Al Said Yacht News & Events

Al Said (project Sunflower) at the Lürssen yard

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Al Said in Barcelona

Al Said

This October, the 82-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a> was launched, unveiling the new superyacht to the industry for the very first time. A highly secretive project, the superyacht, Hull 13775 is the first superyacht designed by the yard’s Lead Exterior Designer Jim Robert Sluijter. British studio <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> has designed <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>’s interiors, and in another milestone, she is the first collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> and the studio since the launch of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> in 2008.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292976/image/large-c300998f43ab6d20e25045b0653b12a0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292976">Despite <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a> being his first design project to hit the water since joining <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, Jim was attending the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/183" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show - 2023">Fort Lauderdale Boat Show</a> during her splash. Fortunately, that gave SuperYacht Times the opportunity to sit down with him to find out more about the project, as well as talk about his own path, from working alongside of the industry's top studios, to becoming <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>’s Lead Designer. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291965/image/large-a594dabd47cba9af9a44df3b54d7e71f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291965">How did your career at&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>&nbsp;begin – what were you doing beforehand?Well, let's start at the beginning. As a young boy I’d had the amazing opportunity to tour the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> shipyard with Jan Van Lent and having never seen a superyacht before, I was absolutely amazed by the visit. When it came to deciding on my first internship during my Industrial Design course at TU Delft, it felt natural for me to reach back out to the yard that so inspired me as a child and thankfully they took me on.My responsibilities during that time were fairly basic, but it gave me an incredible insight into the superyacht construction industry and showed me how superyacht builders operated from the inside. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">De Voogt</a> had a wall in one of the buildings with all of the in-build projects so when it came to choosing a company to guide my final year project, I stood back, reviewed all of the projects and decided that the Andrew Winch design yacht was the most exciting for me. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/7330/image/large-34cf424c69fef88fba28c515709a84a3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/7330">I reached out to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a> and asked if I could do my final year project with them, an offer to which they said no. However, they did offer me a six month internship. So I moved to London and joined the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a> team, and following my internship they assisted me with the finalisation of my degree before I joined the studio’s exterior design team. I was at Winch for six years, during which time we signed three contracts with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>; <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5624" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aurora74.0m (242'9&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Aurora</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gigia85.0m (278'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Areti</a> (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Gigia85.0m (278'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2017">Gigia</a>) and Tis&nbsp;(now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.5m (365'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Alaiya</a>), so I became familiar with the Rendsburg facility and many of the team. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/45215/image/large-51b9018786f8673d3c7d489cee428dc1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/45215">When <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaiya111.5m (365'10&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2019">Tis</a> was delivered, I decided it was time to do something different, so came back to the Netherlands and joined the team at <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> inHaarlem. During that time, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure</a> was working on the naval architecture of Moon Sand, the 55-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, and the studio was closely aligned with the yard for any 50-60-metre proposals. Because I had worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a>, many of these proposals fell to me and so my relationship with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> and particularly Michael Breman, became very strong.&nbsp;After I left <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/37" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture (Company)">Azure</a>, I received a call from Michael asking me to meet him and Peter Lürssen at Schiphol for a meeting, and that turned out to be the job interview for the role I have today.&nbsp;That must have felt like the golden ticket! What was the proposed role?The yard had been looking for an in-house designer to focus on the smaller yacht sector (50-70-metre), to quickly create proposals that could assist the sales team and build on the existing <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> portfolio. While the yard is committed to its relationship with external studios, an in-house designer could create a variety of potential designs, to be shown during client meetings at very short notice. Having worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> in both my previous roles, I had come to know the yard and its processes very well and Peter and Michael thought I would make a great fit for the role.