The Heroic Explorer

Kleven’s 107 metre ice-class expedition ship Ulysses is the most complete exploration superyacht currently on the market, arguably even afloat until the owners next and larger yacht is delivered.

In June 2016, MY Ulysses, was handed over by the Norwegian commercial shipyard that built her to Graeme Hart her billionaire owner from New Zealand. Yet even before the ink was dry on the first page of the yachts log book came news that she was for sale for US$195 million and that a second and even larger yacht was being built to replace her. Cleary Mr. Hart enjoys building yachts as much as he does sailing in them.

He also likes to build them big. Measuring 107m, with a full 18m beam and spread over seven decks, the 6,000gt, MY Ulysses is amongst the 30 largest yachts in the world and as such everything is, quite simply, supersized.

In the main salon, a sculpture of glass bubbles in various shades of blue and mirror finish somehow encapsulates the lightness of the interior and how each individual element is part of a larger whole.

Forward on the main deck is the most fantastic wine tasting room we’ve ever seen afloat to date. Display cases displaying rare vintages arc around an oval tasting counter lit from above by a Swarovski chandelier, while behind a high-top table and stools provide the perfect place to savour your tincture while drinking in the panoramic views through sole-to-ceiling glazing.

Below the Bridge Deck, the owners’ family enjoy a full deck to themselves. Accessed from the starboard lobby and via a private bar area, the deck’s forward section is devoted to an almost full beam office and salon area.

The interior décor, as throughout the rest of the yacht, comprises of a palette of muted neutral tones, the clean contemporary lines of flat panel joinery, but highlighted and accented with enriching details. In the owner’s suite gold is used to provide a heightened sense of luxury, with gold plated fixtures in the en-suites and textured golden insets in the cabin’s headliner recesses.

In terms of guest facilities, the pièce de résistance, putting aside the toys, tenders, the sheer volume of space, spa area, cinema, and the fully compliant helideck, must be the Pool Deck. The forward section is devoted to accommodation with no less than eight cabins of various sizes, arrangements, and décor, but each exuding its own individual charm and appeal.

As for the larger yacht Mr. Hart has under construction at the same yard as built his first, we know little. What we do know is she is due for completion in 2018. Sporting a dark blue hull the new Ulysses will be almost 10 metres longer than her predecessor. Kyle Dick of New Zealand-based Oscar Mike Naval Architects styled the exterior lines and British designers RWD worked on her interior spaces.

MY Ulysses with her colossal matt grey steel hull topped with a white steel superstructure was delivered in June 2016 by Kleven the Norwegian commercial shipyard.

Twin Caterpillar diesel engines coordinated by Rolls Royce control units drive this yacht at 16.5 knots.

MY Ulysses is amongst the 30 largest yachts in the world and as such everything is, quite simply, supersized.

What do you get when you cross an ice-class expedition ship with a superyacht? The answer is one of the most incredible explorers on the water.

Not one but two swimming pools lie in a line running forward.

The indoor pool lies forward of the slightly larger outdoor pool.

Each deck has at least two options for dining–all served by the crew elevator.

The Owner’s Deck is a hub for VIP entertainment and is a haven where owners can relax away form everyone else.

The owners deck at dusk is where the family like to chill and take pre dinner cocktails.

Built to the Passenger Yacht Code class, the team at H2 Yacht Design had to work within the restrictions on fire-retardant and nonflammable materials laid down to address fire and safety codes.

For when the owner seeks privacy the forward lounge on the owners private deck offers a tranquil sanctuary.

The wine tasting has cases displaying rare vintages arc around an oval tasting counter lit from above by a Swarovski chandelier.

The sheer size of the salon could have made it impersonal and quite overwhelming. Instead, clever design means a few people could occupy the lounge and bar area and still feel cozily closeted.

From Mojitos to Daiquiris this is the best coacktail bar afloat, so says the yachts dedicated barman!

In the formal dining room, the table can accommodate 18 covers and the space also lends itself to being set up as a conference or board room, or even ‘mission control’ should the vessel be used for a significant exploratory undertaking.

Ulysses can accommodate 36 guests in 15 staterooms.

