Sunseeker teams up with Icon Yachts to build new aluminium superyacht line

After years of speculation and deliberation, renowned British yacht builder Sunseeker has taken the step into the metal field of superyacht production by partnering with Dutch shipyard, Icon Yachts. The English brand will now have a new all-aluminium line of superyachts to offer its clients which will be built in the Netherlands.

Vessels built at the Icon shipyard will still carry the trusted Sunseeker badge, heritage, and design cues as their clients have come to love, as Sales Director, Sean Roberts explains. “This will certainly not be a badge engineering exercise. We are an established superyacht brand in our own right and so we are merely combining the metal build expertise of ICON with our design DNA, technical expertise and market know-how. She will absolutely be a Sunseeker.”

The first unit to go into production will be the 161 Yacht, a 49-metre tri-deck motor yacht with a distinct plumb bow. The project will be based on a proven platform which the builder is familiar with, while carrying the signature lines and level of quality found on all Sunseeker vessels. The first unit is expected to be ready for launch in 2021 and will feature a standard 5-cabin layout with a pool on the main deck and an expansive beach club with fold-down terraces.

The move into the metal field of construction comes after the brand looked for a viable solution for their growing client base that was looking to step up in size from their existing yachts. After the discontinuation of the 155 Yacht line, due to a lack of capacity, Sunseeker started to explore options further afield. Offering a metal line of yachts now allows the brand to virtually build yachts unlimited in size with the help of a reputable builder such as Icon.

“Finding experience and expertise in metal build was not the issue,” continues Robertson. “Finding a yard that shared the same progressive, innovative spirit to create something truly special and, most importantly, one which will provide us with the flexibility to build a true Sunseeker was the challenge. We have certainly found all of that with Icon Yachts.”