By Murielle Gonzalez Oisel
Yacht builder Riostar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is in full swing working on four superyacht projects, including a 48m, 39m, and two 24m motoryachts. The yacht is result of the collaboration between yacht designer Fernando de Almeida and US-based naval architecture studio Donald Blount.
João Pedro Lowndes, financial director at Riostar, told Superyacht Business the yacht will be completed in 2016. Ordered by a Brazilian owner, Riostar claims motoryacht 160 will be the biggest yacht built in the country to date.
Also under construction are motoryacht 130 with launch scheduled for December 2015, and two 80-footers Riostar Supernova to be launch in July this year.
At 48m in length, motoryacht 160 is the first yacht the shipyard has built with an aluminium hull. The yacht is being built in blocks with some components manufactured at the Kwichak yard, in Washington.
According to Fernando de Almeida, the owner requested that the project to be the largest possible under 500 GT. Other requirements include wide tilting windows in the owner’s suite.
“The yacht’s design is technically simple and some features are already being used in Europe and USA. We are not inventing anything, but overall I think we have a very good result which is compatible with larger boats,” explains Fernando de Almeida,
The yacht features a vertical bow and hybrid (diesel-electric) propulsion aiming to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%.
Founded in 1986, Riostar’s core business is the manufacture of sportfishing boats ranging 28-62ft. These four superyacht projects are under the company’s special projects division.
Source : www.superyachtbusiness.net/new-builds/four-superyachts-in-build-at-brazilian-shipyard-7039#Vlt5bIiJJC8K11OR.99