&nbsp;I joined 4.5 years ago, initially in Rendsburg and then later from home in Amsterdam. During my first year I was creating proposals in that 50-70-metre range, but as the role progressed, it became clear that there was more interest from clients in the slightly larger range of 70-90-metres. The yard has an extraordinary level of expertise and the team is accustomed to working on very large projects. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292972/image/large-4d0445e96017bc8decc73609440e5db2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292972">Tell us about&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, how did the project begin and is it not unusual for an owner to go with a relatively unknown designer?Absolutely and I think that is part of the reason that it is only now that she is launched that we have announced her as an in-house design. In the case of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, she actually began as a 73-metre proposal sketch and it so happened that the owner in question loved the original exterior design and style, with the only major change being the length. I think for this owner, the fact that I was an in-house designer was less important than the fact that he loved her lines and that Lürssen’s reputation for excellence guaranteed a wonderful end result.&nbsp;The client had a very clear vision of what he wanted. He wanted his next yacht to feature some of the elements he felt his current yacht was missing, namely a beach club and an even larger sundeck with wind protection. He wanted four staterooms on the lower deck, as well as two VIPs on the main deck alongside the owner's stateroom. Unlike many yachts of her size today, the owner opted not to have an owner’s deck, instead having an enlarged sundeck and a sleeker exterior design. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292977/image/large-87daf37dbe9b3a11abeefcdaf5a977a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292977">When it comes to your proposals, are you given creative licence, or do you draw inspiration from the&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>&nbsp;fleet?One of the best things about working as a designer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> is the unequalled access to the yards portfolio of yachts, which enables me to draw inspiration from what has come before and also to match my designs to the capabilities of the yard. For example, when it comes to design intricacies, such as the pool on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, I was able to call the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> specialist and have a discussion there and then about potential design features or limitations. I am however given freedom to interpret the owner's wishes and I think that is something really unique to both the role and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291962/image/large-1a60c0a4f219b247435b74a38e4d234f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291962">How has the process been for you, launching your first own-design&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>?It has been a fantastic experience. Working alongside the brilliant team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> on the interiors and Kees de Keizer who has represented the owner throughout the process, has been great. In my experience, it has been one of the most seamless build projects, despite the interruption of Covid in the middle. &nbsp;We had a very tight schedule for the build, and often when it comes to the big decision phases, projects sometimes become delayed because owners change their focus during the project and change priorities. This was not the case for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>, her owner was so clear on his ambition with the boat, he was incredibly responsive and we had a fantastic collaboration between <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>, RWD and the owner’s team.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291963/image/large-2070c3703f5c4d0047a6af6e4c2219da.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291963">Can you share a few of your favourite features of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/10533" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cali82.0m (269'0&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2024">Cali</a>?There are many things that I love about this project, but in particular the shapes of the exterior. Not having an owner’s deck allowed us to play with the lines and create a very sleek exterior and then that massive sundeck that could only have happened without an upper deck, is really special. The sundeck has 2.5 metres ceiling height and it is completely open aside from windbreak panels.&nbsp;She has a huge swim platform to accommodate the tenders, a floating dock for the Jet Skis and all other water sports activities. In combination with the pool on the main deck aft this will be the main area for day time &nbsp;activities onboard. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/292975/image/large-9c05ff8d14ed240e801a4dec0c627d68.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/292975">Finally, your first yacht is out there now, can we expect to see more&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a>-designed yachts hitting the water?<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> is famed for its incredible collaborations with the best designers in the superyacht industry, and this will never change. The work we have done over the past 4.5 years, I believe, has been very successful, but it will only be one string in the shipyard’s bow, though we currently have a few irons in the fire for a next project. I think it is a great addition to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/23" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lürssen Yachts (Company)">Lürssen</a> offering to have an in-house designer that can work alongside the sales team and show owners what is possible on the smaller scale of things.&nbsp;Peter and Michael have been extraordinary mentors, I truly see them as the most respected professionals in the industry and it is amazing to work alongside them. I look forward to whatever it is we do next! &nbsp;

