US yard Delta Marine has launched its 46.3-metre explorer yacht Zembra at its Seattle shipyard, marking a major milestone for the custom build ahead of final outfitting and delivery.
Commissioned in 2023 for experienced owners, Zembra was designed for transoceanic travel and "deep-sea exploration", with the project shaped by the owners' desire to share remote destinations with their family and friends. The yacht is the latest in a line of vessels owned by the clients, who previously cruised on board an Inace explorer and a Nordhavn 86, as the owners told BOAT International in August 2024.
Finished in a distinctive metallic Arizona bronze paint, Zembra combines a full-displacement hull with large expanses of glass and clean, angular lines. Her purposeful profile reflects the owners' brief for a yacht equally suited to cruising and exploration.
"Zembra isn’t just a yacht. It’s how we will share many incredible places we’ve explored that are only accessible by yacht with our grandchildren and dear friends," says the owner. "Getting to experience these places again through their eyes and exploring many new ones is the goal of Zembra."
The interiors are the work of American designer Roger Thomas, who drew on his experience creating high-end hospitality spaces to give the yacht an intimate, sophisticated character. Stainless steel accents, custom cerused oak finishes and bold patterned carpets add colour to the transitional-style interior.
Accommodation is for up to 12 guests across five staterooms. A full-beam master suite is positioned on the main deck, while four large guest cabins are located below, including one wheelchair-accessible cabin. A fifth stateroom can be converted into a fitness space and is fitted with two Pullman berths.
An elevator connects all four decks, while the yacht's outdoor spaces have been designed to support both relaxation and life on extended voyages. The sundeck features space for guests to gather and take in the surroundings, alongside a hot tub, while the bridge deck has a large outdoor dining table for al fresco meals.
Meanwhile, her adventurous design includes a dedicated helicopter landing area on the sundeck, a two-person ICON A5 amphibious aircraft and a three-passenger U-Boat Worx submersible for deep-sea exploration. These will be deployed using a 3,500-pound SWL boom crane mounted on the bridge deck and a gantry crane at the stern.
Read More/My life in boats: the owner who caught the bug and sailed the world on a custom-built yachtZembra is constructed with a composite hull and is powered by twin Caterpillar engines, with zero-speed stabilisers designed to provide a smoother experience at anchor and underway. Her full-displacement platform is intended for transoceanic travel and extended cruising in remote destinations.
“All of us at Delta Marine were thrilled to work with the owners to help bring their dream to life,” says Michelle Jones, vice president of Delta Marine. "Zembra pushed our team in the best ways. It's been a project full of both challenges and rewards. We look forward to seeing what destinations Zembra reaches next."
Once delivered, Zembra will be available for charter with Northrop & Johnson.
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