During a private event held at the Amels and Damen Yachting Vlissingen City shipyard, the Amels 78m Full Custom superyacht reached a major milestone as she touched water for the first time since arriving at the yard in January last year.

In the presence of the owner’s team and the designers involved in the project, as well as the Amels and Damen Yachting team, the pumps to the dry dock were started. As the water flowed into the dock, the keel was submerged, floating the 255-footer up off her dry dock.

Andrew Tree of Superyacht Technical Services, has been overseeing the build process on behalf of the owner, said: “Seeing the project take to the water for the first time since she arrived here in Vlissingen is a huge milestone. This is a day all those involved in the build can be incredibly proud of and is the result of great collaboration and teamwork.”

Witnessing this milestone event were both the yacht’s exterior and interior designers. Espen Øino and his team were appointed by the owner to develop the exterior design and general arrangement, while Zuretti Interior Designers are behind the custom interiors.

Øino said: “It’s definitely a unique project. The large, open top deck, large aft pool and very wide side decks that can be utilised as private guest balconies are features which come together to make this design very special.”

The 78m yacht has accommodation for 14 guests and 26 crew plus captain. With a gross tonnage of 2,850, the Amels 78m Full Custom will be the largest Amels superyacht to date in terms of volume on delivery. She’s scheduled to be handed over in 2022.

Daan Langezaal, Amels and Damen Yachting Project Manager, said: “When we started the pumps and she floated for the first time here in Vlissingen, it really was a moment of great pride. As a Full Custom, this is a yacht that is very different to the last 40 that we have delivered in terms of design, engineering and project requirements.

“The success of the project so far comes down to the collaboration we have with the owner’s team, with us all working to the same goal – to create something magnificent for a happy client. This latest milestone was a major one and I am very much looking forward the next.”
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www.damenyachting.com