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The 78 metre superyacht Venus emerged from the Feadship yard in Aalsmeer in 2012, showcasing immaculate design, extensive use of glass and an unforgettable profile in a pedigree collaboration between Philippe Starck, De Voogt Naval Architects and her visionary commissioner, who is speculated to be the design and technology icon Steve Jobs.

Immediately recognisable, opinion splitting and a genuine triumph of design, this superyacht has since been seen cruising the world and turning heads in every port. Holding expert design characteristics of the Apple empire, with specially created elements on board to enhance both use and performance.

With a layered profile and superstructure reflecting a clean, minimalist style, Venus holds a beam of 11.8 metres (38’9”) and a draught of 3 metres (9’11”) to create spacious internal volumes to take anywhere in the world. This highly secretive yacht is both part of the Top 100 and widely considered to be one of the finest yachts on the water.

• Yacht Builder Feadship View profile
• Interior Designer Philippe Starck No profile available

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VENUS Yacht – Captivating $120M Superyacht

The VENUS yacht was delivered in 2012 by Feadship, a Dutch shipbuilding company.

Phillippe Stark designed the VENUS, and Jobs was an integral part of the yacht’s design. The 78m yacht has garnered a lot of attention thanks to the famous name who commissioned it, but there are not many details about the boat’s interior available.

VENUS yacht interior

The interior design of the VENUS yacht was largely designed by Steve Jobs, in combination with Philippe Starck .

The yacht’s interior has never been published, and the details available are in short supply. There is a lot of intrigue as to what the yacht’s interior looks like, thanks to the famous name who commissioned it.

One can only imagine that the interior reflects Apple’s slogan “Think Different,” with an eye-catching and minimalist interior to reflect the design of the yacht’s exterior.

It is known that the bridge is lined with 27-inch Mac computer screens, with large cabin windows that are almost floor to ceiling, with a main living area. There is accommodation for 12 guests in 6 suites and 22 crew.

The VENUS yacht has a unique exterior, reflecting the sleekness and eye-catching nature of Apple’s products, and was designed by Philippe Starck.

Feadship was commissioned to execute the build. Everything about the exterior is eye-catching and unique, from the silver paint job to the stainless steel details to the line of rectangular windows that run from the bow.

The structure of VENUS features 90-degree angles, an axe bow for piercing waves, and a flat and somewhat unusually squared stern that opens to reveal a tender garage.

There is no visible radar arch or satellite equipment, as all the equipment is hidden within a box that keeps the VENUS exterior appearance clean and sleek.

Specifications

The 78m VENUS yacht has an 11.8m beam and a 3.1m draft that makes the boat appear low-slung in the water.

The 2 MTU engines give VENUS a top speed of 20.5kn and a cruising speed of 18kn. She displaces 1,876 GT and can cover 5500 nautical miles.

She has an annual running cost of $10-$15 million and was rumored to cost $100 million to build. VENUS was refitted in 2015 at Monaco Marine.

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78m  /  255'11 | feadship | 2012.

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Special Features:

• Lloyds Register classification
• Up to 22 crew
• Sleeps 12 overnight

The 78m/255'11" motor yacht 'Venus' was built by Feadship in the Netherlands at their Aalsmeer shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Philippe Starck and she was delivered to her owner in December 2012. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Philippe Starck.

Guest Accommodation

Venus has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 22 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Range & Performance

Venus is built with a aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (16V 4000 M73) 16-cylinder 3,433hp engines, she comfortably cruises at 16 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 22 knots. She was built to Lloyds Register classification society rules.

*Charter Venus Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Venus is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

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Steve Jobs' former yacht Venus collided with another superyacht off the coast of Naples

• Venus, the yacht built for Steve Jobs , collided with another yacht off Italy's coast.
• It's unclear which yacht struck which or when exactly the crash occurred.
• With a minimalist design, Venus is one of the world's most iconic superyachts.

