Lürssen Yachts 85mt Solandge

Lürssen has commented on the successful launching and unveiling of project Niki, which will soon be named "Solandge". Yacht building means team-work and to execute such a big project, an excellent team is necessary. In this case the team consists of Richard Masters, the owner's project manager, exterior designer Espen Oeino, interior designer Aileen Rodriguez and of course the project team of Lürssen.

Lürssen confirms: "We are happy that we have met the high-end expectations from the Owner in terms of product quality and being able to stay within budget and on time. We are looking forward for Solandge to be delivered as scheduled and finding her place amongst her peers as being a remarkable statement in large yacht construction, based on an excellent design and excellent engineering skills."

Espen Oeino has given Solandge very harmonious proportions and with a length of 85.10 m and a beam of 13.80 m she boasts extraordinary volumes. Accommodating all of the owner’s requirements she still maintains sleek and very elegant lines, which are underlined by her dark blue hull.

Interior designer Aileen Rodriguez explains what enhances Solandg's luxurious style: "The interior has classical touches with a contemporary back drop, making it a transitional interior. The unique mix of rare and striking materials gives the yacht its ultimate look and luxurious style."

Master Yachts have implemented their personalized project management style by placing a permanent onsite project manager and bringing the owner's crew into the build team. The expertise is applied to the entire process through to delivery and preparation for the ongoing operational life of the vessel. Solandge will be an exciting addition to the global charter fleet, she represents the very latest in high-end luxury cruising. With her experienced charter crew she will without doubt provide the ultimate experience to remember.

Richard Masters, the Owner’s representative and CEO of Master Yachts said “It was a pleasure to work with Lürssen, exterior designer Espen Oeino Design, Rodriguez Interiors and Dolker&Voges in a creative and solution orientated environment. Always striving to give the Owner his dream, with her striking exterior lines and her unique Interior”.

A Lürssen spokesperson also said “For us as shipbuilders the launch of Solandge is a key milestone, we can now finally fully appreciate her well-proportioned looks as she sits comfortably in her element. The outcome is fantastic and Lürssen is proud of building her together with an excellent team, Richard Masters, Espen Oeino Design, Aileen Rodriguez and all other related parties. Executing projects in large yacht building means team-work and this was truly achieved here. We are happy that we have met the high-end quality expectations from the Owner in terms of product quality and being able to stay within budget and on time. We are looking forward for M.Y.Solandge to be delivered as scheduled and finding her place amongst her peers as being a remarkable statement in large yacht construction, based on excellent design creation and engineering skills”.

Exterior designer, Espen Oeino also mentions, “Espen Oeino International is proud to have been involved with the planning and design of project Niki. Throughout the design and development period Espen Oeino International was working closely with the Owner, the team from Master Yachts and Lürssen developing the design to reflect the Owner's vision for the yacht. The result is one we all feel we can be proud of".

Boasting extraordinary volumes, the interior designer of Solandge Aileen Rodriguez, explains what enhances her luxurious style “The interior has Classical touches with a contemporary back drop, making it a transitional Interior. The unique mix of rare and striking materials gives the yacht its ultimate look and luxurious style. There is a celebration of more than five Artisans, with 49 stone selections and 33 exotic woods from across the world that contribute to her fascinating style”.

Upon being given the New Build management task of the vessel in 2011, Master Yachts implemented their personalised project management style at Lürssen Kröger-Werft by placing a permanent onsite Project Manager and bringing the Owner’s crew into the build team. The project manager of M.Y. Solandge was fully supported logistically and technically by the Master Yachts new build team members throughout Europe. Master Yachts were then able to closely monitor every stage of the project ensuring efficiency and quality while minimising impact on cost and schedule in meeting all the Owner’s needs. This expertise is applied to the entire process through to delivery and preparation for the ongoing operational life of the vessel.

M.Y Solandge will be an exciting addition to the global charter fleet, she represents the very latest in highend luxury cruising and conveys a sense of power and sophistication that is echoed throughout every aspect of her design.

Moran Yacht & Ship sold the project, and wrote the complete technical specification for the vessel. M.Y Solandge, with her experienced and very well-known charter crew, will without doubt provide the ultimate experience to remember. She starts her life in the Caribbean this winter 2013/14.

Lürssen Yachts

( www.lurssen.com )

Lürssen Yachts 180mt Project Azzam

Azzam is the largest luxury yacht in the world, followed by the 162.5m luxury yacht Eclipse. Her exterior lines were designed by Nauta Yacht Design and her interior was created by Christophe Leoni. Lurssen supplied the technical engineering of this remarkable yacht, with Engineer Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi assembling the team behind this project.

