The 106-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4795" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Black Pearl106.7m (350'1&quot;)Oceanco2018">Black Pearl</a> (pictured below) is famously set up to carry solar sails and we’ve seen solar panels integrated into the decks, hardtops and canopies of motor yachts. Now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6295" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wattlab (Company)">Wattlab</a>, a creator of custom solar solutions in the Netherlands, has teamed up with spar makers <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rondal B.V. (Company)">Rondal</a> to develop a prototype mast with solar cells embedded into its composite structure for delivering clean, smart and sustainable energy in another step towards harnessing solar power for yachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/29999/image/large-5cc7de81d4d2b87a318eafc745dfef05.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/29999" 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; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6295" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wattlab (Company)">Wattlab</a>’s tech-savvy roots are in the Delft University of Technology’s Nuon Solar Team. Building on its solar race successes, the team of engineers, designers and business developers have branched out to develop solar applications in other fields such as urban mobility, architecture, aeronautics and maritime.“We noticed there has been a drive towards more sustainable energy in the maritime industry, including the yachting sector, and felt we could produce something that was more efficient and aesthetically appealing than the solar solutions currently available on the market,” says Kasper Keizer, an integration specialist with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6295" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wattlab (Company)">Wattlab</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/192017/image/large-f61b5d706459e0a33c04da09dcc37674.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/192017" 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; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The prototype mast section is about two metres tall and just over one metre wide with 45 flush integrated solar cells. This is just a fraction of the surface area of a full-size mast on a large sloop, while a two- or three-masted schooner could host several hundred square metres of solar cells in its masts and booms. The modules themselves are as light as 1 kg/sqm, less than 1mm thick and bendable up to a radius of 300mm.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/192016/image/large-5c764d8494122a12390d6ddda3a0780a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/192016">“The photovoltaic cells on our solar cars are highly efficient and can produce around 250 watts per square metre, but they are also fragile,” says Keizer. “In a marine context they have to be more robust and consequently the energy output drops to about 230 watts per square metre under standard test conditions. In real-world conditions it depends on where the yacht is in the world: on the equator, the output would be more than in higher latitudes, for example.”“From our collaboration with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6295" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wattlab (Company)">Wattlab</a>&nbsp;it seems that the challenge of implementing the solar panels in our composite components is very low and they can be included in the mast design from the start,” says Merel Janssen, a trainee at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rondal B.V. (Company)">Rondal</a> who worked on the project. “We don’t foresee any challenges in terms of assembly and consequently the use of solar panels is promising.” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/458" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rondal B.V. (Company)">Rondal</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6295" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wattlab (Company)">Wattlab</a> are waiting for potential projects to be confirmed before making more targeted calculations that depend not only on the surface area of the solar cells, but also on the expected power requirements of the yacht for hotel services and the space available for energy storage in batteries. “For us, it’s just a matter of months,” says Keizer. “The technology is ready and we’re in touch with several shipyards in the Netherlands.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/192018/image/large-65975a4051f4abaef56173f9f177b520.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/192018">One such company is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Shipyard Group</a>, which is working with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6295" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wattlab (Company)">Wattlab</a> to integrate solar modules into the aluminium hatches of its bulk carriers operating on inland waterways. Initial studies show that 850 square metres of solar panels could provide fuel savings of up to 12 per cent, equivalent to 100,000 kg of Co2 emissions.&nbsp;

Wattlab's latest technology harnesses solar power for yachts

Solar panels by Wattlab 

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Black Pearl arriving in Gibraltar under sail

Wattlab's latest technology finds a unique way to harness solar power for yachts. 

Towards sustainable yachting: Wattlab's latest solar technology

With the launch of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> on Apple TV, Francesca Webster speaks with Daniel van Dongen, Managing Director of YachtEye, and members of the YachtEye team about guest experience, onboard technology and how technology improves the lives onboard for guests and crew.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395397/image/large-c20bcce15417339af8c582a7c69f4dc6.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395397"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a>&nbsp;has now launched on Apple TV, congratulations! Why is this such an important step?Daniel van Dongen: For us, this is a major milestone, it certainly is not just another app. It changes where and how guests interact with yacht and trip-related content.The television is still one of the most important screens onboard. It is in the main saloon, the guest cabins, the owner’s suite and even the outdoor areas. We already had the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> iPad and iPhone applications, which work very well for personal use. But Apple TV brings <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> to the shared screen in a way that feels natural, familiar and easy.Guests can sit down, open <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> and immediately see the itinerary, weather, menus, yacht information, crew profiles, tenders, water toys, bridge data and nearby yachts. It makes the experience more visual and more accessible.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395395/image/large-03b8ef4ef6b649b676e9ff84f28a4da2.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395395">So this is not just about putting the same product on a bigger screen?Ettore Mihaili, Lead Software Engineer: Not at all. Apple TV is not simply about showing the same content on a bigger screen. It creates a different kind of interaction.The TV is often the most visible screen onboard, so it gives guests a very natural way to explore the itinerary, the yacht, the surroundings and everything available to them. For us as a product team, this launch also unlocks a lot of potential. There are several new functionalities we are already working on that become much more powerful now that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> is available on Apple TV.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1197279812?fl=pl&amp;fe=sh" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> What problem are you really solving for yachts?Daniel:&nbsp;A lot of guest questions onboard are completely understandable, but also repetitive. What time are we leaving? What is the plan today? What is for dinner? Where are we? Which yacht is anchored next to us? Where is the crew from? What water toys do we have?Crew are there to create an amazing experience, not to answer the same basic questions over and over again. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> helps by making that information easy to find and beautiful to look at.&nbsp;It is not about replacing personal service. It is about supporting it.From a development point of view, what was important when building the Apple TV app?Irmin Dzevlan, tvOS Developer: The biggest thing was making it feel native to Apple TV. You cannot just take an iPad interface and put it on a television. The interaction is different, the pace is different and the screen is viewed differently.We focused on making the experience clear, smooth and visually strong. Guests should not feel like they are navigating software. The app should feel effortless: open it, browse, understand where you are, and enjoy the content.The details matter a lot. How the menu moves, how quickly information loads, how readable everything is from across the room. Those things define whether it feels premium or not.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a>&nbsp;is already used on more than 100 yachts. How do you keep the product personal for each vessel? Daniel: Every yacht has its own way of working. Our role is to help the crew make <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> useful for their yacht in the most natural way possible. The platform should not become extra work. It should make things easier. We help and advice the crew to go digital where updates are instant, often even automatically, and where printing becomes old school.&nbsp;That starts with proper onboarding, clear content setup, crew training and regular contact with the team onboard. When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> is set up well, guests understand it immediately and crew know how to keep it fresh.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395396/image/large-191ee5bf3fa95fb954e178b7679240fb.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395396">What kind of content do guests usually engage with most?Daniel: Guests love knowing what is happening and where they are going, so itinerary information and the daily schedule are certainly crucial for most yachts.The Yacht Radar, showing nearby yachts with interior and exterior images as well ad detailed information, is another feature people enjoy because it makes the anchorage come alive.&nbsp;And crew profiles are great because they make the experience more personal. Guests often want to know who is looking after them.The point is not to overwhelm guests with information. The point is to bring together the information they actually care about, in a way that is easy to explore.Where do you see onboard guest technology going?Daniel: I think the best yacht technology will become less visible as “technology”. It should just work. It should feel natural. Guests should not need instructions.People are used to very polished digital experiences in their normal life. When they step onboard a superyacht, expectations are even higher. But the solution is not to make things complicated. It is to make the right things simple.That is what we are trying to do with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a>. Give guests access to the yacht, the trip and the experience around them, without making them ask, search or wait.And finally, what does this launch mean for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a>?Daniel:&nbsp;It is a big moment for us. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> has been around for years and is already trusted by 100+ yachts, but we are now entering a new phase.The Apple TV app makes the product more complete. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> is now available across the screens guests use most: Apple TV, iPad and iPhone. That creates a much stronger onboard experience.It’s an important milestone, but we’re already working on the next steps. So yes, let’s keep in touch. I think we’ll have more to talk about very soon.

YachtEye Apple TV launch

YachtEye has now launched on Apple TV, SYT finds out more.

YachtEye launches on Apple TV

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a> has unveiled details of its new D13 IPS Hybrid propulsion system for yachts, which it aims to bring to market later in 2026. The fully integrated hybrid-electric platform has been developed to combine quieter onboard operation with simplified installation and ownership.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393364/image/large-095283a649343c6db4fcd0dba28b126f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393364">Built on the company’s existing IPS platform, the new system integrates propulsion, electric motors, batteries, energy management and vessel controls into a single package. The system has been designed as a complete helm-to-propeller solution intended to reduce complexity for owners, captains, designers and yacht builders.“Our new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a> D13 IPS Hybrid is a complete helm-to-propeller marine solution,” explained Hanna Ljungqvist, President of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a>’s Marine Business. “By delivering a fully integrated package with one point of responsibility, we simplify everything from design and installation to operation and service, while elevating onboard comfort and performance.”The propulsion package allows captains to switch between electric, hybrid and crossover operating modes. In fully electric mode, yachts can cruise at low speeds with reduced noise and vibration levels, while also enabling quieter docking and anchoring operations.&nbsp;Video:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65671" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Video: Inside the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform onboard the Sanlorenzo SX120 (2026-03-27 12:30:00 +0100)">Inside the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform onboard the Sanlorenzo SX120</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393363/image/large-167678280c1449e411b43037fd6355c5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393363">The D13 IPS Hybrid is compatible with HVO100 renewable fuel and incorporates an aftertreatment system compliant with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4531" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="International Maritime Organization (Company)">IMO</a> III emissions standards. The system’s battery capacity can also support onboard hotel loads without requiring generators to run continuously at anchor.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393378/image/large-b886dfb8a2822376412026103f91e30e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393378">All of the components are connected through <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a>’s Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) platform, which integrates features including Joystick Driving, Assisted Docking, Autopilot and Glass Cockpit functionality across all propulsion modes.&nbsp;The compact configuration allows yacht builders and naval architects a complete hybrid electric yacht propulsion solution by offering propulsion, batteries, energy management and controls, therefore reducing the need for multiple suppliers.&nbsp;Video: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/63875" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Inside Sanlorenzo SX120: Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform debut (2025-07-25 11:45:00 +0200)">Inside Sanlorenzo SX120: Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform debut</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393383/image/large-ec706d48f596c663a1fc68470d2e1e63.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393383">“By working as a single partner across the full system, we can support customers from initial design through installation and operation,” added Nicola Pomi, Vice President of Yacht &amp; Superyacht Sales at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a>. “This level of co-engineering and collaboration enables more efficient builds, optimised performance and greater flexibility in yacht design.”Owners and captains would also benefit from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5350" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo Penta (Company)">Volvo Penta</a>’s global service network, with support and diagnostics provided by trained technicians and advanced diagnostics, through a single-source propulsion package.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393359/image/large-8a116190d3b7931d9b1bda072ed373b6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393359">“This is about delivering peace of mind as much as performance,” concluded Nicola Pomi. “With one partner standing behind the entire system, our customers can focus on enjoying their time on the water, knowing they have access to expert support every step of the way.”

