Super Yacht Utopia IV Hits Miami Bridge Barrier

A 63 meter super yacht titled m/y Utopia IV collided with the protective barrier of NE 63 Bridge which leads to the Port of Miami on 18:00 hours of Wednesday thirteen December.  The cause of the collision was caused from current created by a cruise ship prop wash, with twenty knots gust winds not helping the situation.  According to a declaration from the yacht ownership the cruise ship had no departure declaration, putting the super yacht in a difficult spot and causing the collision with the bridge barrier in that time.  Utopia IV was reported as having only the crew onboard, with no injuries to personnel, and yacht and bridge barrier sustaining little damage.  Probably this news made more headlines because ten days short of two years ago, Utopia IV had a collision with the 48 meter cargo vessel Tropic Breeze in Nassau Bahamas.  This is more a case of a wrong place and right time to be filmed and social media shared, with the bang noise coming out of the collision making this sound worse then probably it actually was.  

Super yacht Utopia IV is a 63 meter Rossinavi hull number FR031 and launched in 2018 to a design by Angelo Gobbi Team 4 Design for both exterior and interior, with naval architecture by Arrabito.  Utopia IV is listed for charter at half a million dollars a week and for sale at just under 48 million US$.  Utopia IV is owned by Loren Ridinger, commissioned by her husband and Market America founder JR Ridinger who passed away suddenly on thirty August 2022. 

Project: Sundeck 750

Sundeck presents the project for the 750 explorer yacht model.  A design of Zuccheri, who has so far designed all the Sundeck line since its debut in 2014, the 750 is based on the 700 model platform, with an extended stern area, which adds further space to the bathing stern area, transforming it in a beach club.  This area is also added with an aft looking settee for four persons. Inside the Sundeck 750 follows the layout of the 700 with a four cabins lower deck, and two crew cabins for three persons aft. The main deck in the Sundeck 750 is offered in two layouts, open plan galley to port side of the helm station forward, or enclosed galley to starboard in the middle of the saloon, dining area. The Sundeck 750 is powered by standard FPT 1000hp, or Man 1200hp for speeds up 25 and 27 knots respectively. 

www.sundeckyachts.com

Floating Yacht Dock Sinks in Kocaeli Turkey

A 145 meter floating dock owned by Yachtley Shipyard and with 24 persons onboard, sank while in the Kocaeli free zone area, Basiskele district, Turkey, on the morning of Wednesday thirteen December.  The Yachtley floating dock was reported in doing yacht retrieval preparation operation before it started to sink down.  All the 24 persons onboard where saved, with two being hospitalized but are reported to be in stable condition.  The 145 meters 4500 tons capacity floating dock had the tall crane booms still visible after the sinking.  The Kocaeli Port Authority reported no pollution from the sinking.

Turkish Yachtley shipyard was founded in 2005, in Kocaeli, and is owned by Saudi Arabian Fal Group.  Since its founding Yachtley has gained a name for refits, although it did deliver two super yachts; 65 meters Nourah of Riyad designed by Donald Starkley in 2008, and the 80 meter Elements in 2019 to a design of Alpha Marine and interiors by Christian Gatto.

New Model: Esposito Positano Sole 28

Nautica Esposito from Naples continue to expand its traditional Gozzo fishing boat looking line of cruisers with this 2023 new Positano Sole 28 model.  This new Positano Sole 28 Open follows the script of the Positano Open 38, offering walk around features to that of a traditional Gozzo.  Indeed the Positano Sole 28 Open has a cockpit in style and substance to that of a sport cruiser with an aft central sun-pad, a dinette with opposite settee and a central helm station.  The interesting thing in all of this is that the Positano does not sacrifice interior spaces for an eight meter cruiser offering a cabin sleeping three; with a forward double V-shape berth, and single berth cabin at midships, with a shower head to starboard.  The Esposito Positano Sole 28 is powered by a single Yanmar 320hp, or twin 195hp in line shaft propulsion for top speeds up to 29 knots and a cruise of 24 from both engine choices.

