VIDEO: Alia Yachts delivers new 55m superyacht

Alia Yachts has released the first photographs and video of Al Waab, following the delivery of the 55m superyacht to her owner.

As the longest steel and aluminium yacht below 500GT in the world, Al Waab sets a new industry standard in terms of external and internal spaces for her category, says Alia Yachts.

Al Waab offers 42 per cent more exterior space (including storage for two tenders) and 8 per cent more interior space than other yachts on the market, according to the Antalya-based shipyard.

“Yachts are getting longer and wider, but owners still want to stay below the 500GT mark,” says Alia president, Gökhan Çelik. “We’ve seen increasing interest in this kind of yacht and so to be one of the first with such an impressive project is an important milestone for Alia.”

With design and naval architecture by Vripack, and GCC-based SF Yachts serving as the owner’s representative during the build, the aim was to maximise the available volume and focus on comfort.

Alia Yachts says virtual reality was used early on in the project to optimise the space planning and ergonomic layout to create an open-plan, owner-centric general arrangement designed for easy, restful, family living.

The yacht can sleep up to 12 guests in six bedrooms, which is rare on a 499GT yacht. This includes a split-level master suite on the upper deck with a private 4-metre pool on the foredeck.

By placing the tender bay in a sunken deck in the bow the tenders are easily accessible yet hidden from view. The grated tween deck arrangement provides storage for two tenders, a pair of jet skis and other water toys, but because it is not an enclosed space is not included in the yacht’s overall volume.

The owner wanted to avoid bright direct light, hence the diffused lighting throughout the vessel with soft, muted beams. Matt-finished bamboo slats on the ceiling helps to absorb the natural sunlight flooding through the large floor-to-ceiling windows by day. A key feature is the gold, illuminated wall installation with integrated crystals in the stairwell that covers all three decks.

Other features include glass bulwarks on all decks, a drop-down bulwark in the dining area and onboard seating designed to face outboard.

The superyacht has a top speed of 12.5 knots, with its twin Caterpillar C18 (725hp/533 kW) diesel engines able to burn 35 per cent less fuel than similar-sized yachts.