VESSEL REVIEW | Genie Blu – Custom yacht featuring crewboat-inspired design
Turkish shipbuilder Alia Yachts has delivered Genie Blu, a custom motor yacht built on a semi-displacement hull form that was first developed for use on fast crewboats in the offshore oil and gas industry.
The yacht was launched at Alia's shipyard in Antalya in June and handed over in early August. She sails under the Malta flag.
UK-based Lateral Naval Architects engineered the hull on the fourth generation of an existing platform.
The firm said that the iteration used on Genie Blu had been refined for the superyacht market with a more gently contoured foreship to enhance seakeeping, greater displacement, and a transom designed to accommodate alternative propulsion options.
Lightweight aluminium construction coupled with diesel propulsion for high transit speeds
The hull and the superstructure are of aluminium construction. The yacht has an LOA of 45 metres (150 feet), a beam of 8.89 metres (29.2 feet), a draught of 2.33 metres (7.64 feet), and a gross tonnage of 386.
Propulsion is provided by four Volvo Penta diesel engines. These deliver a top speed of 23 knots, a cruising speed of between 14 and 16 knots, and a range of 1,400 nautical miles.
The exterior design originated with Alia Yachts' in-house design office.
Luca Dini Design and Architecture then refined and developed it while also handling the interior from concept to completion.
Laid out to maximise onboard space and visibility
The brief favoured a low profile and open spaces over maximum enclosed volume.
"We removed barriers, reduced unnecessary volume and opened the yacht wherever possible,” said Luca Dini.
The main deck features an open-plan saloon with floor-to-ceiling glazing and drop-down side wings. Raised seating in the cockpit leads down a broad flight of steps to the aft swim platform.
Further forward are a lounge area and an open foredeck, while a sunpad has been fitted atop the low superstructure. The yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests in five staterooms, along with a crew of seven.