5 images

For sale: The 57m cable laying vessel ready to be transformed into an expedition superyacht

14 May 2021 • Written by Miranda Blazeby

A 57m former cable-laying vessel, which is ready to be transformed into a premium expedition superyacht, is now for sale with Ocean Independence.

Named Project Phoenix, the yacht was first launched in 1968 by EJ Smit & Zoon Shipyard and spent 30 years in commercial operation.

Now the yacht has been stripped back to its bare steel framework and is listed for sale as a conversion opportunity, with plans and designs already drawn up to transform it into a luxurious superyacht.

The project will be undertaken by Turkish shipyard ICT and includes a team of superyacht experts, including Frank Laupman’s Omega Architects, which has redesigned the yacht inside and out. The naval architecture meanwhile has been penned by Van Oossanen Naval Architects.

The redesigned expedition yacht is set to have a range of 11,000 nautical miles with accommodation for 12 guests in six cabins, including a private owner’s deck.