Abeking & Rasmussen has delivered the 118.2m Liva°, notable for its black hull and super-clean exterior and interior design by Joseph Dirand Architecture in Paris. Featuring accommodation for 12 guests and 33 crew, the 388ft, 5,054GT superyacht has a fully certified helicopter pad on the sky deck and is the largest yacht built by the German shipyard, which was founded in 1907.

Matthias Hellmann, CEO of Abeking & Rasmussen, said: “The delivery of this magnificent superyacht marks a defining moment for our company, and I can confidently say we’ve once again succeeded in building an exceptional yacht. By upholding our values of innovation, quality, and client satisfaction, we’ve created a yacht that sets new industry standards and delights our discerning clientele.”

Cornelsen & Partner project managed the construction process on behalf of the owner, while Abeking & Rasmussen admitted it “was a huge challenge for the shipyard to implement all technical necessities to be as invisible as possible to strictly follow the challenging aesthetic design intent”.

To maintain the elegant black silhouette, traditional anchor pockets are replaced by underwater anchors on the keel. Challenging technical aspects included the construction of a lower-deck garage fitting a 16m day tender, while the second tender garage forward on the main deck accommodates three boats, a seven-passenger Triton submersible, bicycles, water toys and dive equipment.

Joseph Dirand said: “I wanted this boat to be timeless, elegant, pure, thine, classic, contemporary with a large amount of outdoor space to be immersive with the surround landscape. This is exactly what I see when I look at it. The black hull is really spectacular and looks completely monolithic.

“I’ve been obsessed by this project and it’s the opportunity of my life to design a boat like this. I’m happy that everyone is realising why all those details were so important to get to this result. It’s my turn to thank the shipyard for being such a great partner in the realisation of this dream.”

Standout features include the Neptune Lounge, where guests have an underwater view through a window measuring 3.4m by 1.3m. For an exceptional above-water observation experience, the crow’s nest at the foot of the mast offers a privileged vantage point, while other inviting outdoor areas include a forward sun deck with a round sofa and large marble-clad fireplace.

The main deck includes a 12m by 4m pool with a floor capable of being elevated to the upper level and adorned with liquid marble – creating an illusion reminiscent of the sea’s surface – while marble also envelops the pool walls and surroundings.

For quiet operation during navigation and manoeuvring, Liva° has a sophisticated diesel-electric propulsion system including two 2,200kW electric propulsion motors manufactured by Ramme Electric Machines and supplied by SER (Schiffselektronik Rostock).

Other technical equipment includes two 2,240kW Caterpillar main generators, three 599kW Caterpillar auxiliary generators by Zeppelin Power Systems, four Voith thrusters and four SKF stabiliser fins. The yacht can reach 18 knots and has a range of 7,100nm at a cruising speed of 15 knots.

“This comprehensive blend of cutting-edge technology culminates in a propulsion and comfort system that ensures efficiency, silence, and seamless operation,” Abeking & Rasmussen stated.

www.abeking.com