PROJECT PHOENIX. RISING 2020.

Project Phoenix Series is a revolutionary spec build, representing the collaboration of an American design and engineering team and a South Korean shipyard constructing the first superyacht in the world’s leading shipbuilding nation.

Lazzara Ombres Architects of Tampa, Fla. partnered with BongChul “BC” Kim of GHI Shipyard to build their 130-foot, aluminum luxury sport superyacht design. With the vessel’s hull and superstructure now complete for the five stateroom vessel, interior and outfitting will commence with the vision of interior designer Alexandre Thiriat.
 
Mr. BC Kim of GHI Shipyard evaluated several American and European yacht designers over the last 10 years, and felt comfortable moving forward with a boat on spec designed by Joe Lazzara and Ian Ombres.
 
“South Korea's position as a global shipbuilding leader in aluminum and steel construction is just a great opportunity to deliver Phoenix to the yachting industry,” said Joe Lazzara, a third generation yacht designer and builder. “South Korea has impeccable quality while representing economies of scale for this beautiful yacht.”
 
At 318GT, Phoenix 130 will top out around 28 knots. Phoenix is engineered to precision for an optimal strength to weight ratio, a credit to Ombres’ affinity in the aerospace industry. Her standard propulsion system is twin MTU 12V 4000 M93L, generally an upgrade for a boat this size.
 
Joe Lazzara’s sleek, exterior styling is sexy and tailored for the American market. This boat just looks fast, from every angle. The main deck arrangement creates a true, upper deck pilothouse, with a ceiling height of 8 1/2 feet, unusual for a boat this size. Soaring to the sun, Phoenix avoids that half-height deck that eats into 20-percent of the typical main deck arrangement of a traditional raised pilothouse yacht. The full walkaround of top deck makes for accessible crew maintenance and wing stations with easy docking.
 
Joe Lazzara and Ian Ombres lead a dream team of American yacht designers and engineers including Bill Prince, of Bill Prince Yacht Design, and Nick Boksa, of Boksa Marine Design, who each contributed to Phoenix’s evolution, providing naval architecture for the hull design, structural drawings, production engineering and marine engineering.

“We expect Phoenix 130 to be the first ABS A1 commercial classed yacht certified by ABS Houston in the last five years in this size range, which is difficult for most vessels to meet ABS' stringent engineering standards,” said Ombres. "Boksa Marine Design did ABS compliance on the systems engineering. The systems were designed by KOMAC (Korea Maritime Consultants) and Nick Boksa brought the systems into compliance with ABS rules. Nick also did the machinery arrangement which is a very large task."

Ian Ombres worked closely with Bill Prince to tank test Project Phoenix Series hull performance in varying sea states for efficiency and seakeeping quality at Stevens Institute.

“The hull design is defined by a fine entry forward, and a chine profile which allows for efficient water flow over the hull bottom and progressive mitigation of wave impact forces for a comfortable ride,” said Bill Prince.  “The running bottom is moderately warped and includes propeller pockets which were tank tested for minimal resistance.  They promote laminar flow into the propellers, as you can see in the underwater image.”

French interior designer Alexandre Thiriat has been impatiently waiting for Phoenix to commence the interior and outfitting stage. For Phoenix, Thiriat artfully blended elements of his OKTO design, dark Indian rosewood with sparkling details, in proportion with western taste.

“It is not too modern but without getting to a pure, classic interior,” said Alexandre Thiriat, adding, “The materials are casual, chenille, cottons, light oak and reconstituted oak with some touch of industrial interior design and Art Déco proportions.”
 
Phoenix 130 and her sisterships will achieve their own style by changing the soft and hard goods to satisfy client tastes for a semi-custom, luxury sport superyacht series.

“My first interior concept is a modern chic design,” said Thiriat. “But it can also be new navy, mixing mahogany and white lacquers, or futuristic with black tinted oak with stainless steel and carbon fiber, or casual with full teak and white details and furniture.”
 
Phoenix 130 lists just south of $22 million and will be sold by Northrop and Johnson, with superyacht specialist Joe Foggia leading the brokerage team with Dick Lazzara. Foggia previously led Christensen Shipyards for 15 years. Dick Lazzara is Joe Lazzara’s father and mentor, a second generation yacht designer, builder, broker and racer who led Gulfstar, Viking and Lazzara Yachts with his brother, Brad Lazzara.

South Korea’s shipbuilding industry reclaimed the title of world’s biggest shipbuilder in 2018, in terms of orders volume, for the first time in six years, since it had conceded the number one spot to China in 2012.

The global orders of Korean shipbuilders stood at 12.6 million compensated gross tonnage (CGT) last year, accounting for 44.2 percent of the total orders, according to Clarkson Research, shipbuilding and marine analysis agency in the U.K.

Megayacht Media will host a press conference for Lazzara Ombres and GHI Shipyard on Project Phoenix Series at Palm Beach Boat Show in the US Superyacht Association pavilion on Friday, March 29, 2019.

Author’s note: Lazzara Ombres Architects and GHI Shipyard engaged Megayacht Media for creative and marketing support for Project Phoenix Series. Megayacht Media is a US-based marine and luxury marketing agency led by art director, Julianne Raines, and copywriter/creative director Lisa Overing, the author of this article. Megayacht Media also represents Boksa Marine Design.