Plenty of pundits have said it, and Hakvoort Shipyard embraced it: Invest in your company when times are tough. Shortly after completing a shipyard expansion to build megayachts to 207 feet (63 meters), the Dutch builder signed a contract for a 200-footer (61-meter), the largest in its history. For now she is known as YN248, her hull number.
“Shortly” is actually an understatement: Just four weeks separated introductions (via Moran Yacht & Ship) from approved drawings for YN248. Albert Hakvoort, Sr., joint managing director for the family-run shipyard, says the client knew exactly what he wanted. Interesting enough, in late April, Klaas Hakvoort, the other joint managing director, told me, “We see a light at the end of the tunnel. It would surprise me if we didn’t sign a new contract this year.”
As for this contract, the client wanted YN248 to have good access to technical systems and as much of a reduction of maintenance as possible. Those tasks are being taken up by the naval-architecture team at Diana Yacht Design. Meanwhile, both styling and interior design are by Sinot Yacht Design. All five guest staterooms aboard YN248 will be on the main deck, while the owner gets the forward portion of the deck above. The elevator lobby depicted above gives you an idea of the planned overall interior look. Too bad the drawings of the lower-deck hammam and steam shower, located in the lazarette, haven’t been released. This area, along with the sundeck’s pool, should prove to be treasured.
The 200-foot YN248 will be run by a crew of eight plus the captain. An additional cabin contained in the crew’s quarters forward on the lower deck will be reserved depending on need: for a pilot, perhaps a nanny, or a massage therapist, as the yacht will have a massage room near the hammam.
Getting back to Hakvoort’s expansion for a moment, it was a bold but wise move. “We saw a gap in the premium market for boats between 30 and 65 meters (98 and 213 feet), and decided to fill it,” says Hakvoort. The first step in filling it took place back in 2009, when Hakvoort Shipyard raised the roof of its main construction hall to accommodate four-deck yachts. In January of this year, it opened a new slipway, and this spring it finished the yard expansion.
Leave a Reply