One of the most highly anticipated megayacht-conversion projects has hit the water. Yas, known for the past few years as Swift141, has launched from ADMShipyards.com.
Yas bore the Swift141 code name in honor of her anticipated speed and LOA. ADMShipyards expects she’ll top out at 26 knots and cruise at 20 knots. As for her LOA, it’s 462 feet (141 meters).
To refresh your memory, the United Arab Emirates Navy acquired a 426-foot (130-meter) naval frigate in 1998 from the Royal Dutch Navy. When the UAE Navy decided to replace the vessel with a new corvette, it decided against scrapping it, since the frigate was still structurally sound. A Gulf region owner signed on in the fall of 2007 to use the hull for a fast superyacht. The refit of Swift141/Yas began that same year at ADMShipyards, then known as Abu Dhabi MAR. Pierrejean Design Studio was hired for the new look outside and in. Even with the much more yacht-y look and longer length, Yas still bears the sleek hull lines from her frigate days. Wisely, the hull’s lean, below-water shape remains as well, allowing for the impressive speeds.
Of course, the superstructure is what immediately draws your eye. Pierrejean Design Studio ensured she’d stand apart due to plenty of curves. It also gave her enormous swaths of glass, which you can better appreciate in the aerial photo above. On a related note, you may recall from our original update on Swift141 that the superstructure is the largest-ever yacht structure comprised of composite. VectorWorks Marine, Compmillennia, and J. Frank Crane, all in the USA, collaboratively constructed it. (ADMShipyards didn’t have craftsmen skilled in the material at the time. That has since changed.)
While Pierrejean Design Studio’s vision for the interior isn’t public, ADMShipyards does say that Yas accommodates a party of 60. Yas additionally has a tender garage equipped with a fold-down door that becomes a toy-boarding and swim platform. The owner and guests further will get to enjoy an alfresco pool/spa nearby. As for the crew, naturally they’ll have plenty of modern-day navigation units, including a Dynamic Positioning system.
One more notable achievement: the Det Norske Veritas-classed Yas will be the first megayacht built to the new UAE Large Yacht Code. Applicable to private (versus commercial, or charter) yachts measuring 80 feet (24 meters) and larger, it draws inspiration from MCA, SOLAS, and other regulatory bodies.
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