A most unusual vessel splashed at Norway-based Kleven this weekend. The commercial shipyard launched a 351-foot (107-meter) expedition megayacht. She’s expected to be christened Ulysses.
The name assumption is pretty safe. The yacht’s owners are Graeme and Robyn Hart, who were on hand and who have christened their previous yachts Ulysses. Graeme Hart even kickstarted the launch by pressing a button, according to NRK.no, a public service broadcaster in Norway. He tells NKR, “This is a very exciting project for us. We have been around the yard and onboard the vessel, and I am very well satisfied with Kleven and the work that has been done here so far.”
Ståle Rasmussen, CEO of Kleven, tells NKR that the Harts and the yard have “a very good relationship,” working closely over the past 18 months. “The project shows that we can also deliver within a completely special market,” he adds. “It’s exciting times.”
Kleven is an odd yard for a yacht in some ways. It’s made a name for itself constructing seismic ships, Coast Guard vessels, and supply ships. However, its experience in these offshore markets attracted the Harts. Kleven has a longstanding relationship with Marin Teknikk, a Norwegian design firm that the Harts approached first, before the yard, in 2012. Marin Teknikk specializes in offshore and fishing vessels. Richard K. Gjerde, Marin Teknikk’s sales director, told us that Grame Hart initially requested the design firm supplement styling and interior arrangement work done by another company. Marin Tekknik subsequently recommended that Kleven build Ulysses.
Kleven refers to Ulysses only as “build no. 366.” Regardless, from the start, she’s also been referred to as an expedition support vessel. That seems to imply that Ulysses will be a shadow boat, or even a mothership. Neither Marin Teknikk nor Kleven have been permitted to elaborate. They have, though, been allowed to reveal that Ulysses will tote a 69-foot (21-meter) tender, stowed on her bow. She’ll also have a pool, a helipad, and a heli hangar.
Ulysses still has a ways to go before completion, in 2015. In the meantime, watch the video above to see her launch. The video below shows an alternate angle, close up in the water.
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