Interview with yacht designer Jim Sluijter

Last month Lürssen launched its first yacht from a smaller superyacht segment, the 82m Cali. We interviewed her designer.

In conversation: Lürssen's in-house designer Jim Sluijter on 82m superyacht Cali

With a career spanning more than two decades, an exceptional line up of yachts to his name and more than 300 metres of yacht launched last year alone, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4540" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vickers Studio (Company)">John Vickers</a> is a man worth speaking to. Starting his career as one of the first designers at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">Redman Whiteley Dixon (now RWD)</a>, John cut his teeth on the myriad of major projects that the studio underwent in its foundling years and by the age of only 27 he was project managing the interior design of the 155-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/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291899/image/large-83211a262a6c8863d1ef91e856500bc0.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291899">Originally destined for a life onboard, John has a deep love of classic yachts but realised quite quickly that he needed an injection of creativity in his life to keep him excited. Having studied design in the UK, he returned to shore and applied for a job at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, becoming the now 60 person strong company’s fifth employee and learning from the three founding partners. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291014/image/large-499e0b3afc4caa64349fca334def7003.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291014">Thrown in at the deep end and eager to learn &nbsp;John quickly began to take on some major design projects, the award winning 55.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Twizzle (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mary A55.5m (182'1&quot;)Feadship2005">Mary A</a>) and 73-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/18" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Amels (Company)">Amels</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ilona82.0m (269'0&quot;)Amels2004">Ilona</a> and of course the aforementioned <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a>, the largest volume yacht in the world at the time. “It was an amazing experience being in my 20s, learning from talented designers and working on projects like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> involved the full breadth of design processes. I was running creative teams, CAD drawing teams, visualising teams, and building systems to run all of these design elements in tandem, which became formative for later projects.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/72312/image/large-e4a7c4f1e57157c00ce106ef28187a9f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/72312"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/72305/image/large-0cf888e903bbec0fdc91ff6ec83d517d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/72305">John worked with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a> for seven years, before joining the London-based architecture firm <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/423" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candy & Candy (Company)">Candy &amp; Candy</a> which was in the process of setting up a yachting arm to the business. John built the team and together they worked on the design of the 62-metre Candyscape II, now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/418" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sealion62.0m (203'5&quot;)VSY2009">Sealion</a>, completing the interior and exterior design in only four months and going on to win the best superyacht awards for the first build of a brand new Italian shipyard. After leaving <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/423" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Candy & Candy (Company)">Candy &amp; Candy</a> in 2007, John was asked to join the studio of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Terence Disdale Design (Company)">Terence Disdale</a>, one of the industry’s most well respected and longest standing firms. Specialising in the design of general arrangements exterior and interior configurations, John worked on a number of major projects, such as 162.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eclipse162.5m (533'2&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH2010">Eclipse</a>, 147.25-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3962" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A+147.25m (483'1&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2012">Topaz</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking &amp; Rasmussen</a> sisterships 81-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4094" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Grace81.0m (265'9&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2014">Kibo</a>, now Grace, and 81.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4454" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RoMEA81.8m (268'4&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2015">RoMEA</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69575/image/large-9bbec295f2af1f9eb74914cec63c8ed6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69575"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69578/image/large-e721f09de3a6f3f049e105812230477a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69578">Wanting &nbsp;more creative freedom and a clear focus on the client's story John set up his own studio with his wife Gemma in 2015. After several years overlooking the Thames the studio escaped the city to a barn conversion studio near Chichester harbour on the UK’s beautiful south coast. The passion from the studio is obvious with the level of detail and care taken with the owners' dream projects. John loves to listen and create unique designs with creative layers in each pen line and shape. “We love to perfect the exterior in conjunction with the layout, which also gets the best results for the interior design. Having solved so many interior design problems, we find that often the interior designer gets brought in last for a project, in reality they should be involved right from the start helping create a really spectacular layout. We do interiors, exteriors and layout styling of the whole yacht, &nbsp;which gives us the opportunity to really achieve spectacular results from inside it to out.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/186990/image/large-84aa03a7ceee1701fce134d9828c5369.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/186990">“We really like to discover the passions and history of a client which we include into a yacht's DNA, creating complete design personalisation.” This John feels has to be the ultimate luxury. It has meant that the majority of his new-builds have won superyacht awards, even when not building at top tier shipyards. “It’s not something you can ever guarantee, but we have seemed to do it fairly regularly’; something that might be of interest to shipyards and clients wanting this level of top industry recognition. In the last eight years, many have been semi custom and refits tailored meticulously to very varied tastes and styles of the client”. However, John’s personal aesthetic direction includes yacht style such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6037" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Blue II55.99m (183'8&quot;)Turquoise Yachts2020">Blue II&nbsp;</a>or elegant beach house vibes like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6172" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Calypso I36.0m (118'1&quot;)Mulder Shipyard2019">Calypso</a>. His preference would be clean stylish simplicity, however, he is equally at home creating ‘wow factor’ interiors, such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291307/image/large-8fe2db3e479378f4eadf7f3ec59c724a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291307">One of John’s many strengths is to turn around major design projects to a very tight schedule, building the team and putting systems in place in the earliest stages. It is a strength which has been particularly important over recent years with the increase of refit projects and a much higher demand for short new-build completions. In 2022 alone John’s team completed the refit of 75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/218" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meserret III75.0m (246'1&quot;)Peene-Werft GmbH1992">Leander</a>, 88.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4794" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Infinity88.5m (290'4&quot;)Oceanco2015">Cloud 9</a> and 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>, as well as the new-build interior design of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/374" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sanlorenzo (Company)">Sanlorenzo</a> 56.5-metre Alma and they are adept at working on an array of complex projects simultaneously.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/291302/image/large-edcda66b5f582287fa165d634a2a5320.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/291302">“Because of my 23 years experience we have become specialists in producing a lot of quality design work to a very tight schedule, and also coming into difficult projects late and turning them around under pressure. We recently did a very demanding and detailed refit on the 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6595" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanbird53.0m (173'11&quot;)Sanlorenzo2021">Oceanbird</a>, we expanded the team to 15 strong and produced 24 visuals and 50 CAD drawings in less than four weeks, and for the 75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/218" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meserret III75.0m (246'1&quot;)Peene-Werft GmbH1992">Leander</a> we completed full layout redesign with complicated interior joinery creation all for a very experienced owner on four-decks in only eight weeks.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/237702/image/large-0ed4b3794019bf9b0d5c2d5d4a5ce007.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/237702">Over the coming year he hopes to further expand the portfolio of projects, with his team of design experts and with two refits and a number of new-builds already underway.

