Oceanco, Pininfarina and Lateral present a new project Kairos.
Kairos is a new kind of living space that allows an owner and their guests to connect, share and create by synchronously experiencing multiple environments onboard. It offers 90 meters of onboard life without boundaries, created in harmony with Oceanco’s NXT initiative on sustainability and innovation. The yacht is the result of a first-time collaboration between renowned design studio Pininfarina and large custom yacht builder Oceanco, with technical design and engineering development provided by Lateral Naval Architects.
“Kairos is a remarkable Tomorrow’s Design yacht born out of a vision shared by three passionate, forward-thinking partners in Pininfarina, Lateral and Oceanco. It exemplifies how Oceanco is looking to the future through the integrated NXT approach to yacht design, tapping into the latest developments in technical and propulsion systems while also reflecting how our experience of living spaces is changing,” comments Marcel Onkenhout, Oceanco’s CEO. “When owners see the Oceanco NXT endorsement on a yacht’s design, they know they can expect to enjoy a certain elevated standard of life onboard; one that is in tune with forward-thinking perspectives on sustainability and lifestyle.”
The yacht’s exterior has been shaped to evoke a peaceful oasis in which to relax and enjoy time on your own terms. Like a floating, living island, KAIROS has a symmetrical profile with no ‘forward’ direction to aim towards. This elimination of momentum frees those onboard to live fully in the moment, without the sense of urgency to move to a new destination.
“A standard-bearer of Italian style for over 90 years, Pininfarina has developed over the years high end yachting projects through its nautical division. The continuous search for beauty and innovation resulted in Kairos, a breakthrough project designed for Oceanco. Taking inspiration from the long experience in bespoke projects - from cars to architecture - Pininfarina together with Oceanco has created a brand new yachting experience."
The heart of life onboard is the vast, theatrical piazza, to which all entry points of Kairos lead. Vertically developed across three levels, the piazza breaks from the canons of conventional yacht design. Intricate design combines stunning asymmetric shapes, transparent structures and a lack of physical barriers, influenced by the contrasting, multidimensional landscapes that exist in our daily lives. It is a captivating space where it's great to share inspiring moments, conveying a sense of liberty and joy.
“Our passion as designers is to imagine new concepts of space that are capable of bringing enchantment to every moment of the experience,” comments Paolo Pininfarina. “On Kairos, time, space and people connect to be one in the moment. The owner and their guests are at the epicenter of the onboard experience, and the surrounding space adapts to their every desire. A 360-degree approach to design at once connects you to the sea below, to the light above and to the spaces and people beside you. It nourishes your curiosity on an instinctive level and encourages you to explore new experiences and perspectives.”
The cabins on Kairos have all been positioned on the lower level, allowing for a greater sense of space and flow across the main level’s guest areas while also delivering outstanding views in close proximity to the water.
The layout on Kairos encourages social interaction while at the same time preserves the magic of intimate moments in private places. For example, on the panoramic balcony accessed above the upper deck via an elevator, guests can enjoy a quiet moment of sanctuary while taking in the sea view.
Kairos has been created to align with Oceanco’s NXT initiative on sustainability and innovation, thanks to the naval architecture and engineering development from Lateral. In recent years, the builder and naval architecture studio have partnered on a number of innovative projects including Black Pearl, the most eco-conscious yacht in the world, and Bravo Eugenia, Oceanco’s first LIFE Design superyacht that delivers a 30% increase in fuel efficiency.
The creative layout of Kairos is enabled via an innovative, all-electric propulsion and energy system architecture. The e-Hybrid system incorporates batteries as the primary means of energy delivery, permitting the varying power demands of hotel, propulsion and maneuvering loads to be seamlessly met. Diesel generators are provided for battery charging and high-speed cruising, selected free from the constraints of a conventional diesel electric and purely on the basis of efficiency and energy density.
The result is an elegant solution with flexibility in space distribution and a compact arrangement that allows the primary machinery space to be accommodated within a single-tier compartment. Guest space is consequently maximized on the prized lower deck by the waterline, allowing for KAIROS’s alluring piazza to take center stage.
The e-Hybrid architecture permits extensive operation with no noise, lower vibrations and zero local emissions.
