biggest yacht news stories in march 2024

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The biggest yachting news stories of April 2024

1 May 2024 • Written by Dea Jusufi

Last month, more than 100 superyachts were in Nafplion, Greece for the Mediterranean Yacht Show. With the MYBA Charter Show and the Palma International Boat Show also on April's agenda, the industry is officially gearing up for the Mediterranean summer season.

April saw two elusive Feadships in the spotlight, a record-breaking contract signed by Royal Huisman and an important update on the world's largest sportfisher. BOAT looks back at a busy month and rounds up everything you might have missed...

1. Feadship's highly secretive 103m superyacht Ulysses delivered

Credit: Feadship

The top yacht news of the month was the announcement that Ulysses had been delivered to Graeme Hart, New Zealand's wealthiest man and a repeat Feadship client. The 103-metre superyacht was commissioned in 2020, but the Dutch shipyard successfully kept her out of the limelight until her launch in October 2023. Key features include over 1,100 square metres of exterior glass and a 15-metre-long tender garage – the largest Feadship has ever built.

2. Salvaged 38m superyacht Proton to be rebuilt and renamed Luis Lima

Credit: Baran Akalın Design

In April, it was revealed that the 38.1-metre Alpha Marine superyacht Proton had been salvaged after six year of disuse in Greece. She will soon undergo a 16-month rebuild with Yachtbox and be renamed Luis Lima. Among other extensive works, the yard has plans to extend Proton by four metres, in order to accommodate a large beach club. According to Baran Akalın Yacht, the only thing that will remain the same is the engine room.

3. Mexican Navy takes over Cabo San Lucas marina amid concession dispute

Credit: IGY Marinas

The General Directorate of Ports of Mexico "seized" the assets of Cabo Marina, a subsidiary of IGY Marinas, and initiated a sanctioning procedure. On 11 April 2024, MarineMax reported that the Administration of the National Port System for Los Cabos (ASIPONA) had taken possession of the port "without warning or notice" via the Mexican Navy.

4. 92m hybrid electric Feadship Project 1012 launched

Credit: Feadship

The 91.8-metre superyacht known as Project 1012 was launched from the yard's facility in Makkum, the Netherlands. She is the first Feadship to carry full Hybrid Electric Class notation and was commissioned by a repeat Feadship owner, who came to the project with "informed requests based on his long experience of yachting".

5. Lürssen's 122m superyacht Kismet (ex Project Jag) on sea trials

Credit: Steffen Mayer/Superyachtblog

The 122-metre Lürssen superyacht Kismet embarked on her sea trials in mid-April, with BOATPro registering her travels off the coast of Kiel, Germany. She was commissioned by repeat Lürssen client Shahid Khan, who previously owned the 95.2-metre Lürssen yacht Whisper (ex Kismet). Once delivered, she will charter for €3,000,000 per week plus expenses with Cecil Wright.

6. More details of Heesen's 60m superyacht Ultra G revealed by designer

Credit: Bjorn Mierop

The 60-metre Heesen was handed over to her owners in March, but a brand-new collection of interior imagery has brought Ultra G back into the public eye. Highlights include a three-screen cinema, a "Fisherman's Lounge" in lieu of a beach club and a dog-friendly design that includes a dedicated "relief area" on the owner's private terrace.

7. World's largest sportfish Special One on sea trials

Credit: Bjorn Mierop

The 52-metre Royal Huisman sportfisher Special One was photographed on her sea trials. Previously known as Project 406, her official name was announced just before she set out for the North Sea. She's the largest sportfisher in the world and is fitted with equipment geared towards hunting larger predatory fish, such as swordfish and marlin. At night, the yacht is illuminated by laser-powered exterior lighting.

8. Royal Huisman announces contract for record-breaking 81m sailing yacht

Credit: Royal Huisman

In late April, Royal Huisman announced that construction would soon begin on an 81-metre sailing yacht. Codenamed Noir, the sloop has been conceived by "a skilled owner and his team" and will be used for world cruising with his loved ones and closest friends. It will rank among the 10 largest sailing yachts in the world once delivered.

9. SES Yachts launches 1900s-styled superyacht Far Niente

SES Yachts launched the 32.7-metre Far Niente from its facility in Istanbul, Turkey. The yacht's round-bilged hull, wooden superstructure and classic lines are inspired by the "Dutch herring luggers of the early 1900s". Naval architecture, exterior and interior design are all owed to Hoek Design Naval Architects.

10. Troostwijk Auctions announced as auction house for the sale of seized superyacht Royal Romance

The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) of Ukraine announced that Dutch auction house Troostwijk Auctions will be responsible for the sale of the 92.5-metre Royal Romance. Stanislav Petrov, a member of the Commission, noted that this is the first but not the last seized asset that "will serve and contribute to the benefit of Ukraine".