CRN shipyard sends word that the 230-foot Project Thunderball has been moved by way of a barge to the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, Italy. The fully custom steel-and-aluminum superyacht will now begin fit-out, with the yacht on schedule to launch in 2026.
Project Thunderball is a project done in collaboration with Vripack for exteriors and naval architecture, and with Nauta Design for interiors and outdoor furniture.
According to CRN, as soon as the hull arrived at Ancona, the shipyard completed a full-hull 3D scan and began preparations for carpentry and fit-out, along with installation of machinery and onboard systems. Furniture will be installed after that, and the exterior of the hull will be primed and painted.
Some of these production stages will happen in parallel, with different teams from the shipyard as well as vendors working at the same time. Y.CO is serving as the owner’s representatives and project management team, including handling on-site supervision and supporting coordination of the external contractors.
Project Thunderball’s layout will be across five decks with accommodations for 12 guests and quarters for 15 crew. Gross tonnage will be 1,100. CRN says there will be a traditional elongated bow, a low profile and “svelte lines like a sailboat,” with curved bilges.
Interiors are said to incorporate “a culture of the sea” in a way that combines heritage and a refined, contemporary look.
Also notable on Project Thunderball is a peak shaving system to increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
Project Thunderball was originally announced in September 2023. According to the shipyard, brokers at Y.CO completed the sale in August 2022. The owner is reportedly a passionate sailor, so a smaller sailboat will also be delivered as part of the build project, in addition to the mothership.
Plans are for the boats to spend summers in the Mediterranean and winters in Florida and the Bahamas, with fishing and diving also part of the program.
What else is happening at CRN? In addition to Project Thunderball, the shipyard is building three more fully custom superyachts: two of them at 220 feet length overall, and another that’s 279 feet long. This past March, CRN delivered a 236-foot custom build with exterior lines and concept by Vallicelli Design and with interiors and exterior styling by Nuvolari Lenard. That yacht was a six-deck vessel with a gross tonnage of 2,003.
Where to learn more: go to crn-yacht.com
