If there’s a fashionista in your household, she probably knows the name Elie Saab. Those of you who watch the annual Academy Awards broadcast know his designs, too: Actress Halle Berry was clad in one of his creations, a much-photographed burgundy gown, when she won Best Actress in 2002. Here’s your chance to be clad – figuratively – in one of the Lebanese designer’s new creations, a superyacht. Oceanco unveiled the ES117 yacht concept at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show last week, after fashion media broke the news. In fact, the ES117 is the first of three yachts that should result from the new collaboration.
Measuring 117.28 meters (about 385 feet), the ES117 yacht concept bears the increasingly popular knife-like bow. This is among the many exterior styling elements by Weyves Couture. The company provides haute couture design for yachts, jets, and homes. It targets clientele who wish to have the most famous fashion designers and/or fashion houses lend a level of extra exclusivity to their residences and pleasure pursuits. Saab is the first among several designers with which the company intends to collaborate in the megayacht sector.
Given its new entry into this sector, however, how and why did the team select Oceanco? After all, a number of yacht builders can construct and have delivered craft upwards of 100 meters. Oceanco’s experience gave it the edge. It has built eight megayachts in the 80-meter-plus (262-foot-plus) range, and it continues focusing on that end of the market, too.
Oceanco naturally will provide naval architecture for the ES117 yacht, and Saab will oversee the interior. Saab has envisioned higher than usual ceilings throughout the yacht, as well as other unexpected touches. Two owner’s suites will be aboard, for example, spread over two decks. Despite the super-size LOA and 18.65-meter (62-foot) beam, only 10 guest suites will exist. You can imagine the space devoted to each. Everyone will have use of a theater, a spa, and a gym, as well as an alfresco swimming pool and, of course, a hot tub up top. As for toys, The ES117 will be capable of carrying a helicopter, personal submarine, and automobile. Tenders and other watertoys selected by the owner will bear Saab’s signature, to underscore the couture aspect.
Construction won’t commence unless a contract is signed. Regardless, interested parties can expect a 20-knot top end, due to hybrid power including four MTU 20V4000 diesel engines.
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