04 March 2021
Earlier this week, German builder, Lürssen Yachts, saw its 141.6-metre vessel, nicknamed Nord, dock in Gibraltar, completing the maiden voyage it began late last month.
The mammoth Explorer vessel, which features a beam of 19.5 metres and a custom helicopter pad built into the main mast with dedicated retractable hanger, was first revealed to the public last November following an outfitting period that ran over a 12 month period. Construction of the project began just under four years ago.
Originally named as “Project Opus,” Nord‘s exterior and interior was designed by Italian studio, Nuvolari-Lenard – the same team behind Lürssen’s 2013 Quottrelle and the upcoming Testarossa, currently scheduled for a 2022 delivery.
The design process also included members from Moran Yacht & Ship, on behalf of the owner, and the project team at Lürssen Yachts.
With 20 cabins spread across the vessels six decks, Nord can house up to 36 guests and is built from and aluminium to Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) standards.
In addition, the vessel features a large sports and diving centre on the lower deck, oversized swimming pool on the main deck, a fleet of 14 custom tenders, including two modified Windy SR52 Blackbirds, as well as a submarine and remotely controlled underwear vehicle.
“Nord was designed with one idea in mind: she must cause strong emotions in every observer, not only through her sheer size, but with the design itself. No one should be left indifferent,” said Nuvolari-Lenard co-founder, Dan Lennard.
“Whether you like the design or not, it must strike you. Nord is a serious ship first and foremost, but she also transcends the traditional language of yacht design. She is a warship wearing a tuxedo, an explorer with the elegance of a gentleman’s yacht. We have entered a new direction in serious yacht design.”
“At Lürssen, we believe that to build a yacht it is vital to work as a team, and to execute such a comprehensive project, an excellent team is necessary,” added Lürssen Yachts Managing Partner, Peter Lürssen.
“We are looking forward to Nord finding her place amongst her peers as a remarkable statement in large yacht construction, based on a strong design and expert engineering skills.”
Founded in 1875, Lürssen Yachts is one of the world’s leading builders of custom luxury superyachts. Their headquarters are in the northern German city of Bremen.