Interview with John Vickers yacht designer

Francesca Webster sits down with designer John Vickers, to discuss an extraordinary portfolio of yachts and his passion for creative customisation.

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Custom creations: In conversation with yacht designer John Vickers

The world's largest 100m+ yachts

SYT gives you an overview of the world's largest yachts ever launched. 

Top 50: The world's biggest superyachts

The worlds largest yacht support vessels

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

The world’s largest yacht support vessels

Lurssen's fleet of 100m+ superyachts

Lürssen has delivered 22 superyachts that exceed 100m in length. SYT runs through the list. 

Lürssen's giants: the German builder’s fleet of 100m+ superyachts

More details have been revealed of the 155-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/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> for the first time since her launch in 2008. The superyacht, which has an enormous 15,850 GT, ranks as number seven on the list of the worlds largest superyachts. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/325/image/large-cd32fb34c1673131640db3bc64aad82d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/325">Designed externally 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> and internally by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/61" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="RWD (Company)">RWD</a>, the yachts interior design has been tailored by Omani craftsmen who have added a unique level of detail to the vessels secretive interiors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/224278/image/large-f662700a8e458850962291a03d12f7db.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/224278">The yacht features accommodation for as many as 70 guests within 24 staterooms, and can cruise with as many as 188 guests onboard. Her owner's quarters feature a 50 square-metre staterooms, a 40 square-metre dressing room, a bathroom with Jacuzzi, a private office and a living room. Two additional guest staterooms feature Jacuzzis.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/329/image/large-109950c196fb2caf870715d6df8b3878.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/329">In addition the yacht features fully equipped medical rooms, an operation room and dental care room. Able to reach top speeds of 22 knots, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)Lürssen Yachts2008">Al Said</a> has a cruising speed of 20 knots and a range of 7,700 nautical miles.In addition to her guests, the yacht accommodates a crew of 174.&nbsp;

Lürssen superyacht Al Said

The 155m Lürssen superyacht Al Said is now on the market for the first time.

New details revealed of 155m Lürssen superyacht Al Said

<img src="/uploads/store/photo/53460/image/large-e630f3c1d010f883f22c71aa107bc1b4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/53460">The 180-metre motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4638" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azzam180.61m (592'7&quot;)">Azzam</a> recently arrived in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time since 2015 after setting off to her home port in the United Arab Emirates where the world’s longest yacht is stationed. Completed in 2013 by Lürssen at its facility in Lemwerder, Germany, Azzam outranks the second longest yacht in the world, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eclipse162.5m (533'2&quot;)">Eclipse</a> by nearly 20 metres. Her slender beam of 20 metres, together with a relatively sleek profile and concentrated superstructure, however, means <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4638" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azzam180.61m (592'7&quot;)">Azzam’s</a> volume of 13,136 GT makes her the fifth largest yacht in the world in terms of overall size. The top spot goes to the 156-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5967" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dilbar156.0m (511'10&quot;)">Dilbar</a> (15, 917 GT), also by Lürssen followed by the 155-meter <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Said155.0m (508'6&quot;)">Al Said</a> (15,850 GT), 162.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eclipse162.5m (533'2&quot;)">Eclipse</a> (13,564 GT) and the 162-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/206" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai162.0m (531'6&quot;)">Dubai</a> (13,470 GT). <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4638" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azzam180.61m (592'7&quot;)">Azzam</a> is the design work of Milanese design office, Nauta Design while the interior of this massive vessel was conceived by the Abu Dhabi-based Creation Line Decoration. It is unclear what drew <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4638" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Azzam180.61m (592'7&quot;)">Azzam</a> out of her top-secret base in the Middle East to return to European waters, but considering it has been five years since her launch, it is likely due to maintenance and surveying operations that could be carried out in the vicinity of her current location.

The world’s longest yacht Azzam in Trieste

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/162969/image/large-2207c7c18425d950e0f29f58efbab88c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/162969">

Superyachts Al Said and Fulk Al Salamah in Muscat, Oman

The latest addition to the Omani Royal fleet has arrived in Muscat recently, with the 155-metre Al Said now joined by the recently delivered 150-metre support vessel Fulk Al Salamah. Fulk Al Salamah left the Mariotti shipyard in Genoa in July this year after a construction period of over three years. The yacht is believed to have replaced the fleet’s previous 136-metre support vessel by the same name. Al Said (left in picture) was built by Lürssen in 2008 to a design by Espen Oeino. Until earlier this year, Al Said was considered the largest superyacht in the world in terms of gross tonnage with an estimated volume of 15,850 GT. This photo brilliantly captures the true scale of these two enormous vessels and shows the Al Said-like styling applied to the design of Fulk Al Salamah.