Volvo Penta unveils new D13 IPS hybrid propulsion system

Volvo Penta has unveiled details of its new D13 IPS Hybrid propulsion system for yachts, which it aims to bring to market later in 2026. 

Volvo Penta unveils new D13 IPS Hybrid propulsion system for yachts

Just a year after the e-FIN prototype was introduced, the first all-electric, e-FIN is now living the dream aboard the 51-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1436" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Double Haven51.0m (167'4&quot;)Feadship1993">Double Haven</a>. The refit was completed at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/36" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Derecktor Shipyards (Company)">Derecktor Shipyards</a> in Dania Beach, the result of a perfect collaboration between the crew members on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1436" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Double Haven51.0m (167'4&quot;)Feadship1993">Double Haven</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5020" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quantum Marine Stabilizers (Company)">Quantum</a>, BMH, and the yard. The project involved replacing the existing hull unit with the e-FIN 1800, upgrading the original Vosper/Naiad fins to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5020" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quantum Marine Stabilizers (Company)">Quantum</a>’s XT™ fins, a combination that delivers 80% more lift force at Zero Speed™. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391200/image/large-45181806aca053d34f2d8259ab28c681.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391200">It’s all about the CONTROLSIn addition, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5020" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quantum Marine Stabilizers (Company)">Quantum</a>’s new E6 Control Unit, represents the latest in advanced control technology. This control utilises proprietary algorithms to detect and interpret real-time vessel motion, continuously adjusting fin response to optimise roll reduction performance. The E6 integrates with onboard vessel systems, providing data monitoring and diagnostics, and supports remote service capabilities, enabling predictive maintenance and enhanced operational transparency. The control is the central command centre or “the boss” of the entire system. It interprets system communications and commands, directing stabiliser movement and speed with one purpose: to maintain a safe and comfortable onboard experience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391199/image/large-ce8c850d9799cdfe9291cd21b21394be.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391199">Above: Captain Thomas of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1436" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Double Haven51.0m (167'4&quot;)Feadship1993">Double Haven</a> Stabiliser Technology &amp; Beyond!The e-FIN merges 40 years of stabilisation expertise with a commitment to delivering cleaner, more sustainable solutions. In fact, this is a system that can even recapture energy!The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5020" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Quantum Marine Stabilizers (Company)">Quantum</a> e-FIN features up to 80% lower energy consumption compared to traditional hydraulic systems. In parallel, service intervals have been extended from 8,000 to 16,000 operating hours, delivering reduced maintenance requirements over time due to Quantum’s focus on lifecycle performance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391205/image/large-97f60e977ab52912f0daa9e4370895a7.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391205">Central to the system is an in-house designed gearbox engineered to withstand up to 10 million cycles, extending service intervals and reducing maintenance frequency. Additionally, the e-FIN is designed to operate more quietly than traditional hydraulic systems. This is achieved through a reduced number of hydraulic components and an optimised gear design, contributing to lower noise levels onboard.Thermal output has also been decreased through the system’s electric architecture. By removing the need for dedicated hydraulic cooling systems, the e-FIN reduces heat dissipation and associated auxiliary loads.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/391204/image/large-ab9e8c0d6d9c62ccdc359b5814968908.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/391204">An integrated energy storage system is incorporated within the platform to smooth power demand during operation. Stabiliser systems typically operate under fluctuating loads, and the inclusion of energy storage helps mitigate these variations, supporting consistent performance.The e-FIN system is available for both new build and retrofit applications on vessels between 40 - 65m. With the first system now in service aboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1436" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Double Haven51.0m (167'4&quot;)Feadship1993">Double Haven</a> the e-FIN enters operational use following its initial launch, providing a reference point for its application within the superyacht fleet.

Quantum e-FIN onboard Feadship yacht

Just a year after the e-FIN prototype was introduced, the first all-electric, e-FIN is now living the dream aboard the 51m Feadship, Double Haven.

Not your typical electric stabiliser: Quantum’s e-FIN debuts aboard 51m Feadship 

Video: Volvo Penta IPS40 in action

Justin Ratcliffe takes a look at how the Volvo Penta IPS40 features play out where it matters most, on the water. 

Video: Inside the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform onboard the Sanlorenzo SX120

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1088" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine (Company)">Numarine</a> has unveiled that its first 26.97-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16347" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine 27XP/0126.97m (88'6&quot;)Numarine2026">Numarine 27XP</a> motor yacht will receive a technological upgrade, with the introduction of the Mk2 Super Silent Pack. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371037/image/large-f5854a5de5b363fec3975134ed74e80a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371037">With a launch date of May 2026, the first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16347" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine 27XP/0126.97m (88'6&quot;)Numarine2026">Numarine 27XP</a> yacht will be equipped with the hybrid power system, allowing her to generate and store power more efficiently so that the yacht can operate quietly, especially at anchor, without relying heavily on diesel generators.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371032/image/large-2aa60e5af6537506ae3a88038c971d3e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371032">Developed in partnership with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sleipner Motor AS (Company)">Sleipner</a> and built around their Hybrid Power Center, the system operates at a higher voltage than the traditional 12 or 24-volt systems, instead introducing a fully integrated 48-volt DC system. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371029/image/large-2b25390fd9bd7155eee7d3606cfde7a6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371029">The system combines several energy sources and manages them automatically, with a large 92.8 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery system storing electricity. This stored power can then be used to operate systems such as her lighting, air conditioning and stabilisers.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371028/image/large-af6527f92cb684c379bb3a3cbfb36182.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371028">As well as this, when the yacht is moving, her main engines will generate electricity and charge the batteries, meaning the generators do not need to run while cruising. The first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16347" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine 27XP/0126.97m (88'6&quot;)Numarine2026">Numarine 27XP</a> yacht will also be equipped with 5.6 kW of solar panels to help charge her batteries during the day, providing a supplementary source which can be used when at anchor. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371030/image/large-af599825210214c896b04d67d6c2445e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371030">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16347" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine 27XP/0126.97m (88'6&quot;)Numarine2026">Numarine 27XP</a> yacht also uses a smart power management system, which automatically decides how to distribute energy and which power source to use. “The result is quiet, fume-free living at anchor and underway, dramatically reduced generator hours, extended service intervals and lower maintenance demands,” explained Patrik von Sydow, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1088" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine (Company)">Numarine</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371035/image/large-76168c93897a6ccbcff8f270dd9299b3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371035">“With the Mk2 Super Silent Pack and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/3601" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sleipner Motor AS (Company)">Sleipner</a>’s Hybrid Power Center, the 27XP establishes a future-ready electrical foundation that combines technical sophistication with the refined, effortless comfort increasingly expected of today’s explorer yachts.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371036/image/large-e4276bd5d26207ca9f65d8a2917d9862.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371036">Spanning 149GT, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16347" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine 27XP/0126.97m (88'6&quot;)Numarine2026">Numarine 27XP</a> yacht features interior and exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1211" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Can Yalman (Company)">Can Yalman</a>, with naval architecture penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1212" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Umberto Tagliavini - Marine Design & Services (Company)">Umberto Tagliavini - Marine Design &amp; Services</a>. She is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MAN (Company)">MAN</a> 560 engines, providing her with a top speed of 13.5 knots, a cruising speed of 10 knots and a range of 2,200 nautical miles at eight knots.&nbsp;The first <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16347" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Numarine 27XP/0126.97m (88'6&quot;)Numarine2026">Numarine 27XP</a> yacht is expected to launch in May 2026. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371034/image/large-fe3001f9eaa0eb66f9b97a8f730c20ba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371034">

Numarine 27XP: First hull to operate with “silent technology”

Numarine has unveiled that its first 26.97-metre Numarine 27XP yacht will be equipped with a Mk2 Super Silent Pack by Sleipner.

First Numarine 27XP yacht to operate with “silent technology”

