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Classic 1920s steam yacht SS Delphine listed for auction

2 January 2025 • Written by Dea Jusufi

The 78.6-metre classic steam yacht SS Delphine has been listed for sale via judicial auction.

Legal firm BMC Avocats is overseeing the auction, which will begin on 5 February – though interested buyers will have to place a deposit beforehand. According to BOATPro, SS Delphine is based in Marseille, France, with client visits available on 13 January.

At the time of her launch, SS Delphine had the largest gross tonnage of any yacht in America

SS Delphine was a familiar sight around Detroit and Chicago in the 1920s, delivered by Great Lakes Ew for automobile manufacturing mogul Horace Dodge of the Dodge Brothers. The yacht was named after his daughter and features an unusual quadruple steam expansion engine that propels SS Delphine to an impressive top speed of 15 knots. Her design is owed to Henry J. Gielow and Antoine Wille, with the former also responsible for classic yachts Olympus and El Boughaz I.

SS Delphine has a rich history spanning over a century, including a stint as a flagship during World War II. The steam yacht was laid up in 1962 and fell into disrepair in the early 1990s, before being acquired by a Singaporean company which planned to convert her into a mini-cruise liner for Asian waters.

The sale ultimately fell through and she was instead purchased by a Belgian buyer who undertook a thorough, €45 million restoration which brought SS Delphine back to mint condition, including her original engines. She was then listed as a yacht for charter.

The yacht is now equipped with all the amenities expected on a modern superyacht, including a Hammam, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym, swimming pool and hairdressing room. Accommodation is for up to 26 guests for overnight stays and 150 guests for day events, with her 1921 Tiffany décor retained in the suites, dining room and lounges.

The auction requires a minimum bid of €500,000.