Fincantieri starts on first mega yacht

Fincantieri?s shipyard in Muggiano-La Spezia recently held a keel laying ceremony for the company?s first mega yacht which was ordered by Nicholas Baker in May last year.

When delivered in 2010, this 134-metre yacht will be one of the largest in the world and in all probability the most technologically advanced. The project was developed by Fincantieri Yachts team and is based on a revolutionary concept design by Espen Oeino, the creator of some of the world?s most famous, outstanding yachts.

The yacht, designed in accordance with the highest class of international merchant shipping regulations for the safety of passengers, will have seven decks, a hangar and two helicopter landing platforms in addition to a huge sea water pool that can also be used for tender docking. The vessel will have 4,500 square metres of interior space, including 2,700 square metres of luxury space designed by Studio Pascale Reymond Langton Design, one of the most trend-setting interior designers of large pleasure craft. As if that was not enough, the newbuilding will have a submarine capable of diving down to a depth of up to 100 metres.

For Fincantieri, the contract marks a further step forward in this exclusive, strategic market confirming that the management is highly determined to build a successful future in the high prestige mega yacht business area. Indeed, Fincantieri is increasingly dedicating substantial management and financial resources to this market with the aim of becoming, in a relatively short space of time, the market reference point for reliability and excellence, i.e. to achieve the same position the company has already attained in cruise, merchant and naval shipbuilding.

In building these vessels Fincantieri draws on the experience gained in the construction of complex, innovative ships with a high design and technological content such as cruise ships and fast ferries. The company has construction facilities which meet the specific requirements of this type of production and exploits knowledge, methodologies and technologies from the design and construction of naval vessels, from which key solutions have been developed in order to excel in the field of large pleasure craft.

Back in 1992, the Muggiano yard built the “Destriero”, a yacht designed and constructed in record time, which, in 1992, won the prestigious “Blue Riband”, setting the record for crossing the Atlantic, without refueling, at an average speed of over 53 knots and a maximum speed of 70 knots.