The new 118.2-metre Abeking & Rasmussen flagship has been delivered to her owners and christened Liva O . Formerly known as Project Celerius, the eagerly-awaited yacht is the German yard's largest built to date and includes a variety of impressive design features, including a Neptune lounge with a 3.4-metre by 1.3-metre semi-submerged window.
The yacht's interior and exterior design comes from French architect Joseph Dirand, whose yachting portfolio includes the first 26-metre Otam 85 GTS Cara Montana. Dirand said he wanted Liva to be "pure" and "contemporary" with "a large amount of outdoor space to be immersive with the surrounding landscape". He continued: "This is exactly what I see when I look at it today - the black hull is really spectacular and looks completely monolithic."
Other highlights of the new Abeking & Rasmussen flagship include a 12-metre aft deck swimming pool which has a raisable floor that can be covered by a sheet of liquid marble that mimics the sea's surface.
Liva O is also home to a crow's nest at the foot of the mast and a marble-clad firepit in front of a crescent sofa forward on the sundeck. A helipad can be found aft and she has two tender garages, one of which fits a 16-metre tender and was described as a "challenge" to implement by the yard. There is a second tender garage on the main deck forward that accommodates three boats, a fleet of toys and a Triton submersible for seven passengers.
Particular care has been given to the exterior of the yacht, which has been developed in collaboration with Berlin-based company Photon. The shell plates have been laser welded and her anchors are found beneath the waterline to ensure a clean, unbroken silhouette.
The yacht is fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system designed for "exceptionally quiet" operation during navigation and maneuvering. She can cruise at a top speed of 18 knots and has a range of 7,100 nautical miles at 15 knots. Accommodation is for 12 guests and 33 crew.
Matthias Hellmann, CEO of Abeking & Rasmussen called the delivery a "defining" moment for the shipyard. "I can confidently say: we have once again succeeded in building an exceptional yacht. By upholding our values of innovation, quality, and client satisfaction, we have created a yacht that sets new industry standards and delights our discerning clientele," he said.
The delivery comes after the yacht hit the water for the first time in mid-December and had her masts stepped shortly after. The keel of the yacht was laid in August 2019. Cornelsen & Partner has acted as the client's representative throughout the construction process.
Liva O supersedes the 98.4-metre former flagship Aviva, which was delivered by the shipyard in 2017, by almost 20 metres. Liva O is now the 33rd-longest yacht in the world.