SF Yachts announces delivery of Al Waab II, the longest steel and aluminium yacht below 500gt in the world

Marine specialist and yacht consultant SF Yachts is delighted to confirm the successfully delivery of 55-metre superyacht Al Waab II, the longest steel and aluminium yacht below 500GT in the world. The owner, who requested a "family home at sea", took delivery of his open-plan vessel in Turkey in October 2021. Serving as both project manager and owner's representative, SF Yachts was responsible for bringing all parties together, including Turkish shipyard Alia Yachts, and Dutch design studio Vripack, who undertook the interior and exterior design, as well as naval architecture.

Throughout the build, SF Yachts ensured the exacting owner's full-custom brief was delivered in all areas. Key to this was the desire for an open-plan layout, vast exterior areas, including a sprawling beach club, and a close connection the water. Glass also plays a central role, with glass bulwarks all around; the semi-transparent sides create a wind-protected area. Further forward, expansive windows stretching from floor to ceiling provide uninterrupted sight lines.

As a GCC-based company with a global client base, SF Yachts successfully provides turnkey solutions across all maritime sectors around the world. Its passion for boats and sailing is the common bond it shares with its clients, but it's an unrivalled level of engineering experience and first-class customer service that makes up the company DNA.

Francesco Pitea, CEO of SF Yachts, comments: "We are delighted at SF Yachts to have seen such an impressive new build project through from concept to completion. The owner's vision has always been for a yacht that he can enjoy being on the water with his family, in privacy and the utmost comfort. I'm very happy to confirm that Al Waab has delivered on that requirement, and much more."

An aggressive build schedule of just 24 months was maintained throughout the pandemic. The result is a seamlessly flowing yacht layout, underpinned by a safe and comfortable cruise. The owner now plans on spending extended periods on board with his family, cruising throughout the Mediterranean and enjoying the yachting lifestyle.

Gökhan Çelik, President of Alia Yachts, comments: "We're very proud of Al Waab. We believe it is the longest steel and aluminium yacht below 500GT in the world, setting a new standard in external and internal volumes offered to a client in this category. Yachts are getting longer and wider, but owners still want to stay below the 500GT mark. We've seen increasing interest in this kind of yacht and so to be one of the first with such an impressive project is an important milestone for Alia Yachts."