Venus, Steve Jobs' former superyacht — now owned by his wife, the philanthropist and investor Laurene Powell Jobs — has collided with another superyacht off of the Italian coast.

A spokesperson from Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective who spoke with a crewmember confirmed to Business Insider that Venus, the 78-meter yacht Steve Jobs commissioned, had collided with Lady Moura, a 105-meter yacht. The collision happened on July 22 off the coast of Naples, Italy.

The spokesperson said that only crew were onboard the yacht and that both boats were anchored when a sudden change of wind led to the collision.

Venus is cruising in the Ligurian Sea, while Lady Moura made its way to Mykonos on Wednesday, based on publicly available tracking data from Marine Traffic.

Videos posted on social media show the strikingly minimalist Venus and the Lady Moura coming into contact. It's not clear from the videos which superyacht struck which, though someone who said they were aboard the Lady Moura seemed to blame Venus' crew on social media, SuperYacht Times reported. The person said the damage was "only a scratch, albeit a significant one that will be costly to repair."

Others on social media said that the Venus appeared to be moored and that Lady Moura seemed to have swung into the boat. BI hasn't been able to independently verify either claim.

The Italian Marina Militare didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The owner of the Lady Moura couldn't be reached.

No matter how little damage may have been done, insurance will probably cover it. Yacht insurance , which can cost six figures each month, is one of the largest costs incurred by yacht owners.

Venus, built by the top yacht-builder Feadship, was delivered after Jobs died in 2011 and was worth $130 million upon completion. The Apple cofounder was heavily involved in the design process alongside the French architect and decorator Philippe Starck.

"Venus comes from the philosophy of minimum," Starck said of her design. "The elegance of the minimum, approaching dematerialization."

Jobs and Starck spent four years working on her design, the designer told Vanity Fair , holding monthly meetings to discuss her specifications. She has six identical cabins, was built to maximize absolute silence, and, upon delivery, included the most up-to-date technology.

"There will never again be a boat of that quality again. Because never again will two madmen come together to accomplish such a task," Starck told the magazine. "It was not a yacht that Steve and I were constructing, we were embarked on a philosophical action, implemented according to a quasi-religious process. We formed a single brain with four lobes."

August 7, 2024 — This story has been updated with a statement from a Laurene Powell Jobs spokesperson.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

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$120million Venus superyacht owned by Steve Job's billionaire widow Laurene Powell docks in Cairns, Australia as workers stock the 255ft vessel with supplies

• The $120million Venus superyacht boasts six bedrooms and is 255ft long
• It docked in Cairns, Queensland on Friday
•  The vessel is owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs

By J. Peterson For Daily Mail Australia and Rachael Bunyan For Mailonline

Published: 11:16 EDT, 26 August 2023 | Updated: 11:44 EDT, 26 August 2023

View comments

The Venus superyacht is one of the most expensive and luxurious boats in the world.

And on Friday, the $120million vessel owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs docked in Cairns, Australia. 

It's unclear if Laurene, 59, was on the scene, but various staffers were pictured loading Venus with supplies.

The superyacht looked like the picture of perfection as it sat in the crystal green and blue waters of Queensland .

At 255ft long, it dwarfed several smaller yachts that were docked nearby.

The $120million vessel owned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs docked in Cairns, Australia on Friday

The late tech CEO (left) and his wife Laurene Powell are pictured together in Hollywood in 2010

The superyacht looked like the picture of perfection as it sat in the crystal green and blue waters of Queensland

The mammoth size of Venus can be seen in comparison to some nearby cars that are parked on the dock

The spectacular sea vessel was last spotted in November, 2022, when Laurene enjoyed a holiday in Barbados. 

The glamorous socialite had spent the afternoon swanning around the luxury 5-star hotel Sandy Lane's restaurants, shops and spas. 

