The superyacht offices for business on board

Artefact’s layout takes a very different approach from that of many yachts afloat today. Instead of an owner's suite front and centre on the main deck, the owner chose to fill this prime position with a panoramic office space that looks out over the foredeck. The owner’s office, like the rest of the yacht, has windows made of two panels of bronze glass and one layer of mirror, which cuts heat without distorting views. Two desks mirror each other, as do a set of chairs facing the foredeck, offering the perfect spot for an afternoon conference call.

• On board Nobiskrug's striking 80m hybrid superyacht

The main deck owner's office in 46 metre Bilgin motor yacht Gialoa-Lu serves dual purposes. The room is certainly a formal office ideal for conducting serious business – with a desk that takes in sea views out of large windows. But per her owners' request, the space also morphs into a private spot for watching movies or playing video games. A comfortable couch opposite the desk faces the concave wall, which hosts a special curved TV. Once the blinds are lowered, the office becomes a mini-cinema, the perfect hideaway for this media-loving family who built Gialoa-Lu.

At 75 metres, the 2003 sloop-rigged sailing yacht M5 is the largest single-masted yacht ever built. Launched as Mirabella V, she was refitted between 2013 and 2014 at Pendennis, which included a stern extension, new carbon-fibre titanium rigging and the gutting of the interior. The owner's study sits adjacent to the master suite on the main deck. Hardwood floors are paired with classic burl detailing in the desk and the large bookcase that lines the wall separating the office space from the sleeping area of the owner's quarters. An L-shaped sofa makes for a quiet reading nook with a black leather chaise lounge that looks out to sea and a skylight overhead.

• M5: On board the newly refitted Ron Holland sailing yacht

The owner’s office on board Neninka (previously Aurora Borealis) contrasts a custom silk hand-tufted carpet with walls in masculine dark brown satin oak. The most prominent feature is the one-of-a-kind marquetry artwork commissioned by Winch Design depicting a celestial scene, adorned with mother-of-pearl, shell and gold leaf.

Blue II features two master suites - one for each co-owner - and each comes with its own perks. The forward suite sits adjacent to the wellness area on board, comprised of a sauna, hammam and a gym/massage room. The second suite on the upper deck benefits from 180-degree views across the bow and is flooded with natural light thanks to a number of skylights. The entry area contains a surprise spiral staircase that leads to a private office behind the bridge above. 

Former Soviet spy ship Jester (previously Olivia) underwent a major conversion project that transformed the 68 metre Cold War vessel into a supremely modern and luxurious superyacht. The owner said to Italian design firm, Droulers Architecture, “not to change the character of the ship, to keep it Zen, and make me a comfortable boat with a very good working and living environment". Jester features rosewood paneling throughout that creates a warm atmosphere in a minimalist interior. A desk by Marc Newson is the centrepiece of the office, one of the new additions to the layout, on the upper deck.

• From spy ship to superyacht: Inside the transformation of the 68m Olivia

The owner's office on board the 87 metre Amels motor yacht Here Comes the Sun has a fixed balcony with the desk positioned with views of the seascape as it passes by. The space is styled by British studio Winch Design using warm natural oak with an eel skin feature wall behind the bookshelves and pony skin on the ceiling.

The interior of Ace was designed in the style of a contemporary grand hotel, inspired by the glamourous escapes of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo or Le Bristol Paris. Most of the spaces on board are kept light and fresh with cream paneling, ivory silk and pearlescent details. But some areas, such as the owner's study, are deliberately moody with an atmospheric “jewellery box” feel.

Offices on board are an essential part of any proper superyacht, allowing owners to catch up with business affairs while still afloat. The study on this 46 metre from Wider Yachts can be shut off from the owner’s suite at the touch of a button via a soundproof sliding door — a fitting feature on board this super-quiet Italian superyacht.

The massive owner’s deck on 101.5 metre Symphony — one of the best Feadship superyachts of all time — doesn’t just have his and hers bathrooms, there are his and hers offices too, with incredible floor-to-ceiling windows for great views out to sea. The interior décor on the Dutch yard's flagship was created by Francois Zuretti.