Almost 800 superyachts registered in Malta
● First expedition superyacht for the polar region registered under the Maltese flag
Close to 800 superyachts are on the Maltese maritime register, Minister Ian Borg said yesterday as he visited the Scenic Eclipse, the first expedition superyacht registered in Malta which will be able to enter the polar region.
The yacht, which sailed into the Grand harbour yesterday, is nearly 166 metres in length and has been built on the principle of having the most environmentally friendly design, state of the art engineering and innovation at the forefront of its construction, which lasted three years.
This yacht will soon start crossing the most challenging oceans to deliver extraordinary experiences to its guests. The superyacht also features added-value characteristics, such as the availability of an underwater submarine that is available for guests who would like to explore the underwater world and two helicopters to visit areas not usually accessible.
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg commented: “It is a pleasure and a great satisfaction to be able to once again register such a distinguishable vessel offering such extraordinary experiences under Malta’s flag. This, however, comes as no surprise, as the Maltese flag is synonymous with quality, reputation and confidence, and these three pillars have, to date, enabled our country to register almost 800 superyachts. Our commitment to striving for a high-quality service does not diminish with each success – on the contrary, such results show us that there is much more that we can and will achieve in the maritime sector.”
The superyacht, which has Maltese shareholding from former Transport Malta CEOI Stanley Portelli as well as Godfrey Leone Ganado through PEC Limited, was delivered by now-bankrupt Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik.
Launched in January last year, Scenic Eclipse is able to accommodate 237 passengers and 172 crew members.
The ocean-going expedition ship is capable of sailing in polar waters as it has Polar Class 6 Cold DI.
With a length of 168 metres and a breadth of 21.5 metres, the newbuild features the latest environmentally friendly technologies.
The delivery of the ship has been delayed due to the financial issues Uljanik has been facing.
Following the delivery, the superyacht is to embark on a maiden voyage scheduled for 15 August 2019. Scenic Eclipse is expected to depart Reykjavik, Iceland, on a 13day discovery trip ending in Quebec, Canada, on 27 August.
It has recently been revealed that the ship will be christened by English actress and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren in New York on 10 September 2019.