Monaco Yacht Show 2024: The Week’s Biggest Super Yachts and The Most Exciting Launches
The 2024 edition of Monaco Yacht Show was yet again the biggest and most glamorous affair on the global jet set agenda.
What Cannes Film Festival is to the film industry, the Monaco Yacht Show is the to the yacht industry: the location of choice for yacht lovers and for exhibitors to debut and present the most prized yachts, new products and innovations; where prospective buyers, charterers, brokers, and industry makers come together to trade and engage. And you cannot have yacht week without a yacht party or two every night. The historical torrential rain all day and night on Thursday did not dampen the mood: the champagne was flowing.
With emphasis on sustainability and innovation this year, the 33rd edition celebrated the industry’s best-in-class companies, the most cutting-edge shipyards, architecture and design firms; and most importantly, the shining stars of the show: the yacht world’s latest, greatest and largest super yacht builds to hit the high seas this year. 120 superyachts and 60 luxury tenders headed to Port Hercule in the Principality.
Here are some of the best takeaways from the week:
GIANTS OF THE SEA:
THE LARGEST SUPER YACHTS ON SHOW
As the ultimate global event to flaunt with finesse the grandest, most exceptional, most expensive, most luxurious products to exist, the Monaco Yacht Show certainly delivered some of the most jaw-dropping super yachts and mega yachts. Among the vessels on show were a few sights for sore eyes and the most valuable vessels on show: an impressive three super yachts exceeding 100m in length.
Originally battling it out for top rank as the largest yacht on show in terms of length and volume, were two mega yachts: Lürssen’s 122m "Kismet" presented with Cecil Wright, and Freire Shipyard’s 112m “Renaissance” through Burgess. Just when everyone thought Kismet took top spot for length, a last-minute plot twist occurred: Lürssen’s 123m “Golden Odyssey” made a surprise appearance at the port in the berth previously assigned to Oceanco’s 113m “H3” in lieu of its absence. Quelle welcome surprise.
Once confirmed, the facts placed "Golden Odyssey" as the largest yacht at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show with a Gross Tonnage of 7,690GT, which is volumetrically larger in Gross Tonnage than "Renaissance" (7,200GT). Kismet may have been the longest on show this year, but both "Golden Odyssey" and "Renaissance" dwarfs it in its Gross Tonnage of 4,918 lGT.
Honourable mentions went to award-winning 90m DAR by Oceanco, presented with Large Yacht Corp; the 85m explorer yacht "Bold" by SilverYachts, and the 78m (255ft) superyacht "Energy" from Amels, and the 73m (240ft) superyacht "Planet Nine" by Admiral Yachts.
LATEST AND GREATEST LAUNCHES
Out of the many new yachts to launch in 2024 and exhibit at the show, there were a few standouts that delivered “yacht umami”: the perfect balance of everything you want in a yacht including quality-over-quantity size, design excellence and innovation, onboard facilities, and their own unique personalities.
Despite not winning the size race, the following new 2024 super yachts lead the way when it came to style and substance:
Italian shipyard Sanlorenzo debuted the 50Steel superyacht Almax. In addition to it being the first yacht to feature a green methanol Fuel Ceol system that results in zero-impact energy production, Almax features a handful of world-first cutting-edge innovations. Enlisted for the interior design was internationally renowned Italian firm Studio Lissoni, recognized for designing showrooms for the likes of Audemars Piguet, B&B Italian, and Flos; and designing hotels including London’s Hotel Café Royal, the Fontainbleau Las Vegas, The Conservatorium in Amsterdam, and The Middle House in Shanghai.
Also making its debut, Conrad Shipyard’s 44.2m “EXTRA TIME” motor yacht was a Lady of grace, refinement and excellence. Audrey Hepburn once said: “Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.” "EXTRA TIME" is quintessential timeless elegance. She was brought to life through an acclaimed set of collaborators. She was designed by Reymond Lanton Design, the naval architecture was developed by Diana Yacht Design, and the interior of the yacht was designed by M2 Atelier.
Rossinavi’s “Seawolf X,” a 43-meter hybrid-electric catamaran that was designed in collaboration with Fulvio de Simoni Yacht Design and Meyer Davis Studio was unveiled at the show. It was the first vessel in Rossinavi's BluE fleet to be hybrid-electric and equipped with AI.
