The largest yacht support vassels in the world
Yacht support vessels have become an increasingly popular way for yacht owners to elevate the experience of owning and being onboard a yacht. They can be used as a tender garage to store additional tenders and toys, as a helipad for adventures further out, or even as accommodation for extra crew and specialist staff. SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at the world’s largest yacht support vessels currently in operation.
Karmarine Shipyard completed the transformation of the 1982 semi-submersible support yacht, previously known as AS Super Servant 3, in January 2022. OK can be described as both a support yacht and a “world-girdling” expedition motor yacht. OK was originally built by Oshima Shipbuilding and features an exterior style by Bozca Design. The 146-metre vessel boasts an impressive 3,300 square-metres of open space on her aft deck and is able to provide accommodation for 70 different toys, including a 46-metre sailing yacht, multiple tenders, buggies, amphibious vehicles and a sea plane. OK can also accommodate up to 20 guests and includes a glass-wrapped sun deck Jacuzzi, an outdoor cinema, a tennis court, a botanic garden and four large aquariums.
The 130.2-metre Severnav support yacht M2 was delivered in 2002 from Romania. The 7,404 GT vessel, previously named Aranui III, operated as a dual passeng er/cargo vessel between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands before she ended her service in 2015. M2 has a steel hull and superstructure and is the largest vessel ever built by Servernav. It is believed she was converted into a yacht support vessel in 2017 at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. She features four massive storage garages with an internal volume of over 6,500 cubic-metres, the equivalent of nearly two Olympic swimming pools. The eight deck support vessel is able to carry 208 passengers across 100 staterooms. M2 was recently spotted in the Mediterranean near Costa Smeralda, the first time she has been seen outside the Middle East.
The 80.1-metre support yacht U-81 was delivered in May 2022 by the Albwardy Damen Shipyard in Sharjah, UAE. She did not, however, start her life as a yacht support vessel. Her construction was started in Vietnam at the Ha Long Shipyard to the Damen Platform Supply Vessel 3300CD design; she was sold in early 2022 and then converted into a support yacht. Not many details are known about the conversion, but the new owner appointed Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture for all work completed in relation to the exterior design, naval architecture and basic engineering.
Read: Damen Shipyards’ 80m support yacht U-81 completes conversion
The support yacht Dubai Shadow was delivered in 1973 from Japan where she started life as a fishing vessel. The 79-metre yacht, previously named Australis Mentor, was converted in 2006 by Platinum Yachts FZCO. Dubai Shadow features exterior and naval architecture by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. She is able to accommodate up to 32 guests across 16 staterooms as well as a crew of 59 with seven officer cabins, five crew cabins, and 16 staff cabins. Dubai Shadow is powered by twin Daihatsu engines which give her a cruising speed of 13.5 knots and a top speed of 15.5 knots.
The 77.34-metre support yacht Khozam was delivered in 1975. She was originally built as a tug by her German builder, Schichau-Unterwesser in a series of several vessels. Previously named Atlantic, Kohozam was then converted into an explorer yacht in the 1990s and later converted into a yacht support vessel for a Middle Eastern owner. She boasts both exterior design and naval architecture meticulously crafted by Schichau Unterweser AG. Khozam can accommodate up to nine guests and even has space for a crew of up to 20 members.
Abeona is a 75.25-metre support vessel entirely designed by Damen Yachting. The custom-built support yacht boasts a volume of 1,901 GT and is the support yacht of the 127-metre Oceanco yacht Koru. Given her impressive size, Abeona can accommodate up to 45 people onboard, including guests, crew and specialist staff. Previously named Wingman, the support vessel is the second largest yacht built by Damen Yachting, she is powered by twin MTU engines providing her with a top speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots.
