On July 2, Scenic Group’s newly formed shipbuilding company, MKM Yachts, was granted a sub concession at the Maj 3 Shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia, in an official signing ceremony attended by the Croatian Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Sea, Oleg Butkovic.
The recently formed business, MKM Yachts, wholly owned by the Scenic Group, will be the prime contractor for all of the group’s new-build ship projects in Croatia, with construction of Scenic Eclipse II already underway. Scenic Group also confirmed construction of four additional custom-built vessels over the next six years.
The ceremony marks a milestone for the Australian-founded business and demonstrates its confidence in the luxury yacht market. The business continues to secure its position as a major player in the global industry and experts in small-ship cruising.
Scenic Eclipse are 228-passenger ultra-luxury mega yachts designed especially for polar expedition cruising conditions. The first of these ships, Scenic Eclipse I, launched in August 2019, with a christening held in New York City on September 10, 2019 with Helen Mirren serving as the ship’s Godmother. In the beginning of May, construction on Scenic Eclipse II began. Scenic Eclipse I has and Scenic Eclipse II will have all verandah suites from 345 square feet to nearly 2,600 square feet, 10 dining options, butler service, two six-guest helicopters and a six-guest submarine capable of diving nearly 1,000 feet, plus a spa and a gym.
Since 2008, Scenic has offered river cruises in Europe, Southeast Asia, Russia and Egypt on its 15 “Space-Ships.” In 2019, Scenic introduced its first luxury Discovery Yacht, the 228-guest Scenic Eclipse. Sister brand Emerald Waterways has eight (soon to be nine with the 2021 launch of Emerald Luna) Star-Ships offering sailings on European rivers and Southeast Asia’s Mekong River. In 2021, the Emerald Azzurra will be the first ship to launch under the new Emerald Yacht Cruises brand—a 100-guest super yacht that will ply the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Red Seas.
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