The awe-inspiring 105m Project H, built by Oceanco in 2000 and completely rebuilt in 2023, is a true masterpiece of technology and design.
Images courtesy of © Oceanco
With a solid reputation of innovation and ingenuity, the renowned Dutch shipyard Oceanco has achieved an extraordinary feat, elevating the concept of yacht refurbishment to unprecedented heights. The metamorphosis of the magnificent Project H is captivating, as it not only redefines its own legacy but also embraces cutting-edge advancements in volume, design, and technology.
Project H was predestined to face the future with a new personality and called to express again her regenerated evolutionary potential. And she becomes an icon of the future by representing a model of inspiration for the global fleet to take on new forms and new meanings.
In three years, Project H has experienced her rebirth by growing her length from 95m to 105m (344ft) and increasing her volumes to 3,500 GT by expanding her guest accommodation capacity (up to 20) with more rooms and shared spaces, while gaining the operational profile fully compliant with the rigorous IMO Tier III standards.
Marcel Onkenhout, CEO of Oceanco, shares his positive energy after the coveted milestone: “To say that this has been a remarkable process is an understatement. The project has called for passion, dedication, and extraordinary craftsmanship, with many involved in her creation now contributing to her recreation, including myself,” and is followed by its Chairman Dr. Barwan: “It is a proud moment for me to see the completion of this transformation, having personally been involved in returning Project H to her birthplace for this ambitious project”.
H sports a modern and original exterior aesthetic with straight lines softened into flowing curves, and a completely new sculpted aluminum superstructure. The carefully considered exterior lighting design ensures that the profile is instantly recognizable.
The refined and balanced proportions of the sleek profile provide generous deck space, encouraging guests to indulge in the extraordinary experience of being at sea.
Reconstruction work included increasing the length of the yacht by 10 meters at the aft end, not only to incorporate the new pool, but also to create a spacious Beach Club on the lower deck and create generous new spaces for the larger crew. And the yacht’s impressive entrance, with a double staircase that wraps around the infinity pool waterfall, draws guests up to the main deck and inside.
Bringing the new interiors to life was the internationally acclaimed British firm Reymond Langton Design, which understood the project’s potential and interpreted the brief brilliantly, delivering a timeless and enduring design: “Groundbreaking in its innovation and reborn as never seen before, Project H was going to be a trailblazer from the start. Unprecedented in its scale, the rebuild and subsequent redesign of the vessel obliged us as the designer to reflect this avant-garde approach, and the Reymond Langton team were thrilled to take on the challenge”.
It espoused the ambitious vision that wanted Project H toward new excitement and adventure while maintaining an ever-cherished focus for safety, well-being, and enjoyment of family and friends. It has been recreated as an elegant family home suitable for both relaxation and entertainment, with the use of several multifunctional areas to ensure every comfort, separating guest quarters from public areas to ensure privacy.
The interiors feature a contemporary palette of ivory and taupe tonesas. The perfect area for entertainment welcomes guests aboard on the main deck, starting with the Welcome Lounge and its state-of-the-art bar, then moving on to the striking Video Corridor that immerses guests in an immersive, otherworldly experience with digital content such as seabed and aquariums projected through huge screens made from tiny LEDs as they make their way to the luxurious Main Saloon.
On the owner’s deck is the fantastic Owner’s Lounge, designed to provide every comfort for a large family.
On the Sun Deck is the panoramic gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment as well as a bow jacuzzi with glass panes that protect from the wind and leave a breathtaking view of the sea. Aft, an open bar and discrete sunbeds create a place of absolute peace for morning yoga as well. Guests can retreat to the lower deck enjoying the relaxing spa area.
Project H truly offers guests every comfort of oceanfront living and ensures that every experience on board will be unforgettable. She demonstrates that the feasibility of the regenerative process of a yacht of this size can become of positive attraction to future owners by enhancing its sustainability credentials and reaping evident advantages, while significantly reducing waiting, design, and construction time.
This is the core of the “Oceanco thinking” conveyed through the words Paris Baloumis, Oceanco’s marketing director: “It is our ambition that this landmark project will inspire owners of existing yachts to benefit from the gift of time while adding value to their ownership experience as well as the planet. Through this approach, icons have the potential to become the new faces of tomorrow,” and follows up with Richard Hein of The A Group, who acted as the owner’s independent representative for the project, “This almost unimaginable transformation has been able to take place thanks to the shared trust, perseverance and expertise of the team involved. A yacht is more than just the materialization of an owner’s vision. It has its own character, its own specific habitat, with a unique purpose and story. Through the achievements of this project we have been able to extend the story of a remarkable superyacht for decades to come. It is about seeing the potential for all vessels, rather than starting from a blank sheet of paper each time”.
A philosophy that can be shared in view of certain aspects such as a focus on the impact that newly built boats have on the planet, new construction techniques and emerging technologies. Not least in general the increasingly tight delivery windows for new construction projects, which by prestige and pedigree of this yard are booked until the latter part of the decade.
