If you could combine rock star level partying with down-to-earth innovative design, what kind of superyacht would you end up with? Meet Project FG (Freddy Gump), a Feadship design created for the fictional combination of Freddy Mercury and Forrest Gump. It is the latest design to be revealed from the “Carte Blanch Exclusives” archives.
⠀
The 109-metre Project FG came to life during the Feadship Brokers Course in 2019. Together with the Feadship design team from Studio De Voogt, the invited brokers created a design for a wild – but down to earth – Freddy Gump. In a few days’ time, Project FG was born as a technically feasible design that allows for wild partying at night and peaceful relaxation during daytime.
More than 200 people can party in the outdoor beach club. Hidden from the outside world, FG includes a mysterious hidden club in the bow of the yacht for exclusive private gatherings.
Feadship sales director Marsha Van Buitenen says:
On the aft deck there is a huge outdoor beach club, which is four times larger than Feadship designed “Savannah”. This beach club accommodates parties of up to 300 people while a panoramic piano lounge on the upper deck acts as the heart of the superyacht and the meeting point of the two personalities – a place that both Freddie Mercury and Forrest Gump could retire to as dusk falls and from where the rest of the yacht design branches out into the individual elements of each character.
Other unique design elements of Project FG include a pop-up table tennis court on the tip of the bow that features a glass tube that “pops up” at the push of a button and encloses the table-tennis table so that the players are protected from the effects of the wind.
One particular design feature that certainly caters to the rockstar inspirations of Freddie Mercury is the hidden club for where the really crazy parties happen – even crazier than those happening on the aft deck. Guests are not given directions on how to get there but instead have to find a hidden door past an engine in the superyacht’s belly.
While Project FG Freddie Gump has yet to find an owner, the technically feasible Feadship design is still open for the kind of owner with an appreciation for wild nights of partying like Mercury and peaceful days of relaxation.
Farouk Nefzi, Feadship marketing and brand director, says:
⠀
The 109-metre Project FG came to life during the Feadship Brokers Course in 2019. Together with the Feadship design team from Studio De Voogt, the invited brokers created a design for a wild – but down to earth – Freddy Gump. In a few days’ time, Project FG was born as a technically feasible design that allows for wild partying at night and peaceful relaxation during daytime.
More than 200 people can party in the outdoor beach club. Hidden from the outside world, FG includes a mysterious hidden club in the bow of the yacht for exclusive private gatherings.
Marsha Van Buitenen and Jan Schaffers in conversation. Credit: Feadship
Feadship sales director Marsha Van Buitenen says:
“The group wanted a character that embodied extremes. They thought about a client that one hand has a party attitude but on the other is very down to earth as well. They combined a fictional character and a real character to dream up the client – for the down to earth side, it was Forest Gump, and for the wilder side, it was Freddie Mercury. With that, Freddie Gump as born.”
On the aft deck there is a huge outdoor beach club, which is four times larger than Feadship designed “Savannah”. This beach club accommodates parties of up to 300 people while a panoramic piano lounge on the upper deck acts as the heart of the superyacht and the meeting point of the two personalities – a place that both Freddie Mercury and Forrest Gump could retire to as dusk falls and from where the rest of the yacht design branches out into the individual elements of each character.
Other unique design elements of Project FG include a pop-up table tennis court on the tip of the bow that features a glass tube that “pops up” at the push of a button and encloses the table-tennis table so that the players are protected from the effects of the wind.
One particular design feature that certainly caters to the rockstar inspirations of Freddie Mercury is the hidden club for where the really crazy parties happen – even crazier than those happening on the aft deck. Guests are not given directions on how to get there but instead have to find a hidden door past an engine in the superyacht’s belly.
While Project FG Freddie Gump has yet to find an owner, the technically feasible Feadship design is still open for the kind of owner with an appreciation for wild nights of partying like Mercury and peaceful days of relaxation.
Farouk Nefzi, Feadship marketing and brand director, says:
There are so many future concepts coming out, but they are simply designed for 50 years from now. That too easy. Everybody can dream but to create something using technology that's applicable today, if you just have the will to do it, that's what we're showcasing. We feel like we can bring some joy to people's life by showcasing the possibilities that we are able to do right now. If you look at these designs, they trigger people to move forward and leverage on the existing technology. We want to showcase what is possible and not be dominated by the generics of this industry. It's very easy to make baby steps into what the next stage of yachting should be. We think we could really speed up the process if we find clients ready and wanting to invest in this.
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