German shipyards have turned out two big motor yachts,
German shipyards have turned out two big motor yachts, demonstrating that the lucrative private sector, along with passenger and specialist offshore vessels, is helping keep troubled German shipbuilding alive.
Tom Todd writes: The 84m long and 14m wide Valerie went on trials in the Baltic this week after leaving the Lürssen Groups Kröger Werft in Schacht-Audorf. Floated out in March, the four-deck newbuild, which has a steel hull and aluminium superstructures and a heli-pad in the bow, was expected to be handed over to her unidentified owners this summer.
She was earlier known under the project name Firebird. Reports said she was powered by twin Caterpillar Diesels, but technical details of the ship have not been released.
Fellow yacht building and conversion specialist Nobiskrug in Rendsburg on the Kiel Canal has also delivered a big yacht. Revealing more than Lürssen about its newbuild the shipyard said the 74m Sapphire was built to exterior and interior designs by Newcruise Yacht Projects & Design.
She was completely custom-made with innovative features including multi-functional spaces, extensive exterior LED lighting, an enormous sun deck, large raised sunbathing platforms and an outside cinema. Her circular aft main deck can be used either as a helicopter platform, a dance-floor or a balcony, the yard said.
It added that particular attention had been paid to Sapphires engineering and that the new yacht was driven by two MTU main engines of 1,760kW apiece providing 17.3 knots.
Source: Motorship