Sitting across from me is Jelte Liebrand, a fellow Dutchy, fellow yachter, and fellow international. Whilst his life has taken him across the globe, from the lakes of Friesland to the mountains of Sweden, onwards to San Francisco before settling on a boat outside of London, sailing has been a steady buoy in Jelte’s life.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383454/image/large-c37993812e9d2eebb54df95b9970d8dc.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383454">A matter of life or death“When I was about eight years old, my granddad taught me to sail,” Jelte reminisces, “I’ve been sailing in various places around the world whilst travelling for my career in tech.” Yet it wasn’t until 2014, when taking a sabbatical from his job at Google and partaking in the Clipper Around the World Race, that sailing took a front-row seat in his life and the idea for his own navigational tool was established.“I did one leg, because I couldn’t afford the whole thing, time nor money wise, but it’s an amazing experience; I highly recommend it,” Jelte shares. “You’ll be on a boat in the middle of the Pacific with 20 other people and it’s all about teamwork. You rely on these people literally with your life,” Jelte emphasises, “it’s a fascinating experience.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383451/image/large-5675b5a62ee5b37fcb2c0268a5d62c88.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383451">Whilst navigating their way down from San Francisco to the Panama Canal, Jelte was on night watch, setting course for the sailing yacht yet kept running into outdated technology: “A huge surprise was how outdated the technology onboard this multi-million pound yacht had become”, Jelte shares. “I’m starting at computers, multiple, but none of them are computing anything. I’m computing everything in my head.”Whilst navigating in the dark, Jelte had this feeling that “there should be an easier way to do this.” When navigating a vessel, it’s not just about the most efficient route, but also the safest, one with minimal risk of dangerous cruising conditions. ”I started looking for a way to combine all this knowledge about charts, potential hazards, ocean currents, tides, and weather patterns in one place. That’s where the idea for Savvy Navvy was founded.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383452/image/large-a6476ce2434f305bdf480b1a833ab204.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383452">From Sailing to Start-Up“Returning to work after the race, the idea of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savvy Navvy (Company)">Savvy Navvy</a> was running around in my mind, but it didn’t feel like a worthy business endeavour at the time”, Jelte notes. The market seemed too small, Jelte highlights how “there aren’t many people with a 70-foot racing yacht in the middle of the Pacific.” Yet Jelte couldn’t quite let the idea go and starting playing around with it in his spare time, “the technical challenge was really interesting to me; it became somewhat of a hobby.”It wasn’t until he started sharing it with fellow yachters that it became clear that “this could benefit a lot of people, not just those on big racing yachts, but really any vessel out on the ocean”, Jelte reflects. From there it took another three years before quitting at Google and pursuing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savvy Navvy (Company)">Savvy Navvy</a> fulltime. “At some point, it becomes clear that if you want to do this properly, you have to go all in.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383455/image/large-01312e3ebbc60f347e655c04b2785247.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383455">Google Maps for BoatsA start-up comes with all kinds of challenges, “the cliché is it’s a roller coaster, and it definitely is”, Jelte notes. “There are days when you’re on top of the world and you get amazing feedback, but there are also days where you’re staring up at this giant mountain you’re about to climb.” What may have been the biggest challenge yet for Jelte and his team has been getting the right data. “Some of the charts were last surveyed at the time of Captain Cook - that’s not necessarily good data, right? Getting the right data is a huge challenge, not to mention the red tape and two-inch thick contracts accompanying the data.”Together with his business partner, Jelte has managed to gain plenty of data, making the app so successful. He’s coined it the ‘Google Maps for Boats’, nothing how, “if you look at Google Maps, it’s not just maps, there’s so much more data available, such as speed cameras, traffic, even air pollution and restaurant opening times. On the boating side nothing quite like that exists.” The idea of Savvy Navvy is to have a navigational tool that functions similarly to Google Maps, but for boats. “It keeps track of wind, currents, and weather conditions and calculates the best possible route to the destination.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383457/image/large-0476c314bfcae424a58173a3f3808f3b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383457">More than that, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savvy Navvy (Company)">Savvy Navvy</a> informs users to enable informed decision-making, such as where there is sea grass, so you can decide whether or not to drop anchor, whether there’s cloud coverage or if there’s rain incoming. Aside from showing you this data, the underlying algorithm focuses on getting you from point A to B, having already considered all the weather and water data available.&nbsp;“It shouldn’t be me needing to figure out the rule of twelves and whether or not the tide is turning by the time I get to land. All I want to know is where I am going and what time I’m going to get there,” Jelte shares. Jelte’s app doesn’t just focus on the best route, but can also advise whether the journey will be smoother a few hours from now, “the algorithm uses the data in order to provide me with the most up-to-date data and the safest, fastest route to my destination.&nbsp;The trickiest thing for Jelte and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savvy Navvy (Company)">Savvy Navvy</a>, is ensuring the recreational boater understands why the app has presented a certain route. “It’s a challenge from a product perspective as well as from a usability perspective, to really highlight why the navigation suggests the routes that it does.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/216752/image/large-b1362b33906142b5ddcb4e7ad0833673.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/216752">Savvy Navvy onboard superyachtsAs of right now, much of the data available is for regions that are frequented by the recreational boater, “that goes from sailboats to motor boats, to centre consoles and even kayakers, jet skiers as well as superyachts.” Whether it’s captains double checking their routes, accommodating for weather conditions, or simply “the ability to share routes and give them to the rest of the crew, even the clients.”Additionally, it’s great for crew “to have an in-pocket navigation, especially around the coastline, it’s where we see a lot of crew benefitting from using <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savvy Navvy (Company)">Savvy Navvy</a>.” Whether finding a place to snorkel, swim, or enjoy the watertoys, it facilitates crew experience, and therefore also the guest experience.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383453/image/large-3e911a34c38007a2c7b0ed6a8ff4c6e2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383453">One of the newest features recently introduced is the ability to draw on the digital chart. “Initially it was designed for passage planning or instructors to showcase what they do, but people use it for race courses, marking a spot for lunch or making annotations along the route.” The app also allows for sharing these annotations, ideal for when travelling with friends or a larger flotilla.The cornerstone of Jelte’s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Savvy Navvy (Company)">Savvy Navvy</a> is to get more people out enjoying the water. “There are too many people who get intimidated by getting things wrong. Working to actively break down those barriers, removing that intimidating factor - we want to be the tool that does that.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/383458/image/large-c37a3f28ccbeab7f5d3f4b94f3bc876b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/383458">This article was first published in the <a href="https://yachtchartermarket.com/" target="_blank">Yacht Charter Market</a> newsletter.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newsletter-subscription" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to never miss an issue. You can read more <a href="https://yachtchartermarket.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Jelte Liebrand Google Maps of the Sea

A deep dive into Jelte Liebrand and his company Savvy Navvy, also known as the Google Maps of the Sea

Jelte Liebrand on Founding Savvy Navvy: the Google Maps of the Sea

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s aftersales and service operation has grown alongside the company’s expanding footprint on board the world’s largest yachts, including 11 of the top 50 largest yachts in the world. Speaking with Leon Osseweijer, Head of Aftersales and Services, it is clear the team’s ethos remains simple yet exacting: be present, be proactive, and take ownership until the job is done.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380883/image/large-45b2e120dd0f0a7cc6c8de5ef5d02b8d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380883">A fleet built on trust<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> now supports more than thirty-five vessels, including several recent deliveries that the company did not integrate at build. “Client trust is everything at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>,” says Leon. “Challenges do happen in yachting. We don’t talk a problem away, we take care of it. If that means putting an engineer on a plane, we do it right away.”&nbsp;That sense of trust is echoed by clients across the fleet. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> is the best team I have worked with in the industry,” says Simon Hodkinson, CTO of a 100m-plus superyacht. “Their standards, passion, and expertise across installations, servicing, refits, and market-leading products truly differentiate them and create the best possible experience for owners, guests, and crew.”Founded in 2014, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> has seen its activities grow steadily on both the new-build and refit sectors. Over the summer, the team coordinated works aboard multiple yachts at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MB92 La Ciotat (Company)">MB92 La Ciotat</a>, representing a combined length of nearly 700 metres and spanning a wide range of upgrades and maintenance projects.“That called for a crew barbecue,” Leon adds. “Creating a sense of connection helps people feel part of the wider <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> fleet. We believe that a sense of belonging builds on that important combination of success to us; having fun and building trust.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380882/image/large-8c9b30c628a83738361fd24569c6a191.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380882">Service firstIn a market where support is often defined by rigid service models, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> takes a different approach, placing hands-on service and responsiveness at its core. The focus is straightforward: address the issue, support the vessel, and remain involved until it is resolved.“Our priority is making sure the yacht is supported, whatever the situation,” says Leon. “It doesn’t matter how big or small the issue is, or where the yacht is in the world. We take ownership and see it through. The goal is always the same: a seamless experience on board for owners, guests, and crew.”This service-first approach is supported by a five-strong coordination desk and a team that remains technically involved at every level of the company. Even senior management, including Leon himself, stays visible and engaged on board. Central to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s way of working is a close, open relationship with captains and CTOs, rather than reliance on portals or long email threads.“We want to be present and approachable, not communicating from behind a desk,” he explains. “It’s about working together. When the relationship is right, trust follows — and that allows everyone to operate more effectively.”Clients underline the value of this responsiveness. “My experience of working with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> has been very positive,” says Shaun Norman, AV/IT Officer on a 145-metre yacht. “They’re quick to respond and just as quick to resolve issues. What really sets <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> apart is their willingness to listen, understand our needs, and tailor solutions accordingly.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380884/image/large-dbfe7dc23a3805da40974073a79a03aa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380884">Proactive, not reactiveA disciplined, predictive maintenance programme helps remove urgency from many interventions. Each yacht in the ONEXP fleet receives monthly or bi-monthly remote health checks across standardised network and AV systems, supported by endpoint management and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s cybersecurity monitoring. On board, ETOs and AV/IT officers carry out physical verifications, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> compiles structured reports that distinguish clearly between items requiring immediate attention and work best scheduled for upcoming yard periods.Ahead of each season, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>team conducts room-by-room functionality checks, Wi-Fi surveys, and targeted IT upgrades to stabilise guest-facing systems for months of uninterrupted operation. Underpinning this approach is a practical foundation: pre-configured spares kept on board, comprehensive documentation, and 24/7 remote support capable of bridging time zones from the Mediterranean to Tahiti.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380879/image/large-35404f3d42e42a878b434697acbccd3d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380879">StandardisationFor <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>, standardisation is a recurring theme across the company and its innovations. Common system architectures accelerate diagnostics, simplify training, and allow lessons learned on one yacht to be applied seamlessly to the next. By working with carefully defined, standardised product packages, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> ensures every team member understands the systems in depth – both in theory and in practice – drawing on experience gained across numerous yacht projects. This enables faster, more effective support, regardless of which team member is involved.This consistency also strengthens <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s relationships with developers, manufacturers, and suppliers across the market. With a large number of similar installations delivered throughout the fleet, feedback is direct and informed, supporting continuous product improvement and more effective long-term support.Core values on the shop floorLeon credits <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s success to the specialists who live the company’s core values of ownership, no-nonsense, and excellence (ONE). “It’s that genuine dedication and passion for technology that clients feel,” he says.For many owners and crew, this visible commitment is what defines the company. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> delivered exceptional results, from planning to commissioning on our 70-metre-plus AV/IT refit,” says Kane Spalding, ETO on a 70-metre-plus yacht. “Their ongoing support and aftersales service have been first-class – proactive, fast, and discreet. In every respect, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s bespoke service sets the standard for AV/IT integration and service in the yachting industry.”Crucially, feedback loops between service and new build ensure real-world experience feeds directly back into design, integration, and future innovation. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/380880/image/large-3679008c19246533a53b2f6b1c6c46d1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/380880">Training and what comes nextTraining is embedded from pre-delivery onwards. CTOs are invited to Rotterdam for hands-on sessions, followed by continued support during commissioning and throughout the yacht’s operational life. Looking ahead, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> is developing the next generation of support infrastructure, including a dedicated portal designed to bring together service, communication, and client feedback, while allowing clients greater involvement in ongoing product development.As the fleet continues to grow, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a>’s focus remains unchanged: long-term relationships built on trust, expertise, and presence on board. Follow <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4441" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ONEXP (Company)">ONEXP</a> to stay up to date with future developments, innovations, technology, and get a view behind the scenes of the team delivering it all.&nbsp;

Aftersales and support at ONEXP

We sit down with Leon head of aftersales and services at ONEXP to understand what sets the company apart.

