Espen Oeino

Six exciting new launches this year join the list of the world's largest superyachts afloat.

Strategic merger of Oceanco/BMT Nigel Gee may lead to the largest Dutch-built superyacht to date.

GALACTICA SUPER NOVA is the newest and brightest light in the Heesen universe.

Stella Maris represents a dramatic evolution of VSY’s two previous launches, Candyscape II and Roma. An updated version of these 62-meter (203-foot) platforms, the 2,114-gross-ton, 72-meter (237-foot) Stella Maris, designed by Espen Øino, offers more than twice the volume, along with some unconventional exterior styling and interior layout solutions.

VSY launched its largest yacht so far, Stella Maris, in July 2012. She anchored off Port Hercule in Monaco for invitation-only visits during the Monaco Yacht Show with the owner’s blessing, even though not everything was fully in place yet.

Lürssen delivered Lady Kathryn V to owners with extensive yacht experience. Adam Lay created the interior for this Øino-designed belle. The yacht is at home in Palm Beach, Fla., as she would be in the English countryside. While part of a “series,” she is truly one of a kind.

Viareggio Superyachts this summer launched the 72-meter (236-foot) Stella Maris. The yacht’s design is by Espen Øino and the naval architecture by Laurent Giles Naval Architects. The yacht blends traditional elements of design and layout with new variations such as, staggered internal decks, substantial headroom in the salons and an innovative bow shape.

Good news came out of Antalya-based Sunrise Yachts recently. The shipyard, which is currently building a 207-foot (63-meter) yacht and a 148-foot (45-meter) yacht, both with styling by Espen Øino, received two new orders.

Espen Øino and Donald Starkey designed the yacht previously known as Queen M. When it changed hands a few years ago, the new owner had his vessel altered to suit his lifestyle, ordering a complete interior makeover by Eidsgaard Design. The addition of a glass-enclosed room aft of the top deck and a newly painted gray hull give the yacht a new, distinctive look.

Espen Øino designed this slender and swift semi-displacement yacht, which claimed the title as the world’s longest aluminum motoryacht until the arrival of sistership Silver Zwei, now Dragonfly. The vessel has an aircraft-style interior and displaces just 540 tons, which means that—powered by twin MTU 4000 16V diesels—Rabdan can cross the Atlantic at a swift 18+ knots.

After her launch in 2009, this slender and contemporary aluminum yacht appeared in Abu Dhabi in time for the Grand Prix. Watchers soon discovered she was none other than Hull No. 2 of Hanseatic Marine’s innovative series (the ex Silver Zwei). Hull No. 1, formerly known as Silver and now called Rabdan, was already in the United Emirates as a new royal yacht.

The experienced owners of this expedition-style vessel, who also cruise on Meteor, like to explore faraway places. Espen Øino and Lürssen’s engineering took their cue from naval ships and destroyers to come up with an efficient hull that can go more than 8,500 miles without refueling.

This Espen Øino-designed yacht is the former American-owned Madsummer. Along with the new name comes a new hull paint, which was done at the Rybovich yard in Palm Beach, Florida. Gone is the pale-blue hull color scheme, but designer Alberto Pinto’s elegant and colorful summer-home interior décor remains.

Now under new ownership, this landmark yacht sports a new blue boot stripe and name. The ex-Princess Mariana, previously owned by a Mexican billionaire who named her after his reputedly stunning wife, was spotted in Fort Lauderdale with a new nameplate after news of her sale became public in May 2011.

Espen Øino, Reymond Langton Design and Fort Lauderdale-Based Moran Yacht & Ship, the same team that was behind the spectacular Kismet, collaborated on Valerie. Known as Project Firebird, she was launched in 2011 as a very discreet project.

This well-traveled yacht belongs to Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and author of “Idea Man,” a memoir about his life, startups and relationship with former business partner Bill Gates. Espen Øino designed the yacht’s exterior, while Seattle-based Jonathan Quinn Barnett created the initial interior design.

This may be Fincantieri’s first private yacht, but the large commercial concern has built more than 7,000 vessels to date and other huge projects are taking shape in the sheds and on the drawing boards. The beauty of the design is that it conceals just how voluminous this yacht is and aptly hides much of the deck space from the prying eyes of passerby.