This year has seen its fair share of spectacular superyacht projects – including Abeking & Rasmussen's 118.2-metre flagship Liva O and Freire's 111.9-metre Renaissance (now one of the most expensive charter yachts on the market). But as 2023 draws to a close, there are still a few new superyachts to look forward to.
From the highly confidential Project Icecap to Tecnomar's recent, radical debut of This Is It, BOAT takes a peek at what's yet to officially emerge from the shed...
Ultra G
Builder: Heesen
Length: 58.5m
Ultra G is one of Heesen's most powerful projects yet. With a propulsion package that totals 22,000 horsepower – including four water jets – she can reach an impressive 37 knots in light load conditions. A “sport fisherman in yacht disguise”, Ultra G's custom design draws on inspiration from two previous sportfishing models built by Heesen in the nineties and features a fighting chair and storage for 40 rods. She's also equipped with a custom Vanquish tender.
Read More/60m Heesen Ultra G begins sea trials in the North SeaProject Jag
Builder: Lürssen
Length: 122m
Commissioned by an experienced client as a replacement for his 96-metre, Project Jag is one of the largest superyachts currently under construction (and the owner's third Lürssen). The project bears a number of the same design signatures as his former yachts, including an elongated bowsprit and plenty of al fresco deck space. Exteriors were designed by Nuvolari Lenard while the interiors – courtesy of Reymond Langton – are described as a “beautiful, bespoke homage to the owner's lifestyle”. There will be two staff for every guest on board.
Read More/Lürssen's 122m superyacht Project Jag spotted on sea trialsLuminance
Builder: Lürssen
Length: 145m
Another powerful-looking Lürssen, Luminance's classic raked bow and high, brooding superstructure were photographed when she embarked on her sea trials in April. Construction on the mammoth project began in 2018 – but Luminance has since been kept tightly under wraps. Her exterior is known to be Espen Øino-designed, while her interiors have been styled by Francois Zuretti. Once delivered, she'll be the seventh largest Lürssen on the water.
Read More/145m Lürssen superyacht Project Luminance heads out on sea trialsMaximus
Builder: Vitters
Length: 59m
Described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing", this ketch-rigged performance cruiser is equipped with twin rudders, a lifting keel and a maximum draught of eight metres. Maximus' profile is the work of Germán Frers, with her flush deck and raised deckhouse glimpsed for the first time as she briefly left the construction shed in 2022. Now preparing for launch, Maximus will soon slot in underneath the yard’s flagship 85.9-metre Aquijo and 66-metre Anatta to become Vitters' third largest yacht.
Read More/59m Vitters sailing yacht Maximus prepares to begin sea trialsMoonen 110
Builder: Moonen
Length: 33.9m
A take on the contemporary gentleman's yacht, the Moonen 110 sees René van der Velden and Diana Yacht Design team up once more, having previously worked on the Dutch shipyard's Martinique series. She also takes cues from previous models Moonen 84 and 97. London-based Studio Indigo is behind the yacht's interiors, with "a sweeping spiral staircase using fluted natural timbers" sitting at the heart of the design.
Read More/Moonen Yachts releases new imagery of first Moonen 110Sparta
Builder: Heesen
Length: 67m
Sparta is based on the yard’s 66-metre Project Avanti – first presented at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2018, the sporty, low-profile design caught the eye of its commissioning owner. Last spotted heading out to sea trials, the 1,200GT superyacht is Heesen's largest steel construction to date and has been styled inside and out by British studio Winch Design. Her interiors are said to follow an elemental theme with different sections dedicated to water, earth and air.
Read More/First interior renders of 67m Heesen superyacht Sparta revealedProject Icecap
Builder: Lürssen
Length: 107m
When she was revealed last summer at Lürssen’s Wolgast yard, it was clear that Project Icecap was shaping up to be a very capable explorer yacht. With an axe-style bow and the superstructure well forward, the yacht should punch safely through big seas, while offering big cargo-carrying capacity on the open aft deck. Owner’s rep Moran Yacht & Ship described the boat as "diesel-electric powered", while an ice-classed hull, heli-hangar and forward observation lounge are also on the spec sheet.
Read More/Project Icecap: Secretive 107m Lürssen project begins sea trialsAkula
Builder: Rossinavi
Length: 59.4m
Rossinavi's first ever explorer yacht, Akula was rolled out of the shed in June sporting a striking scarlet hull by Gian Paolo Nari. Once delivered, she'll support "marine research activities and philanthropic projects" with her variety of diving equipment, custom open-air observation deck and two six-metre containers which act as transportable science labs. Fitted with diesel-electric propulsion, Akula also has "optimised fuel consumption" for a lower environmental impact during long periods of time at sea.
Read More/Akula: Rossinavi launches first 59m explorer yachtThis Is It
Builder: Tecnomar
Length: 43.5m
This Is It made quite the impression when she debuted at this year's Monaco Yacht Show. It's no wonder, as her glassy, curvilinear exterior (600 square metres of glass, to be precise) is unlike most yachts on the water today. Interior highlights include a master cabin with hotel room heights of 3.3 metres; a spa, fitted with a dedicated treatment area, sauna and sensorial shower; a galley with polarised glass for events and show cooking.
Read More/Inside Tecnomar's radical 43m catamaran This Is ItRaven
Builder: Baltic Yachts
Length: 33.8m
Described by the shipyard as one of the "most extreme" yachts it has ever built, Raven was last seen completing a second round of sea trials in Jakobstad, Finland. Custom built and foil-assisted, she benefits from an unconventional, weight-saving cockpit made of Perspex. Naval architecture and engineering are owed to Botin Partners and PURE Design respectively, who have both designed for the America’s Cup, with the overall design concept by Jarkko Jämsen.
Read More/34m foil-assisted Baltic 111 yacht Raven delivered