Delivery is just the beginning: Aftersales and support at the heart of ONEXP

The 68.85-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> is nearing completion at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters Shipyard</a>, representing one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking sustainability projects ever undertaken in yacht building. Developed in collaboration with the open-source platform Foundationº (Foundation Zero) – a renewables-focused non-profit organisation – and realised by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters Shipyard</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> is a proof-of-concept project designed to demonstrate what is possible in truly emission-free yachting. The yacht’s journey reflects a wider mission: to inspire, share knowledge, and ignite a shift in mindset across the maritime industry.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365568/image/large-ddd95d9367bf908ff3b5c55c8692405f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365568">A shared vision for progress Eduard van Benthem, Project Manager for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> and Executive Director at Foundationº, describes the project as a tangible manifestation of the foundation’s mission: “Inspire, create and share knowledge to drive sustainable, innovative solutions.” He explains, “While the foundation focuses on creating and sharing knowledge, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> serves as a concrete example of how this knowledge can be applied in practice.” The collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a>, alongside <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra Naval Architects</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/15" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vripack (Company)">Vripack</a>, was born out of a shared philosophy rather than a conventional shipyard-client relationship. “From the outset, it was clear that the Zero project could only succeed if all parties were aligned not just technically but also mentally,” says van Benthem. “The project revolves around collaboration based on trust, openness, and a joint ambition to create something truly new.” This approach proved essential given the project’s radical departure from traditional yacht-building frameworks. “Almost everything had to be developed during the process itself,” he adds. “This requires not only technical expertise but also flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to discover together.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a>’ Project Manager, Gerrit Jongman, echoes this sentiment: “A big challenge was, and still is, the integration of all the new technologies in a superyacht build where space is limited, combined with the fact that also during the build developments are still ongoing which bring up new requirements.” He notes that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> has redefined how <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> manages collaboration. “Where normally the yard is used to working from a fixed specification, on this project the end goal regarding technology has always been a moving target,” he says. “This has been very inspiring and has pushed the final product to a higher level.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365563/image/large-a86ed4f2cc44ee076dc65c02c70a6515.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365563">Technology and design: rethinking the fundamentals What makes <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> distinct is its complete re-evaluation of yacht design from an energy-first perspective. “At Project <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a>, the focus is first and foremost on innovation, not optimisation,” says van Benthem. “We do not take energy and energy balance for granted. Once these are fully integrated into the design, completely new insights and solutions emerge.” This philosophy has resulted in a number of groundbreaking approaches, from rethinking insulation and heat management to redesigning the vessel’s entire energy architecture. “Why can a mast not function as a chimney, utilising heat or airflow?” van Benthem poses. “How can we achieve higher insulation with the same weight budget, or higher reliability for the DC electrical network while improving safety?”Inside the yacht, the differences are striking. Jongman explains, “One area where you will really see the difference between a more standard yacht and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> is in the engine room. On <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a>, this area is called the main technical room as we don’t have engines – with no exhausts, engines or generators, a completely new layout could be developed.” Instead, this space houses an advanced energy system that “stores, harvests, and converts energy from various sources to various consumers,” he continues. This integrated energy heart connects systems such as photovoltaic-thermal panels, salt batteries for heat storage, and adsorption chillers – all part of a holistic thermal energy balance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365569/image/large-67e757447761f5e96ee40225759f2065.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365569">Collaboration and cultural change Beyond the technology, both van Benthem and Jongman emphasise the importance of mindset. “The main goal is not only to build an innovative vessel but also to trigger a cultural shift within the maritime industry,” says van Benthem. “We want to show that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand, and that radically new concepts are achievable when people and companies are willing to collaborate.”Jongman adds that this approach has reshaped <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a>’ own internal culture: “On <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> we have people with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences, also from outside the yachting industry, collaborating on one common project. It is inspiring to see specific works from a different perspective and this is definitely something <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> will take away for future projects.”That spirit of openness is at the heart of Foundationº’s work. Through its platform, foundationzero.org, the organisation shares open-source data, design insights, and research findings from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> to encourage learning and adaptation across sectors. “We aim to show that openness and transparency are the foundation for real progress,” says van Benthem. “Our IT team works hard behind the scenes to collect, analyse and share data. This allows others to observe and contribute to the conclusions and results we publish.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365567/image/large-f8e82cf19c8160071e95f17897079b67.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365567">Looking ahead With commissioning now underway, the project is approaching a pivotal phase. “The next key milestones include the start of commissioning and the phase where we can demonstrate the first proof-of-concept results,” says van Benthem. “Next is, of course, the launch of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> – a special moment when the project literally comes to life. But we see this launch not as an endpoint but as the beginning. Once <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> is in the water, the real work starts: inspiring, validating, sharing, and improving.”For both <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters</a> and Foundationº, Zero represents more than just a yacht – it aims to be the beginning of a movement. As van Benthem concludes, “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> is meant to serve as a demonstration of what the industry can achieve when people and organisations are willing to challenge traditional assumptions and embrace new ways of designing and collaborating.” Jongman agrees: “This project shows that when parties work with a more open collaboration, where the scopes of the various partners are not completely locked by thick contracts, more can be achieved.”In a sector often defined by refinement and tradition, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Zero</a> stands as proof that the future of yachting lies not just in performance and craftsmanship, but in curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to rethink everything.

Vitters Project Zero sustainable yacht

We take a closer look behind Project Zero, the zero emissions yacht at Vitters.

Behind Project Zero: A new chapter in sustainable superyacht innovation

Since <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> launched its first iPad and TV applications for luxury superyachts, the vision has been clear: transform the onboard experience by bringing all essential guest information, including itineraries, menus, crew profiles and tender tracking, into one elegant digital platform.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371316/image/large-fa609e210c6c3dac3995852a4bca137f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371316">Over the past 15 years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> has been embraced by owners, guests, and crews alike, onboard everything from private 30m yachts all the way to some of the largest charter yachts. And while the team knew the product would evolve, they didn’t anticipate how thoroughly these users would reshape its vision, turning it into a tool built as much by the community as by its developers.“Observing how owners, guests, and crew interact with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> has been invaluable,” says <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> CTO Fabian Tollenaar. “Their feedback hasn’t just improved the app, it’s transformed how we think about the onboard experience entirely.”Some requests were straightforward. Crews wanted better control over the information flow, more flexibility in presentation and the ability to showcase the yacht itself. Others emerged over time, including a separate safety feature, tools to loop through upcoming destinations automatically, location pins within the schedule, and simpler ways to add or edit destinations.&nbsp;The team listened. More importantly, they rebuilt. Now, after years of collaboration and refinement, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> is ready to unveil a completely new generation of its iPad and TV applications. At Metstrade 2025, the yachting industry will see this evolution firsthand.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378277/image/large-cbee5e1dcb6bd2fbf1243015a9b0803d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378277">The TV Rebuild Starting from the foundations, every line of code has been reconsidered. The result is not simply an update; it's a complete reimagining of what YachtEye can be as a digital guest information system. The new iPad and TV applications retain everything crews rely on, including itineraries, galleries, schedules, yacht radar, tenders &amp; toys, weather, yacht info, crew profiles, Wi-Fi access and menus. But they go further.“This release represents a complete rethinking of the onboard guest experience,” says Fabian. Every feature has been refined with direct input from the people who use <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> every day.”The homescreen has been totally redesigned. It now displays a full-screen map showing the yacht's current position, the route, and the location of any tenders &amp; toys in use. It can also showcase a stunning image of the yacht itself, reminding guests of the exceptional vessel carrying them across the seas. Quick-glance widgets deliver the information that matters most: today's weather at the current location, upcoming stops, the evening's dinner plans.The map functionality has returned, refined and enhanced. Guests can now see their precise position, understand where they've been and toggle between standard and satellite view. For both guests and crew, a remote control feature makes managing screens across the yacht effortless, whether adjusting the saloon display from the bridge or updating lounge screens from the crew mess.Perhaps most impressive is the sophisticated screen-looping system for TV. Imagine a guest lounge display that cycles automatically through today's destinations, weather forecasts, information about passing superyachts picked up on radar, and then returns to the homescreen. The system can be programmed to show exactly what's relevant, when it's relevant, without constant crew intervention.The outcome is a platform unlike any other. No other superyacht software combines live data and guest information in such an intuitive, guest-focused way.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378278/image/large-9228947915f9a0544655295ceec10c97.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378278">The Launch The all-new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> for iPad and TV will officially launch at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/285" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Metstrade - 2025">Metstrade 2025</a>. Visitors to the stand can see the new applications in action, experiencing firsthand how two years of user feedback and development have transformed the platform.In keeping with the team’s hands-on approach, the rollout will begin immediately. From the moment the applications are revealed at the show, they’ll be available to download from the App Store, ready for crews to install and experience onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/371313/image/large-ab6283207009367399129c33c71f9761.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/371313">Looking Forward This release represents more than technological advancement. It's proof that listening matters, that the distance between developer and end-user can be bridged, and that the best products emerge from genuine collaboration. The crews who shared their experiences, their frustrations, and their wishes have shaped something that will serve the industry for years to come.As yachts begin their next chapters with this new platform, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> team is already listening again. Because the best products are never truly finished; they evolve with the people who use them.Experience the new <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7736" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="YachtEye (Company)">YachtEye</a> for yourself

A New Chapter for YachtEye

YachtEye launches its redesigned iPad and TV apps, offering an intuitive, guest-focused platform that elevates onboard information for superyachts.

