Early collaboration is essential. By working with designers and naval architects at the concept stage, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TILSE Glass (Company)">TILSE</a> helps ensure that visual ambitions are achievable without compromising technical feasibility, long-term serviceability or structural integrity. This proactive approach allows glazing to do more than fit within a design – it helps shape the structural logic of the vessel, balancing elegance with engineering robustness.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/286853/image/large-74c88213b1c3eba82cf06fc659c13e71.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/286853">Bonding as a safety-critical interfaceOne of the most significant technical challenges is bonding glass – which is inherently brittle – to aluminium or steel structures that move, flex and expand differently under load and temperature change. The adhesive joint must do more than hold the panel in place: it must accommodate movement, transfer loads safely and maintain integrity under UV exposure, salt, humidity and vibration.“The real challenge is not only the glass pane itself, but the interface between glass and a structure that is constantly moving at sea.”As panel sizes increase, this interface becomes even more critical, since minor mismatches in movement, geometry or application can have amplified consequences. Bond thickness, surface preparation, laminate compatibility and UV protection must therefore be precisely controlled. In superyacht glazing, adhesive design is not a detail – it is part of the safety concept, and a well-engineered bond line underpins both structural integrity and long-term durability.Simulation and real-world performanceFinite Element analysis helps validate glass performance, particularly in complex or non-standard applications, by modelling the interaction between glass, adhesive and supporting structure under realistic marine loads. This allows engineers to identify stress points, optimise designs and support conditions, and mitigate deflection risks early in the project lifecycle.Unlike building façades, yacht structures are subject to continuous movement, making accurate modelling essential. Long-term factors such as moisture ingress, ageing and laminate degradation must also be assessed, as they can directly affect load-bearing capacity.As glass panels grow in size, tolerances become increasingly critical. Millimetre-level deviations in shaping or installation can influence load distribution and compromise both structural performance and visual alignment. Handling and installation of large panes have therefore become technical operations in their own right, requiring precise three-dimensional measurement and meticulous execution.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/333152/image/large-73662ca86854e3909e622abf8863c6a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/333152">Ensuring long-term laminate integrityLong-term durability begins with material selection. Because traditional PVB interlayers, which are widely used, can be vulnerable to humidity and temperature fluctuations, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TILSE Glass (Company)">TILSE</a> uses a specially developed resin interlayer designed for enhanced moisture resistance at sea, thereby preventing delamination.Chemical toughening further improves optical clarity, reduces distortion and avoids the anisotropy often associated with thermally toughened glass. Strict quality control from raw material selection to lamination, sealing and final inspection ensures each pane meets superyacht standards.Consistency in bespoke productionFor bespoke glazing, consistency depends on rigorous process control across the entire project chain, from early consultation and three-dimensional measurement through to production and installation. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TILSE Glass (Company)">TILSE</a>’s integrated approach reduces variability and ensures consistency across the entire project chain, even when each pane is uniquely specified.Combined with stringent inspection protocols and a commitment to rejecting substandard components, this enables the delivery of reliable, high-performance glazing systems.Engineering next-generation glazingLooking ahead, the trajectory of superyacht design points towards even larger, clearer and more seamlessly integrated glass surfaces. However, the next phase of innovation will be defined not by scale alone, but by the ability to balance ambition with practicality. Manufacturability, optical quality, structural safety, durability and ease of replacement will all play an increasingly important role in shaping future designs.As glass cements its position as a defining element of modern yacht design, its successful application depends on far more than aesthetics. Structural integration, bonding expertise, advanced simulation and uncompromising material quality must come together from the very beginning.In response, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3829" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TILSE Glass (Company)">TILSE</a> continues to invest in expanded production capacity, advanced handling capabilities and earlier involvement in complex projects – helping today’s most ambitious glazing concepts to be realised safely, durably and with the clarity expected of the next generation of superyachts.

Tilse yacht glass in design

Larger glass surfaces have fundamentally changed how glazing is approached in yacht construction. 

Engineering transparency: The evolving role of glass in superyacht design

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396837/image/large-d8ba973efacc6a431309d036f5b1a3df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396837">The 95-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/778" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Yachts Ltd. (Company)">Golden Yachts</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="O'Pari95.0m (311'8&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2020">O’Pari&nbsp;</a>was recently seen anchored in Athens, Greece, ahead of Posidonia 2026. Several other superyachts, including the 60.98-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/13282" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="O'Madeleine60.98m (200'1&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2025">O'Madeleine</a>, were also spotted in the area during the international shipping exhibition, which took place from 1 to 5 June.Delivered in 2020, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="O'Pari95.0m (311'8&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2020">O’Pari&nbsp;</a>remains the largest yacht built by the Greek shipyard to date. She forms part of a fleet of distinctive <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/778" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Golden Yachts Ltd. (Company)">Golden Yachts</a> projects, alongside notable vessels such as the 87.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2354" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project X87.6m (287'5&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2022">Project X</a> and the 77.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11076" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Malia77.7m (254'11&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2023">Malia</a>, which was launched in 2023.Her exterior and interior design were penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/76" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Studio Vafiadis (Company)">Studio Vafiadis</a>. Spanning 2,700 GT, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="O'Pari95.0m (311'8&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2020">O’Pari</a> offers a range of standout amenities, including a touch-and-go helipad positioned on the forward upper deck, an expansive sundeck complete with a DJ booth, bar and Jacuzzi, and a dedicated wellness area featuring a massage room, Turkish hammam and Finnish sauna.Accommodation is provided for guests across a collection of marble- and mosaic-clad staterooms, comprising nine double cabins and four twin cabins.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, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7237" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="O'Pari95.0m (311'8&quot;)Golden Yachts Ltd.2020">O’Pari</a> cruises comfortably at 16 knots and can reach a top speed of 20 knots. She is currently en route to Split, Croatia, according to AIS Data.

Golden Yachts yacht O’Pari in Athens

The 95-metre Golden Yachts superyacht O’Pari was recently seen anchored in Athens, Greece.

95m Golden Yachts superyacht O’Pari in Athens

Onboard Numarine's 40MXP video

We stepped aboard Mitan, the latest Numarine 40MXP in Palm Beach.

Refits & Conversions

The refit of classic Feadship superyacht Santa Maria