Story and Photo by SuperYacht Time
The highly anticipated mega explorer yacht U116 that is being completed in Bremerhaven, Germany is getting ready to head out to sea on her first sea trials since arriving here on her maiden voyage from the Kleven shipyard in Norway. The yacht has been spending the past few days laid up in a dry dock at the Bredo shipyard for inspections ahead of U116’s voyage back out to sea.
The owner’s previous vessel, named Ulysses, which has since changed hands and is now cruising the Pacific under the name Andromeda, was well known for her functional, naval-like exterior but also the impressive 21-metre catamaran tender that was stowed on the foredeck forward of the bridge. U116 is no different, but this time her owner opted for a more sophisticated and elegant boat that will accompany the yacht on its travels.
A customised 21-metre Princess 68 motor yacht will fit securely inside U116’s well deck that can be lowered into the water via two massive deck cranes as seen here below with Andromeda’sU-21 motor yacht. The Princess 68 is designed to reach speeds of up to 36 knots and is able to accommodate up to eight guests overnight.
Just one of U116’s many other tenders that will be on board is a custom VanDutch 40 tender which has been painted to match the mothership’s paint scheme.
U116 is being outfitted by Dörries Maritime after the vessel was completed on a technical level at Kleven in Ulsteinvik, Norway. Built on a type MT 5006 MKII offshore platform designed by Marin Teknikk, Ulysses’ bold exterior was further developed by New Zealand design office Oscar Mike Naval Architects. The British design studio RWD are behind the design of U116’s interior. Manta Maritime are once again overseeing all technical aspects of the project as was the case with U107, Ulysses.
Photos by Christian Eckardt
Written by
Charl van Rooy