Yachting couple Graeme and Robyn Hart are seven months away from taking delivery of their largest-ever megayacht, yet they’ve already contracted for an even bigger one. The New Zealand residents have signed a contract for a 380’6” (116-meter) expedition yacht at Norway-based Kleven.
Kleven is the same shipyard finishing the yacht that’s set for delivery in June. The choice of Kleven for that project, a 351-footer (107-meter) to be christened Ulysses, raised eyebrows in the yachting community in early 2013, when the news broke. Kleven has experience constructing seismic ships, supply vessels, and Coast Guard vessels, but not yachts. However, it’s that very offshore experience that attracted the Harts. The 351-footer is an expedition yacht that looks ready to venture to far-flung places. Graeme Hart, a leveraged-buyout businessman often cited as the richest person in New Zealand, has visited Kleven several times during the build. In a statement released by Kleven, Graeme Hart says, “I am very pleased with the quality of the work that has been done by Kleven, and how our organizations have worked together to bring this exciting project to life. I am very much looking forward to seeing both vessels being finalized.”
Both the in-build yacht and the new 381-foot Kleven megayacht are from the design boards of Marin Teknikk. It, too, is a Norwegian company, with experience in offshore vessels. Marin Teknikk is collaborating with Oscar Mike Naval Architects in New Zealand on the Harts’ new yacht. (On a related note, the firm had a hand in Ulysses as well, according to its website. However, neither Marin Teknikk nor Kleven have mentioned it in information provided previously to the press.) The 381-footer will accommodate 66 passengers; no specifics are available on the number of staterooms or other relaxation areas. Neither have details been provided on the beam, draft, or anticipated range. For now, Kleven will only state that the Harts will be able to travel long distances, even in rough conditions.
Regardless, if the new yacht’s anything like the in-build Ulysses, she’ll have some impressive features. That project includes a pool, a helipad, a helicopter hangar, and a 69-foot (21-meter) tender stowed on the bow. It’s interesting to note that Ulysses also is intended for 60 passengers.
It’s further interesting to note that Kleven expects to deliver the 381-footer in July 2016. That’s similar to the planned two-year build for Ulysses. It’s an aggressive build schedule, based on Kleven employing modular construction techniques. Widely employed in commercial construction, this involves sections (modules) of the vessel being built simultaneously, a time-saver.
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