Powell was left widowed after Jobs passed away, age 56, from complications from pancreatic cancer in October 2011. They had three children together and Powell is also step-mother to Jobs' daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

A number of people were pictured on board and seemed to be inspecting something down below

At 255ft long, it dwarfed several smaller yachts that were docked nearby

The modern and sleek design of the superyacht is much different the more old fashioned style seen on many other yachts

Powell (pictured in 2019) was left widowed after Jobs passed away, age 56, from complications from pancreatic cancer in October 2011

When Jobs died, most of his assets passed on to his wife, making her one of the 50 richest people in the world.

Powell married Jobs in 1991 - ten years before the release of the first iPod - and now manages a fortune estimated to be worth $12.3 billion according to Forbes.

In addition to the Venus, she owns two private jets, four large real estate properties and a large stake in the Walt Disney Company.

The Venus was Steve Jobs' final masterpiece, after he commissioned it in 2008 and worked painstakingly on the design with superstar French product designer Philippe Starck.

He did not survive to see the ship completed and launched, dying of pancreatic cancer a year before work was finished in 2012.

It's unclear if Laurene, 59, was on the scene, but various staffers were pictured loading Venus with supplies

Boxes were being unpacked from several vehicles and were then brought on board the superyacht

The superyacht looked far more impressive than the vessels featured on reality shows such as Below Deck

In his final years, Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson: 'I know that it's possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on it. If I don't, it's an admission that I'm about to die.'

Starck helped design the sleek 256-foot long vessel, and Jobs enlisted the chief engineer of the Apple Stores to design reinforced glass for its walls, according to his biographer Walter Isaacson.

Starck spoke about Venus in an interview with French Vanity Fair, explaining the yacht houses six bedrooms along with communication systems between the kids' rooms in the front and the adult quarters in the rear.

The Venus was Steve Jobs' final masterpiece, after he commissioned it in 2008 and worked painstakingly on the design with superstar French product designer Philippe Starck

In his final years, Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson: 'I know that it's possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on it. If I don't, it's an admission that I'm about to die'

Designer Starck spoke about Venus in an interview with French Vanity Fair, explaining the yacht houses six bedrooms along with communication systems between the kids' rooms in the front and the adult quarters in the rear

It's unbelievable size seemed to stretch out for eons as it remained docked and floated on the Australian seas

The 255ft yacht is made of light-weight aluminium and Jobs employed the chief engineer of his Apple stores to help design special glass that allowed the ship to be installed with ten-foot-high windows across the hull

'Steve wanted to be sure that the teenagers could be set up in the front of the boat when he was at the back and vice-versa. He was obsessed with silence,' Starck said.

'In his home, children did not make noise, nor the dog, nor his wife … no one made any noise, ever.'

The 255ft yacht is made of light-weight aluminium and Jobs employed the chief engineer of his Apple stores to help design special glass that allowed the ship to be installed with ten-foot-high windows across the hull.

It's unclear why the Venus was docked in Cairns and where it will be headed to on its next voyage

The interior also features 27-Mac computer screens, with large cabin windows along the yacht

The yacht can fit 12 guests on board in six suites as well as 22 crewmembers.

The interior also features 27-Mac computer screens, with large cabin windows along the yacht. 

Looking like a floating Apple store, the yacht bears all the hallmarks of a new Jobs-inspired creation — crisp white lines, polished metal, glass.

The superyacht has a long white hull with a row of circular portholes just above the water line and two glass-walled cabins on the top deck, one on top of the other.

Laurene Powell Jobs' $120million luxury yacht Venus

The $120 million luxury yacht Venus was designed by Steve Jobs and French product designer Philippe Starck.

Jobs commissioned the yacht in 2008, but he did not survive to see the ship completed and launched, dying of pancreatic cancer before work was finished in 2012.

The yacht can fit 12 guests on board in six suites as well as 22 crewmembers. 

Starck spoke about Venus in an interview with French Vanity Fair, explaining the yacht houses six bedrooms along with communication systems between the kids' rooms in the front and the adult quarters in the rear. 

Looking like a floating Apple store, the yacht bears all the hallmarks of a new Jobs-inspired creation — crisp white lines, polished metal, glass. 