Eng. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi assembled a world-class team which he personally directed in all areas of the development of this sophisticated project. Under his leadership the original concept of the yacht Project Azzam 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 and timeless design that would be able to travel at high speed in warm and shallow waters, whilst providing luxurious and sophisticated accommodation to its guests.

Under the personal guidance of Eng. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi, the technical engineering was developed by Lürssen, the exterior design by Nauta Yachts and the interior design by Christophe Leoni to create what is, without doubt, the most complex and challenging yacht which has ever been built.

The yacht AZZAM is breaking new grounds in terms of dimension, performance and technology. In addition to being the largest yacht in the world with a length of 180 meters and with a top speed of over 30 knots she adds another record in terms of building time. Lürssen Managing Partner Peter Lürssen 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.
The design has strength of character and sense of purpose, yet has a timeless elegance, incorporating all the elements of visionary contemporary modern design.

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”.

Under the direction of Eng. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi the best solutions were found in order to satisfy the specific requirements with regards to design and technology and thereby creating a yacht that meets all the expectations. The end result is a truly sophisticated Super Mega Yacht.

Amongst many other features the Project Azzam yacht has a main salon with a lengths of 29 m and a beam of 18m with an open plan and no pillars. She will travel in excess of 30 knots, powered by a combination of 2 gas turbines and 2 diesel engines with a total of 94000 horse powers.
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.

The interior decoration of the superyacht AZZAM was undertaken by the renowned French designer Christophe Leoni who is proud to have been able to realize a sophisticated and luxurious interior in a turn of the century Empire style. “Though Yachting is not my main area of business, I thoroughly enjoyed the cooperation with Nauta and Lürssen and am confident that the final yacht is everything and more the owner expects.” he said.

Name: AZZAM
Loa: 180 m / 590’4’’
Beam: 20,8 m / 68’22’’
Draft: 4,3 m / 15’8”
Speed: > 30 knots

Builder: Lürssen Yachts
Exterior Designer: Nauta Yachts
Interior Designer: Christophe Leoni
Technical Project Manager: Burgess

Lürssen Yachts

( www.lurssen.com )

SKAT

If custom yachts are an expression of their owner’s personality, then it comes as no surprise to learn that the owner of Lürssen’s Skat has a technically brilliant mathematical mind. Dominated by planar surfaces, straight lines, and angular corners, the crispness of her exterior styling suggests a geometrical precision that permeates every facet of the yacht. What may be somewhat of a surprise, however, is that the 232-foot Skat is the owner’s first yacht and that she was conceived, designed, and constructed precisely in accordance with his specifically delineated requirements.


This is not to suggest Skat was a do-it-yourself project. On the contrary, with the help of Stuart Larsen of Fraser Yachts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the owner engaged a team of naval architects, designers, and stylists to develop a design and specification that would satisfy his requirements. Espen Øino was selected as the naval architect and exterior stylist, charged with the task of transforming the owner’s concepts into a functional, balanced, properly proportioned yacht. Marco Zanini was awarded the equally daunting challenge of developing an interior design that captured the owner’s preference for minimalist decor. Last but by no means least, Lürssen Yachts of Bremen, Germany, was contracted in November 1999 to transform the designs and specifications into reality.


Unconventional in appearance to say the least, Skat’s most striking feature is the angularity of her exterior surfaces. There are no curves, save for the forward portion of her sheerline, which sweeps from the bow to about a quarter of her length aft before melding into her topsides. High atop the deckhouse, her bridge deck is a semihexagonal fortress with large glass panels standing proudly beneath a protective brow, slightly resembling the bunkers that were long ago dug into the cliffs of Normandy. That same semihexagonal form is echoed in the aft end of the deckhouse, with her saloon, seating, and entertainment spaces rimmed by walls of glass.
Purposeful, her form is clearly driven by function, but with due deference to aesthetics. Angular and finished in pale gray, Skat presents an almost military bearing, even to the point of having her Lürssen project number, 9906, painted on the hull in bold battleship-style block lettering. And her distinctive gray color works, not only aesthetically but functionally as well, cutting glare and being much easier on the eyes than the usual stark white color.


The absence of conventional deck overhangs gives a much more open, spacious feel to the side decks; more like strolling down a sunny lane rather than the boxed-in feeling created by the overhangs on most yachts. For inclement weather, there are alternate passages fore and aft through the yacht’s interior. Accenting her exterior, gleaming stainless steel handrails are positioned not only for the customary role of ensuring passenger safety, but also to provide a secure place for crew to stand while cleaning the yacht’s numerous windows. All are fabricated from sections of identical length and diameter, joined by small black rubber flanges that complement the look of the stainless steel. But more importantly, if a section of handrail is damaged, it can be easily removed at the flanges and replaced from an inventory of spares carried onboard.


