A week after the launch of its first-ever megayacht, the Wider 150, Wider transferred the hull and superstructure of its Wider 165 to a finishing facility. Referred to as project Cecilia, the Wider 165 is on pace for a late 2016 completion.
The hull and superstructure, each made of aluminum, moved because of height restrictions. The transfer process took about two hours the night of October 26. The shed where they now reside allows craftspeople to complete the united structure for the official launch in a few months. (Note that Wider isn’t the only shipyard that has space restrictions. At some builders’ facilities, the hull and superstructure come together out in open air. They then move as one unit into a finishing shed.)
Similar to the Wider 150, project Cecelia features fold-down platforms on different decks. These include the main deck, in the full-beam master suite, and the lower deck, in the beach club, where they’re on three sides. The megayacht is also similar to her smaller sister in styling and in reportedly offering more volume than similar-size yachts. She’s further equipped with a tender garage that turns into a seawater pool when the tender is floated out. In fact, the Wider 165 was designed around the Wider 32, as well as a personal submarine. An extra nicety: a touch-and-go helipad.
Just as important, project Cecilia has a diesel-electric propulsion system. She further has azimuthing pods, for better maneuverability. Four in-line diesel gensets and battery banks will handle the so-called hotel load aboard the megayacht in addition to the propulsion needs. Project Cecilia will be able to operate solely on the batteries, for zero-emission mode. They’re in the bow, rather than the traditional engine-room location aft.
They also occupy less space, which will benefit the guests who’ll cruise aboard. The four below-deck guest staterooms should be larger than comparable cabins aboard similar-size yachts. The 11 crewmembers additionally get cabins below decks.
Wider expects sea trials next year to confirm a 3,500-nautical-mile range at 13 knots. Project Cecilia should also see 5,000 nautical miles at 11 knots. In the above-mentioned zero-emission mode, she should move at 5 knots through the water, essentially silently, too.
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