The 73.6-metre Feadship support yacht Sherpa started life under the name Project 815. She was completed in 2018 at Feadship’s Royal Van Lent Kaag facility in the Netherlands. Sherpa was created for a highly experienced yachtsman, and her expedition-style architecture enables her to carry a great deal of equipment to use while exploring different parts of the world. The industrial-looking vessel features exterior design by RWD who followed the owner’s brief for a highly functional exterior paired with a detailed interior worthy of the Feadship name.
The 72.15-metre Damen Yachting support vessel Game Changer was launched in 2017 and was built to Polar Code compliance. She had previously been used as part of an ocean research project and features naval architecture and exterior design by her builder Damen Yachting. In 2020 the superyacht underwent a 10-month refit at ICON Yachts in the Netherlands, where her hull was extended from 69.15-metres to 72.15-metres, providing room for a beach club and swim platform. The 1,385 GT Game Changer can accommodate as many as 11 guests across five staterooms and is operated by a crew of 16.
Read: Expedition yacht Game Changer relaunched after 10-month refit
The 71.5-metre Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar dive support yacht Um Alhoul was built under the project name Al Jassasiya I, and completed in 2018. The shadow vessel was built as a stand-alone luxury vessel designed for adventurous activities such as diving and ocean exploration. Constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, Um Alhoul has a generous volume of 1,306 GT. Her exterior lines are the work of Damen Yachting and Pastrovich Studio. Inside, her design comes from the drawing boards of Pastrovich Studio.
The 71.5-metre Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar dive support yacht Daloob was built alongside Um Alhoul and had the project name Al Jassasiya. Both dive support yachts are based on the same platform as the Damen 6711/6911 yacht support vessels, which include support yachts such as Intrepid, Game Changer and Garçon. Daloob is powered by four MTU engines that provide her with a top speed of 20 knots.
The Damen Yachting support yacht Intrepid was delivered to her adventurous owner in 2016 from the Netherlands. The 69.15-metre vessel is constructed out of steel and aluminium and features both exterior design and naval architecture by Damen Yachting. She was purposefully built to supply her mothership, Infinity, with air support, provisions, crew, fuel and an extended range of watersports and exploration equipment. The 1,128 GT support yacht Intrepid is capable of receiving a Eurocopter AS365 or Agusta Westland AW109 on her innovative heli-deck. The platform opens to reveal a hangar into which the helicopter disappears below deck.
Read: Insight: The success of Damen’s Yacht Support Vessels
The Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon delivered the 68.2-metre SHADOWCAT support vessel Wayfinder in April 2021. She features interior stylings from Oliver Design finished with minimalist styling in neutral tones with accents of red and pink in the soft furnishings. As well as this Wayfinder features naval architecture by Incat Crowther. Her impressive 14-metre beam and 1,737 GT allows for the accommodation of a helicopter hangar, as well as a large workshop, storage for up to 200,000 litres of fuel and a rescue boat, among many other supplies. Wayfinderis the second catamaran motor yacht to be launched by her builder, she has accommodation for as many as 18 crew, alongside 14 technicians.
Read: The catamaran comeback: Top reasons why they are the perfect support yacht platform
Nebula is the latest catamaran to be launched from the Spain-based yacht builder’s Shadowcat series, which includes the 68.2-metre Wayfinder and the 66.2-metre Hodor. The 68.2-metre Astilleros Armon support vessel is the second largest to be built by the shipyard and features exterior design from Schwalgien Yacht Design with naval architecture by Incat Crowther. The 2,050 GT catamaran has been penned with three decks and boasts an impressive 14-metre beam. Nebula’s aft has been reserved for guest enjoyment, while the forward deck has been adapted for tender and toy storage. The support yacht also features a helipad and hanger.
Read: Angular 65m support yacht concept Origami unveiled by Schwalgien Yacht Design and Astilleros Armon
Read: In pictures: Astilleros Armon’s 68m support catamaran Nebula on maiden voyage
Explorer | Candies Shipbuilders | 1980 | 67.28-metres
The 67.28-metre Candies Shipbuilders support yacht Explorer was delivered in 1980. Previously named Danah Explorer, the yacht was relaunched in 2014 following an extensive four-month refit which involved the installation of an additional deck solely for the owner’s use. This deck consisted of a spa, gym, private lounge and owner’s stateroom. The support vessel is currently the largest yacht built by Candies Shipbuilders to date, featuring interior design derived from the drawing board of Joseph Artese Design and naval architecture imagined by Kirilloff and Associates. Explorer features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, boasting a volume of 1,423 GT.