Photo by Ana Judith Aldas Bautista

Royal yachts Al Said and Fulk Al Salamah side by side in Muscat

Photos by Fraser Gow

The Omani royal yacht Fulk Al Salamah was recently delivered by Italian shipyard Mariotti as the yacht departed Genoa earlier today with Muscat as her destination. The vessel will join the 155 metre Lürssen superyacht Al Said in the Omani capital as part of the royal fleet which is based in the region. First unveiled in 2014 as project Saffron, reports estimate the yacht’s length at 159 metres.

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/161344/image/large-7ecd346f818b6c5f6ea86c4609d9d5af.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/161344">

The yacht is believed to replace a 136 metre support vessel by the same name. The new Fulk Al Salamah shares a number of similar exterior design cues with the 155m Al Said such as her commercial grade finish, aft-swept masts, and large awnings on the two forward upper decks.

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Exclusive: Mariotti superyacht Fulk Al Salamah delivered

First unveiled in 2014, the 150m+ superyacht under construction at the Mariotti shipyard in Genoa that has been known as project Saffron up till now, is named Fulk Al Salamah. Captured in Genoa last week, these new images show the vessel in a near completed state suggesting that she could possibly be getting ready to join what we believe is her mothership, the 155 metre Lürssen superyacht Al Said based in Oman.

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/160170/image/large-dc9a5563d1870c53b5df3e4f745a656c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/160170">

A 136 metre support vessel named Fulk Al Salamah currently forms part of the Omani Royal fleet, but this latest discovery leads us to believe that this smaller vessel is to be renamed and replaced by the newer Mariotti by the same name. The new Fulk Al Salamah shares a number of similar exterior design cues with the 155m Al Said such as her commercial grade finish, aft-swept masts, and large awnings on the two forward upper decks (yet to be covered with canvas on Fulk Al Salamah).

 

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/160171/image/large-22dc5aa3829e17ae3be4e152ce462a1a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/160171">

 

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<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/160179/image/large-712f96a9a177cbe9ebbc2a5852c3f9df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/160179">