As on many yachts, large sliding glass panels let guests step outside under the aft bridge-deck overhang. On most yachts this is to the consternation of the captain and chief engineer due the common propensity of guests to leave the glass panels open to enjoy the yacht’s heating or air conditioning systems outside. But during the design of Skat, her chief engineer proposed an innovative solution. Recessed overhead, heating lamps provide warmth when it’s chilly outside, while tiny nozzles expel a cool mist around the perimeter of the deck when it’s warm.



The yacht’s interior spaces echo the same design themes as her exterior: flat surfaces, angles rather than curves, and a minimalist decor (if one can imagine using the word minimalist in connection with a 232-foot yacht). Bulkheads, overheads, and decks are finished in muted tones that complement the yacht’s gray exterior, while simple but boldly colored furnishings add visual punch. There is nothing fussy or pretentious. She’s not a gallery for showing off artwork and sculpture, and there are no precious fabrics to be spoiled by a stray glass of wine. Skat is a yacht to simply come aboard, relax, and enjoy.


As impressive and imaginative as her styling and appearance may be, those aspects are but half the story of this yacht. Every facet of her engineering, construction, and systems reflect a strict attention to detail and a singular commitment to purpose.
For example, consider the design of her hull, a full-displacement form intended for cruising at 15 knots and capable of a 17-knot top speed. An extensive program of scale-model testing was undertaken at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin to confirm the naval architect’s design calculations and to establish the yacht’s speed, fuel consumption, seakeeping, and maneuverability. At a model scale of 1/10.4, the scale model itself was the size of a runabout, more than 22 feet long. Self-propelled, the model was fitted with shafts, brackets, stabilizer fins, and rudders, along with dynamometers and instruments to measure propeller thrust, torque, and rpm at different speeds. The model was built to accommodate either of two different forebody shapes, a normal yacht stem or a more ship-like bulbous bow. During the course of testing, optimization of the bulbous bow was found to produce a fuel savings of about 15 percent. Similar optimization of the rudder and stabilizers produced an additional nine percent savings in fuel consumption.


Equal rigor was applied to the design of the machinery and systems, especially in relation to control of noise and vibration. Two big, stainless steel-encapsulated exhaust systems dominate the upper regions of the machinery space, reducing main engine exhaust noise to barely audible levels. Both main engines and all three gensets are mounted in a sound-absorbing enclosure within the center of the engine room, on an isolation foundation that eliminates the transfer of noise and vibration into the hull. In addition, floors and ceilings throughout the yacht are soft-mounted to eliminate propagation of noise or vibration through the structure.


All main systems are redundant, and in fact, the yacht is able to achieve a speed of 13 knots on just one engine. A cooling pump integrated into the gearboxes assures safe operation on one engine by pumping oil through the idle gearbox. The shaft of the idle engine can be disengaged, leaving the idle propeller and shaft to freewheel.


Other details received no less attention. Consider, for example, the design requirements for the motorcycle lift, which runs from a lower deck up to the main deck. In its lowered position, the elevator platform had to have a low profile, but it could not be recessed into the deck. In the raised position, the platform had to be flush with the main deck. But to complicate matters, all mechanical parts had to be hidden from view when the platform was in its raised position. The solution was a drive system similar to that used for theater stages, using a chain hoist to raise the platform about two-thirds of the way, and a scissors mechanism within the platform for the remainder of the lift.


Equally sophisticated is the system for launch and retrieval of the tenders through large, rectangular hatches in either side of the hull. A system of hydraulic rams pushes the hatch door straight out to the side, then rotates it to a horizontal position. A pair of horizontal beams then extends through the hatch opening, permitting launch and retrieval of the tender. The whole operation occurs with the touch of a single button, in about as much time as it takes to read this description of it.


Skat abounds with impressive and innovative features, from the vacuum system in her bilge to the helideck on her bridge. With mathematical precision, her design and construction cover all the angles.


Length overall: 231'9"
Waterline length: 205'0"
Beam: 44'3"
Construction: Steel hull, aluminum superstructure
Classification: Lloyd’s + 100A1, SSC Yacht (P), G6, UMS, XLMC; MCA certificate
Fuel Capacity: 54,000 gal.
Water Capacity: 15,000 gal.
Engines: 2/2,720-hp 16V4000 M79 MTU diesel inboards
Generators: 2/281-kW MTUs and 1/212-kW MTU
Watermakers: 7,926-gallons-per-day HEM
Stabilizers: Koop Nautic
Windlass: Steen
Air Conditioning: Heinen & Hopman
Electronics: not available
Interior Design: Marco Zanini, Flavia Alves de Souza
Naval Architecture: Espen Øino Naval Architects/Lürssen Yachts
Exterior Styling: Espen Øino Naval Architects
Builder: Lürssen Yachts


( www.lurssen.com )