Superyacht Returns to the Water after Major Overhaul

Southampton, U.K.  headquartered ship repairer and marine engineering services provider, SMS, has launched the classic superyacht MY Alicia from its covered 60m dry dock in the heart of the city.

Peter Morton, the CEO of The SMS Group comments: “Today’s launch is a major positive milestone in another huge refit project for The SMS Group, all our colleagues and all our suppliers. It’s big, big news. As a company we are genuinely thrilled to have had the inspiration and support of another truly exceptional British businessman; and whilst the project has been challenging the end result is simply outstanding. MY Alicia is unquestionably beautiful”.

SMS has developed a reputation as specialists in ship repair, marine engineering and major fabrication projects in the commercial marine, defense and superyachts sectors. In addition the business has a proven pedigree for major yacht refits and classic yacht restorations. In recent years the company has completed refits for Sir Charles Dunstone on MY Shemara, Lord Sugar on MY Lady A and now on MY Alicia for another distinguished British Owner.

“MY Alicia, MY Shemara and MY Lady A were all managed by SMS in a totally transparent and honest way - working directly with the owner,” Morton said. “This ensures the very best value for money and complete control of the project; owners are therefore ‘masters of their own destiny’ which is so very important to all those involved. In this case it was the owner’s vision that has inspired the growth and creation of a business as opposed to just another project; we’re extremely grateful and look forward to very many future successful projects.”

Morton also acknowledged the role of the local supply chain: “We wouldn’t be able to complete such significant and bespoke projects without the likes of Canark Marine, Design Unlimited, SEC Marine, WRS and others, to include our own Sister companies Yacht Tec and Global Services. It’s been a team effort from the outset, and both myself and the owner are extremely grateful and very, very proud; the project has seen the best of British design, innovation and engineering and we now look forward to a successful period of trials pre-handover.”

With regards to working with the SMS team, the owner of MY Alicia commented, “The team and management have been superb to work with from day one. They’ve demonstrated flexibility, focus and commitment - and a real eye for the detail. I’m humbled by the energy and enthusiasm from the guys on the tools. I couldn’t have asked for a better, more engaging, team. Refitting Alicia in the U.K. was the right call and it has been an absolute delight; the end result will be something that we can all be very proud of - she’s fantastic, she’s British - and she’s truly unique. For many years to come she’ll be a big part of our family.”

MY Alicia is a 50m Classic Motor Yacht; she was built in the U.S. by Defoe in 1930 and launched as MY Janidore (the ex RS Eden). She was one of eight yachts to be built by the East Coast yard. In 2015 she arrived in Southampton to begin an extensive period of restoration works intended to return her to the splendor of the 1930s.

Chris Norman, the MD of SMS commented, “Having worked in the refit industry both here in the U.K. and in Holland, for many, many years I can safely say this project has been nothing short of huge. We practically rebuilt MY Shemara from the keel up, and we, as a project team, assumed that would be a one off. Not so. MY Alicia has proven to be an equally challenging program of works over a three year period. The owners aspirations stem from the vessels true form as MY Janidore; his attention to detail and passion have helped not only lead an inspired team but also restore a truly unique and genuinely wonderful classic to her former glory.”

In talking detail, Norman said, “This particular project has seen major structural works and the complete rebuild of the yacht and its systems in support of the program of works. We built a new hull from the aft machinery bulkhead forward, some 34m, and a completely new aluminum superstructure in partnership with our Sister co. the Wight Shipyard, coming in at circa 25T. All the principle trades are in-house at SMS so this turn-key solution helped with the structural engineering, the mechanical design and install, the electrical and hydraulic design and install and the outfit. We’ve our own interior and exterior outfitters, our own painters and our own commissioning team. It’s a total service solution at SMS so having all the trades pulling together has been hugely beneficial.”

Norman said, “We’ve had to be very innovative in the installations too - we’ve managed to install an equipment package suited to a 1,000T vessel into a 400T one; a tremendous amount of thought has gone into the machinery space, pipe verticals (due to limited headroom) and the ships tank configuration. It’s been a challenge that we’re proud to have overcome. Thankfully the owner has been passionately ‘hands on’ both operationally and commercially; he’s been a real big part of not only the project but also the business. By working in a genuinely transparent and honest fashion we’ve not only built a beautiful yacht we’ve also created a wonderful business.”

MY Alicia will undertake her commissioning and sea trials in and around the Solent before leaving the Ocean Quay yard for the Mediterranean were she will then join more than 300 of the world’s most beautiful modern and classic yachts for the 20th Les Voiles de Saint Tropez in September.

Length Overall: 49.86 m
Length Waterline: 47.74 m
Rule Length: 47.15 m
Breadth (Moulded): 7.35 m
Depth Overall (excl. masts): 11.16 m
Depth Overall (inc. masts): 21.31 m
Gross Tonnage: 397 GRT
Top Speed: 14 knots
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Range @ Cruising Speed: 2,500 nm
Class: Lloyds Register 100 A1 SSC G2A MONO SRY MCH UMS
Flag: LY3, Cayman Islands Shipping Registry
IMO Number: 9092111
Official Number: 80098