Lürssen announces launch of Azzam

Lürssen, the leading shipyard for large luxury yachts and one of Yachting Pages’ longest standing clients, is proud to announce the launch of the 180m superyacht AZZAM, the largest motor yacht in the world (official launch date 5 April 2013).

Lürssen forayed into the world of superyacht design just seven years ago, with a commission for an 80m vessel with moderate volumes and the chance to open up large glass surfaces on the superstructure of each deck. This became known as Project Light, to encapsulate both brightness and lightness.

Project Azzam followed, with its exterior design and styling by Nauta Yachts. A Lürssen representative said, “We immediately realised that this project would be one of the most demanding of our careers. The brief was strict and challenging in terms of dimensions, performance and technology.”

The designers were pleased to note that the client’s brief was not calling for large volumes in relation to the overall length, allowing us to express our vision of balance between airiness and light on a larger scale. Our lines could stay neat and essential, one of the hallmarks of Nauta Yachts.

Azzam can navigate at speeds in excess of 30 knots, powered by a combination of two gas turbines and two diesel engines with a total 94,000 horse power. The highest technology to obtain the highest performance possible for a 180m hull would require, from Nauta’s point of view, a rational, modern architecture composed by straight lines and balanced and proportioned volumes, outlining her advanced contents and stunning performance.

Ever since the first sketches, Nauta could sense they were on the right track. They said, “The design had strength of character and sense of purpose, yet also had timeless elegance, even while incorporating elements of visionary contemporary modern design.”

Nauta CEO Mario Pedol stated, “When I saw the scale model before the general presentation to the principal, I was 100% happy with the outcome. So was the principal. Such recognition made me confident that we had achieved our goal."

The client representative assembled a world-class team, composed by Lürssen Engineers; Burgess technical project managers; interior design by Christophe Leoni; and exterior design and styling from Nauta Yachts.

Azzam breaks new ground in terms of dimensions, performance and technology. In addition to being the largest yacht in the world with a length of 180m and in addition to her staggering top speed of over 30 knots, she shatters records in terms of building time.

After a year of engineering, she was constructed in just three years, another milestone in yachting history.

According to Burgess CEO Jonathan Beckett, the construction of this yacht - with its highly complex technical features - has been extremely demanding and challenging.

Beckett said, “It has been a real team effort between all the professionals involved, including ourselves, the builder and the designers. We are proud to be associated with this extraordinary and unique project, as the owner’s technical consultants.”

Interior designer Christophe Leoni said, “Though yachting is not my main area of business, I thoroughly enjoyed the cooperation with Nauta and Lürssen. I’m confident that the final yacht is everything and more that the owner expects.”

Lürssen concluded, “We believe Azzam will represent a milestone in the superyacht fleet for decades.”

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