In an industry built on precision, performance, and expertise, one critical element has long remained underdeveloped: data.&nbsp;While shipyards have made major strides in propulsion efficiency, sustainability, and design innovation, digital tracking and data integration have lagged behind. Studies suggest that only a fraction of superyachts operate with complete digital visibility of their systems, maintenance, and compliance. The result is predictable: fragmented information, inefficient workflows, and lost value over the vessel’s lifetime.&nbsp;That landscape is changing. As class societies, insurers, and a new generation of owners demand greater transparency and accountability, Digital Lifecycle Management (DLM) is becoming the link that connects build, operation, and resale, transforming yachts into intelligent, data-driven assets.&nbsp;If steel and teak define a yacht’s structure, data increasingly defines its intelligence. The next decade will determine whether superyachts remain traditional engineering achievements or evolve into connected ecosystems that can adapt and learn throughout their lifespan. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/376985/image/large-b35496e9f025524f89a85188343b2e08.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/376985">Why Lifecycle Management MattersEvery yacht generates vast amounts of information from design plans and supplier records to maintenance logs and crew data. Historically, this knowledge has been scattered across departments or lost in transition between shipyard, management, and owner.&nbsp;Digital Lifecycle Management brings these fragmented data points together into one connected ecosystem, creating a continuous digital thread that follows the yacht from concept to operation and beyond.&nbsp;In essence, it becomes a living digital counterpart of the vessel, one that remembers every service, inspection, and voyage. The same concept that drives modern aviation and automotive industries is now shaping the future of yachting.&nbsp;A yacht operating within a DLM framework can automate maintenance, streamline compliance reporting, and optimise operational planning. This not only reduces costs but also ensures that decisions are based on verified information rather than assumptions. When a yacht’s financial, operational, and environmental data are unified, its performance and value become measurable and manageable. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/376987/image/large-7a073d22627365e71e01b19e21c13580.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/376987">Shipyards: Building Long-Term Digital ValueFor shipyards, digital transformation represents an opportunity to preserve build quality in a more sustainable, traceable form. Traditionally, when a yacht leaves the yard, its technical history is dispersed across multiple systems and formats design files in one place, supplier details in another, warranty data in spreadsheets. This fragmentation complicates after-sales support and limits long-term visibility.&nbsp;By integrating Digital Lifecycle Management into the build process, shipyards can create a complete digital archive that captures every stage of construction, from design approvals and supplier data to class documentation and warranty logs.&nbsp;In doing so, shipyards are not only delivering a yacht but also transferring a structured digital record of its build, one that provides clarity for future maintenance, refit, and resale. This approach enhances client confidence, reduces warranty exposure, and protects the yard’s reputation for reliability.&nbsp;The move towards DLM doesn’t replace traditional expertise, it strengthens it by ensuring that every component, process, and decision is recorded and accessible throughout the vessel’s life. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/376986/image/large-1724ed70fdac4b981c12f67e03d52a78.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/376986">Yacht Managers: Turning Complexity into Clarity&nbsp;Operating a superyacht involves thousands of interconnected tasks. Maintenance planning, class surveys, crew management, compliance tracking, and financial oversight all demand accuracy and coordination. With operating costs often reaching 10–15% of a yacht’s value each year, even small inefficiencies have a tangible impact.&nbsp;Many management companies still rely on manual processes and spreadsheets to track critical activities. This makes it difficult to maintain real-time awareness or respond quickly to audits and inspections.&nbsp;Digital Lifecycle Management centralises these functions within one framework, connecting maintenance schedules, crew compliance, inventory, and financial data in a single environment. The result is transparency across departments and a clearer operational picture for both managers and owners.&nbsp;Tasks that once took days, such as preparing documentation for class surveys, can now be completed in minutes, supported by live, accurate data. Predictive maintenance also reduces downtime by identifying issues before they occur.&nbsp;For management teams, this means less administrative overhead and more time to focus on safety, efficiency, and service quality. For owners, it translates into peace of mind, knowing that their vessel is managed through structured, verified processes that protect both performance and value. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/376988/image/large-7875e2f68fd701e8aa5fde38d06f473d.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/376988">Owners: The Value of the Digital Record&nbsp;Today’s yacht owners expect more than exceptional design and comfort; they expect transparency, sustainability, and traceability. A yacht is not only a luxury asset but also a statement of responsible ownership.&nbsp;A verified digital record, the complete documentation of a yacht’s operational and maintenance history, ensures that every inspection, refit, and voyage is properly logged and accessible. This transparency supports confidence among insurers, classification societies, and potential buyers.&nbsp;When the time comes to refit or sell, a yacht with a comprehensive digital history carries a clear advantage. It demonstrates accountability and builds trust through traceable data, helping maintain higher asset valuations.&nbsp;Tomorrow’s buyers will measure a yacht’s worth not only by her condition but by the integrity of her digital documentation.&nbsp;A Practical Path to Digital Transformation&nbsp;Transitioning to a fully digital lifecycle approach does not require an immediate overhaul. The key is to start with structured steps that build continuity over time.&nbsp;During the design and build phase, data should be captured in standardised formats, ensuring that class, supplier, and warranty information can easily transfer into operational systems. Once commissioned, this data becomes the foundation for maintenance planning, compliance reporting, and performance tracking.&nbsp;As the yacht moves through refit or resale stages, the same data continuity supports valuation, documentation, and sustainability disclosures. Over time, this creates a cycle of learning and improvement where every operational insight contributes to smarter management and better decision-making.&nbsp;The Defining Moment for the Industry&nbsp;The superyacht sector stands at a turning point. Younger, more technology-oriented owners are entering the market. Regulations are tightening, and sustainability performance is becoming measurable. In this environment, effective data stewardship is not a technical add-on, it is central to long-term asset management.&nbsp;The yachts of tomorrow will not only be defined by their engineering but also by their ability to evolve, adapt, and learn through data. Embracing Digital Lifecycle Management allows the industry to maintain its heritage of excellence while building a future defined by intelligence, transparency, and lasting value.&nbsp;In doing so, yachting moves beyond traditional practices and enters an era where precision, performance, and digital integrity work together to support a smarter, and more transparent future for yacht ownership.&nbsp;

Digital Lifecycle Management for yachts

In an industry built on precision, performance, and expertise, one critical element has long remained underdeveloped: data. 

From blueprint to beyond: How Digital Lifecycle Management is redefining superyacht ownership 

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> has launched the 89-metre Project 828 <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12427" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Milky Way89.0m (291'12&quot;)Feadship2026">Milky Way</a> from its Royal Van Lent shipyard in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396324/image/large-d7c701ac79a9f785ee73706e82a68384.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396324">The custom superyacht features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">Studio De Voogt</a>, with interiors by British design studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>. Technical support for the project was provided by OCCAM. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12427" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Milky Way89.0m (291'12&quot;)Feadship2026">Project 828</a> was sold in 2023 and has since remained under construction in the Netherlands.The launch follows an earlier construction milestone in May 2025, when the yacht was seen out of the shed for the first time as her hull was launched from the NMC hull fabrication facility in Nieuw-Lekkerland.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396325/image/large-258dd0e051c8879b02bf26f5a2e5d236.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396325">According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12427" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Milky Way89.0m (291'12&quot;)Feadship2026">Project 828</a>’s purposely long bow was developed to optimise exterior deck spaces, pushing the yacht’s volume aft and creating a profile defined by strong horizontal lines, a striking vertical bow and long structural deck lines.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396323/image/large-f71c6523299ec8b45784e401bab8b1b4.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396323"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12427" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Milky Way89.0m (291'12&quot;)Feadship2026">Milky Way</a>'s interior, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, has been developed to complement the exterior, with soft, flowing lines intended to create a cohesive spatial experience throughout the guest and owner areas.

89m Feadship project 828 Milky Way launched in Amsterdam

The 89m Feadship superyacht Feadship 828, Project Milky Way,  has been launched. 

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<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering Yachts (Company)">Bering Yachts</a> has unveiled the interior concept for its 33-metre explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering Yachts (Company)">Bering</a> 110, developed in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4720" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Yacht Design (Company)">Red Yacht Design</a>. The reveal offers a first look inside the model, with the first hull currently under construction.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/372249/image/large-9ffc2bdc420009249ec1e58cf2df10ec.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/372249">Conceived as a crossover yacht, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16391" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering 110/0133.3m (109'3&quot;)Bering Yachts2027">Bering 110</a> aims to combine explorer yacht capabilities with the volume and comfort more commonly associated with larger vessels. While her steel hull and projected range of more than 5,000 nautical miles highlight her exploration credentials, her interior design takes a more restrained direction.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396259/image/large-f625f19ab89d937510477f384352590f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396259"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396260/image/large-a2b92ec224adb00b9d7dd82abc89d6e7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396260">According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4720" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Yacht Design (Company)">Red Yacht Design</a>, the model’s interiors draw inspiration from Far Eastern principles of simplicity, balance and precision. The main saloon has been conceived as a continuous living space where the lounge, dining area and window seating flow naturally into one another. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396261/image/large-cc4e5a6cd3ef0e8648071aa84ed8aa4c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396261">Warm wood panelling, soft neutral tones, raw marble surfaces and placed burgundy accents are meticulously layered, while a curved sofa serves as the focal point of the lounge. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396263/image/large-0399d48b166deffd4f40f4913f613896.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396263">Moreover, textured stone and bronze-toned detailing are combined with carefully layered lighting, while a sculptural staircase frames her darker finishes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396262/image/large-ce40fe1687e59360a3005f217a6e43f4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396262" 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);"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396270/image/large-ad0ab9b178534091e4385f873d3d1d9c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396270">Full-height wooden windows let in abundant natural light and the surrounding sea views. Cana Gokhan of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4720" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Yacht Design (Company)">Red Yacht Design</a> further remarks,“The details are clean and deliberate, with subtle nods to the discipline of calligraphy.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396266/image/large-e4501624263e2141f062a608fa7b3791.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396266">Her interiors are imagined as a space where guests can genuinely unwind. Rather than displaying traditional superyacht opulence, the yacht’s design prioritises stillness, comfort and liveability.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396267/image/large-b4c50c8988ec45e5ee044bbec49a62ac.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396267" 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;"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396264/image/large-8b953afd3227d4243379a0203dd395a2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396264">The layout remains closely aligned with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering Yachts (Company)">Bering</a>'s explorer identity. Her asymmetrical main saloon benefits from generous width and circulation. The owner's suite, additional guest accommodations and crew areas have been configured for extended stays onboard.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396269/image/large-0acb9673d1b760945dfd2d9b0b56ca8f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396269" 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;">&nbsp;Dedicated storage with ample space for necessary supplies and equipment have also been incorporated to support long-range cruising and self-sufficiency at sea.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396268/image/large-ab189de88814a2399080943d53faafd3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396268" 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;"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396265/image/large-9161f81cc4dbee429d677289fd44aba4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396265">The <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16391" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering 110/0133.3m (109'3&quot;)Bering Yachts2027">Bering 110</a> forms part of the shipyard's growing Superyacht Division, with additional interior details expected to be revealed as the project progresses. According to <a href="https://sytiq.superyachttimes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">SuperYacht iQ</a>,<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering Yachts (Company)">&nbsp;Bering</a> has several yachts in-build including the 49.68-metre Bering 165 yacht, and the first hull of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/16391" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bering 110/0133.3m (109'3&quot;)Bering Yachts2027">Bering 110</a>.&nbsp;

 Bering unveils interior concept for in-build 33m explorer yacht Bering 110

Bering has unveiled the interior concept for its in-build 33-metre explorer yacht Bering 110, developed in collaboration with Red Yacht Design. 


