UK design studio Harrison Eidsgaard has revealed their latest expedition yacht concept – the 417ft “Rex” designed for a client wanting “something different”.

UK design studio Harrison Eidsgaard has unveiled their latest design known as “Rex” – a 417ft expedition yacht named for the Latin word for “King” and created specifically for a client looking for “something different.”

Designed with a streamlined white and grey exterior, the sporty expedition yacht concept boasts four terraces with a 46ft pool on the main deck that can be enclosed with glass to create an indoor pool in cold climates, an oversized cinema, a two-story gym, and an Airbus A160 helicopter hangar that converts into a squash court when not in use.

Accommodation for 22 guests consists of a master suite and ten guest suites each with their own terrace and direct access to the forward and aft atrium staircases while features like the submerged “Neptune” lounge offers guests an underwater view of their surroundings from below and a “Panorama” observation lounge on the top deck offering 360-degree views from above.

The Rex Expedition yacht is also designed with a full-beam garage with room for a 49-foot expedition vessel, two 30-foot tenders, and a large crane to assist with moving the toys in and out of the water.

Regarding performance, Harrison Eidsgaard has utilized a significant hull chine and sharp bow design for improved fuel efficiency and a hybrid propulsion package that could be converted to a hydrogen system in the future for zero-emissions cruising.

Alia Yachts has launched the 180ft Al Waab II superyacht at its shipyard in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of its final delivery in September.

Alia Yachts has launched the 180ft Al Waab II superyacht at its shipyard in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of its final delivery in September which coincides with the Monaco Yacht Show later this year.

After two years in construction amongst the ongoing pandemic, the production schedule was surprisingly only delayed by two weeks, with Alia Yachts President Gökhan Çelik noting, “the last two years have been difficult, but we took a lot of health and safety measures, and, to offset delays experienced by our European suppliers, we worked around the problem and found ways to recreate lost time.

“The fact we’ve done it in just over two years despite everything is a credit to the determination of the men and women who work here.”

Designed by Dutch design studio Vripack, Al Waab II accommodates up to 12 guests and features a modern design with a neutral color palette across the five staterooms and the master suite split across the upper and main decks.

“For many owners, the concept of enjoying a ‘home at sea’ is what drives their passion for yachting,” says Bart Bouwhuis, Co-creative Director at Vripack. “The owner of Al Waab II had the explicit desire to use his boat as a family apartment. That desire became the founding principle of the entire design. The result is the very essence of living on the water.”

“We’re very proud of Al Waab II,” says Alia President, Gökhan Çelik, adding, “Yachts are getting longer and wider, but owners still want to stay below the 500 GT mark. We’ve seen increasing interest in this kind of yacht and so to be one of the first with such an impressive project is an important milestone for Alia.”

The Al Waab II will now undergo sea trials and final outfitting ahead of delivery to her owner.

Heesen Yachts 164ft Project Altea has officially been launched as MY ELA and is on her way to the Mediterranean for the summer.

Heesen Yachts 164ft MY ELA (formerly known as Project Altea) has officially launched in the Netherlands and is currently on her way to the Mediterranean for the summer.

Purchased only three months before delivery, the lightweight, aluminum fast-displacement hull built on Heesen’s sub-500GT Nova Plus engineering platform and interiors had already been completed when she caught the eye of the new owners.

Featuring large floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious light-filled living areas designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects and warm and inviting interior designed by Italian interior designer Cristiano Gatto, all that remained for the new owners of MY ELA was to customize the final details to make it their own.

With only three months from the purchase date until delivery, Cristiano Gatto worked alongside the team at Heesen to fully customize the interiors in time for delivery.

“Together with the client, we revisited all the loose furniture, inside and out, selecting new materials for all the upholstery and the key items from Paola Lenti, B&B Italia, Poltrona Frau, and Promemoria,” said Cristiano. “But more importantly, we designed bespoke pieces, such as tables, sofas, and lamps, all beautifully crafted by Italian ateliers, who delivered them in record time.”

Built to accommodate twelve guests in six staterooms, MY ELA is not only luxurious inside but is an elegant fast-displacement design that allows shipyards to stay below the 500GT limit to avoid the additional certification required of larger superyachts.

Powered by two powerful MTU 12V 2000 diesel engines for a maximum speed of 19 knots, MY ELA is also the first Heesen to feature a peak-shaving battery system that offers a seamless storage of energy by allowing excess generator power to be stored when the yacht’s load fluctuates and used during peak periods when power demand exceeds generator output.

While primarily intended for family use, MY ELA will also be available for charter with Zarpo Yachts for select clients.