Yacht DreAMBoat Went From Contract to Completion in 3 Years

One of the largest yachts by volume to emerge from Oceanco is on her maiden voyage. The yacht DreAMBoat is certainly remarkable for her LOA, 364 feet (111 meters). More importantly, she completed construction about 18 months faster than normal for a fully custom yacht of her dimensions.

This occurred as a result of a directive for the owner. He wanted delivery within a quicker timetable without rushing or compromising key decisions. With a volume of 4,550 gross tons, this sizable superyacht typically would require at least five to six years from initial conversations to completion. By comparison, the discussions for the yacht DreAMBoat started in November 2021. Plus, with contract signing three months later, the 364-footer progressed from initial development through design and onward to construction faster than any previous Oceanco.

Much of this was possible due to a prior relationship with the owner. Known in build as the Oceanco Y726 yacht, the project is the successor to the 295-foot (90-meter) Oceanco DreAMBoat from 2019. “The owner was very engaged and proactive, with many major design decisions made within the first six to 12 months, sometimes even on the same days,” notes Edske Smith, Oceanco’s project director. “The designers were equally experienced and capable of working at a fast pace.” The owner himself shares, “My relationship with Oceanco started out great and only grew stronger.” He continues, “They listened, and I could feel that they cared about my personal vision.”

That personal vision included more space than the prior yacht for his large family. About a dozen adult children and grandchildren are among the family members, in fact. Amid the interiors, with design by Mark Berryman Design, a cinema, a spa with a sauna and steam room, and a beach club are highlights. Naturally, the beach club, which includes a lounge and a bar, opens straight out to the swim platform. Outside, meanwhile, a shaded cocktail terrace, a cinema under the stars, and a pool and hot tub will please the family. A winter garden is aboard as well, useful for cool days. Further special requests by the owner include a private deck area for him and a golf simulator on the sundeck for fun with friends and family.

Interestingly, the yacht DreAMBoat led to the implementation of a now-permanent practice at Oceanco. The owner wanted to incorporate more environmentally minded materials onboard, plus reduce emissions during operations, whether at anchor or cruising at 15 knots. Additionally, he wanted to reduce the impact of the construction process. Oceanco joined forces with an engineering consultancy company to develop a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool. The tool leveraged information from construction and expected operations, further independently validated, to assist the build and design teams. One result is the use of batteries to reduce reliance on gensets. Yet another is interior details from Nature Squared, a company devoted to diverting natural waste from landfills. It uses things like eggshells to make ceramics. Oceanco intends to use the LCA for all future superyacht contracts and share the possibilities with clients.

Capt. Andre Salt, part of the build team for the first DreAMBoat plus this one, credits the owner with an “inspiring vision” and listening. “The owner fostered an inclusive and empowering environment that allowed the crew to refine our operations and grow from an already strong foundation,” he says. Furthermore, Salt says, the shipyard, the designers, and the suppliers all came together. The megayacht is “not only an engineering masterpiece, but a genuine work of art. Delivering DreAMBoat in record four years stands as a proud testament to the dedication, collaboration, and shared passion for the project.”

Although the shipyard has never revealed his name, DreAMBoat’s owner is Arthur M. Blank, an American whose business portfolio includes the Atlanta Falcons NFL team and Atlanta United soccer team. The unusual mix of capital and lower-case letters in the megayacht’s name is a nod to his initials, which also appear in the names of some of his businesses.

Mark Berryman Design markberrymandesign.com

Oceanco oceancoyacht.com