“Kairos is the first project undertaken within the Oceanco NXT initiative. Via collaboration with uniquely creative minds, the key elements of NXT have been brought into focus to deliver a next-generation-of-user experience” adds James Roy, Managing Director of Lateral. “Capable of zero-emission operation, the propulsion and energy system architecture incorporates many elements of our future-proofing strategy to ensure Kairos will avoid technical obsolescence as emerging sustainable technologies come to market. The engineering platform we have developed has enabled greater creative freedom to realize the unique design elements of Kairos. These have presented us with an edifying technical challenge as naval architects and engineers, and the result delivers a next-generation onboard experience.”
Oceanco sees its future clients – the ones who are a good fit with the company’s outlook and culture – as being the ‘young minded’ owners who look for something unique and forward thinking in their yachts. To best serve them, it needs to understand what they will want from their yachts tomorrow, and offer solutions today. These solutions require a rethinking of everything, from assumptions about how we use the spaces we live in, to the primary drivers of why someone would want to own a yacht.
In collaborating with trailblazers from inside and outside the industry to answer these questions, it became clear that we are living in a period of dynamic change. This new era demands meaningful innovation that is aligned with emerging ideologies and approaches, with a focus on heightened sustainability awareness and stewardship of the planet.
What started out as a conversation about sustainable innovation in yachting quickly grew to a far wider appraisal of every aspect of life onboard, from deck arrangements and the kinds of modern spaces that best serve owners and guests, to the integration of technology and wellness.
Oceanco calls this dialogue and its outputs Oceanco NXT. Like the coming together of the brightest minds in an experimental thought lab, Oceanco is working with a global collective of experts from a wide array of industries to bring fresh perspectives on its vision for the future of yachting, with inspiring results. The work on Oceanco NXT innovation never stops. It is a continual process of meaningful progress. An enduring investment in our future.
ISA Yachts, a brand of Palumbo Superyachts, has launched the ISA GT 66-meter model as part of its Gran Turismo yacht series. The exterior design was developed by Team for Design - Enrico Gobbi.The yacht features a metallic blue-grey exterior with a long teak bow designed as a multifunctional lounge area. The design includes floor-to-ceiling windows and wide side decks with glass balustrades. A sky lounge integrated into the profile can be customized as a dining area, gym, or panoramic lounge with a hot tub. The aft main deck features an infinity pool with adjacent lounge areas.The interior incorporates organic furnishings with materials including wood, wenge inserts, marble, and satin-finish brass. The main deck contains a full-beam master stateroom with a walk-in closet, bathroom, and lounge area, along with two guest cabins. The lower deck accommodates four additional double cabins.The wellness area includes a spa and fold-out platforms providing direct access to the sea. The yacht maintains the sport-oriented design characteristics of the Gran Turismo line while emphasizing social areas and natural light throughout interior spaces.Palumbo Superyachts took root in 2008, when the Columbus Yachts brand was established, and in 2011 it launched its first 54m superyacht, emblematically christened Prima (the First). Currently, Palumbo Superyachts comprises a representative office in Monaco and a logistics network of five shipyards in the Mediterranean (Ancona, Malta, Marseille, Naples, and Savona); it also operates the following brands: ISA Yachts, Columbus Yachts, Mondomarine and Palumbo SY Refit.Credits: ISA Yachts
September 18, 2025
Gruppo Antonini S.p.A. has been awarded the IRENA 3 EPC project by EDINA, a joint venture between Edison Gas and Croatian operator INA. The contract value is approximately €23 million. Gruppo Antonini will serve as the agent in a consortium with two other companies.The project involves the engineering, construction, and installation of an offshore platform in the Northern Adriatic. The platform will consist of a jacket, foundation piles, and a topside with a total weight of approximately 800 tons. It will be installed at a depth of 35 meters and connected via pipeline to the existing Izabela North platform.A distinctive feature of the platform is its energy system, which will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels. The facility will be fully automated and controlled remotely through a distributed control system (DCS) that allows remote monitoring of process parameters.This project represents the first of eight planned offshore developments in the Northern Adriatic aimed at increasing production from the IVANA gas field. The contract includes supply of materials, engineering, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, marine transport, and offshore hook-up operations.This award follows other major projects secured by Gruppo Antonini in Libya and the northern Adriatic region in 2024.Antonini Navi, the maxi-yacht builder established in 2019 by the storied Gruppo Antonini Spa and managed directly by the same family in close partnership with partner and commercial director Aldo Manna.Credits: Antonini Navi