The superyacht has a long white hull with a row of circular portholes just above the water line and two glass-walled cabins on the top deck, one on top of the other. 

Share or comment on this article: $120million Venus superyacht owned by Steve Job's billionaire widow Laurene Powell docks in Cairns, Australia as workers stock the 255ft vessel with supplies

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Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

Steve Jobs’ Venus superyacht docked in Cairns, Australia after completing an 11-day, 4,200-mile journey across the Pacific. The $120 million vessel instantly became the center of attention as it dwarfed every other boat in the harbor.

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Superyacht Collision, Sinking Incident, Takeaways and Lessons

• By Caleb Revill
• August 23, 2024

Two superyacht incidents occurring within two months of each other in the Mediterranean are prompting experts to assess what went wrong and how to more safely navigate the high seas.

On July 22, the superyacht Venus owned by Laurene Powell Jobs –widow of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs– collided with another vessel off the coast of Italy. The incident was captured on video where crew members can be heard yelling as the ships drew nearer and bumped into each other.

On Monday, superyacht Bayesian owned by British technology businessman Mike Lynch was sunk during a storm off the coast of Sicily. The Independent reported that the Bayesian was carrying 22 people at the time, and Italian officials fear Lynch and five others may have been trapped inside the boat.

More recent reporting by The Independent on Wednesday states that five bodies have been recovered from the shipwreck so far, with one person still missing. The deceased have not yet been identified.

What Happened to the Bayesian ?

It’s still unknown what caused the Bayesian to sink, but a recent New York Times article states witnesses described seeing a possible waterspout during Monday’s storm.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service describes two types of waterspouts : fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts.

“Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water,” NOAA’s National Ocean Service states on its website. “They have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning.”

Fair weather waterspouts on the other hand are generally not associated with thunderstorms and form along the dark flat base of a line of developing cumulus clouds.

“While tornadic waterspouts develop downward in a thunderstorm, a fair weather waterspout develops on the surface of the water and works its way upward,” The National Ocean Service states. “By the time the funnel is visible, a fair weather waterspout is near maturity. Fair weather waterspouts form in light wind conditions so they normally move very little.”

Given this information, it’s more likely that Monday’s storms would have yielded a tornadic waterspout.

How to Avoid and Safely Navigate Waterspouts

NOAA’s Ocean Today website states that waterspouts are spotted in the Florida Keys more than any other place on earth. The organization warns sailors to watch the sky for certain types of clouds when trying to avoid these storms.

“In the summer, with light winds, look for a possible waterspout underneath a line of cumulus clouds with dark, flat bases,” Ocean Today states on its website. “Anytime of the year, a thunderstorm or line of thunderstorms, can produce very intense waterspouts.”

NOAA also advises captains to listen for special marine warnings about waterspout sightings that are broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio. In the case a waterspout is sighted, captains are advised to immediately head at a 90 degree angle from the apparent motion of the waterspout.

“Never try to navigate through a waterspout,” Ocean Today states. “Although waterspouts are usually weaker than tornadoes, they can still produce significant damage to you and your boat.”

Superyacht Captain Weighs in on Venus Collision

Superyacht Captain and social media influencer Kelly Gordon provided analysis of the Venus’ collision. She said that while there are many actions that could have been taken to avoid the collision, incidents like this one can happen quickly and allow minimal time to react.

“However, alarms should have been set on each vessel that would notify crew when another vessel is within a certain distance of theirs, wind alarms for when wind speeds exceed certain limits, anchor alarms to indicate drag, use of radar, and a proper bridge watch, to name a few,” Gordon told Yachting in an emailed statement. “One would think that they had time to react, but maybe not. Weighing anchor and maneuvering in these conditions can be extremely difficult.  Forward thinking and precautionary measures can never be understated regardless of the forecasted conditions.”

