She has been years in the making, changing hands during construction. But, the yacht O3 is currently doing what she always intended to do. Having departed Lürssen’s facilities last week, O3 is on her maiden voyage, recently in Denmark and possibly cruising farther into icy waters.
Although she might lend the impression that she’s a converted commercial vessel, this is an entirely custom superyacht. The rugged looks were important to the original owner, and the current owner, for more than simple aesthetics. The purpose of the 358-footer (109-meter) is to venture far off the beaten path, including far northern and southern latitudes. In fact, her code names during construction, Project Icecap and Project Shackleton, hinted at that.
Construction began after the announcement of the contract in 2018 at Penne-Werft, a naval facility previously under Lürssen’s umbrella (the defense division sold last year). Initially, she had a far more utilitarian exterior appearance, the work of Norway-based Salt Ship Design. The yacht O3 is its first-ever private vessel. However, with experience deigning and engineering offshore-energy ships, fishing vessels, ferries, and further rugged-use ships, it was a suitable choice. Salt Ship Design penned an ice-class hull and an inverted bow, the latter for slicing through waves, reducing pitching in rough seas, and being quite fuel efficient in high waves.
In 2022, while the yacht O3 was still under construction, the original owner sold the contract. The buyer, rumored to be American, liked the take-on-the-world looks and purpose. But, he wanted some softer styling, along with some yacht-specific amenities. He therefore brought in Espen Øino International. Among other things, the studio added a helipad, usable aft-deck space beneath it, and a pool.
For the interiors, meanwhile, the owner collaborated with the Parisian studio CG Design. Amid the 57-foot (17.5-meter) beam, 10 staterooms accommodate 20 people. Additionally, the owner wanted a traditionally enclosed beach club. No other details are available.
CG Design cg-design.fr
Lürssen lurssen.com
Salt Ship Design saltship.com
LOA: 357’7” (109 meters)
Beam: 57’6” (17.5 meters)
Draft: 14’9” (4.5 meters)
Guests: 20 in 10 staterooms
Engines: 3/2,414-hp Wärtsiläs in diesel-electric configuration
Range: not specified
Builder: Lürssen
Stylist: Salt Ship Design, Espen Øino International
Naval Architect: Salt Ship Design,
Interior Designer: CG Design
