Abeking & Rasmussen launches largest yacht to date

German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen has launched its largest vessel to date, 98m M/Y Aviva, one year after the launch of 72.5m M/Y Cloudbreak.

Currently situated at the shipyard’s Lemwerder facility, Aviva will now prepare for extensive sea trials before being delivered later this year.

Aviva was designed by Reymond Langton, with the project team also working closely with fellow designer Toby Silverton on her exterior. Abeking and Rasmussen spent weeks planning her launch, with a large pontoon brought over from Norway and positioned in front of the shipyard’s new build hall. A hydraulic platform trailer then moved the yacht onto the pontoon.

According to reports from Superyacht News, research and testing has enabled Aviva to maintain superior seakeeping abilities, while reducing drag, engine output and fuel consumption. She has a maximum speed of 20 knots, with a hybrid drive system enabling her to reach 11 knots using only electric motors and not the main engines.

Aviva is described as a ‘floating office’, owned by Joe Lewis, Chairman of the Tavistock group. A standout interior feature on board Aviva is a full-sized tennis court, measuring 20m x 10m x 6m. In an interview with Bond Technology Management, Lewis said he intends to use the yacht as his home for “much of the year.”

Till von Krause, sales director at Abeking & Rasmussen commented that “because of the vast planning programme, the shipyard was able to launch the yacht within 33 months of signing the contract.”

Abeking and Rasmussen also has a 74m yacht currently in build, and due for delivery in 2018.

For more information, visit Abeking and Rasmussen.