<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Yachts (Company)">ISA Yachts</a> has announced that the keel of the third 43.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17023" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Unica 45M/0343.7m (143'4&quot;)ISA Yachts2029">ISA Unica 45M</a> yacht has been laid from the shipyard in Ancona, Italy, marking the start of her construction. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396273/image/large-966918cdfe1cdf289affc294bd4fded0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396273">The sale of the third displacement yacht was announced in April 2026 to a client from the United States, with delivery scheduled for 2029. Developed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1197" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi (Company)">Enrico Gobbi of TEAM for Design</a> in collaboration with the shipyard’s technical department, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17023" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Unica 45M/0343.7m (143'4&quot;)ISA Yachts2029">ISA Unica 45M</a> yacht features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure.&nbsp;Distinguished by fluid, perfectly balanced lines that create a sleek silhouette, the ISA Unica 45M yacht combines generous interior volume with extended outdoor spaces and large glazed sections.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/65857" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Third ISA UNICA 45M Steel superyacht sold with 2029 delivery date (2026-04-14 20:30:00 +0200)">Third ISA UNICA 45M Steel superyacht sold with 2029 delivery date</a><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396272/image/large-8336c72513a1f53dfad504c1679588b9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396272">Spanning 430 GT, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17023" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Unica 45M/0343.7m (143'4&quot;)ISA Yachts2029">ISA Unica 45M</a> yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests across a six stateroom configuration, with her owner’s suite positioned aft on the upper deck. The suite includes a private lounge, desk area, walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom.Further guest accommodation includes a VIP suite on the main deck with large side windows, a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite with a separate shower, while the remaining guest accommodation can be found on the lower deck, comprising two further VIP suites and two twin suites.&nbsp;Moving outside, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17023" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Unica 45M/0343.7m (143'4&quot;)ISA Yachts2029">ISA Unica 45M</a> yacht boasts a stern layout spanning three levels. Descending towards the water, the space includes sunpads, a pool and an infinity cockpit, all of which are enclosed by a glass balustrade.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396271/image/large-796abe1179971e5145e9e562c63fbc12.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396271">Her main deck includes a gym, while dining spaces will be arranged both indoors on the main deck and outside on the upper deck, each accommodating up to 12 guests for formal dinners.Other key features include her upper deck which features a forward lounge and sunpad area, while her 16-metre fly deck incorporates additional lounging and dining spaces, a bar and a circular Jacuzzi.In terms of performance, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/17023" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ISA Unica 45M/0343.7m (143'4&quot;)ISA Yachts2029">ISA Unica 45M</a> yacht is powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a> engines, giving her a top speed of 15 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots.

Keel of third ISA Unica 45m yacht laid

ISA Yachts has announced that the keel of the third 43.7-metre ISA Unica 45M yacht has been laid from the shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

Third ISA Unica 45M motor yacht keel laid

Dutch design studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/15" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vripack (Company)">Vripack</a> has revealed new renderings of in-build 69-metre sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Project Zero</a> ahead of her launch this summer, offering a closer look at her design philosophy, custom interiors, and renewable energy systems.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396254/image/large-94d02d1ae28bc065a048800a6e2d96e3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396254">Developed in collaboration with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra Naval Architects</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Project Zero</a> has spent six years in development. Rather than purely focusing on reducing energy consumption, the yacht is reported to be the first of her class to be designed around energy generation. This radical approach allows the yacht to run for up to two weeks on purely renewable sources, without relying on fossil fuels.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396253/image/large-7447c42b77f8a8f7bc690af39433370f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396253"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Project Zero</a> has been designed to honour the owners' appreciation for traditional sailing yachts while introducing a host of bespoke design solutions. Outside, custom elements can be found throughout, from the spoon bow and matte-finished deck hardware to the sculpted stern cap and hand-painted transom finished in a wood-effect treatment. Her notable metallic blue hull is further distinguished by a feather-inspired boot stripe, a reference to the black-browed albatross that served as a major inspiration for her design.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396256/image/large-a8857968400b95119871dc187c9832f9.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396256">Looking inside, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Project Zero</a> embraces a holistic interior concept centred on natural materials, craftsmanship and owner-focused living. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/15" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vripack (Company)">Vripack</a>’s interior rejects highly polished finishes in favour of tactile textures and organic materials to embody nature. Smoked European oak, reclaimed bark-based materials, leathered stone and hand-selected veneers are featured prominently throughout. Natural knots, cracks and grain variations have been deliberately preserved rather than concealed.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396255/image/large-213cb67058fc8448969608065d402377.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396255">A unifying design language runs throughout the entire yacht. The designers have employed curved architectural forms, shaping joinery, furniture, structural glazing, and lighting. They further remark that all elements either begin or end in a full radius, creating a sense of continuity between the spaces.The owners' choices can be seen throughout <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Project Zero</a>’s design. Her main saloon features a flexible dining table designed to double as a puzzle and craft table, reflecting the owners' hobbies during extended periods onboard. Elsewhere, modular cockpit furniture can be swiftly reconfigured into either lounge or dining arrangements. Meanwhile, electrically operated cockpit windows enable guests to enclose exterior spaces at the touch of a button.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396257/image/large-90f1c0052c3eb53d6f1ebf5adf3d6cce.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396257">Accommodation onboard includes four staterooms. Each stateroom is personalised around places of significance to the owners, all taking inspiration from destinations from Italy to French Polynesia. The owner’s suite is arranged around the mizzen mast, which has been wrapped in a bespoke artwork by American sculptor Sienna Martz. Moreover, this area benefits from a dedicated study to support long periods of working remotely while cruising.Further customisation extends behind the scenes, where the traditional full-beam engine room has been eliminated to make room for a concealed service corridor, enabling the crew to move discreetly throughout the yacht while maintaining guest privacy.According to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/15" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vripack (Company)">Vripack</a>, the yacht combines hydro-generation through regenerative turbine propellers with more than 100-square-metres of photovoltaic thermal panels integrated into her biminis. These panels generate electrical and thermal energy to power onboard systems, heating and cooling.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396258/image/large-478db106ff098d1896050a1003af3d87.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396258">The yacht's sailing performance has also been refined thanks to a collaboration with Emirates Team New Zealand. Through advanced computational fluid dynamics testing, they developed a distinctive topside curvature that reportedly improves sailing speed by 2.5 percent while simultaneously increasing the vessel's electric power generation by approximately eight percent.Currently under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">Vitters Shipyard</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12410" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project Zero68.85m (225'11&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2026">Project Zero</a> is scheduled for launch in summer 2026.

First look: Vripack unveils interior concept of 69m ‘fossil-free’ sailing yacht Project Zero 

Interior concept of 69m sailing yacht Zero, an all-electric project by Vripack and Dykstra Naval Architects currently under construction at Vitters.

Recently spotted anchored off St Tropez by the SuperYacht Times team the 96-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> remains the largest modern private superyacht ever built in the United Kingdom. Constructed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport Yachts</a> in Plymouth and delivered in 2012, SuperYacht Times takes a look at 10 things you didn’t know about the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport</a> flagship.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395647/image/large-c8c0480475b32d2822ac3b4050fd16cb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395647">1. She has been under the same ownership since deliveryCommissioned in 2007 by a Swiss-Italian family and delivered in 2012, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> has remained within the family’s ownership for over a decade. Known as the former Project-55, she was launched on 10 September 2011 and christened <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a>, with her sea trials commencing in October 2011.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395636/image/large-784dda4f94be2bf21fab944a36c68946.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395636">2. She was built at a former naval shipyardFounded in 1989, by the Babcock International Group, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport Yachts</a> was based in Plymouth, Devon and was part of a tradition of boat building at the Devonport Royal Docks, which have been building and supporting The British Royal Navy for over three hundred years. Blending military-grade engineering with superyacht luxury, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport Yachts</a> put the UK on the map for large motor yacht designs. On 23 February 2010, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport Yachts</a> was acquired by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/209" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pendennis Shipyard Ltd (Company)">Pendennis</a>, with the two companies joining forces to expand the offering at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/209" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pendennis Shipyard Ltd (Company)">Pendennis</a>’ base in Falmouth.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395648/image/large-5c060da19ac4dc275b02e1e9083a83ba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395648">3. The owner gifted his last superyacht to his motherThe name Vava has been used by the family on previous yachts, with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> succeeding an earlier vessel bearing the same name. The previous 47.3-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/1064" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava47.3m (155'2&quot;)Feadship1996">Vava</a> was delivered in 1996, with the brief that her owner should enjoy the most peaceful long-distance cruising possible. The yacht was allegedly gifted to his mother when <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a>I was delivered. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395638/image/large-690e352299b20df7f4a808579a964981.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395638">4. Her owner won sailing's most famous trophyHer Swiss-Italian owner who as well as being listed as one of the top 100 wealthiest people in the world by Forbes magazine in 2013, is also a keen yachtsman and sailor. After founding the yachting syndicate Team Alinghi in 2000, her owner entered and won the renowned America’s Cup in 2003, bringing the Cup to Europe for the first time.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395644/image/large-8e6e948f928e48edf31db24a2923fcf6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395644">5. Her designers fought off competition to be chosen&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, while her interior was penned by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rémi Tessier (Company)">Rémi Tessier</a>, with naval architecture by her builder Devonport. In an interview with SuperYacht Times in 2016, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> Founder Justin Redman explained that it was an incredible opportunity to win the commission over other designers. “We felt we won it because we developed not only a very unique looking profile for her owner, but one which incorporated key influences which he had brought to the table from sailboat racing,” he explained.&nbsp;You can read the full interview <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/46674" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Insight: A behind-the-scenes look at Redman Whitely Dixon (2016-03-08 12:00:00 +0100)">here</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395643/image/large-c90cf5553c0191d6762a7293bea6cb81.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395643">6. She can accommodate a high number of guestsBuilt to SOLAS-36 passenger ship standards, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> set a new standard in the charter market for 2012 following her delivery. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 36 guests across an impressive 18 staterooms. Her master suite boasts an open-plan layout, while her full-beam VIP suite rivals other luxury yachts. She can also sleep a crew of 34. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395633/image/large-d1c97626edc7f61f7ed6e51652d62cfb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395633">7. She features one of the largest beach clubs of her generationWhen <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> was launched, expansive beach clubs were still relatively uncommon on large yachts. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> boasted a substantial waterside leisure area that helped set the standard for the indoor-outdoor lifestyle spaces that have since become commonplace across the superyacht sector. Other key features include an aft deck swimming pool, a main deck saloon with a sliding glass wall and a helideck, which was recently spotted with an Airbus H125 landing onboard. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395637/image/large-45075d272b12450df93265d130e80084.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395637">8. She has participated in scientific missions Although often spotted in the Mediterranean, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> was designed with global exploration in mind. She has been deployed for three research expeditions by scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and other research universities from around the world. Her substantial fuel capacity, advanced engineering systems and robust construction allow her to undertake extended voyages far beyond the traditional summer cruising grounds frequented by many large yachts. Over the years she has travelled as far as Antarctica and Polynesia and has participated in scientific missions in the Indian Ocean.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395645/image/large-9a7d3fd9d75bd6b12e895fb6df0b9175.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395645">9. She helped put British superyacht construction back in the spotlightThe delivery of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> attracted significant international attention and demonstrated that Britain could still compete in the upper size segments of superyacht construction. More than a decade later, she remains a lasting symbol of British engineering, design and craftsmanship.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395639/image/large-ce7d1bb5e1194e11f710c58e1226e024.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395639">10. She remains the largest modern superyacht built in the UK<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1711" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vava II96.0m (314'12&quot;)Devonport2012">Vava II</a> still remains the largest modern superyacht ever constructed in the UK. The second largest modern superyacht is the 82-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/307" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pure82.0m (269'0&quot;)Devonport2008">Pure</a>, which was launched in 2008 and recently underwent an extensive refit at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/86" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amico & Co. s.r.l. (Company)">Amico &amp; Co</a> facility in Genova Italy.

