The 49.9-metre HMA Naval Dockyard explorer yacht JeMaSa is currently undergoing an extensive rebuild at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) in Australia. Post refit, the owners intend to use the vessel predominantly in the Pacific for personal use and as a yacht for charter.
Works, which began in April and are due to be finished by March 2025, encompass new custom-built furniture on all exterior decks, a new outfit of the interior, full exterior Awlgrip paintwork and colour change and engineering works. There will also be an upgrade of navigation and communication systems on the bridge and new audio/video/network systems. JeMaSa will also complete her classification five year special survey.
Misha Merzliakov is the chosen interior and exterior designer, while Periscope's Shaun Phelps is responsible for naval architecture.
JeMaSa was built as an Australian naval ship in 1973 before being transformed into a fully-fledged explorer. Her military-style profile is owed to De Villiers Yacht Design. The former survey boat has a steel hull and a steel superstructure, a beam of 10 metres, a draught of 3.2 metres and a volume of 746GT.
Accommodation is currently for 12 guests across five cabins, including a master suite on the main deck and four guest cabins on the lower deck, with further provision for a crew of 16. As part of her refit, the yacht will receive new upholstery, wall and ceiling panels, as well as new custom beds and furniture. All guest areas will receive new marble-top bathrooms.
Based at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, Juan Koegelenberg, CEO of X-Plorer Yachts and Liquid Yacht, is managing the refit. He said: "JeMaSa is undertaking a formidable exterior and interior transformation including redesign and fabrication of interior spaces, new fitout and furnishings, flooring, glazing and lighting to convert it to a five-star luxury explorer yacht."
Koegelenberg continued: "GCCM is the perfect one-stop shop for superyacht refit, and a safe heaven on the river. It is also a great place for new builds. We are currently building JeMaSa’s new aluminium chase boat in our own factory located on the shipyard. Once again, working together with the best marine trades in the business.”
Andrew Chapman, GCCM’s COO added: "We are very proud to work, once again with Juan. With his specialised companies – X-Plorer Yachts, Liquid Yacht and Marine Scaffolding – Juan has tremendous experience in the transformation of huge vessels here at GCCM. Projects like this bring many if not all our in-house talented master craftsmen together and the results are spectacular. This is why owners choose to bring their million-dollar vessels to GCCM."
In terms of engineering upgrades, the refit yard will be installing one electric watertight door and a replacement of engineering plants.
The exploration yacht, with Pacific Ocean crossing capabilities, is powered by twin Caterpillar diesel engines, delivering a top speed of 12 knots and a maximum range of 7,000 nautical miles.
Formerly Plan B, the yacht was sold in December 2023 at a last known asking price of $14,900,000.
Read More/50m converted naval ship Plan B sold