Feadship has completed a major refit of the 57.6m superyacht W in the home base of the Netherlands.
Superyacht W sits in the sun after its refit. Credit: Feadship
The Feadship built superyacht W, originally launched as Larisa in 2013, was recently purchased by a new owner who could see the benefits of embarking on a refit to better reflect the ways in which they liked to enjoy life at sea. The new livery and antifouling were just part of an enormous range of alterations made to W over the 10-month process.
Having completed the refit and post-project sea trials,
Superyacht W was handed back on Friday 17 July 2020 to her delighted owner who
could now appreciate the new striking metallic silver hull glistening in the
Dutch sunshine.
Superyacht W with new interior and exterior modifications. Credit: Feadship
“After buying W in 2019 I set out to not only refit my newly
acquired Feadship to my specific requirements but to also renew her in every
possible respect while ensuring that she remained 100% a Feadship,” the owner
explained.
“Owning a Feadship gives one an enormous sense of pride and
I am convinced that the only way to retain full Feadship pedigree is to access
the formidable talents and capabilities of the entire Feadship organisation. It
was wonderful to be able to bring her back to the Netherlands and know that she
would be upgraded by many of the same people that actually created her seven
years ago. No one in the world knows a Feadship like the people that actually
built her and that shows in the exceptional results of this refit project.”
Superstructure detail of superyacht W. Credit: Feadship
Interior Modifications
The foremost renewal activities included placing a larger
Jacuzzi on the sun deck and implementing major modifications to the interior
layout. An inspired improvement to the main deck lounge has fashioned a far
more open and uniformed space, while the number of staterooms available has
been increased from four to six. This allows four extra guests and increases
the total POB capacity with crew from 22 to 26.
The former VIP stateroom on the lower deck has been
converted into two equal-sized and equally luxurious guest suites to port and
starboard. A double Murphy’s bed has been installed in the bridge deck lounge
and the adjacent powder room refitted into a dedicated marble-clad bathroom for
those times when the lounge is used as a suite for guests, who will enjoy the
best of views as well as lots of space. The fine interior style developed by
Bannenberg & Rowell Design in 2013 has been largely retained, complemented
by various personal touches made by the owner together with Fort
Lauderdale-based A La Mer, Inc.
The all-white livery of Superyacht W before her refit. Credit: Feadship The subtle new silver livery gives Superyacht W a modern edge. Credit: Feadship
Technical upgrades
On the technical front, the starting point for the owner was to ensure that all major systems on W were dialed back to ‘zero time. The wheelhouse on W has been given a comprehensive upgrade with all-new screens. All on-board lighting has been switched from halogen to LEDs, which necessitated the removal of all ceilings and relaying of all cabling. The AV and IT systems have been totally renewed and a new sewage treatment unit fitted. Both MTU main engines have been completely overhauled and all other systems reviewed and modernized where required. Many other smaller maintenance jobs were also catered for, from sprucing up areas of the bridge colored by the sun to adding new glass inserts to all the interior cupboards.
This impressive refit involved close cooperation with the
owner’s team and between two different Feadship yards. The project was
initially started in Aalsmeer with the dry-docking phase taking place in
Makkum. This enabled all the extra work requests from the owner’s team to be
fully met without having any impact on other ongoing timetables.
Superyacht W navigates a Dutch canal after her refit. Credit: Feadship
COVID Impacts
The projected delivery time was extended due to a doubling of the scope of the activities and the need to take the coronavirus into account. The latter did lead to a slight lowering of the work pace as yard shift patterns were staggered to enhance safety, part of a rigorous series of measures implemented across all four Feadship yards in the Netherlands to ensure they continue to operate in a COVID-secure manner.
“An additional challenge was the need to have travel restrictions lifted before key crew members could re-join the vessel,” explains project manager Hans van der Wiel. “The owner was very impressed with how these unprecedented issues were handled, especially because much of the refit had to proceed with only ‘remote’ consultations possible with his team. The owner’s original decision to send W from the Med to the Netherlands for the project based on Feadship’s unrivaled reputation for keeping to agreements has been fully validated.”
Feadship Authenticity
The second reason why W was placed in Feadship’s hands was the client’s desire to ensure that his newly acquired Feadship remained just that, a Feadship. “The owner and his team are very pleased with the final result,” adds Van der Wiel. “They asked for a wide array of additional activities to be carried out once the project was underway confident that this would be money well spent. And the owner is delighted that the end result does not look like a refit – you really would feel that W was built this way in the first place.” As W now gets ready to embark on a new season of adventures, she will also be awarded the Feadship Authenticity Certificate. This confirmation of premium Feadship quality is granted to Feadships refitted and/or maintained under the auspices of the My Feadship programme managed by Feadship Refit & Services or to those that have been inspected and approved by the Feadship Authenticity Committee. Offering official recognition of a Feadship’s tip-top condition, this certification and any related warranty clauses adds to the resale value as well as giving complete peace of mind to owners.
The Superyacht W refit was completed in 10 months. Credit: Feadship
2020 Upgrades For Superyacht W
Bridge electronics and navigation systems
Silver metal paint scheme and style upgrades
Stabilization system with adaptive stabilizer control
Sewage treatment to latest standards
Larger hot tub-Change from four suites to six
Day head converted into full bathroom-AV/IT systems
Full LED lighting throughout
Addition of third generator by using emergency generator
Alarm Monitoring& Control System
Shaft seals-Exterior paint, teak, and ceilings
Main lounge redesign
New boilers for hot water supply
Provisions for many more water toys
Bow tender area gasoline storage approved by Lloyd’s Register and flags state
Redesign of sun-shades and furniture placement on sundeck
Larger and expandable outdoor dining table on sun deck
FLIR gyro-stabilized camera on foremast
Video surveillance systems
Flag change to USA, with strict adherence to United States Coast Guard requirements and regulations
Superyacht W Specs:
Type: Twin screw motoryacht, steel hull and aluminium superstructure
Length overall: 57.60m / 189’
Beam overall: 10.55m / 34’4”
Draft (loaded): 3.25m / 10’8”
Fuel capacity: 100,000 l / 26,417 US Gallons
Freshwater capacity: 25,000 l / 6,604 US Gallons
Staterooms: 6
Passengers: 12 plus 14 crew
Exterior styling: Studio De Voogt
Interior design: Bannenberg & Rowell Design
Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects
Main engines: 2x MTU12V4000M53R –1140 kW / 1529 bhp
UK design studio Harrison Eidsgaard has revealed their latest expedition yacht concept – the 417ft “Rex” designed for a client wanting “something different”.
“Rex” expedition yacht designed by Harrison Eidsgaard. Credit: Harrison Eidsgaard
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.
Pool on the main deck can be enclosed with glass for colder climates. Credit: Harrison Eidsgaard
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.
One of the two helicopter hangars on the Rex expedition yacht. Credit: Harrison Eidsgaard
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.
Neptune lounge with underwater viewing. Credit: Harrison Eidsgaard
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 built Al Waab II being transported for launch. Credit: Alia Yachts
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.
Launched at Alia Yacht’s shipyard in Antalya, Turkey. Credit: Ali Yachts
“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.
Designed by Dutch design firm Vripack. Credit: Alia Yachts
“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.”
Early render of the Alia Yachts built Al Waab II. Credit: Alia Yachts
“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.
MY ELA on her way to the Mediterranean for the summer. Credit: Heesen
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.
Original interior concept of Project Altea/MY ELA. Credit: Heesen
“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.
Interior Skylounge concept by Cristiano Gatto. Credit: Heesen
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.
Render of Heesen’s 164ft fast-displacement hull Project Altea. Credit: Heesen