It is the third time that the ´Art of Conversion´ company HYS Yachts from Philippines has done a complete make-over for the 55m luxury motor yacht Galapagos, built by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Today known as Ark Angel superyacht, this stunning vessel was previously named Galapagos, Tiara II, and originally Taishu Maru.
In 2000 the HYS Yachts initially converted the yacht from a Japanese maritime cadet training vessel, the Taishu Maru into a luxurious go-anywhere aquatic recreational platform, the Tiara II yacht.
When the luxury yacht Tiara II was sold in 2004 and rechristened the Galapagos, her new owner turned her back to HYS in order achieve a massive upgrade which would bring her into the functional and aesthetic league of other modern expeditionary yachts.
The super yacht Galapagos was sold once again in 2009, this time to a close friend of her original owner of the Tiara II. As a previous guest aboard the yacht Tiara, the new owner knew full well the care and quality of workmanship HYS brings to their projects. So, when he began toying with the notion of another refit, the Galapagos, now renamed the Ark Angel yacht motored out of European waters on a long trans-Pacific journey “back home” to HYS refit facility.
When the yacht Ark Angel emerged from HYS yards in mid 2011, she was clad with a fully restyled body kit featuring two heli-decks (one large enough for the owner’s Agusta 109, the other for touch-and-go passenger service), a contemporary yacht stern unit, new side coamings, and an open-air sun deck.
New interior amenities include a new forward master cabin, a gourmet food preparation galley, new wheelhouse, captain’s office, and more.