150m+ Mariotti Fulk Al Salamah getting ready to join superyacht Al Said

Following a busy summer season many yachts have now moved onto more suitable cruising grounds, while some have chosen to take some much needed down-time in shipyards where crew will no doubt work hard at getting their yachts back in shape. In the following feature we take a look at some of the latest, coolest and largest yachts in the world and where they are currently located.Lady Lara in Oslo<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157236/image/large-3be1875d35390a31bafc1bf5fcacfffa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157236">Lady Lara has left Lürssen’s Rendsburg facility in Germany earlier this week and is now moored in downtown Olso, Norway. The yacht was launched in April this year and embarked on her sea trials in July. Y.CO managed the build throughout and oversaw the past month’s final outfitting leading up to the delivery. The vessel’s interior and exterior was designed by Reymond Langton Design. Her exterior shape features grand sweeping curves and elegant proportions that resembles a feminine image, combined with masculine features such as defined lines and sculpted surfaces. Following her crew training trip in Norway, Lady Lara is expected to cross the Atlantic to cruise the winter season between Florida, the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean IslandsA in Malta<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157237/image/large-2b80b19c418b6243c3186eef858cb48c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157237">The iconic 119 metre superyacht A was built by German shipyard Blohm &amp; Voss and launched in 2008 at their facility in Kiel. Her Philippe Strack design has long since been an industry-wide topic met with mixed opinions about the end result. She is powered by two 6,035hp MAN diesel engines propelling her to speeds up to 23 knots. She boasts an incredible range of 4250nm while maintaining her top speed. She has recently been hauled out for end-of-season maintenance works at the Palumbo Superyacht shipyard in Malta.Venus in West Palm Beach<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157238/image/large-72a4764e760434cadf3dbfd0e6dfb689.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157238">Superyacht Venus, the 78 metre Feadship that was designed by Philippe Starck for the late Steve Jobs, has arrived in the USA following a 2 month maintenance period in La Ciotat, France, and is currently docked at the Rybovich yard in West Palm Beach. She is fitted with large cabin windows to fill the inside with an abundance of natural light, whilst in the main living area are forty feet long and ten feet high walls of glass further enhance a light and airy ambience for the total of 12 guests that she comfortably accommodates.Yas in Barcelona<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157239/image/large-2377c13b7a7e1a25b509ac6022edc4b8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157239">Superyacht Yas has an interesting background story, and started out as a Dutch naval vessel, which was then later moved to Abu Dhabi where she was transformed by the ADM Shipyard. She features an interior by Pierrejean Studio in France, who also designed her exterior. She was spotted spending time on the <a href="#managed-by-application" target="_blank" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/44654">French Riviera</a> this past summer season and has since been spending time in Barcelona for maintenance works.Eclipse in Hamburg<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157240/image/large-8e96574d00ed51f9b5095df5a26e135b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157240">The world’s second largest yacht, Eclipse, is currently hauled at the German shipyard Blohm &amp; Voss where she is undergoing maintenance and rebuild work. The yacht has seen a very busy summer cruising season with destinations ranging from Norway, Scotland, Turkey and Palma de Mallorca and will spend the next few winter months at her birthplace according to local news sources. The huge yacht, owned by a well known Russian businessman, accommodates 36 guests and can carry up to 100 crew members. Some of Eclipse’s most impressive features include a massive 200m² swim platform, a large pool on the main aft deck and two helicopter landing pads.Kismet in Cabo San Lucas<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157241/image/large-8be40e17a9543d57ffc36eae3cb45ffa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157241">Superyacht Kismet became the largest yacht to enter Marina de CSL in the Mexican coastal town of Cabo San Lucas when she arrived here over a week ago. Certainly one of the German shipyard’s most recognizable creations, the 95m Espen Oeino designed yacht was launched in July 2014 and is characterised by her glistening golden exterior and striking Jaguar figurehead on the bow. She is currently exploring the west coast of Mexico.Ocean Victory in Malaysia<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157242/image/large-768052af6a9923b912d37f0825d38b65.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157242">Completed by Fincantieri Yachts in 2014, Ocean Victory is designed by renowned designer Espen Oeino with interior spaces created by the late Alberto Pinto together with Sessa Romboli. As with many other yachts of this size, Ocean Victory is packed with guest-pleasing features such as 6 pools spread out over her 7 decks, an internal floodable dock to house her 14 metre tender, and two heli pads. The yacht’s owner is known to have owned a 75 metre Feadship also named Ocean Victory, which is now called Ebony Shine. She has been seen spending time in Malaysia over the past few weeks.Octopus in Malaga<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157243/image/large-632714342b22b45bfd8b1d97e5893df9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157243">Octopus was built by Lürssen in 2003 to a design of Espen Oeino International and features an interior by Jonathan Quinn Barnett. She has a cruising speed of 17 and a top speed of 20 knots. Octopus has a large swimming pool on her bridge deck, a cinema, a basketball court, two helipads and two mini submarines. She is currently moored in the Spanish city of Malaga on the Costa del Sol.Al Said in Muscat<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157244/image/large-9b473ad54d5d5d0987c42d87c868cbbe.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157244">Built by Lürssen in Germany under the project name Sunflower, Al Said was delivered in 2008 to her owner, the ruler of Oman. Currently listed as the 4th largest yacht in the world, it is interesting that Al Said is in fact far larger than the three yachts which surpass her in length, with a total volume of 15,850 tons. She is also one of the most powerful yachts in the fleet, with a total of 16,399 kilowatts. The yacht's exterior is designed by Espen Oeino, with an interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon. She is currently moored in her home berth in Muscat, Doha.Quattroelle in Dubai<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/157245/image/large-3760c6f982efaae2f643d9c310f77367.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/157245">Measuring 86.11 metres in length, pictured here in Dubai is Quattroelle, built by the German shipyard Lürssen Yachts in 2013 with both interior and exterior design by Nuvolari &amp; Lenard - the first superyacht the brand has designed for the shipyard. The name Quattroelle is Italian for "4 times the letter L" and the 4 L's representing Love, Life, Liberty and Luxury. On board she accommodates up to 12 guests, hosted in absolute style and luxury over six spacious decks. A crew of 28 are also accommodated for.By Charl van Rooy

Top 10 coolest superyachts in their current locations

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/156934/image/large-08262ec8ba895b93928d6ba0e597726f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/156934">Captured here in her home berth in Muscat, Oman just last week, is the enormous 155 metre superyacht Al Said. Built by Lürssen in Germany under the project name Sunflower, Al Said was delivered in 2008 to her owner, the ruler of Oman. Currently listed as the 4th largest yacht in the world, it is interesting that Al Said is in fact far larger than the three yachts which surpass her in length, with a total volume of 15,850 tons. She is also one of the most powerful yachts in the fleet, with a total of 16,399 kilowatts. The yacht's exterior is designed by Espen Oeino, with an interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon. The previous Al Said is a 103 metre superyacht, built in Italy in 1982. That yacht has since been terminated in her service to the Omani Royal family, and is now named Loaloat Al Behar.By Charl van Rooy, photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shinnawi90/" target="_blank">Hamza</a>

