Yacht designer of the 21st Century

by Lisa Mylchreest on 3 Mar 2009

Mega-yacht Silver and yacht builders SW

He is called Espen Oeino, and he is a Norwegian yacht designer, but not your ordinary run-of-the-mill yacht designer. In fact some call him a genius. He is also the designer that perhaps couldn't have existed at any other time in the history of the world except for the last 20 years. Oeino has very special talents.

Oeino has the hightest reputation for having incorporated into his yacht designs such features such as ice-class certification, drive-in tender docks, double helicopter hangars, hidden submarine bases,

Aft deck for aerobics © SW

underwater observation lounges, astronomical observatories, orchestral concert halls, and outdoor cinemas.

- Just what any self-respecting yacht owner would want. The fact that the world financial structure's underpinnings have just given way, and the building that was balanced on the edge of the cliff for years is about to plunge into the ravine, seems no deterrent as Oeino goes from strength to strength.

In the next generation of mega yachts he currently has in the works, two major trends are emerging: pirate-proof ships featuring camouflage paintjobs, gun turrets and even Blackhawk helicopters. Maybe that's what the next generation of mega-yacht owners think they need to sail the world's oceans safely to keep away hordes of

Mega-yacht mini-sub © SW

shareholders out for blood.

Such is his reputation that in the rarefied world of the mega-yacht the ultimate achievement is to have one's yacht designed by Oeino. The mega-yacht world's top star in naval architecture, Oeino's mega-buck creations 'combine the precision of fine machinery with indulgent finishes and the high-end amenities of a palace.'

As luxury magazine Luxist reports, when German luxury publisher teNeues opted to focus a volume in its amazing Luxury Toys series to the world's greatest yachts, it was quickly decided to dedicated the entire book to Oeino.

Among the megayachts featured is Microsoft co-founder Paul

Tiller replacement © SW

Allen's 413-ft. Octopus, the 8th largest yacht in the world and the second largest superyacht that is not owned by a head of state. The nine deck ship cost $200 million to build and has an annual operating budget estimated at $20 million.

Designed for self-sufficient long range cruising, the Octopus contains a wet dock for a 59-ft. tender and an equally large remotely-operated submarine that can descend to 2500 meters, a twin helicopter hangar and two helipads, countless giant antennae and a telescopic sonar, a cinema and music studio.

Another Oeino creation

Mega-yacht small touches - Phoenix © SW

featured in the book is the military-looking 233-ft. SKAT, built by Lürssen of Bremen, Germany for Charles Simonyi, a former Microsoft software engineer and pioneering space tourist. The yacht features an elevator serving all four decks, a gymnasium, matching helicopter, and motorcycles with a special lift.

If you would like to enquire, or fancy a yacht designed by Espen, you can email him here or if you'd merely like to buy the book you can buy it here

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