The backdrop of modern-day Dublin's ‘Docklands’ financial quarters and contemporary naval architecture was exemplified by the recent visit of the robust but impressive-looking superyacht Akula to the capital, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Afloat caught up with the striking colour combination of Akula, where the red steel hull contrasts sharply with the white aluminum superstructure, which easily drew attention from curious quaysiders. Such attention was first reported with a call upriver on the Lee to Cork City Quays during the Easter break but also notably with its recent presence on the Liffey quays.
This took place with an arrival on the last day of April when Dublin Bay Cruises relaunched their excursion vessel St. Bridget, from where onboard onlookers heading out to the bay and those on the quayside focused their gaze as the Akula, just shy of 60 m, made its berthing. Its exterior styling by Gian Paolo Nari Yacht Design captivated the quayside audience, with the overall naval architecture executed by Arrabito Naval Architects also clearly on display for office workers in the towering Docklands along with apartment occupants.
Today, St.Bridget was chartered to ferry cruise-goers to and from Norwegian Pearl during its anchorage visit off Dun Laoghaire Harbour, from where it otherwise routinely operates cruises, among them to Howth Harbour. Prior to its Dublin call, the superyacht, built only last year by the Rossinavi shipyard in Viareggio-Lucca, Italy, had anchored off Lambay before rounding Howth Peninsula to make its visit to the capital.
With the crew ready at mooring positions, the Akula cautiously eased closer to Sir John Rogersons Quay, where quayside ropes were attended by dock personnel from the Hamilton Shipping Agency, which handled the requirements of the vessel’s visit with its 13 crew members and those onboard.
During the mooring, deck crew members of the yacht, which accommodates 10 guests, were also seen later operating the stern embarkation gangway. It was here where the yacht’s port of registry was identified, that being Bloody Bay, located on Little Cayman. This represents one of the three Cayman Islands, which is a self-governing British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean.
Akula bid the capital farewell on Sunday and headed to Douglas, Isle of Man, where the superyacht is occupying the harbour’s King Edward VIII quay. At the adjacent berth, at the time of writing, is the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s flagship Manxman, having completed a routine crossing from Heysham, England.
As previously reported, it is understood that the owner of the 1,241 gross tons Akula is Jonathan Faiman, a former Goldman Sachs banker and co-founder of grocery and tech company Ocado.
The superyacht's propulsion is a diesel-electric system, and according to Boat International magazine, this allows for ultra-quiet conditions that are hardly noticed when underway, be it no vibration or noise. As for fuel consumption, this too is impressively low, giving an autonomy of more than 10,000 nautical miles. Its cruising speed, according to the Rossinavi shipyard website, is 12 knots but can reach a maximum of 15.5 knots.
With such capability, it's no surprise that Akula will also, according to the magazine, undertake a polar expedition this year coupled with scientific research support. In addition, the shipyard also has listed that it is equipped with a pair of 9m tenders and diving equipment.
