Oceanco Y701 - Construction Story

To kick-off this feature, we'll start with the original rendering and some details of this spectacular new build by Oceanco. This past summer (2004), Oceanco began construction of an 80-meter yacht, code named “Y701”. This magnificent new yacht is a collaboration between Oceanco and the noted Italian design firm of Nuvolari & Lenard... the dynamic-duo behind the new Palmer Johnson's and Carver Marquis series.

Despite its large dimensions and muscular construction, the Y701 has a sleek, aggressive silhouette. Her superstructure epitomizes the yacht’s strong character, offering a bold, “ship-look", with broad expedition style decks to the rear and wing stations forward.

We'd like to extend a BIG YachtForums Thank You to Oceanco's marketing director; Michele Flandin for supplying images of the construction process!

Here are the specs...

Length overall.......... 80m (262’ 5 )
Beam max................ 14.20m (46’ 7)
Top speed................ 19 knots
Range....................... 6000 Nautical miles at 14 knots
Engine type.............. 2 x MTU 16V595 TE 70 3490 kW at 1750 rpm
Fuel capacity............ 245 tons
Water capacity......... 80 tons
Material.................... Steel hull and aluminium superstructure
Classification............ X100 A1 SSC Yacht (P) MONO G6 XLMC UMS - MCA
Accommodation........ 2 master + 1 VIP + 4 double guest + 2 single guest cabins.
Crew........................ Capt's cabin + 2 staff + 2 single crew cabins + 11 double cabins
Designer.................. Nuvolari & Lenard
Delivery date........... Autumn 2006

The original rendering...

In this picture, Y701 is arriving at Oceanco's Alblasserdam facility, where it will be lifted out of the water to begin finishing work. The hull and super-structure is built at the Slob yard, just a few minutes away. Metal cutting, grinding and shaping is performed at Slob, to keep dust and debris seperate from the finishing facilities. Notice the delivery barge with a sky-crane pilothouse to facilitate a better line of sight for maneuvering...

Y701 in lock, preparing to be lifted out of the water. Notice how bouyant the basic hull and superstructure is. For the bulb to be completely exposed, it gives you an example of how much work is yet to come AND how much equipment is yet to be added...

Y701 is set and lifted onto cradles by Mammoet, a very qualified team of technicians. Here you can see the shafts, props, rudders and stabilizers are not installed yet. Also note, the side load tender garage (in green primer) to maximize deck space...

Y701 being transported into the shed on a caterpiller tractor-cradle system. While this looks like one full length cradle, they are actually independent tractors that must be synchronized to move at the same speed, or else! Also, note the clearance (or lack thereof) between the top of Y701 and the shed...

August 4, 2005...

The Y701 project is brought to rest under Oceanco's shed for continued fitting and finishing. Due to the limitations of shed height, Y701's radar arch has not been attached, although it was already constructed and delivered with the boat, as seen on the upper aft deck of images #2 and #4.

August 29th, 2005...

Completely skinned in scaffolding, the Y701 will stay cocooned for several months while further finishing continues. Eight levels of scaffolding are constructed, complete with staircases located at the stern, midship and bow. Every level of scaffolding is illuminated with flourescent lights, in addition to ventilation systems that snake throughout the interior.

Building supplies for each stage of completion are shipped in and stored adjacent to the hull on the shed floor, where they can be lifted by overhead cranes and delivered to any level of the structure. The structure protruding out amid the supplies is Y701's radar arch.

This is an image of the Skylounge-Heli Deck, looking forward from the helicopter landing pad. Because the Y701 is an expedition style yacht, the exterior deck features an abundant amount of storage space. The containers seen in the fore-ground of this picture would likely house some of the securing/support equipment for the helicopter.

Moving one deck below, this is the Upper Deck Dining area. When finished, it will feature a cylindrical glass room that will offer a 180 degree view astern. In addition, this level has the largest covered aft deck area on Y701, which will likely provide exterior seating and entertainment areas.

Looking to the starboard of the dining area and upwards, the details of a yacht under construction become more evident, including the wiring, plumbing and assorted HVAC equipment. Before this equipment is installed, a huge amount structural engineering came first. Behind each deck, each ceiling and each wall... is a pre-concieved road map of arteries that will bring the vessel to life.

Moving aft, this is one of the L-shaped seating areas that are constructed into the aft deck. Forget the railings... they're not permanent. U-beam aluminum rails are welded into place ALL over the boat for safety during the construction process. They will later be removed and the weld marks will be grinded away. Think about the labor here... not only must each piece of aluminum be welded on this boat, but each weld must be later grinded to a seamless shape.

Building an all aluminum (or steel) yacht is a time consuming process. Thousands aluminum sheets, plates, beams and pipes must be cut to precise shapes that will form the skeletal structure of a yacht. Putting these pieces together... is the most elaborate puzzle in the world. Fitting and checking each piece is tedious, but that's easy compared to the next step... the arduous process of welding each piece into a component... and each component into a structure. In this picture, one of Oceanco's many talented craftsmen lays a welding bead... one inch at a time. For a moment, disregard the superstructue and consider this... for each plate on the hull there are four edges to be welded, not including the bulkheads and stringers within the hull that these plates must be welded to. Again... one inch at a time!

This is the whirlpool located to the portside of the master suite. Without GA's, it's hard to determine the exact position, but as more images arrive we should be able to better determine its location. Until then...

December 2005; Oceanco Y701 Update...

Cocooned in a labyrinth of scaffolding and lit up like a Christmas tree, priming work has commenced in assorted stages throughout the vessel...

From the yard floor, the flourescent lights that line every level of scaffolding can be seen. Good lighting is imparitive, as this exposes every potential blemish so it can be corrected prior to painting...

Up on the bridge deck, the base of Y701's three-stage mast is seen rising from the forward main deck...

This is a wing/control station located just off the starboard side of the pilothouse. Notice one of the vertical supports for the scaffolding passing through the sole of the deck. Because the wing stations jettison out from the sides of each deck, this pass through hole allows the scaffolding to be placed close enough for exterior work.

Looking forward toward the wing station, on the starboard side of the skylounge deck, many of Y701's exterior areas have recieved their first layer of primer.

Looking forward to the aft-skylounge deck, you'll notice that all the decks have been covered in cardboard to protect them during construction. This picture was taken from the heli-pad, which might prove to be a useful tool in removing primer dust before paint.