Arksen is a new name in luxury sailing. Announced in January at the Düsseldorf Yacht Show, it promises to be much more than your average super-yachting business. Founder, the entrepreneur Jasper Smith, is asking Arksen owners to dedicate 10% of their vessels’ time to support research and conservation projects supported by the Arksen foundation, such as scientific research or film-making.
"Superyachts generally conjure up the idea of extravagant - elitist vessels built in ways that don’t necessarily have any benefit other than satisfying the voyeuristic. We are challenging this. We build vessels that are robust, highly efficient, sustainable and designed to minimize maintenance. I don’t see Arksen as a superyacht company at all. We take a much wider view than most boat brands. By running the “Arksen Foundation” we offer owners access to curated marine research and media projects conducted on the vessels, whilst the “Arksen Explorers’ Club” offers adventure and explorer trips for our community, providing powerful life experiences", explained Jasper Smith the Forbes in the interview.
Designed by Humphreys Yacht Design and built by the Wight Shipyard Company in Cowes, they will feature self-righting, aluminium hulls that can slip through the water at 7 knots using minimal power or push on to 14 knots when needed. Hybrid propulsion is optional but even with diesel, the 85 has a range of 6,000nm from its 16,000-litre tanks. Fins, gyros and flopper stoppers maintain stability while solar panels generate up to 4.2kw of power. Interiors by Design Unlimited are said to be stylish but also easily reconfigured from leisure to research or commercial use.
The 23 metre Arksen 70 is the smallest model of the fleet. It has a 6.25-metre beam, full beam master and can accommodate a total of eight guests on board.
The 26.2 metre Arksen 85 has a beam of 6.8 metres and can accommodate a total of 14 guests. At Boot Dusseldorf was known that the builder has already sold its first Arksen 85, which has begun construction at Wight Shipyard this April.
The biggest of the fleet, the 30 metre Arksen 100, has a beam of 7.05 metres and can accommodate 14 guests with crew accommodation located forward.
“Fusing performance and functionality with aesthetic appeal, while never losing sight of safety as the overarching consideration, is the design ethos that has driven all our work for Arksen”, said Rob and Tom Humphreys, chief designers, Humphreys Yacht Design.
The saloon of the inaugural vessel in build, the Arksen 85, features easily accessible AV, electrical and system solutions, as when you are exploring the remotest corners of the globe the crew need everything to be functional.
The galley comes complete with a 90cm hob and oven, combi oven, two freezers, two fridges, two dishwashers, recycling dry stores and equipment storage.
The master cabin is also a multi-function suite that incorporates sleeping, extra sea berth and an en-suite shower and steam room.
HYD achieves these performance targets for Arksen in the following way. First, Rob and Tom analyse seakeeping behaviour and performance data from their back catalogue of powerboat and fast displacement sailboat hull designs. A preliminary Arksen hull form is then developed and run through HYD’s in-house CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) programmes to assess the potential speed and power requirements.
After further refinement of the hull form Arksen model is subjected to a battery of tests which include all the vessel’s seakeeping behaviour. The behavioural findings and the quantitative data then feed back into the computer model to produce the final hull shape.
The ultimate aspect is the ability to recover from a 180-degree rollover. HYD has designed the Arksen vessels with this almost unique ability when they are transiting the more tempestuous regions of the globe.
From cork walls, reclaimed wooden panels and surfaces made from recycled post-industrial plastics to the flexible and multi-use interior design, the Arksen Series are a unique force in the marine sector. Only through partnering with industry-leading companies such as Design Unlimited, Wight Shipyard Co and Humphreys Yacht Design, it is possible to achieve the goal of building Exceptional Explorer Vessels.
Prices, as reported, start at £4.5million ex VAT for the Arksen 70 rising to £8.5m for the Arksen 10.
@Photos via Arksen
Turkish builder Alia Yachts has delivered the 52.5-meter Limerence, a full-custom expedition yacht designed for both luxury charters and extreme adventure operations. The vessel, now available for Mediterranean summer charters through Christie Yachts, will reposition to the Caribbean for winter season.Developed with Azure Yacht Design, Limerence features a commercially certified helideck approved for Bell 429 and Airbus H145 operations, complete with integrated refueling systems storing 2,000 liters of jet fuel. The yacht carries four tenders deployed via a 7.5-ton crane, including a custom Wajer 38S and 12.5-meter X-Tender, alongside comprehensive diving gear and water toys.The helideck converts to a sports court with netting for basketball or volleyball, while below deck, a dedicated watersports lounge replaces conventional salon space. Three convertible guest cabins include a full-beam owner's suite designed by Istanbul-based CT Mimarlık."Her helicopter capabilities unlock remote destinations from alpine regions to jungle airstrips," noted Christie Yachts' Caroline Antlett. Alia Yachts President Gökhan Çelik emphasized the project's custom nature: "Every system was engineered specifically for dual-purpose luxury and operational use."Limerence joins Alia's growing portfolio of expedition yachts, with four new builds currently under construction at their Antalya facility. Charter rates remain undisclosed. Winter operations may expand to include Costa Rica pending regulatory approvals.Alia Yachts was founded in 2008 by Gokhan Çelik and Omer Koray. Located in the port of Antalya on the beautiful Turkish Riviera, Alia Yachts shipyard currently occupies approximately 8,000 m2, including three construction halls with their suites of specialist workshops and a dedicated interiors facility. With an additional 16,000 sq. m under development for 2019, Alia Yachts will rank among the top facilities in the region.Credits: Alia Yachts
July 11, 2025
