Fifth Ocean Yachts may have been established in the Ukraine in 2010, but it is just now becoming known to the international yachting community. Part of that stems from its first megayacht nearing completion. Part also stems from the experienced designers and managers associated with Fifth Ocean Yachts.
Fifth Ocean Yachts’ facility is located In Nykolayev, a.k.a. Mykolaiv, in the southern part of the country. It’s a large port city and a significant shipbuilding center of the Black Sea. In fact, its shipbuilding history dates back to tsarist times. Passenger ships, bulk carriers, tugs, and naval vessels are among the craft regularly constructed straight through the modern day. Fifth Ocean Yachts itself occupies a facility that previously built metal ships.
Fifth Ocean Yachts is keeping true to those steel and aluminum construction methods, though focusing on yachts and megayachts from 66 to 164 feet (20 to 50 meters), both on a semi-custom and custom basis. That size range is in line with the lengths that have been in greatest demand for about the past decade. Fifth Ocean Yachts believes it has an advantage in terms of pricing, too, due to the lower labor costs in the Ukraine compared with Europe and the United States. The 79-foot (24-meter) expedition motoryacht, pictured at top, that’s presently under construction is available for sale for about $4.5 million (€3.3 million).
Clearly cost alone can’t sell a client on a megayacht, so Fifth Ocean Yachts turned to proven designers to partner with on its first projects. The 79 is designed by Ginton Naval Architects. In keeping with the expedition theme, the yacht is expected to top out at 11.5 knots and cruise at 7 knots, powered with twin 275-hp Caterpillars. Three staterooms lie below decks, with the owner’s cabin including a small study. The flying bridge has a combination of indoor and outdoor relaxation areas as well as room for a tender and PWC.
The 79-footer is also the smallest model in what Fifth Ocean Yachts calls its signature range. That range also includes a 92-footer and 117-footer (28- and 35.5-meter, respectively). The 92-footer, illustrated above, comes from the drawing boards of Guido De Groot. She’s a modern-looking, trideck design with five staterooms, including a main-deck master suite. That suite can feature a two-level bath, if so desired.
While the signature range has been Fifth Ocean Yachts’ main priority, the shipyard is also preparing two other designs for preliminary work. One is for a 134-foot (41-meter) motoryacht, while the other is a 98-foot (30-meter) sailing yacht. Details are expected in the coming months.
In the meantime, to bolster its ability to attract clients, Fifth Ocean Yachts recently selected Andrea Armas as the chief operating officer, due to his background in the yachting industry. Besides being a naval architect, Armas served as the surveyor, owner’s representative, and/or project manager for a variety of custom megayachts built in Turkey, Germany, Italy, and Australia. He went on to oversee sales for production-boat brands Bertram, Riviera, and Numarine. Most recently Armas founded and has been operating a yacht-charter and management brokerage.
David Hill
Very interesting we are interested in all Shipyard news.
David Hill
Yacht Protect Services Ltd
Jonathan Charlesworth
is tis yard still producing Private Pocket Yachts? In the 75 to 95 foot range?
Diane M. Byrne
The shipyard is no longer active.