UK’s largest modern superyacht Vava II

SuperYacht Times takes a look at 10 things you didn’t know about the Devonport flagship, Vava II. 

Vava II: 10 things you didn't know about the UK's largest superyacht

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting&nbsp;</a>has announced that the 60.2-metre Xplorer 60 yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11078" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="After You60.2m (197'6&quot;)Damen Yachting2025">After You</a> and her 53.25-metre support vessel <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Emotional53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2025">Emotional</a> have departed the builder's main shipyard in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. This departure follows a period of refit, service and optimisation works. According to AIS data, both vessels are currently en route to Reykjavik, Iceland.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396232/image/large-abd42b77a1b431f487ab944294f2e03e.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396232">The yard commented the works were customised to the owner's specific operational needs while preparing the fleet for extensive cruising and exploration in remote regions.Delivered in 2025, both vessels were conceived for long-range autonomy and expedition-style cruising. The pair were acquired by the same owner through <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4547" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="TWW Yachts (Company)">TWW Yachts</a>, who oversaw their integration into a single exploration-focused fleet.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396229/image/large-f729916d9bf110968c318dc15a60c062.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396229"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11078" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="After You60.2m (197'6&quot;)Damen Yachting2025">After You</a> features naval architecture developed in-house by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>, with exterior design 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> and interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="H2 Yacht Design (Company)">H2 Yacht Design</a>. Her onboard amenities include a wellness deck equipped with a Jacuzzi, bar and sauna, a convertible tender hangar that transforms into a lounge and karaoke bar, and a forward observation lounge designed for wildlife and weather watching.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396230/image/large-5aa256db87522afed8b9fe78dbef7a37.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396230">Meanwhile, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Emotional53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2025">Emotional</a> was designed inside and out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>. The support vessel carries a range of expedition equipment, including tenders, a submarine and watersports gear. This allows the mothership to remain dedicated to guest accommodation and entertainment.In terms of performance, both yachts are 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. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11078" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="After You60.2m (197'6&quot;)Damen Yachting2025">After You</a> has a cruising speed of 11.5 knots and a top speed of 14.5 knots, while <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12677" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Emotional53.25m (174'8&quot;)Damen Yachting2025">Emotional</a> cruises at 12 knots and can reach a maximum speed of 19 knots. Together, the two vessels provide the capabilities of a much larger expedition yacht while retaining the flexibility and operational advantages of a dual-vessel setup.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396231/image/large-b80cda5f786823cbca02643d696ec9a9.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396231">“It is always rewarding to welcome our yachts back to Vlissingen,” said Head of Refit &amp; Services at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a> Michel Coens. “Their return reflects the trust placed in our team, our facilities and the way we work together with the Owner’s team, the Crew and our own specialists. Seeing After You and Emotional depart again ready for their next journey is something we can be proud of.”&nbsp;Photos provided courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>.

After You and Emotional depart Damen Yachting following refit

The 60.2-metre Xplorer 60 yacht After You and her 53.25-metre support vessel Emotional have departed the builder's main shipyard in Vlissingen.


Xplorer 60 yacht After You and support vessel Emotional depart Damen Yachting after refit

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

Superyachts have become a floating home for many of its new-age owners, and it is precisely this that has motivated <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a>’ design for the Squalo 100. The brief for both the exterior and interior design was to create a yacht that feels right to live on, emotionally, physically and sensorially. From the layout to the engineering behind the walls was approached through the lens of human experience, rather than mere aesthetics. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395777/image/large-3128f701f247e9a823704b469af76762.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395777">Intimacy, comfort &amp; balanceFor <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a>, luxury is deeply connected to proportion, intimacy and comfort: “a yacht can feature the finest materials and highest quality finishes, but if the spaces feel too tight, disconnected or uncomfortable, the emotional experience aboard is lost” says Roberto Aboumrad, the founder and CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Yachts</a>.Hence, true onboard luxury is not measured by excess or scale alone, but by understanding the emotional relationship between people and space. If seating arrangements are too close together or too far apart, it can obstruct the way onboard guests interact with one another. “True comfort comes from finding that human balance of space.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395771/image/large-de41a280b3ab03c380c47ca7096655df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395771">For Roberto, that comfort starts with the shape of the hull. Rather than pursuing narrow planning hulls, which are optimised for going fast, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha</a> decided on a semi-displacement hull. “These hulls are designed for liveability, efficiency and comfort. There is more interior volume, while simultaneously cruising at speeds it was designed to (i.e. 10-14 knots).”Cruising at the speed that the yacht was designed to do, also ensures high fuel efficiency and long range cruising, which sits in line with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/YachtModel/12554" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Squalo 10030.02m (98'6&quot;)">Alpha</a>’s approach towards sustainability. “There’s a misconception in today’s market that, by adding more electronics and gadgets, you automatically create a better boat,” yet often the opposite is true. “The more complicated you make a vessel, the more things you create that require maintenance.” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a> instead focuses on “creating systems that are durable, intuitive and reliable for long-term ownership.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395758/image/large-1424f9925cdca3c1115877f949e5d9c4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395758">While keeping the number of gadgets to a minimum, technology does play a crucial role in any <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yacht</a>s vessel. “Technology is extremely important for us,” shares Roberto, “but for us technology means simplification.” Making elements more simple and functional makes for happy yacht owners. “It’s a mentality that extends directly into the crew’s workflow and maintainability. A happy crew creates a happy yacht.” With that same thought, the yard has placed enormous importance on crew accommodations and facilities: “the crew lives onboard year-round - it is important they are comfortable and happy.”&nbsp;Especially the galley is a space of pride for Roberto, “we have an incredibly large galley,” he continues, “the space has a centre island, industrial refrigerators, freezers and extraction hoods, a Hoshizaki ice maker capable of producing 90 kilos of crystal clear ice per day.” For <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a>, Roberto emphasises, “the galley is one of the most important areas onboard; it directly impacts everyday life.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395781/image/large-eca123327394f5b4dce944d6d68412a7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395781">Living the experienceA crucial element to designing a yacht for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a> is onboard experience: “when you’ve lived aboard boats for enough years, travelled enough and truly experienced living at sea, you begin to understand the human needs of onboard living” shares Roberto, “you can study design at a desk, but living it opens up a whole new understanding.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395757/image/large-c3608611ab7f6dd82cd72bba6d9c9e54.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395757">This philosophy is not just extended to the yacht’s interiors, but also to the engineering of the Squalo 100. One such place is the engine room, which, onboard all <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a>, are designed with accessibility and functionality as priorities - the goal is to make the engine room and its equipment accessible and simple.Roberto explains how “comfort is an overall sensory experience - space, silence, vibration, colours, atmosphere - to truly feel comfortable and happy, you need to feel all five senses.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395753/image/large-8a75feae7d000d25adda68409da4ead2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395753">One way in which the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha</a> team has done this is by structurally separating the hull and superstructure, which dramatically reduces vibrations and sound transfer throughout the vessel. “You don’t hear generators, vibrations, nor conversation in any of the other staterooms. There is total silence onboard.”Another one of the senses <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a> is especially considerate of is smell. “You can walk into a beautiful boat but if it’s humid or there are unpleasant odours, it ruins the experience.” The yard has noticed that many of the odour-related issues don’t actually originate from black or grey water tanks themselves, but from low-quality piping systems that begin to sweat over time. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395761/image/large-f1870b9a00c455b1e44bcca22a5b9127.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395761">To prevent this, the Squalo 100 has incorporated high quality piping systems alongside a positive-pressure make-up air system designed to continuously renew and purify the air onboard. “Approximately six times per hour, the entire interior air volume is renewed with fresh air.” The result is a refreshing onboard environment.The air-flow design onboard the yacht has also been thoroughly considered: “we maintain more pressure inside the salon than outside, so when the doors open, fresh air escapes outward and blocks hot air from entering” Roberto explains. For the galley, the same construction is used, but flipped, “the galley maintains a lower pressure than the guest areas so that not all the cooking smells will spill into the staterooms and saloon.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395762/image/large-48885ca43e88052e18731411f2ea3610.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395762">Living in spaceA central element in the design of the Squalo 100 and all other <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a> is the ceiling height. “For me ceiling height is a must,” Roberto shares how this decision was rooted in a very human observation: “When tall people walk onto yachts, they have to check how much space sits between the top of their head and the ceiling - which often isn’t very much.” Combined with the Squalo 100’s full-beam saloon and master cabin, the increased ceiling height dramatically transforms the perception of the interior volume. “It creates a totally different feeling onboard.”Besides a spacious layout, a refreshing airflow and minimal yet high-end technologies, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha Custom Yachts</a> offers additional personalisation for their yachts through elements like hull colours. “I had a client with a huge fascination for Porsche and he told me he wanted his hull the same colour of his Porsche Calipers brakes."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395763/image/large-5a734ebfefcf55bc0e5400e54e0d53fc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395763">“We have always been extremely flexible with customisation because we understand that every owner lives differently and expresses luxury differently.” This type of pursuit of individuality is the main reason that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha</a> has intentionally stayed a boutique shipyard. “We’ve done crazy things,” shares Roberto, “but if it doesn’t hurt the value or integrity of the yacht, we’re happy to make our client’s vision become a reality.”There’s a few elements that the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha</a> team won’t compromise on, like the crew accommodations and facilities. Roberto shares how “the crew lives onboard year-round. If the crew isn’t comfortable or happy, the boat won’t be a happy boat.” While owners or guests spend maybe just over a week onboard, crew lives onboard and ensuring they feel at home is of utmost importance.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395746/image/large-e1304f071c6fd249b2bf1a2b910fbc15.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395746">A symbol of powerThe Squalo 100 carries an air of power. Its name stems from the Italian word squalo, meaning ‘Shark’. “A shark is the most efficient creature in the ocean. It’s powerful, intelligent, efficient, and naturally dominant.” For the shipyard, the name perfectly reflects its in-house philosophy. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5252" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alpha Custom Yachts (Company)">Alpha</a> represents leadership, and the Squalo yacht represents efficiency, strength, personality and power.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/395767/image/large-999c901798381e697b3243b4b14b578f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/395767">

Inside the design of Alpha squalo 100

Alpha Custom Yachts' Squalo 100, designed for spacious living on the water.

