The Superyacht charter business in the South Pacific remains a largely untouched potential market. Asian, Indian and Arabic investment in Australia has increased dynamically to a point where corporate headquarters and large regional facilities are not being located in the eastern and southern states. The Queensland State Government, as well as the Prime Minister, have both visited India in the past month with large government and corporate delegations courting massive industrial companies to invest in the mineral industry.
80m ERA motor yacht concept by Ricky Smith Designs
Available Superyacht charters located in the South Pacific in relative proximity of the ring of untouched paradises like Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, American Samoa, Bora Bora and even Tahiti which are capable of servicing 20 plus guests are few by comparison with the heavily populated Mediterranean and Caribbean charter markets.
Tourism is the second largest industry in Australia with natural, deep water harbours which are positioned along the east coast and are accessible by superyachts.
The Queensland government are processing amendments to their customs regulations to allow local customs clearance rather than purely at state capital locations. This is an important hurdle which has caused problems for visitors who have wanted to visit the ultimate east coast tourist spots of The Gold Coast, Whitsundays, and Townsville which are all regionally located.
Ultra-luxurious interior spaces aboard the 80m ERA by Ricky Smith Designs – Panorama Lounge Main deck aft
In preparation for the change in the laws Gold Coast City Marina with its massive infrastructure has invested in extensive deep water dredging and added new docks with powering options suitable to accommodate Superyachts.
ERA is an eighty-meter superyacht which combines the level of sophistication and tailored luxury the owner’s desire for extended cruising, with integrated design flexibility to allow the interiors to transform to suit commercial charters or become a corporate workhorse at any time.
“Superyacht ERA design breaks new ground for owners and their corporate and charter market opportunities.”
Much of the design development of ERA was driven by an emerging market for larger and faster charter vessels. Much of the early design development was driven to create not just another expedition yacht with a luxurious interior, but to offer a design which incorporates innovations which bring commercial advantage to the operation and design aspects of the yacht.
Beautiful Owners Suite in Penthouse with luxurious materials and furnishings – ERA superyacht by Ricky Smith Designs
ERA incorporated the innovative hull form Stuart Friezer Marine Naval Architects (Denmark) which independent tank testing has proven to dramatically reduce in- water resistance and offer “dual speed” cruising where the vessel can cruise economically at higher than standard speeds, while also able to reach sprint speeds when, and if desired or needed. Fuel saving hull design plus integrated solar panels all make operating more sustainable and profitable.
While the hull and superstructure are fabricated in aluminium, the interior structure incorporates carbon fibre truss structure, beams, angles, and channels for structural reinforcement and honeycomb carbon fibre sandwich panels for strength and weight control. Technology is moving forward and improving methods of weight control for superyacht interiors. Exotic marble granite and onyx are cut down to 10 mm ultra-thin slabs without losing strength. Floor to ceiling art- deco lights house the structural compression posts. The coffered veneered bulkheads house service ducts, cable trays, media infrastructure and lighting.
“The end results are light-filled uncluttered spaces with an improved vision both internally as well as outwardly.”
Transformable space design
The SFM hull form is purposefully designed to have no tumblehome up to the bulwark on the main deck over the main sections of the hull. The fabrication timeframe is dramatically reduced for a vessel of this size while allowing the interior spaces to be fabricated accurately offsite at the same time. This method was incorporated in the interior design construction method of the interior of Ulysses (Trinity Yachts) where the interior was pre-built, shipped and installed in 10 months.
The Main deck social areas comprise 7 separate spaces; Foyer vestibule, Dining room, Mid Reception lounge, port and starboard entry vestibules, Formal Panorama Reception and the aft deck areas.
Slide the aft facing glass doors away and the Formal Panorama Reception opens onto the aft deck and pool terrace for private cocktail parties at sunset, alternatively, push away the forward-facing curved glass walls and space increases massively into the Mid Reception lounge. Open the black chrome framed doors to the dining room, Foyer vestibule and the reception lounge is complete. With the interior and exteriors partitions opened, ERA offers an unprecedented 225 square metres of available space.
Building ERA
ERA can be fabricated in Australia, Asia, or Europe.
Construction is in Aluminium with the unique integrated Sky-roof bimini shaped in GRP.
Length 80 metres
Beam 13 metres
20 guests 10 staterooms
24 crew 12 cabins
Hull and superstructure Aluminium
Propulsion Azipods with bow thruster
Max speed 25 knots
Article supplied by Ricky Smith Designs
