As more and more shipyards have boasted full order books in recent years and one-off custom designs are on the rise, in 2019 we can expect to see a slew of unique luxury yachts with never before seen features and innovative technology that pushes the boundaries of engineering. Eighteen superyachts, in particular, have gained attention, either for being the largest, fastest or even the first in a new line of models from their shipyards created to meet contemporary lifestyles. See what changes 2019 will bring to the luxury yachting industry the world over.
Abeking & Rasmussen 80M Hull 6505 – rendering
18 SUPERYACHTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
107m megayacht FB275 – Benetti
As part of Benetti‘s ‘gigayacht season’ which will see the launch of three luxury yachts from the shipyard over 100m/328ft, HULL FB275 is one of the most eagerly anticipated vessels for the start of 2019. The naval architecture, exterior styling and interior decor have all been produced by the in-house teams to stunning coordinated effect, resulting in a modern masterpiece that emphasises interior space using minimalism and a range of natural materials, patterns and textures.
Circular rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows are a prominent design feature, as is the connection to water with a pool and beach club with side terraces incorporated into the design.
Benetti – photo Jeff Brown
95m FIJI – Lurssen
Sold at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2015, 95m/311ft superyacht PROJECT FIJI (a.k.a.MAUI) from Lurssen received a technical launch in late 2017 and little has been heard from her since. What is known is that the 14m/46ft beam will create plenty of interior volume for designer Laura Sessa to work with, in a style described as ‘contemporary modern’.
A lucky 20 guests will be accommodated over 10 en-suite staterooms and have an abundance of entertainment options while cruising, including a 12m/39ft pool, a lavish spa, a dive centre and a beach club. The helipad on the bow will ensure effortless commutes for guests joining or leaving during a cruise, and the upper deck features a ‘walkable skylight’ in addition to an integrated fireplace for enjoying the outdoor ambience even on chill nights.
Project FIJI Lurssen
85m Silver Loft – Silver Yachts
85m/279ft expedition yacht SILVER LOFT was originally announced in 2015 as a new generation of fast explorer yachts and the fifth hull to be built by the shipyard that works witha critically acclaimed naval architect and exterior designer Espen Oeino. The name SILVER LOFT comes from her loft-style space on the upper deck with wrap-around full-height windows that houses the guest staterooms.
The accommodation sleeps up to 16 guests across eight staterooms, with nine crew cabins and four staff cabins to sleep up to 21 personnel. There are up to three heli-decks available and extensive storage for water toys inside and out. She has a range of 5,000 nautical miles using twin MTU 16V 4000 M73L engines that allow her to reach a top speed of 24 knots and the cruising speed of 18 knots.
Silver Loft Silver Yachts
90m Project Yasmin – Oceanco
Another exceptional luxury yacht from Espen Oeino is 90m/295ft PROJECT YASMIN from Oceanco, which has interiors from British designer Terence Disdale. The accommodation is believed to sleep up to 12 guests with a crew of 27 to provide impeccable service throughout special events.
Among her features is a massive forward spa pool with sun pads to either side that join seamlessly to K-shaped sofas that each have a corner drinks table. Once completed, she is expected to reach a top speed of 18.5 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots for an excellent balance between speed and comfort while cruising.
Oceanco Project Yasmin
104.8m Benetti FB272 – Benetti
The final giga yacht to be launched by Benetti, FB272 measures almost 105m/344ft and comes with an interior from Zaniz Jakubowski. She will have a steel hull and aluminium superstructure with an abundance of room on board for luxury amenities such as a beach club. More details on this highly anticipated luxury yacht are expected to be released at launch.
93m Project 814 – Feadship
Stylish Feadship superyacht PROJECT 814 was launched in October 2018 with a delivery expected around Spring 2019. Michael Leach Design worked in collaboration with the Owners to produce her exterior styling and Reymond Langton Design formed her magnificent interiors, which have been described by the shipyard as ‘a beautiful contemporary jewellery box’ with some of the world’s rarest and most exceptional materials decorating both shared and private guest spaces. Her beam of 14m/49.5ft certainly leaves plenty of room for luxury facilities, including a fully certified helipad with Jet A fuel, facilities for football, golf, basketball, and volleyball, and a two-floor IMAX cinema. If guests want to spend some time in quiet relaxation instead, the four VIP staterooms each have an 8k TV.
Strikingly beautiful Feadship mega yacht Project 814
95m Project GY91 – Golden Yachts
At 95m/312ft, superyacht PROJECT GY91 shies just short of the ‘mega yacht’ mark, however, she remains an impressive achievement as the Greek shipyard’s largest vessel to date. More details on her specifications, layout and amenities are expected to be released following her launch later this year.
44m Project Virtus – Menti Yay
Luxury yacht PROJECT VIRTUS is designed for making the most of life outdoors thanks to a spacious beach club, broad aft decks and a generous foredeck, in addition to side balconies off the formal dining area. After a long day, 10 guests will find comfortable modern cabins with en-suite facilities and a crew of eight to cater to provide a sumptuous breakfast the following morning. Ginton Naval Architects worked with Mengi Yay on her naval architecture and VYD Studio will be responsible for her exterior as well as interior styling, the latter done in collaboration with BTA Design. M/Y PROJECT VIRTUS is expected for delivery mid-2019.
Project Virtus
49.8m Project Boreas – Heesen yachts
Superyacht PROJECT BOREAS was the fifth hull signed in 2017 in a successful year for Heesen – a company looking to expand its facilities in 2019. The shipyard has been known mainly for producing 80m+/262ft+ vessels in recent years and this custom all-aluminium superyacht with naval architecture by Van Oossanen is a reminder of the shipyard’s capacity for producing stunning family-sized yachts.
