| Lloyd Werft | 140M | "SOLARIS" ex. Project 'Solaris' | 2021 |

Back in May 15th, Lloyd Werft mentioned on Instagram they had successfully started the engines of their mega-yacht under construction for the first time (I assume it's Solaris).

This was more than 2 months ago - for those more knowledgeable than me, should we expect to see her launching anytime soon? Or is the "engine start" done way before the technical launch?

Solaris' pool was installed a month ago:

Admin Edit: Link now dead at original source.

How is that this project is shrouded in secrecy, is it because of the location of the yard? Lurssen and A&R yachts always get spy shots. Where is @drduu when we need him

Lloyd Werft announced on their Instagram page that Solaris is getting closer to completion. They're currently finalizing the exterior outfitting.

First movements on Saturday...let's get some popcorn

https://www.nwzonline.de/plus-breme...daer-am-schlepperhaken_a_50,11,108261480.html

https://www.weser-maritime-news.de/...sdockung-des-yachtprojektes-solaris-laufen-an

Thank you for the heads up. According to that second link, the whole launching operation sounds quite complex.

I might have read it wrong, but I think the launching process started this last Saturday.

On another note, I don't know if it's just me but I can't access Lloyd Werft's Instagram profile - says it's not available any more.

ops...sorry about the one you couldn't able to read, you have to pay the 1 euro monthly subscription, so no confidentiality.

..and...yes, they started last Saturday.
The Floating Dock III, where the yacht was built, was towed from the Kaiserhafen to the Lloyd Werft equipment dock on Saturday morning. Here they are now gradually dismantling the external panels.

Reason for towing the floating dock to the Lloyds yard is the depth of the harbour below the dock at its normal location. The harbour basin is not deep enough at this position in order to get the ship float free out of the submerged floating dock. The floating dock has been towed to an intermediate location to give room for some dredging. The floating dock will then be submerged into this dredged hole.

Yachts are just getting too big nowadays for "normal" yards.

Some speculation: Bremerhaven-based Lloyd Werft is apparently about to sell. It also happened to Blohm and Voss after Eclipse was built...do you know what I mean?
Eclipse-Blohm&Voss....Solaris-Lloyd Werft....same owner...

Lurssen could be the buyer

We were regular customers of Blohm & Voss with our commercial ships during my whole business life, both as a commercial captain on my fathers ships and even more later, as the owner of the company. From my office in Hamburg, just on the other side of the Elbe River, I could almost walk to B&V (through the old Elbe Tunnel of course). I watched the construction of Eclipse quite closely and I was onbord her several times during the build.
Interesting ship but not my taste, both internally and externally. Parts of the interior even made me shake my head. But that is mainly a matter of personal taste.

The management of B&V made a pretty rudimental contract with Mr. A of R. During the building process Mr. A asked for quite a lot of changes and alterations on his project. This made the project much more time consuming and most of all, MUCH more expensive. For example, just the redesign of the exhaust stacks have cost a lot of money. But due to this stupid contract, he never really payed for all of this and he even sued them for quality and not adhering to the delivery date. The onwership of B&V at that time lost a LOT of money on this project. Because of the thin order book and this financially totally failed project, the strategic investors pulled the emergency break and stepped out of this company. By that time, Friedrich and Peter Lürssen were already on standby for the take over.

If the group of investors owning the Lloyd Yard are having the same stupid type of contract with Mr. A of R., they really deserve the losses. Mr. A is well known in the industry for being a difficult client. As Solaris is also late on delivery date, I would not be suprised, if they are losing money on this project too.

Commercial ship building is not very profitable (if at all) in Europe at the moment. If they accepted such a close call due to thin order books, it is very likely, that the investors are pulling out of this adventure too. I personally, would not take this company for free.

I was moored close to one of Mr. As boats at Port Hercules with my boat prior to a Monaco Formula One race. The noice and the behavior of the guests onbord this yacht made me leave the harbour. These kind of people are not my neck of wood.

Just my 2 (Euro) cents

Interesting insight about Eclipse. I'm curious about what you didn't like.
Personally, I like her, I would just like to change a few things.
The external areas are absolutely vast and poorly furnished. The pool area is...like a hotel spa, very symmetrical and..how many tables do you need around a pool? Do you really spend your time moving from a table to another one?
Look at Flying Fox, the external areas are superbly arranged!
I probably would move the pool on the upper deck, I think it would be a more intriguing solution.
Ah...I would also design a huge beach club with large openings on both sides.

About what you shared, I remember the redesign of the exhaust stacks, they were straight at the beginning and angled outwards then.
It's also true that Eclipse went absolutely beyond the delivery date. She did a lot of sea trials, I mean...a lot! Months!
You are also right about the contract, the only things that were extremely clear were the penalities about the late delivering.
It seems that history is repeating itself.

As I said, mostly a matter of personal taste. Eclipse is an impressive ship and her interior was developed by very capable designers but in some parts her interior really reflects the personal taste of her owner.

Below an example of her interior. A stunning Megayacht like this would have deserved something better. But that is just my personal opinion.

Mod Edit: Image Resized to 800 pixels