155m megayacht Al Said in Muscat

Four of the largest yachts in the world are all on the move in the Middle East. Yesterday, we spotted the 180 metre Azzam and the 155 metre Al Said cruising side by side through the Suez Canal. We have not yet seen photos of them cruising together, but it must have been an impressive sight. Meanwhile, the 139 metre superyacht Al Salamah and 147 metre Topaz have both arrived in Jeddah.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/154765/image/large-15cae7ab6c861a4e985b4fe8aa3d1dad.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/154765">Image by <a href="https://www.marinetraffic.com/" target="_blank">Marinetraffic.com</a>It is interesting to see that Al Salamah has changed it flag to the flag of Bahrein. The yacht was offered for sale a couple of years ago, when at that time she was Saudi owned. A sale was never announced, but her new flag suggests that she could now be owned by someone from Bahrein, although this is not confirmed.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/154766/image/large-0b9465fb9f589c83fcca05cf7e4a22af.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/154766">Al Salamah is currently docked next to a Royal Palace in Jeddah, in a private berth, whilst Topaz is docked in Jeddah's commercial port.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/154767/image/large-d0afe74141ebaa484f254a69c71c27d3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/154767">All four yachts were built by the German Lürssen shipyard.By Maarten Janssen

Four of the worlds largest yachts on the move in the Middle East

For a while now, superyacht Azzam, the world's largest superyacht in terms of length, was also considered to be the largest yacht in terms of volume. With the publication of her actual Gross Tonnage, we can now reveal that she is in fact not the largest superyacht in the world. At least not in terms of tonnage.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/153507/image/large-36c69e0c289d68be297a128cdb55b832.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/152048">Instead of the 18,000 tons which she was believed to be, Azzam comes in at 13.136 tons. This means the number one position in terms of volume, is still reserved for another Lürssen superyacht, Al Said, at 15.850 tons.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/153508/image/large-ed2209917facf659d8b8e263060dfe38.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/138908">Last week, a new Lürssen giant appeared on the scene, as a 150m+ yacht became visible for one day, when her German builder moved her into another shed. If this new yacht beats either Azzam or Al Said in terms of tonnage remains to be seen. The yacht has been covered up again, and we will probably not see her for another 12 months or so.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/153509/image/large-4cfc0493db9fa8cdf011d31a2369fc8d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/153365">Meanwhile, Azzam is still docked in Tarragona, Spain, where she has been for some months now.By Maarten Janssen

Azzam's gross tonnage revealed

The Top 100 largest superyachts in the world

The Top 20 largest yachts ever built in Germany

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/138908/image/large-1270b1c116c9f981ae1ce02659fba32d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/138908">The 155 metre Al Said and the 136 metre Fulk Al-SalamahSeen here in Dubrovnik, Al Said measures 155 metres, making her the world's third largest yacht, after <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12">Eclipse</a> and <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/206">Dubai</a>. She belongs to the ruler of Oman, and is seen in this photo together with her 136 metre dedicated support vessel Fulk Al-Salamah. The previous Al Said was a 103 metre superyacht, built in 1982 in Italy. That yacht, now renamed <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/410">Loaloat Al Behar</a> has been made available for charters in the Middle East.By Maarten Janssen, photo by Ivo Batricevic

The 155 metre Al Said and the 136 metre Fulk Al-Salamah in Dubrovnik

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/131510/image/large-f0fc188890c9609a766acd36cdbdb182.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/131510">The 155 metre Al Said and the 124 metre CrystalThe 124 metre project Crystal, on the right, is one of Lürssen's most recent launches. Her details are still shrouded in secrecy, and only her length and project name are known for the moment. She will be completed in the coming months. She is moored next to Al Said, at 155 metres she is the world's third largest yacht. She belongs to the ruler of Oman. By Maarten Janssen