88.5m OLIVIA O – Ulstein Verft shipyard
Norwegian shipyard Ulstein Verft has almost 100 years of expertise in building commercial craft and support vessels, and M/Y OLIVIA O is the company’s first foray into building a luxury expedition yacht. At 88.5m/290ft she will become one of the world’s largest explorer yachts and will be instantly recognisable with the shipyard’s patented X-bow design.
Espen Oeino produced her sweeping exterior styling and the beam of 16.3m/53.4ft creates ample space for a helipad and a swimming pool. From sea trials in August 2018, she known to have a cruising speed of 14 knots and a top speed of 16.5 knots.
Olivia O in Norway. Photo credit Dag M.L. @dml6060
63.7m Sanlorenzo 64 Steel – Sanlorenzo
Following her launch in 2019, the SANLORENZO 64 STEEL will become the flagship vessel for Italian shipyard San Lorenzo. Interior concept images show an elegant contemporary dining room at the top of a flight of stairs, with an extensive wet bar for social occasions as well as after-dinner drinks with family and friends. One of the spacious aft decks hosts a plunge pool with an infinity waterfall, surrounded on either side by sun loungers where the group can unwind in ambient surroundings.
The accommodation will provide for up to 12 guests and a crew of 18, and a pair of CAT 3516 C engines will provide a top speed of 17 knots.
65m SeaXplorer 65 – Damen
Originally unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2015, the Damen SEAXPLORER 65 found a buyer within a year and the first hull is due for delivery in 2019. Featuring the naval architecture of Azure Naval Architects, she is built with an ice-breaking bow and offers up to 40 days of autonomous cruising. One of the popular features of the SEAXPLORER range is the zero-discharge mode, allowing the vessel to enter environmentally sensitive regions without impacting local flora and fauna. The SEAXPLORER 65 sleeps up to 12 guests with a crew of 20 for safe and efficient operations in some of the world’s most remote regions.
SeaXplorer 65m in Antartica rendering
68.2m Project Ragnar – Icon Yachts
This conversion from Icon Yachts began as an ice-breaking supply vessel in 2012 known as SANABORG, and while the shipyard has handled conversions before, it’s the unique amenities and interiors that have everyone with baited breath: RWD will use the theme of medieval war to design the rooms, and with the removal of several tanks from the original design, explorer yacht PROJECT RAGNAR will have on board a sizeable area dedicated to luxury amenities, including a snow room, cold plunge pool, massage room, sauna and gym.
There is storage for an extensive range of water toys, snowmobiles and larger vehicles including a personal submarine, all to be enjoyed by 16 guests, with six staterooms to sleep 12 guests and two Owner’s suites for another four guests.
Project Ragnar
79m Project 135 – CRN
Luxury yacht PROJECT 135 from CRN (part of Ferretti Group) will be the second biggest superyacht the shipyard has ever built, falling short of M/Y CHOPI CHOPI by a single metre. The exterior styling comes from Zuccon International Project and Laura Sessa Design created the interiors, where up to 12 guests are accommodated over six en-suite staterooms.
Ferretti Group has described her as one of the most important launches for CRN, redefining Italian style through innovative design features, optimised interior volumes and attention to features such as the lighting to an incredible onboard ambience that emphasises the connection to the sea.
Her Caterpillar diesel engines will create a top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots and her large crew of 39 will ensure that any high profile events on board are run effortlessly.
CNR 135 mega yacht
94m Project 817 – Feadship
Few details are known about PROJECT 817 as Feadship keeps projects secret until launch, however, three cutaway sides in the hull suggest fold-down balconies for a Master suite, VIP stateroom or amenities such as a beach club or spa.
80m Project 6505 – Abeking & Rasmussen
Another secretive build, concept images show floor-to-ceiling glass covering two decks possibly as part of an atrium. A spa pool or swimming pool appears to be a likely addition to the foredeck, which will also be certified as a helipad. The futuristic design is further enhanced by the pristine white hull and superstructure with sweeping lines flowing from bow to stern. A cut-out section on the lower aft deck suggests a side-loading tender garage or fold-down terrace off a beach club. Standing out from the crowd, she is also expected to have top of the line entertainment systems installed on board, as well as a great selection of amenities to keep guests occupied during journeys.
Abeking & Rasmussen 80M Hull 6505 – rendering
80m Artefact – Nobiskrug
The geometric shapes that form the windows along the hull of 80m/262ft superyacht ARTEFACT evoke the 80s, and the playful styling from Gregory C Marshall continues in the wings along each deck. 750m²/8072ft² of glass surrounds the interiors from Reymond Langton Design, and the innovative on board systems include a Dynamic Positioning System to remain at the same coordinates without dropping anchor, solar panels and a diesel-electric propulsion system to meet IMO Tier III emissions regulations.
ARTEFACT superyacht by Nobiskrug
82.5m Grand Seraglio – Edgar Yachting
The traditionally styled superyacht GRAND SERAGLIO from Edgar Yachting is a sizeable vessel at 82.5m/271ft that provides an abundance of space for alfresco parties, with a swimming pool on the main deck aft and a forward Jacuzzi on the sundeck for relaxation at any time of the day or night.
Marco Yachts produced her naval architecture and exterior styling comes from Michael Leach. The interiors are as yet unknown, however, the accommodation sleeps up to 20 guests over 10 spacious staterooms and a crew of 22 will provide impeccable service. With a cruising range of 8,000 nautical miles, superyacht GRAND SERAGLIO will surely be crossing the world’s oceans and exploring remote islands.