September 18, 2025
Forte Yachts is in the final stages of construction for its first model, the Forte 47. The 14-meter yacht, which debuted at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival, is scheduled for launch in November 2025. The vessel is being built at the company's shipyard in Ameglia, Italy.The aluminum-built yacht features a vertical bow and a hardtop that spans over half its length. Its most distinctive feature consists of two fold-out terraces positioned amidships, which open outward to create sea-level lounge areas. The deck design incorporates a walkway only on the port side to maximize interior volume.The yacht is available in two configurations. The Gran Turismo version uses triple Mercury V12 600hp outboard engines with an estimated top speed of 45 knots. The Lounge Deck version features twin Volvo Penta IPS D8-800 inboard engines and an enclosed saloon with full-height glazing.The interior includes two cabins and two bathrooms with separate showers, with headroom exceeding two meters throughout. The hull design by Umberto Tagliavini of Marine Design emphasizes stability and efficient planing.Technical Manager Livio Franchini stated: "Opening the terraces transforms the yacht entirely. It creates a seamless connection with the sea that feels unprecedented in a 14-meter vessel."Brand co-founder Fernando Moricca stated: "Our clients are not just buying a boat; they are creating a tailored experience. The aluminium build allows us to adapt every element to individual tastes and requirements."Paolo Giordano, Head of Design, stated: "We wanted to ensure that the yacht feels like a true home on the water and challenge what owners expect in this size range. Every detail, from bathroom height to kitchen layout, has been crafted with liveability in mind."Current construction status includes completed hull, superstructure, and deck awaiting pre-paint treatment. Engine installation and interior assembly are underway, with the engine room reported to be 80% complete.Credits: Forte Yachts
September 18, 2025
Royal Huisman has unveiled a 50-meter concept yacht named AERA. The design incorporates a wing sail system and fuel cell technology aimed at reducing emissions. The concept follows the shipyard's 2024 launch of Project Tidal Shift, an environmental initiative focused on ecological preservation.The yacht's wing sail, developed by Artemis Technologies and Rondal, measures 245 square meters and is capable of rotating 360 degrees. The unstayed wing sail system does not require traditional sails, sheets, blocks, or winches. Two electric motors inside the yacht rotate the mast, while hydraulic cylinders control adjustable flaps along its trailing edge.AERA is designed to operate under 500 gross tonnage. The concept results from a collaboration between Royal Huisman, Rondal, designer Cor D. Rover, and Artemis Technologies. The design allows the vessel to function under both sail and power.Royal Huisman previously delivered the world's first hybrid superyacht, Ethereal, in 2009. The shipyard states that AERA represents a continuation of its focus on integrating new technologies to address sustainability in yacht building.Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.Credit: Royal Huisman
September 17, 2025
Tankoa Yachts has completed the acquisition of the business division of Otam. The transaction, finalized in agreement with both companies' founding families, includes the Otam brand and its historic shipyard in Genoa. The dockyard facilities in Santa Margherita Ligure remain under the current ownership.The acquired Genoa facility comprises approximately 4,800 square meters of covered areas, 3,300 square meters of open-air spaces, and a water basin of nearly 10,000 square meters. Tankoa Yachts plans to implement a restructuring program that will include extending concessions, reorganizing the areas, and constructing new production sheds.The operation includes the integration of Otam's workforce into Tankoa Yachts. All employees are being transferred to ensure job continuity and to add new skills and experience to the shipyard.The Otam brand, with its existing heritage and international reputation, becomes part of Tankoa's portfolio. Tankoa Yachts stated it will preserve the brand's legacy while defining a strategy aligned with its long-term vision.This acquisition represents a continuation of the expansion project Tankoa Yachts presented at the beginning of 2025 and strengthens the company's presence in the Genoa region.Credits: Tankoa Yacht
September 17, 2025