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Ulyssia to be built in China
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Publicised as the world’s largest residential yacht, the 323m Ulyssia is designed by Espen Øino and will begin construction later this year.
China Merchants Cruise Shipbuilding (CMCS) is scheduled to build the 323m Ulyssia, with construction due to begin in October and delivery scheduled for 2031. Envisioned by Swiss entrepreneur Frank Binder, founder and Chairman of Ulyssia Residences, Ulyssia includes 122 residences and 22 guest suites, and is complemented by five-star amenities.
“This is one of the most important moments in Ulyssia’s journey to date,” Binder said. “With CMCS, we have partners capable of matching the scale of our ambition while helping us realise Ulyssia with the precision, innovation and care such a vessel deserves.”
CMCS has previously delivered expedition cruise vessels and China’s first domestically built polar-expedition cruise ship. According to Top Yacht Design, CMCS has a dry dock able to host the vessel for the 54-60 months required, and to leave it unscheduled for any other ship until the second unit that Ulyssia Residences holds in option.
Ulyssia will be built in collaboration with Deltamarin, the Finnish naval architecture firm owned by China Merchants Group (CMG) and which will work on the yacht’s engineering, outfitting, onboard systems and overall build programme.
Touted to become the world’s largest residential yacht, with a volume of about 100,000GT, Ulyssia is designed by Espen Øino and is set to include a medical, wellness and health centre led by Switzerland’s Chenot.
Other features include restaurants and lounges, a business centre, indoor and outdoor pools, a gourmet food market and a school. There will even be a marina equipped with sailboats, kayaks, jet skis, a dive centre, Triton submersibles and helicopters.
The entry price for residences starts in the region of €10 million, with the price of units averaging about €24 million. Owners must have a minimum net worth of US$30 million.
The company stated that reservations now cover more than 55 per cent of the saleable residential square footage, and roughly 20 per cent of buyers are billionaires.
The growing community of owners includes about 40 nationalities, with the largest contingent from the US. The average age of owners is about 51, with families whose children will be able to attend the onboard school.
