Baltic Yachts Sign New 40m

Baltic Yachts announced the signing of a custom 40m (130ft) high performance cruising superyacht. To date Baltic Yachts have delivered nine fully custom yachts above 100ft built in carbon composite with the focus on comfortable cruising combined with high performance and low weight and this new 40m follows those guidelines exactly.

Nauta Design is responsible for overall exterior design, deck and interior design with the hull lines from the board of Reichel Pugh Yacht Design. She will have a full carbon sandwich construction and be equipped with a retractable propulsion system and lifting keel. Nigel Ingram from MCM will be the owner's representative on the project with the build start in September this year and delivery in summer 2016.

She will have a plumb bow and a wide stern combined with a flush deck to fulfil the owner's wishes as a passionate regatta sailor. Her internal layout will include an owner forward suite, a saloon, galley and an additional five cabins, two for guests and three for crew.

This year Baltic Yachts is delivering two new builds, a 108ft and 116ft, along with the launch of Nariida, the 105ft Wally that was in for a refit this past winter. In production Baltic Yachts have a 115ft and a 175ft project alongside this new 130ft and the Lifecycle Service department projects. It all sounds like busy times ahead for the Finnish yard.

Largest Superyacht in the World Launched

Today the 5th of April 2013 the largest superyacht in the world was launched from its production shed at the Lurssen shipyard in German. As of now she is called 'Azzam' but this could change over the next couple of weeks as her name will be crafted onto her stern and sides for all to see. She measures a whopping 180m (590ft) in length and can reach speeds greater than 30kts by a combination of 2 gas turbines and 2 diesel engines with a total of 94000hp, which is astonishing for a superyacht of her size.

Engineer Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi assembled a world class team which he personally directed in all areas of the development of project Azzam. Under his guidance the original concept of the yacht was developed starting with the overall requirements with regards to general layout, size and performance and exterior style.

His brief was to build a large luxury yacht with an innovative design that would be able to travel at high speed in warm and shallow waters, whilst providing luxurious, sophisticated and modern accommodation to its guests.

The technical engineering was developed by Lurssen, the exterior design by Nauta Yachts and the interior design by Christophe Leoni to create what is, without doubt, the most complex and challenging superyacht which has ever been built.

Lurssen Managing Partner Peter Lurssen proudly said: "When she will be delivered later this year, she will have been in build for only three years following one year of engineering." "She truly represents another milestone in not only our history but yachting history as well" he adds.

Nauta CEO Mario Pedol stated: "When I first saw the scale model before the general presentation to the Principal, I was 100% happy with the outcome and so was the Principal. Such recognition made me confident that we had achieved our goal".

As well as many other features she has a main salon that has a length of 29m and a beam of 18m which is an open plan layout with no pillars or obstructions. No other details about her interior layout and design have been released but when we find out Megayacht Global will bring it to you.

Burgess CEO Jonathan Beckett said: "We are proud to be associated with this extraordinary and unique project as the owners technical consultants. The construction of this yacht with its highly complex technical features has been extremely demanding and challenging. It has been a real team effort between all the professionals involved including ourselves, the builder and the designers".

Her interior decoration was undertaken by the renowned French designer Christophe Leoni "Though Yachting is not my main area of business, I thoroughly enjoyed the cooperation with Nauta and Lurssen and I'm confident that the final yacht is everything and more the owner expects." he said.