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Lürssen-Explorer110-metre "O3" completes sea trials

Martin Hager

 · 03.02.2026

The 110 metre long ice-class explorer "O3" was spotted by yacht spotter Carl Groll on the Holtenauer Hochbrücke.
Photo: Carl Groll
The 110 metre long Lürssen newbuild "O3" has completed its sea trials on the Baltic Sea. The voluminous ice-class displacement vessel with an interior volume of around 6,300 gross tonnes was originally announced as Project Shackleton and underwent significant design changes after being sold during the construction phase four years ago.
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The 110-metre Lürssen "O3" was spotted in the Kiel Canal after completing her sea trials. Originally announced in 2017, the yacht has undergone significant changes since her initial launch as Project Shackleton, particularly following a sale during the construction phase in 2022. Since then, the Occam Marine team has overseen the construction process and ensured the realisation of the new owner's vision.

Design and remodelling

The yacht's hull was first sighted in 2019, with the original exterior design and structural calculations coming from Salt Ship Design. However, after the takeover in 2022, designer Espen Øino significantly redesigned the ship and created its striking appearance. Paris-based studio CG Design was responsible for the interior design, while the original concept was developed by British designer Adam Lay. The first images of "O3" show a striking negative stern, grey and white tones underline the yacht's utilitarian profile and lend it a striking appearance. Details on the equipment of the Explorer are not yet available. Only a fully certified helipad is clearly recognisable in the yacht spotter photos.

Building history

Construction of the large format began at the Lürssen Peene shipyard in Wolgast before she was transferred to the Lürssen shipyard in Hamburg in 2022, where the outfitting was completed in a dry dock. Details of the layout of "O3" have so far been kept strictly under wraps, but the number of decks and the dimensions suggest an interior volume of around 6,300 GT.

Ranking of the largest motor yachts

With a length of 110 metres, "O3" is currently ranked 53rd in the 200 largest motor yachts in the world. There are currently 26 yachts longer than 100 metres under construction worldwide. German shipyards are still world market leaders in the construction of gigayachts with 13 projects currently underway. Average length: 109 metres! For Espen Øino, "O3" is another exceptional project after iconic yachts such as "Octopus", "Dilbar", "Skat", "Flying Fox" or "REV Ocean".

Technical specifications:

  • Length: 110 metres
  • Volume: approx. 6,300 gross tonnes
  • Exterior: originally Salt Ship Design, redesigned by Espen Øino
  • Interior: CG Design (original concept by Adam Lay Studio)
  • Construction: originally Salt Ship Design
  • Shipyard: Lürssen, 2025
Martin Hager

Martin Hager

Editor in Chief YACHT

Martin Hager is editor-in-chief of the titles YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV and has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag for 20 years. He was born in Heidelberg in 1978 and started sailing at the age of six, in an Opti of course. This was soon followed by 420s, Sprinta Sport and 470s, which he also sailed on the regatta course with his brother. His parents regularly took him on charter trips through the Greek and Balearic Islands. Even at a young age, it was clear to him that he wanted to turn his passion for water sports into a career. After graduating from high school and completing an internship at the Rathje boatbuilding company in Kiel, it was clear that he did not want to become a classic boatbuilder. Instead, he successfully studied shipbuilding and marine engineering in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and focused on yacht design wherever he could. His diploma thesis dealt with the “Testing of a new speed prediction method for sailing yachts”. In 2004, the superyacht magazine BOOTE EXCLUSIV was looking for an editor with technical and nautical background knowledge, a position that was perfect for Martin Hager. The application was successful and a two-year traineeship was arranged. After twelve years as an editor, the editorial team changed and he took over responsibility for BOOTE EXCLUSIV as editor-in-chief in 2017. After long-time YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker moved to the role of publisher, Martin Hager also took over the position of editor-in-chief of Europe's largest sailing magazine YACHT, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, at the beginning of 2023. When he's not working on topics for the two water sports titles, Martin Hager likes to go out on the water himself - preferably with kite and wingfoil equipment or on a little after-work trip across the Alster.

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