The 67.15-metre Damen Yachting support yacht Garçon was delivered in 2012 from the Netherlands and was the first large support vessel for the Dutch shipbuilders. Garçon led the way for a whole fleet of similar shadow vessels used to provide additional capabilities to an owner’s mothership. The 1,145 GT yacht offers 235-square-metres of deck space for toys such as tenders, Jet skis and sailing dinghies with room for a fully SOLAS certified helipad. The unique bow and underwater body shape of the Sea Axe yacht help her to reach speeds of up to 25 knots in all conditions.
The support vessel Dapple was built by the Dutch shipyard Damen Yachting in 2014. She features exterior design from the in-house team at Damen Yachting with interiors styled by the yard in collaboration with British designer Mark Berryman. The 67.15-metre yacht Dapple has a built-in decompression chamber and a dive store equal to military ships in quality. As expected, her spacious layout also includes generous inside storage spaces for tenders and toys, with 275 square metres of space available on the main deck for toy storage, including space for a submarine.
The 67.06-metre conversion expedition yacht Global was originally built in 1982 by the US yard Bender Shipbuilding & Repair. She was converted by Shadow Marine between 2006 and 2007, and underwent a major refit in 2008 where she emerged as one of the first Sport Utility Vessels (SUVs) for the superyacht market. Global features naval architecture from two Florida-based naval architects, Kirilloff and Associates and Lay, Pitman & Associates, with an interior design from Shadow Marine.
Built at the Campbell Shipyard in 1994 to a design by Francis Design, the 66.7-metre motor yacht Blue Shadow was previously known as Golden Shadow and operated as part of the Golden Fleet. She is equipped with a diverse fleet of tenders and exploration craft along with an on-deck dive chamber and full SCUBA centre onboard. Blue Shadow is able to host up to 20 guests across 11 staterooms and benefitted from an extensive refit in 2017. She features interior and exterior design by Francis Design with naval architecture by her builder Campbell Shipyard.
The 66.2-metre SHADOWCAT support vessel Hodor was launched in 2019 from the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon. Designers and naval architects from Incat Crowther worked closely with the vessel’s experienced owner to create a fully customised solution that will serve the yacht’s mothership, Lonian, with safe guest transfers, extended recreational capabilities and additional supplies such as crew and equipment.
Read: The catamaran comeback: Top reasons why they are the perfect support yacht platform
Read: First Look: Onboard the 66m support yacht Hodor
The 63.2-metre support vessel Alesund was delivered by her Norwegian builder, Myklebust Verft AS in 1996. The 1,357 GT yacht can accommodate up to 23 crew members onboard, including the captain of Alesund. She was originally built as a Norwegian coast guard vessel, however in September 2019 she was sold and converted to a yacht support vessel. Alesund boasts both a steel hull and a steel superstructure. Regarding performance, the vessel is powered by a single Wärtsilä engine, providing her with a cruising speed of 18 knots. Alesund is currently the largest yacht built by Myklebust Verft AS and was recently spotted in Sardinia.
Is this the world’s largest support vessel or not? 
It is hard to say whether the 164-metre Fulk Al Salamah is classed as a support vessel or as a superyacht. She is used as a support vessel for the 155-metre Lürssen superyacht Al Said and is a privately used vessel by the Royal Oman family. SuperYacht Times Founder and Director, Merijn de Waard describes her in his video “What Makes A Superyacht Super?” as a “floating embassy” or a “floating palace”. There are very few details known about this Mariotti yacht, other than that she has a very large volume of 20,361 GT.
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