Gordon said that the individuals heard yelling in the video did not appear to be in uniform and were likely guests. While the video doesn’t make it clear whether or not the captains were communicating via radio, Gordon affirmed that they should have been doing so well in advance to this collision.

“You can hear that Lady Moura did sound their horn,” Gordon said. “What is interesting is that it was only one long blast and should have been 5 short blasts to indicate danger. Regardless, a blast was made and that would have gained the attention of a proper watchman. Again, it’s obvious that there was not a proper bridge watch being maintained on Venus, but why? While there are numerous errors that were made in this instance the most notable is that Venus did not have a proper bridge watch, but again, why not? Was it complete and gross negligence or were there demands placed on the captain and crew that caused them to be under crewed and overworked-this is often the case in this industry. …”

When it comes to reducing damage from this kind of accident, Gordon said that mitigating a collision happens well in advance of the collision.

“Collisions are meant to be prevented and not reacted to after it has occurred,” Gordon said. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a proper bridge watch and use of all means available to execute that watch. Not only is it important to utilize all means of equipment available, but also your senses. Action needs to be taken well in advance. You aren’t just on watch for your own vessel, but also for others that are around you as well.”

Gordon stresses that she is not judging the actions taken by other captains, who might just lack the resources and staff to do their job safely.

“I am not one to judge another captain’s actions,” Gordon said. “Being a captain is a very stressful and demanding job and I have long expressed to my crew that I would never be one to judge the actions of another.  In defense of the captain and crew one has to ask-were they under crewed?  Did the owners put extraneous demands and pressures on them? Were they allowed to maintain proper work/rest hours?  Was proper training provided? Yes, a master of this size of vessel should be extremely experienced, but you just don’t know what the crew were fully up against.”

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How safe are luxury yachts? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster left 7 dead

The Bayesian was a world-class yacht.

The 19th largest yacht designed by luxury Italian manufacturer Perini , it boasted a sleek interior design by French designer Remi Tessier, a double engine, and one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world. It won multiple awards, including for "best sailing yacht" the year after its release.

But, almost two weeks ago on Aug. 19, the luxurious vessel sank to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Sicily in an internationally-followed disaster, dumping 22 people aboard into the water and leaving seven dead , including British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah .

"The impossible happened on that boat," Giovanni Costantino, the yacht manufacturer's CEO, told Reuters.

In the wake of the disaster, an ongoing investigation into possible criminal errors committed by the Bayesian's crew and lingering questions surrounding its design underscore the need for proper yacht safety measures and practical ship designs, according to experts.

Italian prosecutors from a nearby town have now widened their investigation into possible criminal actions by the ship's captain in the lead-up to the shipwreck to include two additional crew members, a judicial source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffith are now under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, days after news broke that investigators are probing whether Captain James Cutfield committed the same crimes.

Authorities are looking into whether Parker Eaton, a ship engineer, failed to protect the ship's engine room and operating systems. Griffith, a sailor on the ship, was on watch duty on the morning the ship sank.

Cutfield "exercised his right to remain silent" when investigators interrogated him on Tuesday, Giovanni Rizzuti, his lawyer, told Reuters.

"First, he's very worn out," Rizzuti said. "Second, we were appointed only on Monday, and for a thorough and correct defense case, we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don't have."

Rizzuti did not immediately respond to a request for comment emailed to him by USA TODAY.

Rescuers found the bodies of Chris Morvillo, an American citizen and lawyer for Clifford Chance, his wife, Neda Morvillo, Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, inside the ship two days after the wreck. Recaldo Thomas, the ship's cook who also went by Ricardo, was the first person pronounced dead in the disaster – his body was recovered on the day of the sinking.

Captains must follow safety procedures before storms

Costantino chalked up the boat's fate to a "series of indescribable, unreasonable errors" committed by the crew. The ship's crew made an "incredible mistake" in not preparing adequately for the storm, he said.

Costantino said the crew should have summoned passengers from their rooms earlier, as the storm picked up. The keel, a heavy weight under the ship to counterbalance the ship's large mast, should have been lowered, and portholes should have been closed – both factors that could influence whether the captain is found culpable, according to experts .

