Delayed more than a decade, the rugged explorer yacht Ulucitcan has found a home for completion. Dunya Yachts will finish the project for delivery in 2023.
The yacht began construction as Project Chuggaboom at Newcastle Shipyards in Florida in 2011. Originally, delivery was 2013. Work halted, however, within about a year or so, when Newcastle Shipyards’ ownership encountered financial hardships. The owner of the 177-footer (54-meter) had the megayacht transported to Genoa in 2017 in anticipation of an Italian shipyard taking over. According to Jeremy Roche, Dunya Yachts’ sales and marketing director, all of the proposals recommended “removal of partially completed items to start again from scratch.” This didn’t suit the owner, though. “The owner was looking for a shipyard that would undertake the completion of the yacht, not rebuild her,” Roche explains.
Interestingly, the owner subsequently sent Ulucitcan to Tunisia in 2018. Dunya Yachts inspected her there in August 2019. “Dunya was happy to be more flexible and to work with the owner’s team to find a more sensible solution to complete this yacht,” Roche adds.
Ulucitcan was boarded up (top), further lacking a passarelle and therefore easy access, along air conditioning, according to Roche. Further due to intense summer heat, “We had to conduct the inspections late at night and very early in the morning—with torches,” he explains. “From the outside, she looked in a bit of a mess, but we quickly realized this was superficial.” The already installed systems were of good quality and condition, Roche says. Additionally, multiple containers of original equipment were still sitting at Newcastle Shipyards’ property. Following a detailed survey at Dunya Yachts’ site in Turkey, along with an equipment assessment, the builder believed it could complete Ulucitcan.
“The COVID situation added a further delay, but timing was not the owner’s main driver,” Roche says. With 24 months to completion, Ulucitcan will have a 12-person crew and accommodations for 14 in the owner’s party. Since global exploration is still the owner’s intention, the megayacht should also see 6,000 nautical miles. For the same reason, she’ll carry a plethora of watertoys. While interior renderings aren’t available, Winch Design is responsible for a beach-club-themed décor.
Ulucitcan is the largest Duna Yachts project since the 236-foot (72-meter) Axioma in 2013. She bears a 37-foot (11.5-meter) beam and an impressive volume exceeding 1,200 gross tons.
Dunya Yachts dunyayachts.com
Winch Design winchdesign.com
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