WIDER announces first yacht project since acquisition
WIDER has unveiled a new entry-level vessel, the 130’ motoryacht. This the first yacht project announced since the shipyard’s acquisition by cruise and resort holding group Genting Hong Kong in April.
The new 130′ yacht is the sister project to the 150′ ‘Bartali’ and 165′ ‘Cecilia’. It is being built at WIDER’s Ancona shipyard and will be priced at €18.5 million.
No customer has been signed on for the 130′ but talks are in progress, sales and marketing director Jeremy Roche said.
“For us the 130′ is an exciting development,” Roche told Superyacht Investor. “It is a great entry level boat for our brand at a competitive price and we believe there is gap in the market.
“Our choice of size was led by customer feedback. This customer chartered boats in the 40m-50m range and he came to see the 150′. Whilst he could afford it, he thought it was too much to jump straight into a 50m superyacht. He wanted a 40m vessel for his first boat.”
The new yacht measures 39.62m, and can accommodate up to 12 guests and seven crew members. The deck space measures 200m and is split into three areas: a foredeck, bridge deck dining area, and onboard beach club.
The WIDER 130′ uses the same diesel electric propulsion system as the 150′ and 165′. She will cruise at 12 knots, with a top speed of 14 knots, and has a maximum range of 3400nm.
WIDER’s Acquisition
Genting fully acquired WIDER in April after buying an initial stake in the company five years ago. It is looking to collaborate with other yards under Genting to increase production efficiency.
Michael Hackman, executive vice president of Marine Operations at Genting Hong Kong and interim chairman of WIDER, said: “We recognize the hard work that was put into the WIDER brand to achieve the level of recognition they now enjoy around the globe.
“We believe that, in collaboration with our shipyards in Germany, particularly on managing production, we can increase efficiencies while maintaining high quality, and ensure that we are able to deliver yachts on time and on budget.”
