Delighted though we are to be ascendant in the present brokerage upsurge from 60-80m, we are also paying very close attention to the Northern European and global new build markets.
On the one hand, we are constantly visiting shipyards and updating clients with analysis on pricing, delivery, build slots, shipyard facilities, standards of construction and workmanship. On the other, we are studying recent launches and pondering what high-quality tonnage may come to market in the near future.
Consider Feadship, who launched the 74m SHERPA for a repeat Cecil Wright client in 2018 and has this year launched the 93m LADY S and the 58m NAJIBA. Currently, Feadship has six projects under construction between 70-100m, yet nothing between 60-70m, a size range that has been a recent focus of ours (together with a leading designer and the Feadship team). Looking beyond 80m, Feadship has three projects underway.
Their Makkum shipyard last year completed Feadship’s largest ever yacht, the 110m ANNA (and Holland’s joint largest together with Oceanco’s JUBILEE). To keep in step, Feadship has this year opened a spectacular new shipyard in Amsterdam, which will now dovetail with Royal Van Lent’s spiritual home in Kaag. Able to build yachts of up to 160m with a 25.5m beam, this entirely purpose-built shipyard is truly state-of-the-art in every respect, including its environmental credentials. Its enormous roof is covered with 2,262 solar panels which, having been connected to the Port of Amsterdam’s energy recycling programme, make it a net contributor of power to the grid!
Elsewhere in Holland, Amels and Heesen continue to strengthen the successes of their high-quality spec building programmes. Amels, having launched two 54.9m yachts (NOMAD and PAPA), the 67m AURORA BOREALIS (available for sale at the time of writing) and the 74m SIXTH SENSE this year, has recently announced its commitment to an achingly cool, hybrid-powered 60m spec build designed by Espen Øino, due to cut steel by the end of summer 2019 for delivery within 3 years. Heesen, having already delivered three 50-56m yachts to their owners this year, has four more projects under construction that are available for sale between 50-55m. These include a steel displacement hull, an aluminium semi-displacement hull and two steel fast displacement hull form (FDHF) yachts.
Having launched the 90m DREAMBOAT this year and knocked yacht design out of the park last year with BLACK PEARL, Oceanco continues to establish itself in the ultra-large space. Their 117m project, Y719, is due this year and their order books are dominated by 100m+ projects thereafter.
Moving to Germany, Abeking & Rasmussen has launched and is now outfitting their futuristic 80m yacht, EXCELLENCE (designed throughout by Winch Design) for a very experienced repeat customer. This promises to be yet another step forward for this consistently superb shipyard.
Across the river in Bremen, undisputed gigayacht titan Lürssen has already launched four truly incredible yachts this year. 95m MADSUMMER, 111m TIS, the gigantic 136m FLYING FOX and at time of writing the 130m+ project LIGHTENING is commencing sea trials. All this despite the terrible loss in a fire last September at their Breman facility of their almost completed 140m Project SASSI. Looking positively to the future, Lürssen is now negotiating deliveries for Autumn 2022 under 74m and Spring 2024 for larger projects.
In Rendsburg, Nobiskrug continues to innovate. Featuring a GRP superstructure on a steel hull and 740 square meters of glass (60 tonnes worth) ARTEFACT, at 2990GT, will be the largest 80m yacht in the world.
It has been a tremendous year thus far for Italian “superyard” Benetti with the late July handover of its third and final 100m+ yacht, the 108m IJE (FB275). They have also launched the 63m METIS and no less than 10 yachts ranging between 28 and 42m, giving them a total of 1447m of yachts in build and launched, the largest of any SYBAss* member. Benetti’s constant advances in efficient, large-scale production, quality control and competitive pricing are clearly proving key ingredients to this success.
Equally, Sanlorenzo, with more yachts currently under construction than any other shipyard at the time of writing (16 in total), has not simply been focusing on quantity. This year sees the launch of the mighty 64m ATTILA, which, at 1600GT is over three times the size of the next largest Sanlorenzo yacht. With a fabulous design from Francesco Paszkowski, she is eagerly awaited by both industry and of course her experienced repeat buyer. While on the subject of flagship launches, Hakvoort most certainly deserves a mention for its fabulous 64m H2 designed explorer yacht SCOUT, also handed over this year.
Perini Navi, with fresh financial firepower, is now well-positioned to follow up on the success of its initial ventures into motor yacht building (GALILEO G, EXUMA and NAUTILUS) while also forging ahead with ever more appealing and efficient sailing yacht designs (such as its E-Volution series). Of particular note are the three distinctively different ranges of motor yacht: Argonaut, Heritage and Voyager (watch out for the new Voyager 52m, in build at the moment.)
If it happens to be an all-singing, all-dancing 80m project that you are looking for, fully specified down to tenders and bed linen, then perhaps something like project 263 from Bilgin Yachts, which can be delivered in 2020 at a competitive price, may be the one?
This represents a very brief and by no means comprehensive snapshot of the many shipyards and projects Cecil Wright & Partners constantly has under review. For further information on these or any other new build projects, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
- By Matthew Ruane, Sales Broker at Cecil Wright & Partners
