Perth-built Smeralda shines at Monaco Yacht Show

by Nancy Knudsen on 25 Sep 2012 While there may not be too many Australians who sail superyachts, it was good to see that the Australian presence in the doyenne of yacht shows, the Monaco Yacht Show, was strong this year, perhaps heralding more visiting superyachts to Downunder in the future. Prime Australian star of the Show was Smeralda, a 77m motoryacht, manufactured by Hanseatic Marine in Perth, not a sailing boat sadly, but a presence.

http://www.superyachttimes.com!Superyacht_Times noticed and reported the strong Ozzie presence, lead by the Australian Marine Export Group and Superyacht Australia. They also reported the presence of exhibitors such as Muir Engineering, VEEM propellers, Superyacht Australia, ImaginOcean Yacht Design, Rivergate Marina & Shipyard, Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef and Waterline Yacht Design.

Matthew Johnston, Managing Director of Muir told Superyacht Times that Muir had secured business during the course of the show including supplying equipment for a 35m and 44m project in New Zealand and were also holding enquiries from Northern Europe.

'2011 showed some signs of recovery and 2012 has reinforced this view, the custom build project market over 60m appears to be on the rise while the smaller business is still slow' said Johnston.

Smeralda, star of the show:
A real coup for Australia was having Hanseatic Marine's recently launched Smeralda on the water at the show. Chris Blackwell the Project Manager at Hanseatic Marine was elated having spent the show showcasing Smeralda to brokers and industry professionals who he said were very complimentary of the quality of build, finish, engineering and outfitting and many astounded at the speed range and fuel efficiency.

Smeralda is a 77m (252'7'ft) motor yacht, the third of a series custom built in 2012 by Hanseatic Marine in Perth. The yacht's interior has been designed by Vain Interiors and has exterior styling by Espen Oeino.

The owner of the Hanseatic Marine, an environmentally minded entrepreneur, and designer Espen Oeino set out to break the rules and create a series of super-efficient yachts using naval architecture (including a fairly narrow beam), aluminum and high-tech materials as the foundation for that efficiency.

This doesn’t mean the yacht falls short in terms of luxury. Vain Interiors’ Andreas Holnburger used high-quality materials like American walnut, sculpted carpets, woven leather and more to dress the bright interior, which is yet to be seen. The yacht, which has a beam of 32 feet 10 inches, has a full deck dedicated to the comfort of her owner plus nine guest cabins.

The yacht has a formal dining room, which can be used alfresco, a beach club and a touchdown helipad on her bow. The garage, with elegant gullwing doors, contains a full complement of toys, including two nearly 24-foot (7.3-meter) tenders. Powered by two MTU 2,072-hp diesels, Smeralda has a top speed of about 30 knots and, at 18 knots, she is expected to have a range of 4,500 nm.

Smeralda has a aluminium hull and superstructure with a beam of 10m (32'9'ft) and a 2.60m (8'6'ft) draft. This custom semi-displacement yacht is equipped with an ultra-modern stabilization system which reduces roll motion effect and results in a smoother more enjoyable cruising experience. She also features bow thrusters making her more manoeuvrable at low speeds. Smeralda is built to comply to MCA and Lloyds Register 100 A1, SSC, YACHT, MONO, G6, LMC, UMS MCA LY2 standards.

Barriers on the way down for superyachts in the Whitsundays?
With Superyacht Australia now having significant momentum making inroads into removing barriers for superyachts cruising Australian waters, Operations Manager Victoria Smith had this to say about the Monaco Yacht Show: 'Spending time with key charter brokers and Captains was very fruitful, ensuring Australia is in front of mind when considering a new destination.'