The whole interior is fairly modular and simply clips in place, there are no bulkheads clad with acres of skins from endangered species, no forests worth of the rarest timbers, no diamond encrusted door handles or even stone mined on the moon as some yachts have.

In the owner’s suite gold is used to provide a heightened sense of luxury, with gold plated fixtures in the en-suites and textured golden insets in the cabin’s headliner recesses.

The interior décor throughout the yacht, comprises of a palette of muted neutral tones, the clean contemporary lines of flat panel joinery.

Separate His n Hers en-suites–both come with access to the lateral terraces complete with additional outdoor showers for use before entering the master cabin.

The dedicated cinema is fitted out with a Sony 300ES projector, Elite screens Acoustic pro UHD screen with fixed frame and an advanced surround sound system to create the full cinematic experience.

On the Main deck, aft of the main salon and feeling distinctly separate from the rest of the deck, is Ulysses’ spa, gym and wellness facilities.

The décor of the sauna is soothing and the use of a slate textured liner and various mosaics adds a tactile element to the experience.

Designed and installed by E&S the tiled pool is fully automated and the water can be maintained in a draining tank if not in use for extended periods.

The bridge provides a vantage point into the bow’s technical area. Here, carefully arranged is another boatyard full of craft. Two 40’ Naiads RIBS are slung amidships, and aft of them are the two 21’ RIBs built by ASIS in Dubai.

Finished to the quality of a guest area, the angularly shaped wheelhouse is enclosed almost entirely in glass, creating the most dramatic of positions through which to take in the 270-degree panoramic view.

From Go-Cyles to fishing gear and wetsuits, the garage contains everything down to a big barbeque for those beach cook outs.

All manner of land-based toys were neatly arranged and displayed in the garage from a rack of motorized land boards to a Softail FLS-S Slim Harley Davidson, next to it another Harley–a FXSB, then a Ducati Diavel Titanium, next to an Augusta Brutali Dragster.

Racks contain Stand Up Paddleboards, four Yamaha Waverunners, a couple of runabouts and a couple of stand-up jets.

This most complete garage contains KTM mountain bikes, and a couple of KTM 350 EXC_F dirt bikes, standing next to a couple of big Polaris Ranger four-seat ATV’s!

Ready to leave now on an extensive circumnavigation or extensive exploration of a remote region, the simplicity and functional practicalities inherent within her garage design make this an ideal expedition yacht.

A fully equipped dive room comes complete with a Nitrox compressor, racks of buoyancy aids, waterskis and wakeboards.

SPECIFICATIONS:

LOA: 107.4m
LWL: 93m
Beam: 18m
Draught (full load): 5.1m
Tonnage: 5937 GT
Displacement (light): 5964
Flag: Cayman Islands
Guest Accommodations: 30 in 15 suites (max 36)
Crew Accommodations: for 40 max
Engines: 2x CAT 3516, 2230 EKW
4x CAT C18 550 EKW
Total power: 6660 EKW (690 V 60Hz)
Control System: Rolls Royce
Propulsion: RR Azipulls 2x 2,200Kw
Propellers: Fixed Pitch 2,800mm dia
Max speed: 16.4 knots
Cruising speed 14.5 knots
Economical speed: 12 knots
Range: 8,500nM @ 12 knots
Fuel Capacity: 470,000 Litres
Water Capacity: 309,000 Litres
Naval Architect: Oscar Mike Naval Arch
Exterior Design: Marin Teknikk
Interior Design: H2 Yacht Design
Construction: Steel hull and s/structure
Class: Det Norske Veritas, +1A1 Passenger Ship,
E0, COMF-C(3)V(1), Clean Ice – C
Builder: Kleven Verft AS, Norway

By: Frances & Michael Howorth, Photos: Thierry Ameller

Ulysses: 107m Kleven Explorer Yacht

The Heroic Explorer

Kleven’s 107 metre ice-class expedition ship Ulysses is the most complete exploration superyacht currently on the market, arguably even afloat until the owners next and larger yacht is delivered.

SPECIFICATIONS:

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The Heroic Explorer

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