PROJECT ZOZA is launched

PROJECT ZOZA was launched by Benetti in Livorno on Tuesday, 5 February. Burgess New Construction worked on the owner's behalf from the outset.

On February 5th, Project ZOZA was successfully launched at the Benetti facility in Livorno, Italy. Project ZOZA, also known as FB272, is a steel yacht with an aluminium superstructure built to comply with the PYC (Passenger Yacht Code). The project was conceived by an experienced owner over nine years ago drawing on his extensive yachting experience.

The owner spent significant time in the development stage (pre-contract) of the exterior design, initially with Hugo van Wieringen from Azure Naval Architects and then with the assistance of Reymond Langton Design and Zaniz Jakubowski of Zaniz Interiors. The exterior design was refined post contract with the assistance of Giorgio M. Cassetta, supporting Zaniz Interiors who took over responsibility for both exterior and interior design of the yacht.

The design followed the owner's concept and vision to connect with the sea through unobstructed views. The significant amount of glass and minimal structure further accentuates this requirement. The yacht includes a propulsion package, air conditioning system, a 3,000KWh hybrid battery installation (the largest of its type fitted to a yacht of this size to date). The vessel was conceived with a diesel-electric propulsion package driving two Azipods and two large bow thrusters allowing the yacht to hold station in winds up to 35kn.

From the outset of the project the owner enlisted the services of the Burgess New Construction team, a full-time, highly skilled and dedicated technical and project management team offering significant experience and expertise in luxury yachts, to work on the owner's behalf. The collaborative work undertaken between the owner's team and Benetti has resulted in a high-quality yacht. The yacht has a displacement of above 5,500GT, a length of approximately 100m and a beam of 17m.

FB272's exterior lines, which include six decks, were created by the owner, Reymond Langton Design and Zaniz Jakubowski and further developed by Benetti into a buildable 3D model. A straight bow offers brilliant seakeeping credentials, while a huge forward deck area brings guests a thrilling vantage point from which to cruise and relax.

The main deck offers further dining and social spaces, sheltered and shaded by the graceful overhang of the beautifully styled superstructure. Above this is the wheelhouse and above again is a charming, private deck leading towards the helicopter pad - fully certificated by a recognised aviation agency - equipped with a fuelling/de-fuelling station. High swathes of glass wrap the main decks, with the hull featuring a long horizontal strip of glazing from midship to stern. Windows on the upper decks are entirely uninterrupted by structure, giving each deck a floating appearance.

Interior designs for the guest areas and crew spaces were conceived and developed by Zaniz Jakubowski. She also provided her unique artistic expertise in luxury yacht designing to develop wonderful exterior décor fulfilling the owner's brief. Known for conceiving spaces that work in synchronicity with their surroundings, this sought-after designer has put her iconic stamp on FB272.

The generation/propulsion package is obtained by six generators of approximately 1,000KW each. The electricity produced by those generators is managed electronically, by a sophisticated, fully integrated power management system, to feed the consumption of the services on board and the electric motors of two Azipods of 2,200KW each. The spare electricity is also used to charge 35 tons of batteries which can silently operate the yacht for 12 hours without an engine running. This propulsion package is state-of-the-art technology, made by top names such as Caterpillar, Seastema and ABB, under the coordination of Benetti Technical Department. The advantage of this system is a vibration-free navigation in total silence: with such stable and silent cruising, guests might hardly realise they are underway.

The air conditioning system and chiller units - which were based on the owner's specific requirements and supplied by H&H - are some of the biggest ever installed inside a yacht of this size with a total cooling capacity of approximately 3,000KW.

The yacht is equipped with a waste heat recovery system conceived by the owner that feeds the yacht and saves electrical power in line with the latest green environment requirements.

About Burgess New Construction

Burgess New Constructions (BNC) has had a dedicated team of professionals working on the project from conception assisting the owner throughout, bringing a vast amount of experience in Passenger Yacht Code design and construction techniques to the project. The BNC team is now assisting with the harbour trials and await a successful series of sea trials prior to an expected delivery towards the end of the summer of 2019.

Founded in 1975, and now with 14 offices globally, Burgess is the superyacht industry leader, specialising in yachts of over 30m (100ft). Renowned for its professional yachting services, the company leverages its expertise to guide clients through every aspect of the yachting experience, including sale and purchase, charter, new construction, management, crew services and insurance.

Burgess has been involved in the sale of many of the world's most significant yachts, while their technical division is currently project managing the build and development of a diverse spectrum of large yachts. The company's highly qualified yacht managers have extensive sea-going experience and can take care of every facet of managing a superyacht. Burgess' first-class charter service offers a portfolio of the finest yachts in the best cruising destinations around the world.

The superyacht credentials of Burgess are unmatched, ensuring that clients enjoy the highest levels of customer service.