DIV Shipbuiding yards to construct residential yacht

British company Ocean Residences Development has confirmed an order for a cruise ship-style floating residency vessel of 290m length placed with Norwegian/Croatian shipbuilding group DIV Shipbuilding.

The 81,000gt vessel will have 12 decks, and luxury apartments as residences for permanent living. DIV owns Kleven Verft shipyard in Norway and Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia which will cooperate to build the vessel, to be named M/Y Njord. Brodosplit will be responsible for the majority of the steel construction of the hull as well as a significant proportion of the technical installations. The hull will then be towed to Kleven Verft in Norway to complete the technical work and to carry out the interior fittings. The yacht is due be delivered in 2024.

DIV said the contract award showed confidence in the face of the coronavirus crisis. No contract value was given. DIV said it hopes to build one of the most “technically advanced vessels in the industry that will push the outer limits in terms of sustainability, technical innovation and emissions standards.” The vessel will be powered by dual-fuel engines, with tank capacity for diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG), batteries for hybrid propulsion, heat recovery systems, and advanced power management systems. To ensure that the vessel is ready for future demands, the engines and fuel tanks will be prepared for easy conversion to take advantage of future fuels with lower or neutral carbon emissions.