Lürssen’s 146m Project Defy: A New Era of Ultra-Large Yachting Begins
The next titan of the oceans is rising in Bremen.
Lürssen’s 146.2-metre Project Defy, now deep into the outfitting phase, has become one of the most closely watched builds on the planet. Captured recently by @drduu, the superstructure alone hints at the sheer presence this yacht will command when she finally hits the water in 2027. At an estimated 10,500 GT, she isn’t just large... she’s a veritable floating vertical city, a personal Atlantis, engineered with the precision and ambition only Lürssen delivers at this scale. Many anticipate this yacht will be delivered to Ken Griffin, who, perhaps not coincidentally, is also behind the launch of Miami’s ultra-exclusive Terminal Island Marina.
This is the shipyard’s largest active project and one of the most significant private yachts currently under construction anywhere in the world.
A Technical Giant With Architectural Ambition
Project Defy’s numbers alone tell the story of a vessel designed to dominate:
• Length: 146.2m
• Beam: 20.5m
• Gross Tonnage: approx. 10,500 GT
• Hull: Steel
• Superstructure: Aluminium
• Flag: Cayman Islands
• Delivery: 2027
But it’s the design language that sets her apart. Early reveals show:
• Monumental floor-to-ceiling glazing, creating a sense of continuous openness between interior spaces and the sea
• Two fully capable helipads, one forward and one aft, both signal serious operational reach
• Expansive open-air decks for dining, lounging, entertaining, and exploring
• Sculpted, minimalist exterior lines that reinterpret the ultra-large-yacht silhouette for a new generation
Every line appears intentional. Every proportion engineered for grace, not just scale.
A New Generation of Mega-Projects
The ultra-large yacht market is changing. Owners are no longer simply commissioning vessels to be “the biggest.” They’re commissioning statements: architectural, technological, and aesthetic masterpieces built to redefine what private marine living can be.
Project Defy sits at the center of that shift.
At more than three times the volume of a typical 90-metre, she represents the new direction of top-tier custom builds: vessels designed for global autonomy, multi-platform operations, and deeply considered lifestyle spaces that blur boundaries between home, resort, and exploration platform.
Lürssen has long dominated this sector with yachts such as Dilbar, Azzam, Blue, and Eclipse. Project Defy is the next member of that lineage, and promises to be a stand-out member of the Lürssen family.
What We Know (and What It Signals)
• Defy is one of the largest private yachts under construction worldwide, rivalled only by a handful of projects in northern Europe.
• She is Lürssen’s flagship active build, reflecting major resources, talent concentration, and technical innovation.
• Her delivery in 2027 positions her as one of the defining yacht launches of the decade.
While many details remain confidential, as is standard for vessels of this magnitude, the intent is clear: Project Defy is being built not simply to impress, but to redefine what a 21st-century megayacht can be.
The Arrival of a Maritime Colossus
With each construction milestone, the outline sharpens. The possibilities become more real. A new global icon is taking shape behind Lürssen’s walls, engineered at a staggering scale, designed with architectural discipline, and built for a future of boundary-pushing private exploration.
A giant is coming.
And the industry is watching every centimeter of her rise. ⛵︎