The latest 60-meter Amels Limited Editions superyacht has arrived at Damen Yachting's Vlissingen facility for outfitting, following hull construction at the company's Gydnia shipyard in Poland. Scheduled for delivery in 2027, the vessel marks the eighth hull in the Amels 60 series.Designed by Espen Øino with custom interiors by Laura Sessa, the 853 GT yacht will accommodate 12 guests and 13 crew. Project Manager Joppe Osté noted: "We're excited to begin outfitting and look forward to collaborating again with Laura Sessa's team, given their experience with Amels Limited Editions."The Amels 60 series features hybrid propulsion options and meets IMO Tier III emissions standards. Seven units are currently operational worldwide, primarily in Mediterranean and Caribbean charter service.Damen Yachting, the yacht-building division of Damen Shipyards Group, employs approximately 500 professionals across its Amels, SeaXplorer, and Yacht Support vessel programs. No purchase price was disclosed for the new build.Credits: Damen Yachting
July 11, 2025
Sanlorenzo has introduced its largest crossover yacht to date, the 36.5-meter SX120, featuring the first marine implementation of Volvo Penta's IPS Professional Platform. The yacht will debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 9-14, 2025.The SX120 represents a technical evolution in the Italian builder's crossover range, combining elements of flybridge and explorer yachts. Its key innovation is the IPS Professional propulsion system, utilizing four compact 1,000 HP engines in twin-pod configuration. This setup reduces engine room space by 30% compared to conventional systems while improving fuel efficiency through Volvo Penta's Eco Mode automation and Selective Catalytic Reduction emissions treatment.Designed by Zuccon International Project with interiors by Piero Lissoni, the 270 GT yacht features a 70 sqm transformable beach club with retractable swimming pool and opening side terraces. The four-deck layout includes: lower deck with four convertible guest cabins, crew quarters, and hammam, full-beam master suite with private bow patio, dining area for 14 located at the main deck, and 360-degree lounge convertible to media/play room at the upper deck. "The IPS Professional Platform allows unique design solutions for large yachts by reclaiming space typically dedicated to propulsion," said Sanlorenzo CEO Tommaso Vincenzi. The system enables a 15% reduction in fuel consumption at cruising speeds of 12 knots, with noise levels reduced by 7dB compared to traditional shaftline configurations.Construction utilizes advanced composites with carbon fiber reinforcement in high-load areas. The first hull features Lissoni's signature interior design with steel-clad central staircase, backlit master suite headboard, and ceramic marble-effect bathroom surfaces.Two additional SX120 units are currently in production, with delivery slots available from 2027. Pricing remains undisclosed, though industry analysts estimate base configuration costs exceeding €25 million. The model expands Sanlorenzo's SX line that began with the SX76 in 2017 and now represents 28% of the builder's order book.Volvo Penta Marine Sales VP Nicola Pomi noted: "The hydrodynamically optimized counter-rotating propellers reduce energy losses by 18% while improving low-speed maneuverability." The propulsion package includes integrated hybrid readiness for future battery retrofits.With 40% more exterior space than conventional motoryachts in its class, the SX120 offers 215 sqm of deck areas including a 45 sqm sun deck. Storage capacity accommodates a 5.5-meter tender and water toys in the garage.Sanlorenzo reports strong interest in the model from European and Asian markets, with the first unit destined for Mediterranean cruising. The builder currently has 17 yachts under construction across its SX, SP, and SD lines at its Ameglia and La Spezia facilities.Sanlorenzo was founded in 1958 in Viareggio by yacht builder Gionvanni Jannetti. In 2005, Massimo Perrotti became the majority shareholder in the shipyard. Sanlorenzo builds yachts ranging from 28.60 to 73 meters in length. Credits: Sanlorenzo
July 9, 2025
Silent Yachts has launched its new 24.38-meter SY80 solar-electric catamaran, scheduled for world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival (September 9-14, 2025). The first unit, a sold 2-Deck configuration, features four guest cabins including master and VIP suites.The SY80 offers three layout options (2-Deck, 3-Deck Open, 3-Deck Closed) with customizable deck arrangements. The inaugural model includes a 360-degree helm station, panoramic saloon, and storage for water toys in a concealed garage. Performance specifications include a 12-knot top speed, 7-8 knot cruising speed, and solar array capacity of 22.4 kWp with 522-696 kWh battery options.Two additional 3-Deck versions have been sold. No pricing was disclosed. The Italian-built catamaran expands Silent Yachts' solar-powered range, following previous models like the SY60.Silent-Yachts is producing the world’s first fully solar-sustainable oceangoing production catamaran yachts. They are powered exclusively by solar energy and capable of cruising up to 100 miles per day. In 2009, founders Heike and Michael Köhler, who have spent 6,000 days cruising more than 75,000 miles all around the world, launched the Solarwave 46, the first fully self-sufficient blue-water catamaran after years of testing solar-powered propulsion, and they have been building boats ever since. Credits: Silent-Yachts
July 9, 2025
Nominations are now open for the sixth edition of the Design Innovation Award, recognizing international excellence in marine design and innovation. The award ceremony will take place on September 19, 2025, at Palazzo Ducale during the 65th Genoa International Boat Show (September 18-23).Automotive designer Walter De Silva, recipient of the Compasso d'Oro and former head of Volkswagen Group Design, will chair the jury. "This award highlights how innovation and design quality merge with sustainability and beauty," De Silva commented.Organized by the Italian Marine Industry Association and the Genoa Boat Show, the competition has grown from 40 submissions in 2020 to over 90 entries in recent editions. The award evaluates projects based on technological advancement, sustainability, and design quality.All exhibitors at the 2025 Genoa Boat Show are eligible to participate. No submission deadline has been specified.Credits: Genoa Boat Show
July 9, 2025