Captains should always check weather forecasts and look into local weather patterns, Mitchell Stoller, a maritime expert witness and captain, told USA TODAY . When in stormy weather, captains should also weigh anchor, so that a ship can float over unstable waters, he added.

"The general standard of care in this situation is to monitor the weather, exercise caution, have a night watch, have the engine going, ready to maneuver," he said.

More: Even heroes need a vacation: What to expect from the Disney Destiny cruise ship

Wealthy clients push for impractical designs, expert says

Costantino said the ship's design and construction was error-free. But one yacht design expert disagrees.

"There's so many other factors, and this huge, complex boat is part of it," said Tad Roberts, a British Columbia-based yacht designer who has worked in the industry for nearly 40 years.

The Bayesian's giant mast is part of a trend of bigger and bigger yachts, according to Roberts. He worked on the design of the Asolare, formerly the Scheherazade – at 154 feet long, the largest cold-molded sailing yacht in the world when it was released in 2003, according to its manufacturer, Hodgdon Yacht Services. "It's small today," Roberts added.

Roberts said problems emerge when yacht designers can't say no to wealthy clients' demands for more and more extravagant and overgrown designs.

"The clients are wealthy people. They are very used to getting whatever it is they want," he said.

But owners' requests can compromise security, he said.

"Owners are not naval architects," he said. "They don't understand the issues involved, and trying to explain to them may or may not work, but there are compromises being made all the time."

Yacht buyers are more likely to get a better boat than they would 50 years ago, since yachts are exported and built towards international standards, he said. Still, the worsening effects of climate change and extreme weather are growing risks to anyone sailing the high seas, he added.

"Be aware. That's the biggest part of it," he said. "There's a possibility that things could go bad, that there is risk involved."

More: Investigators seek answers to why luxury superyacht Bayesian sank in storm

Yacht owners install million-dollar, AI-powered security systems

Piracy on yachts is even rarer than sudden storms – only two cases were reported between 2019 and 2023, according to the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre . Still, superyacht owners are investing in James Bond-esque technology in an effort to protect their vessels.

"There's definitely increased concern," said Frederik Giepmans, managing director of safety and security at MARSS, a technology company that offers high-tech surveillance and security systems for superyachts with a price tag "from the hundreds of thousands into millions," he said.

NiDAR, a software program manufactured by MARSS to provide protection for superyachts, can pick up on objects approaching a yacht from the air or water "while underway, at anchor and in port," according to the company's website.

The surveillance system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to handle data from sensors monitoring all sides of a vessel. The AI system provides "constant, long range monitoring of the air, of the surface, of the underwater, to try and give the crew as much response time as possible," said Giepmans.

That way, yacht owners can pick up on any manner of approaching objects, from "small, fast craft approaching on the surface" to divers and submarines under the water.

But if a threat is detected, a yacht owner's "options to respond are limited," Giepmans said. "You can get out of the way. You can bring people to safety. But, for instance, a more military response is not available to you."

Giepmans pointed to a recent increase in attacks on commercial ships, like attacks carried out by Houthi rebels on ships cruising through the Red Sea. "There's a gap there in terms of security," he said. "Because there isn't really, right now, a way for commercial or private clients, to respond, perhaps, in an appropriate way to these threats."

Luxury yacht owners cruising off the coast of Monaco, for instance, shouldn't be as concerned about a direct threat to their security, as compared with boats sailing through other locations, he said. "It really depends on that, as to what extent they will go to protect their ship."

The greater danger could come from adverse weather events, as the planet warms every year.

Meteorologists have pointed to a water spout, a tornado that spun up over the water amid the storm that hit the Bayesian, as a possible factor in its wreck.

Water temperatures in the area were more than three degrees higher than average that day, the perfect conditions for the spout to form and the likely result of climate change, Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist and former member of the Navy, previously told USA TODAY.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence. But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water," he said.

