Columbus Yachts Unveils First 80m Superyacht

Columbus Yachts is entering the megayacht market with the construction of the Columbus 80m due for delivery in 2018. Measuring 79.50m LOA with a beam of 13m, she is a full-displacement yacht with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, the first in a range of larger sized vessels in the pipeline. 

"Over 50 years of experience in building and refitting large ships allow us to enter the megayacht segment with full confidence in the results we can achieve, thanks to the skills we have acquired during this long journey, and to the excellence of our Company, which we are proud of." said Giuseppe Palumbo, CEO of Columbus Yachts.

The overall look of the Columbus 80m yacht is a mix of the contemporary and an understated elegance harking back to the celebrated ‘ocean liners’ of the 1950s and '60s. This theme underpins the longitudinal sweep of the bow, the white colour of the hull broken only by the large windows and the transverse flaring of the decks. 

The interior is contemporary using neutral and unobtrusive tones and decorative elements with simple, clean lines with fine coatings and furnishings to create an atmosphere of sophistication.

The outdoor spaces on the yacht are laid out on six levels with a circular glass-walled lift connecting the five main decks, from the lower deck to the sun deck.

The upper deck is dedicated entirely to the owner. A suite consists of a big double bedroom with the bed arranged in the bow offering a 180-degree panoramic view, a private studio and a lounge area for guests. Private outdoor areas include a large terrace in the stern and a balcony in the bow that offers an unbroken view of the horizon.

Guest accomodation consists of six large double suites in the forward section of the main deck, with a further seventh cabin on the lower deck.

A distinctive feature of the Columbus 80m is the panoramic 7m pool on the sun deck fitted with a counter current swimming system. Located inside the mast structure, the tub is closed on three sides and is fed from above by an attractive waterfall which acts as a partition separating the pool from the hydromassage tub.

The stern section of the lower deck is also set aside for guests. The stern wall and the two side walls open outwards, extending the deck area from 100 to 200 square meters, creating a water level beach club with sun loungers and a bar area. 

The two lateral garages house 7.5 and 10m tenders, and a guest boarding platform with direct access to the lobby and the main lift.

The forward section is set aside for the crew, with a galley/living area and eight cabins for 19 crewmembers and a crew gym on the under-lower deck. There is also a service lift giving crew access to all deck levels without disturbing guests.  

Further amenities include two forward garages for a tender/ rescue boat and three jet-skis, a helipad, a sauna in the beach club, a gym on the fly deck and a cinema and multimedia room on the upper deck.

Construction of the Columbus 80m

“In order to build Columbus 80m a new manufacturing process has been implemented." explains Francesco Carbone, General Manager of Columbus Yachts. 

"This required a complex organization, on different levels, which has been possible thanks to the Group's 50-year-long experience in building, refitting and maintaining yachts and ships, including cruise ships and cargo vessels, served by our network of shipyards which is the largest in the Mediterranean. The construction of Columbus 80m has thus been split into different sites, working in parallel and not in series.”

The steel hull was built at the Naples facility and by the end of June 2017 it will be moved on a barge from Naples to Ancona’s production site, where it will be coupled to the superstructure, built there in aluminium. Constructing the two sections at the same time effectively shortens delivery time by eight months.

Gianpaolo Lapenna, Project and Product Director at Columbus Yachts adds,

“The implementation of the process has been a challenge on several points of view: structural, engineering, constructive and logistical. When the hull reaches the superstructure in Ancona, the 'wedding' will take place in the new shed that we are just completing there aside the existing structures, a facility which can simultaneously accommodate two units up to 110 meters. We have collated all the elements with a perfect sync.”

Technology and the Columbus 80m

The Columbus 80m megayacht is powered by two 2240 KW (3044 HP) engines with shaft transmissions, installed in the mid section of the lower deck. The engine compartment also houses three 300KW generators and a 125 KW auxiliary generator. An acoustic and thermal insulated technical room hosts the air conditioning pumps, hydraulic systems and desalinators.

From a technical point of view, the shipyard paid a great deal of attention to navigation autonomy, both in terms of range (6,000 nautical miles at cruising speed) and independence, evident in the exceptional capacity of all tanks, desalination capability and storage spaces. Comfort on board is also enhanced by four large stabilizing fins.