Technical Data:

LOA - 8.60 m (28.2ft)

Hull Length - 7.54 m

Beam - 2.90 m

Draft - 0.70 m

Displacement - 5000 kg dry/unloaded

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 170 l

Water Capacity - 110 l

Accommodation - three berths

Max Persons - eight

Engines - 1 x Yanmar 8LV 320hp, 2 x Yanmar  4LV 195hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 29 knots max 24 knots cruise

Hull Shape - modified deep-V

Project - 20 Maree

Certification - CE B/C, module B+C  

www.nauticaesposito.com

Project: Fjord 39 XL

Fjord announce the project for the 39 XL, a new project which will replace the 38 model as entry level model to the Scandinavian German Hanse Group owned brand.  The Fjord 39 XL is designed by Patrick Benfield, who presents an eleven meter walk around day cruiser, with usable and easy to use fore to aft exterior spaces and overnight accommodation for two persons below deck.  A lot of options come around the Fjord 39 XL from a T-top option as pictured above, to replacing the standard free aft deck with a sun-pad dinette, and the two settee centre console layout upgraded to a triple.  The Fjord 39 XL cabin offers a forward double berth with a well space shower head to starboard, and fridge storage area on entry.  The lower deck is optionable in four finishing variants; Classic, Polar, Elegance, and Sport.  The Fjord 39 XL is standard powered by twin Volvo 380hp and or optional 440hp engines with stern drive propulsion, and is also offered in the 39 XP version with twin 400hp outboards petrol gas power.  The Fjord 39 XL is set to be priced at 460,000 euros excluding options and taxes.    

www.fjordboats.com

Sea Ray Boat with Two Persons One Dog Ends Aground in Chesapeake

A classic nine meter Sea Ray boat with two persons onboard ended aground in the shallows of Tydings Parks, upper Chesapeake Bay when it broke anchor in heavy wind and rain on Sunday tenth December.  The Sea Ray boat and the two persons; Sarah Rae and her partner Bella Eldridge and Lily dog where ultimately stuck in the shallows for two days running out of energy, food, and medications with a rescue mission impossible to do by TowBoatUS cause of low tide.  This rescue mission ultimately fell in the hands of the Department of Natural Resources who hired Susquehanna Hose Company which on Tuesday twelfth December evening saved the two boaters and their dog with Air Boat Five.  Thanks to the heavy rain and high tide the classic Sea Ray will also be saved by Argentino Marine Sales and Service, and TowBoatUS Chesapeake Bay on Tuesday nineteen December.

The classic Sea Ray in this grounding is an SRV 300 Sedan Bridge model as produced from 1976 up to 1982 with the model replaced by the slightly larger 340 Sedan Bridge in 1983. The Sea Ray SRV 300 platform debuted in 1975 and was offered in five other model variants up to 1982.

New Model: Maxi Dolphin MD70 Power

Since launching the Power line back in 2007 with the 51 model Maxi Dolphin has teased for larger units in project form, first with an MD61 in 2008, then a 65 in 2016, and last this MD70, which was announced in 2020 and launched just before Summer 2022.  For this new project Maxi Dolphin changes design duties to Francesco Rogantin, who brings similar lines to the smaller MD51 and 53 models as designed by Roberto Starkel. Honestly if this was not told I would have assumed Roberto Starkel designed the MD70, as it is near identical looking to the smaller MD's, with slight evolutionary differences at the stern. The interior of the first MD70, is designed by Nuvolari Lenard who presented a two double cabins; forward VIP and midships master stateroom, with a crew cabin sleeping two.  As in any Maxi Dolphin light weight plays a big role in the construction of the MD70, with a carbon fibre epoxy vacuum build followed by interiors made of Nomex sandwich with all this giving a light unloaded weight of just 33 tons.  The first Maxi Dolphin MD70 Power which will have support duties to a super yacht is fitted with twin Man 1300hp engines coupled to KaMeWa waterjets propulsion for top speeds up to 43 knots and a cruise of 34.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 21.60 m (70.8ft)

Beam - 5.80 m

Draft - 0.88 m (ex propellers and drives)

Displacement - 33 t

Fuel Capacity - 4500 l

Water Capacity - 1174 l

Accommodation - four guests in two cabins, two crew in one cabin

Engines - 2 x Man 1300hp

Propulsion - KaMeWa Waterjets

Speed - 43 knots max 34 knots cruise

Construction - Sp Resin Infusion, hull/deck pre-preg glass, carbon fibre, post-cured epoxy vacuum

Project - Francesco Rogantin exterior, Nuvolari Lenard interior, Maxi Dolphin

www.maxidolphin.it

Tornado Capsizes Boats in North Shannon Ireland

A tornado which dropped down in Leitrim Marina, North Shannon, Ireland on the after noon time of Sunday tenth December, capsized three boats and damaged others.  Beside the damaged boats the tornado is reported to have also swept some roofs, and flattened some trees in Leitrim County.  After all calmed down the Civil Defence went down to the area, and surrounded the capsized boats with oil protection boons, to control any fuel spillage that might happen.

