Dutch builder Balk Shipyard has revealed the exterior proposal for the rebuild of the 24-metre Acico yacht Ursus. Redelivery is scheduled for later this year (2024).
In 2022, Ursus arrived at the shipyard's facilities in Urk, the Netherlands for the rebuild, which will result in her complete conversion into a pocket explorer yacht – including improved seakeeping performance and on board living space.
One of the most significant alterations is a new bow and stern which has extended Ursus by six metres, for a final LOA of 30.4 metres. A one-metre extension to the superstructure has also resulted in a more voluminous saloon and sundeck.
Balk Shipyard is working in collaboration with Mulder Design for the naval architecture, exterior and interior design.
Other works include an upper deck extension, the installation of an al fresco kitchen, new wing stations and crane foundations, a "renewed" beach club and numerous technical upgrades, including all-new hybrid propulsion. The new layout will also provide an increase in crew accommodation.
"We have been honoured to be working with involved and passionate owners for this project. They are experienced yachtspeople who want to maximise the enjoyment they get from their vessel," said Evan Kortmann, Balk Shipyard CEO. "This is a dramatic rebuild and Ursus will not only leave larger than when she arrived, she will leave completely changed. Mulder Design has beautifully reimagined the vessel; it’ll be hard to believe this is the same yacht."
Naval architect and project leader at Mulder Design, Jan Willem Frederikze added: "A rebuild is always a challenge. Even more so if a yacht is taken from a CE (below 24 metres) to a Class vessel. This makes for a hybrid structure, hybrid layout and hybrid decision-making."
Ursus was delivered in 2016 as Acico's only DEY 24 model. Her original exterior and interior was owed to Focus Yacht Design and Claudia Drettmann respectively.
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