Elaine Bunting gets an inside look at what it's like to work on one of the world's largest private yachts from Mario Pedol, creator of Nauta Design.

Since her introduction in April 2013, the superyacht Azzam has held the title of the world's largest private yacht for six years. At 180 meters total, Azzam was only surpassed in 2019 by the research and expedition vessel REV Ocean—and then by only three meters.

Size was never the final aim for Azzam's owner and outside designer, Nauta Design. The goal was to build a streamlined vessel with graceful, timeless lines. The superyacht was originally meant to be 145 meters long, but it expanded throughout the optimization process, and to this day, Mario Pedol, creator of Nauta Design, considers it a fantastic compliment when fans claim the boat seems smaller than her size.

Nauta, known for designing some of the most beautiful sailing boats on the water, was commissioned to produce an external design for Azzam. "There was already a GA [general arrangement plan of the interior layout], but they were missing the exterior design, and that was quite something," Pedol explains.

Nauta's previous greatest project was the 80-meter Project Light, a futuristic but beautiful motor yacht inspired by sailing boat aesthetics and blurring the lines between outdoor and indoor life. Azzam intended to be unique in both style and intent, but Nauta was called in to define the vessel's appearance.

"It was a challenging brief," Pedol admits. "The ship—and it is a ship—was supposed to hit 30 knots. So one of the basic aspects was the speed, which was fairly rare for a vehicle of this size, and I wanted to convey that speed even in the design. Fortunately, the internal volume demand was not exorbitant for the length, allowing us to build a balanced and stylish boat with appropriate proportions. Many people have told me that from a distance, they can't tell she's a 180-meter boat."

Credit: theyachtphoto.com/G. Romero

Despite having a 4.3-metre draught, the yacht has a huge, open-plan main salon, room for 36 guests and up to 80 staff, complicated 'dual mode' engine systems, and the fuel necessary.

The difficult design and engineering accounted for around one-third of the four-year building period, while achieving the long, slim shape was difficult in and of itself, requiring rigorous Finite Element Analysis to provide the requisite longitudinal strength.

The interior design is a carefully held secret, but heritage was paramount. Christophe Leoni, a French designer who had previously worked on several of the owner's houses and castles, brought comparable designs on board, including a plethora of wood furniture elaborately veneered with mother of pearl marquetry.

One of Pedol's most distinct recollections is of Azzam's maiden sea trial, when the builders, designers, and engineers could finally see the fruits of their labor. "We boarded at midnight because the Lürssen yard is 60 miles upriver from the sea, and we spent the night at three knots," he explains. "At 7:00 a.m., the project manager called and said, 'Come and look.'

We were actually traveling at 32 knots, but it didn't seem like it. The four waterjets generated a massive wake, and seeing the boat in operation was an emotional experience. It was simply wonderful..."

Credit: theyachtphoto.com/G. Romero

10 facts about the superyacht Azzam

1. Azzam was not intended to be the world's largest superyacht.

The design was intended to be fast and to handle a certain interior layout and number of visitors, but it was initially planned to be 145 meters long overall. The design extended another 35 metres to become a recordbreaker as the necessity to optimize the structure and make space for complicated engine systems, fuel, and tenders evolved, along with an exquisite appearance displaying a long, sweeping bow and swept back stern.

2. It took more than 4,000 people to build

Azzam, a true gigayacht, took four years to build at the German shipyard Lürssen and is reported to have cost more than $500 million. Over four years, 4,000 workers worked on the project, accumulating six million man-hours before her April 2013 debut. The builders concluded that if the boat had been built by a single person, construction would have had to begin in 1737BC.

3. Azzam is one of the world’s fastest superyachts

Azzam was designed to go as quickly as possible to the owner's own island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, and she can do so in a couple of hours at her peak speed of 33 knots.

4. Azzam is as swift as a Navy frigate and employs comparable technology.

Two gas turbine engines and two MTU diesel engines drive two Wartsila axial flow Modular waterjets and two boosters to achieve top speed. At full speed, they create 97,000hp and burn 13 tonnes of fuel every hour.

5. There is-a long range mode as well as a ‘sprint mode’

Azzam also includes two conventional diesel engines for enhanced range and longer distance travel. Over long distances, two 9,000kW MTU engines generate a speed of 18 knots; she could readily cover the Atlantic without refueling.

6. You can practice golf on board

Guests may keep active by visiting the onboard gym, pool, or practicing their swing in a unique 'golf training room'.

7. Over 100 people can live aboard

Azzam can host up to 36 guests in utmost comfort, while a workforce of 70 to 80 workers looks after them.

8. There is a huge open plan main saloon

The vast open plan main saloon is 29 metres long by 18 metres and is surrounded by full height windows for an expansive outlook outside. "It was quite a challenge to make this space with no pillars," says Mario Pedol, adding that the beams on the ceiling had to be 1 metre wide. To ensure that the massive windows were totally stormproof, the glass had to be custom designed in Italy and is more than 7cm thick.

9. The interior boasts a wealth of mother of pearl

The furniture on board has elaborate marquetry in mother of pearl, which is worth a year's worth of global output.

10. The chandelier doesn’t rattle

A lot of effort was put into making Azzam's noise and vibration levels as low as possible, even at full speed. Designers and engineers had to make certain that the chandelier in the main salon did not jingle while in operation. "It was difficult to predict how this would behave in advance, but it was tested in every possible way with sophisticated software and set up challenging targets, and it was not a problem," Mario Pedol adds.

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