The 68-metre Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht Aviva has completed a major refit at the Palumbo SY REFIT shipyard in Marseille, France. This marks one of the most significant projects undertaken by the yard in the past eight years.
Aviva was commissioned by British businessman and Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis and delivered as the flagship of the German shipyard in 2007. She was sold to "another experienced owner" in July 2023, with her asking price withheld. Her exterior and interior design is the work of Reymond Langton.
According to Palumbo, the most challenging alteration was the exterior, which received a fresh paintjob to restore "[Aviva's] original beauty and increase her value over time." Other works included a complete teak restoration on the exterior decks, refurbished accommodation and an upgraded galley. Particular attention has been paid to renewing the CCTV, AV and security systems, while the navigation systems have also been modernised.
Aviva's main engines and diesel generators have also received a full overhaul, alongside the servicing of the propellers, hull tanks, forward and aft thrusters and hydraulic systems.
"I am incredibly proud of my team for their dedication and hard work on this project. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our client for the trust they placed in us," said CEO Antonio Palumbo. "It is through this mutual respect and co-operation that we were able to deliver such a successful outcome. As we look to the future, we are excited to take on new challenges and achieve even greater results, working side by side with our customers to exceed their wildest expectations."
The refit was co-ordinated among the shipyard's engineers, technical specialists, and Aviva's captain and crew. The superyacht is the predecessor to the distinctive blue-hulled 98.4-metre Aviva, also from Abeking & Rasmussen.
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