Lürssen moved Azzam from this floating dock to her final fit-out area in the morning. Azzam had actually been moved into this area from another construction shed last May, though without her bow section, because that shed was a mere 170 metres long. That was the moment when the world first began buzzing about Azzam, and the rumour mill churned into a frenzy, with speculation over everything from her final LOA to her build cost (still confidential). Photo Klaus Jordan
Despite being six decks high, Azzam looks lean in profile. Every custom yacht is different, of course, but there is a tendency for ultra-large megayachts — say, ones exceeding 90 metres —to look more like ships and less like personal floating palaces. Note, too, how most of the decks have covered spaces, in contrast to many yachts. Azzam’s owner and guests will not be sun worshippers, though they will travel to sunny destinations. Photo Klaus Jordan
This view of Azzam is arguably the best of all, as it gives you a terrific look at her propulsion system. The owner wanted a swift turn of speed, and Lürssen’s in-house naval architecture and engineering staff addressed it with a total of 94,000 horsepower from twin diesels and twin gas turbines. As for the specific speeds, Lürssen can only state that Azzam should exceed 30 knots - yes you read that right, a 180-metre yacht doing 30 knots! Photo Klaus Jordan
Thanks to this aerial view, you can see that Azzam has a helipad on her foredeck. You can also appreciate just how massive she is, if you look carefully at the area fully forward of the helipad: four orange-shirt-clad people are standing about. If you’re wondering why tugs were manoeuvreing Azzam, it’s because she isn’t yet ready for full sea trials. Photo Klaus Jordan
Azzam’s elegant lines are from Nauta Yacht Design, which won a styling competition held by the owner. He instructed them to incorporate both timeless, traditional elements as well as contemporary ones, so that Azzam would avoid looking dated before too long yet also be innovative enough to stand out. While it may seem strange for a 180 metre yacht not to stand out, there is a difference between mass and majesty. Photo Klaus Jordan
Specifications: LOA: 180 metres • Beam: 20.8 metres • Draft: 4.3 metres
Lürssen cannot reveal any renderings of the interior decor, which is being created by designer Christophe Leoni. However, Azzam is said to incorporate the look and feel of the Empire style, which was an influential French movement of the early 19th century (termed Empire because of being associated with Napoleon). That should translate to symmetrical decorative elements on furnishings and beautifully decorated walls paired with plain overheads. Regardless of how Azzam achieves it, it will adorn rooms like the 29-metre-long saloon. The saloon further has no decorative or supportive pillars, so paired with the 20+ metre beam, it should be quite a sight. For more information, contact Lürssen.
