UPDATE, JUNE 22, 2012: SuRi launched on June 19 and is en route to welcoming her first charter guests in Mexico. The megayacht is expected to remain in Mexican waters through September. That doesn’t mean the end of cruising, however: SuRi will venture to Antarctica and then on to the South Pacific in 2013. Her charter calendar still has availability, so to inquire, contact 37 South Yacht Charter or your own charter broker.
Read on for our original article.
Why commission a new megayacht when you’re perfectly happy with the one you have—and can extend her in a shorter amount of time than it would take to wait for a new build? That was the thinking behind the refit of SuRi, about halfway completed at Bay Ship & Yacht Co. in California.
SuRi is the largest megayacht refit project going on stateside at present, and the largest one in America for some time. We first told you about SuRi being refitted at Bay Ship & Yacht Co. in October. The megayacht arrived there measuring 173 feet (52.7 meters), but she’s now 208 feet (63.4 meters) LOA, thanks to the addition of a large section at amidships.
While far larger megayachts have been serviced at other U.S. refit yards over the past year or so, the scope of their work was limited to painting. By contrast, SuRi’s extension is leading to the creation of several new rooms and features. These include two extra guest staterooms and space for more toys in SuRi’s immense toy garage. But, arguably the most noteworthy new feature is a media room below decks. Fitted with two ports that the refit team terms “windows to the sea,” it will allow for endless watching of the underwater world. Bright underwater lighting will let guests see far more than usual, too.
Then there’s the 24 feet added to the sundeck. It’s for a new alfresco dining area for the owner, plus additional sunning and general relaxation spaces.
Bay Ship & Yacht was one of several shipyards worldwide vying for SuRi’s service work. Located in the San Francisco Bay area, Bay Ship & Yacht’s team and facilities were up to the task. It regularly refits and repairs megayachts as well as ferries, tugs, other workboats, and military ships. The facilities include a 3,000-ton floating drydock and a Syncrolift capable of handling yachts to 215 feet LOA and displacing 1,200 tons. A rail system moves megayachts and other vessels into one of 16 work areas on land.
As for the work on SuRi, it’s expected to last until late June. Head over to the photos section of the Megayacht News Facebook page to see a series of shots taken in March, revealing the step-by-step process of inserting the extension. Then, watch the video above, a good overview of how the extension was constructed, complete with time-lapse footage of its installation. There’s also commentary on what else is being done to make SuRi more magnificent in her owner’s eyes. Something not stated, but worth keeping in mind as you watch: The superstructure section being put in place by a crane at one point in the footage weighed 50 tons.
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