One of the capsized boats is reported to be an Aquafibre 12 meter, although the one in the picture above looks more to be a Broom Monarch of 40ft.

VanDutch New Web Site

VanDutch presents its new web site.  VanDutch was founded in 2008 by a partnership between Ruud Koekkoek and Henk Erenstein in Heerenveen, Netherlands, with the company debuting its first Frank Mulder designed 40 model the following year.  The VanDutch 40 is still in production and is its best seller as at today.  In 2012 Van Dutch introduced its second 30 model, which is followed by the larger 55 the following year.  In 2013 VanDutch enters and starts to market its sport cruisers and yachts in the North American market.  Van Dutch has also distinct itself from other brands with collaborations from Dior, McLaren, Red Bull, Hublot, and Luna Rossa Prada Team brands, and famous people like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Dwyane Wade, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Cuban, Ryan Phillippe, Simon Cowell, Samantha Hoopes, and Samuel Hübinette all spotted and marketed onboard a VanDutch sport cruiser and yacht.  This led along with the Frank Mulder distinctive retro-modern line for VanDutch to becoming recognizable by the trained and untrained eye.  VanDutch were in the first years and up till 2012 build in Heerevenveen, Netherlands to an undisclosed third party builder. In late 2012 VanDutch moves production in the USA, first to S2 Tiara in Michigan and then to Marquis Carver Yachts at end of 2013.  In June 2020 VanDutch is bought by Cantieri del Pardo, who move production to Forli in Italy in 2021.  Today VanDutch offers a five model line up which start from 32 and go up to the still project upcoming 75 flagship.  VanDutch new web site takes you around with the following buttons; Models, VanDutch Centers, Shows and Events, News, Company, Collaborations, Contacts, Press Room, and Work with Us.  VanDutch is also present on socual with right bottom page buttons taking you to its Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram pages. 

www.vandutch.com

Production History;

40 2009-

30 2012-20

55 2013-19

48 2019-

32 2021-

56 2022-

New Launch: Rossinavi 59.4m FR046

Italian shipyard Rossinavi has in June 2023 launched m/y Akula, the 59.4-metre hull number FR046 expedition super yacht at its Pisa facilities. FR046 was designed by Gian Paolo Nari with interiors by the Ancona-based studio FM Architettura, and naval architecture by Arrabito. Fitted with diesel-electric propulsion and dynamic positioning, FR046 is RINA Ice Classed super yacht built to fulfil the Owner's dream of world exploration. This Rossinavi was jointly developed with the Owner, who was actively involved in the entire concept and development process. The result is a luxury Expedition super yacht, the first of its kind in Rossinavi's fleet, created with the goal of navigating over long distances, structured with a sturdy hull that allows cruising in remote areas while ensuring absolute safety. Each space outsizes standard yachts, allowing for large storage areas and comfortable crew accommodation, while meeting standards of eco-sustainability, safety, and the ability to travel long distances. At the Owner’s request, the yacht was also developed to support marine research activities and philanthropic projects, with a large open area capable of stowing a variety of accessories, including two custom nine-meter-long tenders and various diving equipment. In addition, there is the possibility of loading two standard eight meters containers on board as scientific laboratories. Key custom solutions include the forward manoeuvring station being moved below deck, leaving the entire over-deck completely free as an open observation deck; in addition, the sundeck is configured as a technical area, where the emergency generator is located. The interior design has been developed to be cosy but elegant, through synergistic work between the Owner and Fabrizio Mori FM firm, with a layout offering a six double guest accommodation plan.

Technical Data:

LOA - 59.4 m (194.9ft)

Beam - 11.3 m

Draft - 3.45 m

Displacement - 1215 gt*volume

Fuel Capacity - 

Accommodation - twelve guests in six cabins

Engines - 2 x Cat C32 Acert 1115hp

Propulsion - pod drives

Hull - full displacement

Construction - steel hull, aluminium super structure

Project - Gian Paolo Nari exterior, FM Architettura interiors, Arrabito naval architecture

Certification - RINA Ice class

www.rossinavi.it