COOL COLLABORATIONS + LUXURY LAUNCHES
Brand-driven collaborative projects always seem to result in some of the most exciting and creatively inspiring products and experiences. The 2024 edition of the Monaco Yacht Show yielded a few compelling partnerships and luxury launches.
Yacht enthusiasts and exotic car lovers had the exclusive opportunity to view the latest marvel from The Italian Sea Group: the Tecnomar for Lamborghini 2024 motor yacht. The striking 19.85m motor yacht is a fusion of unparalleled design inspired by the iconic Lamborghini supercar automotive design and world-class yacht craftsmanship. The collaboration between Tecnomar and Lamborghini is a perfect marriage between luxury and performance, land and water.
Maserati partnered with Vita Power to unveil the 10.5m powerboat "Tridente," a ground-breaking luxury all-electric powerboat that extends Maserati’s commitment to electrification onto the water. Vita Power is an environmentally conscious marine technology company that develops high-performance electric powertrains for commercial and recreational marine applications. Constructed by renowned superyacht tender builder Hodgdon Yachts, Maserati intends to produce a fleet of at least 10. The boat features a familiar design language reminiscent of an old Riva, but built with modern materials and colour, and prominently yet sophisticatedly emblazoned with the Maserati emblem.
Burgess joined up with high-performance sports car company Lotus to bring the ultimate car service to their VIP clientele and attendees throughout the week. Guests were chauffeured around in a Burgess-branded in a fleet of Eletre models, Lotus’ first-ever hyper-SUV which fused Lotus’ iconic heritage with cutting edge innovation.
Dorchester Collection hotels and OMNIYAT luxury residences leveraged the yacht show to unveil “The Alba,” a mixed-use development in Dubai. The Alba is the first mixed-use garden retreat by the sea in the world designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Launched at the Yacht Club de Monaco during the recent Monaco Yacht Show, the new architectural masterpiece by OMNIYAT will provide private sanctuaries on the Eastern Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, offering uninterrupted views of Dubai Marina, Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa.
CUTTING-EDGE CONCEPTS
Although miniature in scale, yacht concepts and their corresponding physical models are mighty forces in that they introduce innovative ideas and visions that shape the future of the yachting industry. Without having to fork out millions to produce a product before a buyer has come to the table, these concepts and models are a feast for the eyes for yacht buyers in town on the hunt for their investment: they hold the power to bring to life the most cutting-edge, desired vessels.
Most Ambitious Concept - Ulyssia
Why buy a super yacht when you can own a fraction of a mega yacht larger than the Titanic, is twice the size of Jeff Bezos’ "Koru," and has all of the state-of-the-art facilities and amenities onboard that you can dream of… at a fraction of the cost of what Bezos paid?
Ulyssia Residences AG held a press morning and showcased the concept model of its gargantuan 1063-foot long Ulyssia mega yacht on their stop in Monaco as part of their global tour to present the project in key markets. Projected to start building in 2025 and with the anticipation of a 2028 completion date, Ulyssia will feature 132 cabins (aka private residences), ranging in size from 166 sq m to over 1,400 sq m, in one to six-bedroom configurations. On board there will be multiple swimming pools, world-renowned chefs serving everything your heart desires at a collection of restaurants, a wine cellar, submersibles, and a well-equipped medical facility, along with a laundry list of other spaces and services. Going beyond the amenities, Ulyssia will be far more than just accommodation and Six Star-like hotel amenities. Into the packaging of a future owner’s investment they have designed unparalleled bespoke hospitality services, tailored lifestyle offerings, and 2 1/2-year long world tours to iconic cities and destinations including some of the most secluded places on earth, to ensure turn-key experience and a priceless life at sea.
Most Buzzed About Concept - Feadship’s ‘Concept C’
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Dutch shipyard Feadship brought a diamond to the Monaco Yacht Show in the form of its new 75m concept « C. » Inspired by the design of a diamond and how its facets reflect and amplify light, the mega yacht was designed by Studio de Voogt to draw light deep into the yacht’s interior. The state-of-the-art vessel is not just a pretty facade, it brings strong substance too: the concept’s proposed systems and technologies - including fully electric propulsion powered by methanol fuel cells - are very much part of its future.
SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION TOOK CENTRE STAGE
2024’s sustainability-emphasized conference further reinforced the collective mission of the Monaco Yacht Show and the broader yacht industry to lead by example in the realms of sustainability and innovation, by both practice and by design. Embracing green technology and adopting a commitment to responsible yachting practices, the show prominently featured a Sustainability Hub where leaders in the industry came together to discuss and display the latest and greatest concepts, products, and technologies in the yachting industry. Beyond the walls of the Sustainability Hub and into the yachts on show in the port, there was a strong trend of newly christened and debuted yachts that were designed with sustainable and responsible practices built into the very fabric of the vessels. Hybrid and all-electric drive systems were common threads across many of the latest releases, as well as yachts that were build using eco-friendly materials.
One of the hottest topics of this year’s yacht show was a sustainable yacht that was not in fact present at the port, and rather parked in a Dutch shipyard: Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ €675m Euro hydrogen-powered Project 821, a 119m mega yacht coming to life through shipbuilder Feadship considered to be “the greenest yacht ever built,” as quoted by Edmison CEO, Jamie Edmiston. In addition to the groundbreaking hydrogen fuel cells, the craft boasts “incredible technology to scrub the carbon out of the diesel’ and ‘there’s zero plastic on board,” he continues.
The aforementioned Sanlorenzo “Almax” and Feadship "Concept C," which both debuted this year are prime examples of vessels on show that maximized sustainability efforts in design and practice. With respect to concepts, a new yacht company whose entire design philosophy is embedded with responsible yachting and sustainability into their foundation is Greenline Yachts, who debuted their brand GX Superyachts. As part of the launch they unveiled a cutting-edge range of 24-56m slick, contemporary, custom hybrid super yacht models where not only the architecture, mechanics and interiors have been designed using sustainable methods and materials, but also with the onboard guest experience designed with responsible yachting in mind. “We are excited to bring our expertise to our new superyacht lineup, embodying responsible yachting and true comfort,” said GX Superyachts CEO, Vladimir Zinchenko. GX Superyacht models will feature a state-of-the-art hybrid propulsion system, a highly efficient hull, and a large solar array. The hybrids will be able to seamlessly switch between diesel and electric power, and will operate on 40% less carbon emissions.
TENDERS + TOYS
What more could you want when you have the biggest and best super yacht? For the person who has everything, there is, in fact, more: The most exceptional tenders, vehicles and toys as luxury add-ons to bring your yacht experience to an entirely new level. The Monaco Yacht Show was choc-a-bloc with companies showcasing some of the most cutting-edge and eco-friendly offerings, including private submarines, electric surfboards, sleek tenders, all-electric powerboats and hydrofoil technology; helicopters, and luxury cars, providing a mix of thrilling water sports and advanced yacht accessories.
Here are a few of the most exciting and fun toys that were on show:
U-BOAT Worx Super Yacht Sub 3 and NEMO
Probably the coolest and most fun toy on show was U-Boat Worx’s submarines Super Yacht Sub 3 and NEMO. Delivering unparalleled dive experiences and renowned for setting high standards in submersible design, U-Boat Worx creates exceptional, handcrafted submarines overseen by in-house experts. The Super Yacht Sub 3 model is a sleek, compact and luxurious private submarine designed with super yachts in mind.
Leonardo Helicopters AW09
Leonardo Helicopters unveiled their AW09 model, the newest addition to the Agusta range, offering exclusive, tailor-made solutions for yacht and superyacht owners. The AW09, which seats five to eight people, sets a new benchmark in the light single-engine, multirole helicopter market for passenger transport missions combining comfort, flexibility and a cabin that offers the most generous legroom in its category.
SEAir
SEAir presented their 40ft Flying Chase boat, showcasing cutting-edge hydrofoil technology that redefines luxury boating. Flying Chase is a chase boat that flies above the water’s surface, which reduces fuel consumption, increases speed and provides an ultra-smooth ride. SEAir whose innovations include the world’s first flying deep-sea monohull sailboat and RIB, leads the way in eco-conscious tenders and chase boats, minimising environmental impact while enhancing comfort.
Falcon Tenders
Falcon Tenders introduced the “MISS WONDERLY,” a stylish and sustainable limousine tender, featuring new lines, luxurious finishes, and eco-friendly materials, and offers superior performance, smooth, quiet rides and luggage storage. Debuting alongside it was SOLAS 660, a sleek and modern, minimalist SOLAS-compliant tender designed by Allseas Design.
Awake
Awake showcased its top electric high-performance Click-to-Ride surfboards and jet eFoils, including its BRABUS X Awake jet board which merges BRABUS’s luxury engineering with Awake’s cutting-edge technology.
