Alia Yachts at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show
by Elisa Corti 26 Sep 2019 11:58 UTC
25-28 September 2019
A new 55m in collaboration with Vripack
Alia Yachts has laid the keel of Al Waab II, a 55m steel and aluminium motoryacht with interior, exterior and naval architecture by Dutch design studio Vripack. The client decided to build with the Turkish yard after carefully researching other international shipyards. SF Yachts is serving as both project manager and owner's representative throughout the build. Delivery is scheduled for 2021.
The owner's brief called for a modern and fresh design, a home away from home that provides comfort, space, luxury, privacy and stability at sea. In particular, the amount of outdoor space and the simplicity of the layout makes a big difference to the owner's enjoyment of his yacht.
"This is a hugely exciting project as it will be rated below the 500GT threshold, which is quite a challenge for a 55-metre yacht," says Alia Yachts President Gökhan Çelik. "We're also working hard to maintain an aggressive build schedule of just 24 months."
Maintaining volume below 500GT has been achieved by focusing on the exterior areas and the beach club area. Semi-transparent sides create a wind-protected area, and a direct connection to the water heightens the onboard experience.
The yacht sleeps 12 guests in six suites, including a two-tier master suite that has the cabin on the upper deck forward for outstanding sea views and the dressing room and bathroom on main deck below.
An integral part of the early design stage was the use of virtual reality to fine-tune the turnkey design solution. It considerably enhanced the owner's understanding of space planning, sight lines and layout from the comfort of his home.
Glass also plays a central role, with glass bulwarks and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Intimate family areas, including a drop-down bulwark in the dining area, are paired with an extensive owner's aft deck and an optimised hull shape for comfort at sea.
"I am thrilled to be working with three companies of such pedigree and calibre in the yachting sector," says the owner, who plans on spending long periods on board. "I am very much looking forward to the yacht being completed and keenly await the day when I can experience life on board and travel the world with my family and friends."
36m Shadow Vessel sold
With exterior styling by Dutch designer Cor D Rover and naval architecture by long-term Alia partners Van Oossanen, this all-aluminium project will serve as a shadow vessel for Project Phi, a 55m motoryacht also designed by Cor D Rover with naval architecture by Van Oossanen in build at Royal Huisman in the Netherlands. The contract was signed in August with delivery slated in 2021.
"This is a very interesting project for us which we foresee will provide a platform that can be adapted to meet the needs of other superyacht owners," says Çelik. "The principle challenge is that it has to be very fast but also versatile and efficient. I'm particularly proud because the owner decided to build with us after visiting the shipyard and seeing the quality work we do."
With a Fast Displacement Hull Form, the vessel will be used for transporting tenders and toys, as well as a small car and extra fuel for the mothership to extend its range. It will also feature a large laundry and additional crew accommodation.
More details about this vessel will be released during the next months.
27m Chase Boat M/Y Atlantico delivered
Already delivered to the owner of the 55m M/Y Atlante - 27m Atlantico is much more than just a chase boat.
"This is a very cool full-aluminium yacht," enthuses Celik. "The owner wants to use it as a fast day boat for exploring remote places or accessing secluded beaches, so it has two stylish cabins and is powered by three top-of-the-range Volvo Penta IPS units for a top speed of 35 knots."
Designed by Stefano Pastrovich to echo the profile of the mothership, the aft bulwarks fold down to extend the main deck 'beach club' while the large windows, continuous teak decking and minimalist, open-plan interior provide maximum contact with the marine environment. Alia is now developing a 40m version based on the same concept that will function as a standalone superyacht.
More details about this vessel will be released during the next months.
Yard expansion completed and fully operation
Completed in mid-July and fully operation since mid-August, the total indoor area of Alia's new facility in Antalya now covers over 20,000 sqm. In addition to the various storage areas and workshops, the complex includes two construction sheds each measuring 90 metres in length and, more importantly, over 22 metres in height under the cranes (allowing for larger yachts to be assembled entirely under cover, including the radar masts).
"This expansion helps us achieve three key objectives," says Çelik. "It increases our production capacity and allows us to work simultaneously on more projects; we can now accommodate larger projects; and it helps us grow our focus on the refit sector. In fact, we have several new projects around the 60 metres mark under final negotiation and I fully expect to be able to announce some very exciting new contracts in the very near future."