Alpha Yachts’ Squalo 100: Redefining human-centred yacht design

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld a lower court ruling that Eduard Khudainatov, the former owner of the 106.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>, cannot claim ownership following her seizure in 2022, marking the last chance he had to appeal the decision.SuperYacht Times takes a look back at the full legal battle over the yacht’s ownership and the proceedings that led to the US Government’s forfeiture of the yacht.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393887/image/large-ad933bf5db70a1d40d13082c78016610.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393887">The seizure of AmadeaIn April 2022, U.S. authorities under the Biden administration, seized <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> in Fiji as part of their Task Force KleptoCapture, which aimed at intensifying sanction enforcements against Russian oligarchs linked to President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;Prosecutors allege that sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov is the owner of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>, while Eduard Khudainatov, the former chief of Russian state oil and gas company Rosneft, and his company Millemarin Investment claim that the yacht is under their ownership.&nbsp;Suleiman Kerimov was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, in consultation with the Department of State in 2018 for his role as an official of the Russian Federation and a member of the Russian Federation Council. He was alleged to have moved hundreds of millions of euros into France, in addition to conducting standard fund transfers without disclosing the money to French tax authorities.The arrest of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> was announced on 14 April 2022, but the Task Force KleptoCapture did not get the official green light for her arrest until 4 May. During this period a plea had been made by Millemarin Investment on the registration of the US warrant to seize <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>.&nbsp;The Fijian Court of Appeals dismissed the plea on 27 May, opening an avenue for the U.S. Department of Justice to actualise the arrest and transport her to U.S. territory. From there, the yacht was locked in a legal battle for several years regarding her true ownership. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393882/image/large-85002cf90fcbd0f9d3c4545d29a092c9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393882">The ownership structure behind AmadeaAccording to court documents, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in September 2021 showed that Millemarin Investments Ltd were committed to sell <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> for €225 million to a Cayman Islands entity that was created less than one week before the deal. Under the agreement, the buyer acquired the right to use the yacht and assumed responsibility for her operating costs following the initial €45 million payment.Lawyers representing Millemarin claim the Cayman Islands-based company is owned by Khudainatov and because he is not currently sanctioned by the U.S, his legal team therefore challenged the seizure and forfeiture of the yacht.However, U.S prosecutors argue that the sanctioned Russian billionaire Kerimov was behind the Cayman Islands entity and that he allegedly used a web of shell companies to hide his assets, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>, and evade international sanctions.&nbsp;It was alleged that Khudainatov was serving as the "straw” or nominal owner to obscure Kerimov's involvement.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393883/image/large-99488250fa35ea39ce37fa28d4ff2747.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393883">The court battle In October 2023, U.S. Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint for ownership of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> following her seizure and relocation to San Diego in 2022. The complaint was filed at the Manhattan federal court and marked the start of a lengthy judicial process for the US to seek ownership.The U.S. Department of Justice alleged in its complaint that Suleiman Kerimov bought <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> in 2021, and then violated U.S. sanctions by making more than $1 million in maintenance payments through U.S. financial institutions.Just four months later, the U.S. government filed a petition to auction <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> before the dispute over her ownership was resolved, stating that the yacht was currently costing the U.S government more than $7 million a year to maintain.A court filing by federal prosecutors in Manhattan told U.S. District Judge Dale Ho that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> currently had an “excessive” $600,000 monthly average maintenance bill, and urged the judge to consider an auction. They also alleged that talks to have Khudainatov pay for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>'s upkeep had broken down.&nbsp;In January 2025, the evidentiary hearing began to determine the ownership of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>. Rachael Doud, Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of New York stated that Kerimov’s niece allegedly paid €225 million to complete the sale of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> in 2021 on his behalf and to bypass sanctions which had been imposed on him since 2018.According to Doud, Kerimov and his family used the vessel and had plans to use it further, with Khudainatov acting as a straw owner. Khudainatov’s lawyer Adam Ford argued that there is no evidence of a completed sale and characterised the agreement with Kerimov as a loan rather than a purchase.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393875/image/large-a816cc99184d93f85c79dca79e3e1630.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393875">Ownership claims rejected and yacht sold at auctionOn 10 March 2025, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho issued an 80-page ruling that stated that while Khudainatov retained the "bare title" to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> after September 2021, the true beneficial owner was sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov.The decision marked a significant victory for the U.S. Department of Justice, prompting them to announce in August 2025 that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> would be offered for sale via a sealed-bid auction on 10 September 2025.The auction was administered by the National Maritime Services of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in accordance with a forfeiture order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case 1:23-cv-09304), with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser Yachts</a> appointed as promotional agent for the auction.In October 2025, a spokesperson for the United States Marshals Service confirmed that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> had been sold at auction, with her new owner and price not disclosed. However, Khudainatov and Millemarin Investments submitted an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, maintaining they were the beneficial owners of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/393872/image/large-9aac7473aea0108815459490aee8c9cf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/393872">Final ownership appeal rejectedIn a decision issued on 1 June 2026, the court and circuit Judges Parker, Lohier and Merriam affirmed Ho’s previous ruling, confirming that Eduard Khudainatov and Millemarin Investments Ltd were unable to demonstrate a sufficient beneficial interest in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>.&nbsp;The court agreed with the District Court in the Southern District of New York, stating that Khudainatov acted as a "straw owner" and despite a sale agreement in 2021 that transferred control and economic responsibility for the yacht, he only appeared as the legal owner on paper, with the real economic ownership allegedly under the control of Kerimov.&nbsp;The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit confirmed that Khudainatov failed to demonstrate the type of beneficial interest required under US law to contest civil forfeiture proceedings.“With the standard of proof established, we review the District Court’s legal conclusions relating to standing de novo and its factual findings for clear error,” explained the court. “The District Court correctly concluded that the claimants’ legal title to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> did not itself establish standing to contest the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a>’s forfeiture. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgments of the District Court.”As a result of this, the legal challenge over ownership has been brought to a close, with the Government’s forfeiture of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> remaining in place, and no other avenues available for the claimants to pursue ownership arguments in the United States courts.Delivered in 2017, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> features exterior design by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino International</a>, while her interior was penned 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>, with naval architecture by her builder <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>. With a gross tonnage of 4,402, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> can comfortably accommodate up to 16 guests across an eight stateroom configuration, alongside an impressive crew of 36.&nbsp;Amenities onboard include an infinity pool, a certified helipad, a private owner’s spa, a separate guest spa and two elevators. 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, the yacht has a top speed of 20 knots, a cruising speed of 13 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles.&nbsp;According to AIS, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6167" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amadea 106.1m (348'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Amadea</a> is currently located in Monaco.

Amadea yacht ownership appeal rejected

The US Court of Appeals has upheld the court ruling that Eduard Khudainatov cannot claim ownership of the 106m Lürssen yacht Amadea.

US Court rejects final appeal from ex.owner of 106m yacht Amadea

As Venice Climate Week runs from 3 to 8 June, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> is calling for urgent investment in alternative fuel infrastructure across Europe. The company noted that the transition to next-generation sustainable yachts will depend on availability of energy infrastructure, rather than the speed of technological progress.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396223/image/large-103ef131c568767e63b19cb8b8a430ac.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396223">Executive Chairman Massimo Perotti presented the ‘Venice Call for Maritime Action’ at the event, an initiative formalised through an open letter addressed to Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, and copied to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.“Across our industries, the technologies required to enable more sustainable mobility, employment and enjoyment at sea are no longer theoretical,” he stated in the letter. “They are real, advancing rapidly, and increasingly ready to move beyond experimentation and into everyday use.” The initiative calls for coordinated investment in green methanol supply chains and electrification infrastructure across key maritime hubs.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> noted that while it has already invested in bi-fuel methanol propulsion as part of its 'Road to 2030' strategy, adoption remains constrained by limited infrastructure. This case is &nbsp;particularly apparent in the Mediterranean, where availability across marinas is still minimal.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396224/image/large-fa3744cfa8c57f5776899c890d02e793.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396224">Currently, less than one percent of global methanol production is renewable, with supply concentrated in industrial ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges, leaving major yachting regions underserved.The ‘Venice Call for Maritime Action’ urges coordinated action among European institutions and policymakers, port authorities and coastal cities, energy producers and fuel suppliers, and industrial and technology partners to accelerate the transition. This includes including a six-month progress review to assess infrastructure development.The letter also pushes forward <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a>'s commitment to the following initiatives:&nbsp;<ul><li>Championing a future vision for more sustainable yachting</li><li>Continuing investment in innovation and technological progress</li><li>Supporting the development of viable and accessible energy ecosystems</li><li>Engaging in cross-sector collaboration to accelerate progress<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/396226/image/large-dd7b8005406727dc9430ff3c953dbf09.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/396226"></li></ul>The effort has already drawn support from across the maritime sector, including SYBAss, Professor Flavio Manenti of Politecnico di Milano, alongside representatives from marine technology, energy, and sustainability organisations.As one of the founding partners of Venice Climate Week, the company is using its Casa Sanlorenzo hub to convene industry dialogue under the ‘Planet Aqua, Planet Peace’ programme. The initiative brings together city leaders, scientists and industry stakeholders to address coastal resilience and maritime transition.Moreover, the group continues to advance its Road to '2030 strategy'. This includes the 50Steel Almax, the first superyacht to feature a methanol fuel cell system, and Bluegame’s hydrogen-powered BGH-HSV support vessel, developed for zero-emission operations during the America’s Cup."By aligning investment, infrastructure and policy, it is possible to unlock the next phase of sustainable &nbsp;maritime mobility and support the wider integration of alternative propulsion technologies across &nbsp;Europe,” Perotti concluded.

Sanlorenzo Venice Climate Week

Sanlorenzo is calling for urgent investment in alternative fuel infrastructure across Europe at the Venice Climate Week 2026.