'Delma' undergoes 6.5m extension
The 85m superyacht, 'Delma', built by Neorion, has been extended by 6.5m at Amico & Co. With the project nearing completion, the yard has revealed it to be one of the most technically demanding ever.…
Amico & Co. is nearing the completion of a major refit of Delma, the Neorion-built yacht launched in 2004 at a length of 85m, which following the 16-month project, has been extended to 91.5m.
Delma’s extension is the largest project ever undertaken by Amico, and as the yard alluded to in conversation with SuperyachtNews.com, is one of the most technically demanding projects of its kind. The Amico team were complemented by Wim Koersvelt, representing the owner.
“We have been investing in our facilities and human resources with precisely this kind of large-scale engineering project in mind,” says CEO Alberto Amico, commenting on the formulation of a dedicated nine-person in-house team for the project. “It is thanks to these investments and the teamwork of our in-house departments, with all their technical experience and know-how, that we have been able to perform such a challenging refit.”
The vessel has been reconstructed to passenger vessel standards, and has been Lloyds classed and Marshall Islands flagged.
Due to the hydrodynamic and shape requirements of connecting the new aft block to the existing structure the hull had to be cut back by up to 16m from the existing stern platform - a vast undertaking that required all the shipyard’s technical expertise.
In addition to this ambitious extension, Delma underwent a major overhaul of her on board systems, as well as a a transformation of her exterior and interior spaces. This included a huge whirlpool with integrated sunpad for lounging on the sundeck, new spa and relaxation zones, and a new floodable tender garage on the lower aft deck that can be converted into a heated seawater swimming pool.
In a previous conversation with European Editor, Justin Ratcliffe, Mr. Amico has praised the quality of the yard’s in-house departments, which he feels gives it a competitive advantage and circumvents any outdated prejudices about the efficiency of Italian work.
“I remember a time when overseas owners and captains were powerfully prejudiced against Italy for refit work, because the country was considered unreliable in terms of timeliness, quality and cost. Today, the vast majority of our business comes from overseas, which has meant turning a negative reputation into a positive one.
“We’ve also worked with cruise ship for whom timeliness is fundamental—they work to strict schedules and require certainty. We’ve transferred this knowledge to the yachting sector and because we have the infrastructure already in place, we can get a superyacht out of the water and into the shed in a single working day. We can’t afford to be late if we’re to maintain that brand awareness and remain competitive—it’s something you have to build day by day without the prospect of an immediate return.”
Amico & Co. will appear in a special ‘Liguria and Tuscany’ regional refit report, offering an in-depth investigation into the development of the service and maintenance sector in northern Italy, appearing in issue 169 of The Superyacht Report, available to download from 8 April.
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