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Gulf Craft Announce 52 metre Superyacht Collaboration 2/24/2010

Abu Dhabi, 24 February 2010: On the eve of the 2010 Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, Gulf Craft, the region’s largest and internationally renowned fiberglass (FRP) boat manufacturer, has announced its collaboration in the production of their largest yacht to date. A product of the company’s close co-operation with ICON Yachts BV, the 52 metre superyacht will combine Gulf Craft’s expertise in composite yacht manufacture with ICON’s proven steel superyacht engineering and construction capability.

At the 2009 Monaco Yacht Show, Gulf Craft and ICON revealed their intention to exchange knowledge and experience in their respective fields of expertise, and the 52 metre superyacht is the first project that will be developed as a joint venture. Speaking on behalf of Gulf Craft, Nasser Alshaali, CEO said, “Combining the respective skills and experience of both companies unlocks exciting potential, allowing both Gulf Craft and ICON Yachts to develop new products for the global market together. We have a number of clients who are considering acquiring larger yachts, but wish to maintain their relationship with Gulf Craft – the new 52 metre will allow them to do this.”

Wim Koersvelt, Founder and CEO of Icon Yachts commented, "Icon is looking to the future with this collaboration with Gulf Craft in the construction of this new yacht. It will feature a revolutionary new modular building technique pioneered by Icon Yachts, which means that the 52 metre yacht will be a flexible platform on which owners can customize the yacht according to their requirements while maintaining value."

After his presentation, Wim Koersvelt was available for a detailed question and answer session in which he revealed further details of the project:

What is each company contributing to the 52 metre yacht project?

This yacht will incorporate many of the innovations and ideas from ICON’s 62-74 metre series and take the modular construction principles a few steps further. Interestingly, some of the most significant deviations from our traditional production methods, find their origin in the processes used in series production of composite yachts. We’ve found these techniques are the daily practice at Gulf Craft and their experience is therefore highly valuable.

What are the advantages and benefits for potential purchasers for this yacht?

The principle philosophy is to offer clients a custom yacht and build this yacht on a pre-engineered technical and operational platform. We design a hull with a volume that permits us to be flexible with the weights and volumes of the superstructure and outfitting details. The hull is a platform within which, we design all technical compartments, crew and service areas – we will offer these as “unchangeable” to the client. For the builder this becomes a series product and the obvious savings are reflected in the sales price of the yacht.

The client can decide and select the exterior styling, the interior design for all the luxury areas, the layout and detailing of the exterior decks, the types of leisure equipment, etc. In other words: all parts of the yacht with which the clients are concerned will be made in accordance with the client’s wishes and requirements. We have three different examples by three different designers of how the 52 metre can be realized. ICON and Gulf Craft have made sure that the yacht “works”.

How customizable is the exterior profile and features?

The hull will be built in steel, whereby the watertight compartments and the casings cannot be changed. Of course, the engineering will take into account that we can incorporate a number of specific styling features on each individual yacht: windows, sheer line, rub rail, transom angle and bow. The superstructure will be constructed and fitted out separate from the hull. In a deviation from the 62-metre platform, we will include the steel interior main deck in the superstructure module. This gives us a huge opening through which we can bring in very large pre-fabricated components into the hull interior (here we will borrow some of the series-composite construction ideas).

All exterior styling elements will then be constructed in composite and "hung" on to the metal structure by means of bolts and adhesive/sealing compounds. This approach will allow us to build a uniquely styled exterior for each yacht in the series. We will fabricate the exterior styling elements in one-off female moulds, which in turn are produced with robots that are using the selected designer’s 3-D Rhino files.

Can both companies continue to operate out of their existing facilities and countries?

Indeed. With Gulf Craft we are now investigating the feasibility to benefit from Gulf Craft’s excellent composite construction capabilities and produce the composite modules in their facilities and ship these to Holland for connection to the yachts.

Will you offer a number of different interior options?

The luxury interior will be fabricated to drawings that would normally be provided by the client’s interior designer. Here a client can choose from a selection of timbers, colours, fabrics, etc. The layout and the engineering however, are pre-determined. In order to be able to build in an efficient manner and thus hold the price down, we will offer a very complete yacht.

What additional specifications are you adding as part of this package?

Most of the items that on yachts of this size usually fall within the category “owner’s supply”, but we will include them in the standard specification. The criteria we use is simple: if it must be built in and/or requires special fittings and/or fixtures for deployment or stowage, the item is to be included in the standard offering. For example we will develop a special tender that fits the yacht that will be manufactured by Gulf Craft.

For porcelain, crystal, cutlery and similar items, Kevin Glancey has established a detailed inventory and a selection of brands and styles from which the client can select. Of course it will always be possible to deviate but even then the client knows up-front what his budget must be and have the piece of mind that all items will have alogical space on board. The same goes for linens, stationary and all those items that will be supplied by Jonathan Fawcett. The electronic package comprising navigation-, communication-, CCTV-, computer- k and entertainment systems is delivered by Radio Holland and includes their i-Pod based integrated control system.

And the price for such a package?

The complete yacht package will be offered in the region for 30 million Euros (Approximately AED 148,946,875).Further information on the project is available from both Gulf Craft and ICON Yachts representatives who will be present at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Yacht Show. The event runs from 25th-27th February at the Yas Ciruit Marina, Yas Island Abu Dhabi.