The 155 metre Al Said and the 124 metre Crystal at Lürssen

With five deliveries in 2008 Lürssen has had one of it's busiest years. The 155m Al Said, 70m Martha Ann, 60m Vive la Vie, 110m Dilbar and 78m Madsummer, all left the yard for their cruising grounds. 2009 will see three deliveries of yachts between 60 and 110m. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/127042/image/large-954af22de7fedecb6781b8a05618cc50.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/127042">Arkley is a 60m superyacht and delivery is planned in June 2009. The exterior design is by Espen Oeino and the interior by Mark Berryman. The interior design is a combination of a modern but also very classic style which is carried throughout the whole yacht. Project Darius has a length of 110m and has an exterior design of Tim Heywood with an interior of Glenn Pushelberg and will see delivery in summer 2009. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/127043/image/large-15764f66b86024b79bfe871bb799c7a7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/127043">The third yacht to be delivered is project Scout, a 75m superyacht for a repeat owner who realizes yet another dream in a 12m longer yacht. Scout will see delivery in October 2009. In February 2009 project J24 was launched in the traditional fashion: down the slipway. She is an 84m superyacht with exterior and interior design by Andrew Winch. Delivery will be in 2010. With several further superyachts currently under contract, the shipyard markets and builds superyachts ranging in size from 60m up to well over 100m. Lürssen Yachts +49 421 6604 1 <a href="mailto:yachts@lurssen.com?subject=Lurssen%202009%20Deliveries%20%28SuperYachtTimes.com%29">yachts@lurssen.com</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lurssen.com">www.lurssen.com</a>

Lürssen to deliver three superyachts in 2009

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/124858/image/large-f5be20e870a7da12d9085a11abd96234.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/124858">For many years, <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/207">Prince Abdulaziz</a> (147m) ranked as the largest yacht in the world. Today, two yachts are larger; <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/206">Dubai</a> (162m) and the recently launched <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9">Al Said</a> (155m), built by Lürssen. In 2010, German builder Blohm &amp; Voss will launch the highly secretive project <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/12">Eclipse</a> (162m), pushing Prince Abdulaziz off the third place. Prince Abdulaziz is owned by the Saudi royal family, and was build in Denmark in 1984.By Maarten Janssen

Prince Abdulaziz

Alamshar, the 50m secretive high speed yacht named after a racehorse, has not been delivered yet. Construction started years ago but due to technical problems and changes the delivery has been delayed. The following photos, taken by John Paris, show Alamshar (P305) blasting past Eddistone Light on Monday 14 April.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/124539/image/large-84fa20cf26d7b414fd3b19741cc48be4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/124539"> <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/124540/image/large-c83648b85ff14469396bad99ec02721a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/124540"> An interesting yacht entered the sales market a few weeks ago, the 51m Schweers Jamaica Bay. She is the second yacht for the same owner, who previously owned a 42m Amels, and now he is building a new and bigger yacht. Jamaica Bay III is designed by Felix Buytendijk and currently under construction at Nobiskrug. The 59m yacht, hull 779, is scheduled for delivery in 2009.A rather unknown yacht has come up for sale in Turkey, the 40m expedition motor yacht Garfield. Built by Dearsan Yachts in 2005, Garfield is based in Istanbul and owned by a Turkish businessman who uses her privately.A few weeks ago project Sunflower was delivered to the Oman Royal Yacht Squadron and left Germany. Renamed Al Said, the yacht arrived at her home berth in Muscat, Oman in Mid April. Following the delivery of the new yacht, the previous 103.85m Al Said has been renamed and is no longer part of the Oman Royal Yacht Squadron. Now owned by the Ministry of Tourism, the yacht has been renamed Loaloat Al Behar.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/124541/image/large-263953f805bed516e64b704e4a787c3a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/124541"> <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/124542/image/large-4555770eb6eb117a14bfcfc63ee56a51.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/124542">An unknown yacht of approx. 50m is currently under construction in Greece or Italy and she will be named Hamlet. Please <a href="http://www.superyachttimes.com/pages/contact/">contact us</a> if you have more information on M/Y Hamlet. Furthermore we are also still looking for Efface, a 42m tri-deck motor yacht built by Cantieri Navali del Tirreno.A few weeks ago saw the launch of the biggest Technema to date, the 37m Techname 120. The yacht had to be transported through the city centre of Sabaudia, before she could be lowered in the water. Flagged in Italy, the yacht has been named R.I.N.I..By Merijn de Waard

The latest Superyacht Gossip 05/2008

One of yachting’s best kept secrets came out of hiding last week, when launching took place of the 155 meter project Sunflower, the world’s second largest yacht. Only her length and project name are known for the moment. In the months to come she will be completed and it’s likely she will be renamed after completion. Expect to see more photos of Sunflower on SuperyachtTimes.com, in the following weeks.Update, 20 September 2007: Thomas Rutka of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ships-online.de">Ships Online</a> took the following photos of <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/9">Sunflower</a> at:<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123142/image/large-053f8216c95483487d84df9da878413e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123142"><img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123143/image/large-6e69503850c838711f392f7b623b92f8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123143"><img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123144/image/large-8bdfb36fbd2a57ad9d216bade8816ad2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123144"><img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123145/image/large-639949bb52b7252a59ebd539730a4621.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123145"><img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123146/image/large-d03e500a62eb7bfc0aecd9704601f2aa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123146">