Expanding horizons Lurssen

EXPANDING HORIZONS

Fr. Lurssen is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of super-yachts. Philip Yorke explores the unique expertise and dedication to perfection that has kept the company at the forefront of the superyacht industry, and its latest creations.

Fr. Lurssen Werft was founded in 1875 and is now in its fourth generation of private family ownership. The company was founded by Friedrich Lurssen with a desire to create a leading shipyard that excelled in both quality and performance. With its headquarters in Bremen-Vegesack and five building shipyards in north Germany, Lurssen Yachts is responsible for designing and building some of the world’s finest luxury yachts of between 33 and 200 metres, and can claim to have produced the world’s first motor yacht in 1886.

Lurssen utilises a number of specialist shipyards and connections worldwide to achieve its goal of total customer satisfaction and employs more than 1000 craftsmen and over 200 marine engineers.

Today Lurssen’s reputation as a high quality, dedicated and discreet shipyard has ensured its continued success. The company remains committed to incorporating the highest possible technical standards in all its designs and manufacturing processes in order to meet the specific and highly individual demands of its clients.

Creating perfection

Lurssen prides itself on being at the cutting edge of marine technology and furthermore, associates itself with the fields of research and design, production technologies and system integration, as well as online ship management systems. Every Lurssen yacht is custom built to the most exacting standards and specifications; however, they are also engineered carefully to meet the stringent international standards for safety, seaworthiness and durability. One of the most important selling points for Lurssen is that they not only constitute a source of pride and pleasure for their clients, but that they are also a statement that reflects the owners’ individual tastes and personality.

Today Lurssen remains one of small nucleus of companies that make custom-built boats for the super-rich and is considered to be the global brand leader in its class.

Showcasing elegance

The main opportunity to impress potential customers is to be gained at the world’s international boat shows and this gives manufacturers the opportunity to display their creations in the most beautiful settings. Lurssen attends the world’s most prestigious shows and this year (2012) its super-yachts can be seen and admired at Monaco where owners, their families and friends are hosted in one of Europe’s most glamorous yachting destinations. The Monaco ‘Rendezvous

is between 21 and 24 of June this year. In October this year Lurssen will also be showcasing their skills at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where the SBYA (Superyacht Builders Association) is providing a new 16,000 square foot pavilion alongside a custom-built, floating air-conditioned barge.

In addition, this year Lurssen’s Ace (project Rocky) yacht completed its sea trials in March and her delivery is scheduled for late spring 2012. Andrew Winch, who was responsible for the exterior as well as the interior design, gave the yacht a very unusual profile which is certain to turn many heads. The yacht’s large side arches surmount oval side balconies where the yacht’s name is placed and the cream-coloured hull with its gleaming, white superstructure underscores the true elegance of this majestic yacht.

In a separate project, Lurssen launched its project Niki in the traditional fashion amongst a fanfare of complimentary press reviews. Espen Oeino has given Niki the most harmonious proportions and, with a length of 85.5 metres and a beam of 13.80 metres, she boasts extraordinary volumes that meet all the owner’s requirements whilst still maintaining exceptionally graceful and sleek lines. Maintaining the legend

Lurssen has always been a privately owned family business since it was founded almost 130 years ago and today it is managed by Friedrich and Peter Lurssen, who represent the fourth generation of family ownership. Both the Lurssen brothers who manage the company are actively involved in the day-today running of it and have face-to-face contact with their clients, which in turn builds a trust and commitment that is essential in a business of this nature.

Lurssen clients also know that they can rely on complete discretion and that their

specifications and personal data will always remain confidential. Today the customers for Lurssen super-yachts are evenly split between the USA, Europe and the rest of the world and Lurssen protects not only all information relating to its clients, but also the company’s own financial status and performance, which remains a closely guarded secret.

The whole design and development process is a very personal matter between the client and the company and Lurssen still relies to a large extent on the old-fashioned but proven method of creating a physical scale model of the yacht. For this purpose, a full-time model maker is employed. Furthermore, Lurssen gives painstaking attention to detail at all stages, as well as in the degree of hand finishing involved, particularly for the deck areas and accommodation quarters. The materials employed in the vessel’s structures are typically of steel and aluminium, but there the application of conventional materials ends. As far as the interior fittings and finishes are concerned they are only limited by the imagination and creativity of Lurssen’s own designers. n