It’s fitting that a megayacht named for a famous Italian city will be hitting the water any day now in an equally famous city, known for its boatbuilding prowess, in the same country.
The yacht I’m referring to is the 62-meter (203’4”) Roma, under construction at VSY-Viareggio Superyachts. She marks the second launch from this relatively unknown yard, located in the town of the same name. But given that Roma is being marketed for charter and sale by Camper & Nicholsons, and given her compliance with strict environmental rules, that’s likely about to change.
Espen Oeino styled the steel-hulled beauty, which will reportedly be the first megayacht to receive Environmental Safety (ES) class notation by ABS. This documentation, which became available in 2001, is similar to other classification society rules governing sewage treatment, garbage disposal, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, refrigerants, and other harmful substances. The difference is that while commercial vessels have been required to adhere to stringent eco-minded design, construction, and operation regulations for years, private yachts have been–and still are–exempt. So the fact that this yacht’s design and build plans have been voluntarily submitted, and the fact that machinery and crew will need to submit to periodic surveys and reviews, says a lot about an owner’s commitment to reducing his carbon footprint. It’s also encouraging that this owner is among a growing number of individuals who are trying to be more sensitive to the environments they intend to explore.
While the owner’s party or charter guests will be enjoying those explorations, there are several creature comforts they’re sure to appreciate. One is the fact that each guest stateroom has a window that opens–and considering three of the five staterooms are on the main deck, imagine the view. Though, the view from the VIP stateroom can’t be bad, either, since it’s up one level on the bridge deck. (The fifth guest stateroom, with twin beds, is in the traditional location below decks.)
The owner isn’t left out of the equation. His full-beam suite contains three opening windows, with two in the bedroom area and one in the bath. And due to the location of the suite fully forward on the main deck, the bank of windows in the bedroom area provides a panoramic view.
Overall, Roma emphasizes entertainment and relaxation amid a soothing decor (see saloon and dining area above), courtesy of Newcruise. A cinema/game room on the main deck can play host to three to five people. Anyone who enjoys a morning swim need not venture to the swim platform, as there’s a 4.8- by 2.5-meter (15’7” by 8’2”) pool equipped with jets up on the sundeck; hydro-massage nozzles and underwater LED lighting should make it more enjoyable. All levels from the skylounge (below) to the lower deck are accessible via an elevator, and the 16- to 18-person crew ensures better than a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio.
For further information on chartering or buying Roma, which is said to top at 17 knots thanks to twin 2,680-hp Caterpillars, visit Camper & Nicholsons’ Web site.
Leave a Reply