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

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Heesen launches 55m "restyled" superyacht Serena in the Netherlands

Related articles, superyacht directory.

Dutch shipyard Heesen has launched the 55-metre superyacht Serena from its facilities in Oss, the Netherlands in a ceremony attended by the owners and their family. The superyacht is the seventh unit in the shipyard's 55-metre Steel series, and the second to be built with a restyled exterior.

Serena was sold to her "experienced owner" in 2022 after beginning construction on speculation. The buyer was introduced by Arcon Yachts in Monaco with the firm representing the owner throughout the build.

She features a number of styling modifications that set her apart from her sisterships, the likes of Vida and Moskito , which include the removal of the mullions in the saloon and skylounge, as well as concealed crew access to the sundeck and a squared Jacuzzi. Her restyled exterior is the work of Omega Architects .

Other design adaptations for this new series model include a more aggressive profile, created by using continuous sheets of tinted glass, as well as a French balcony in the owner’s suite.

The new design of this 55 Steel also features extended exterior deck spaces to improve functionality, with additional stairways for increased crew access. On board highlights include casual al fresco dining spaces, a sprawling sundeck with a whirlpool and wraparound bar, as well as a vast private apartment for the owner’s suite, outfitted with walk-in wardrobes. Accommodation is for 12 guests across five cabins.

Luca Dini is responsible for the interiors of the yacht and accommodation is configured with the owner’s cabin on the main deck, a spacious VIP cabin on the wheelhouse deck and four additional guest cabins on the lower deck. Special attention was paid to the height of seating arrangements and user-friendly, practical materials, with interiors also incorporating velvet finishes, smoked eucalyptus and Amazonite marble inlays. 

The main saloon features a bronze-finished bar which serves the main deck aft and the lounge, with a second bar found in the skylounge alongside a games table. Another highlight is the redesigned atrium which incorporates hand-blown glass and hand-sculpted metal light fixtures from US-based designer John Pomp.

According to BOATPro , Heesen has 10 yachts currently in build or under construction – the largest of which is the 57-metre Project Setteesettanta .

This follows the announcement that another unit in its 55 Steel series had been sold, provisionally known as Project Venus.

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Sunrise Yachts Sponsor 2011 Moscow International Boat Show (MIBS)

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Written by Mike Smith

Sunrise Yachts, a luxury yacht building company which is based in Turkey, has been made a main sponsor of next year’s 2011 Moscow International Boat Show (MIBS). The four-day Russian yacht show event is currently scheduled to run from April 14-17 at the Moscow’s Crocus exhibition centre.

moscow boat show

MIBS is organised by the ITE Group and it is one of Russia’s leading boat shows and is an internationally recognised superyacht event. The show covering everything from small parts and accessories to large superyacht with over 9,000 people and 178 exhibitors attended the last year show.

The Paolo Scanu-designed Sunrise 45 yacht is an ocean-going cruising yacht that was released in 2009 to much acclaim at this was the group’s first-ever model.

Sunrise Yachts was founded in 2007 by the German entrepreneur Herbert P Baum along with the French-British yacht builder Guillaume Roché. The luxury yacht group is based in Antalya, Turkey and utilises a 10,000sq m shipyard facility. Sunrise has two sheds measuring 100m (328ft) x 16m (53ft), as well as a 70m (230ft) x 16m (53ft) fully acclimatized paint shed that can accommodate new-build and refit projects up to 65m (213ft) in length and 1,200 tonnes displacement.

The sunrise 45m superyacht by Sunrise Yachts

Along each side of the yacht-building facility, space is available for long-term sub-contractors with the latest equipment and logistics capabilities, along with air-conditioned storage, ventilation and extraction plants. The shipyard is organized as an “assembler,” based loosely on the car industry’s model, with a small, yet powerful project management team charged with running all the in-house long-term sub-contractors.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Sunrise Yachts Sponsor 2011 Moscow International Boat Show (MIBS)".

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