An ambitious conversion project has been completed at the Stahlbau-Nord yard in Bremerhaven: the transformation of an offshore supply vessel into an expedition yacht.
Over a period of more than 19 months, Stahlbau-Nord carried out the work on behalf of Bremerhaven-based Lloyd Werft. The 88 m long “L Symphony” is a former offshore supply vessel built in Indonesia in 2015.
As part of the conversion, prefabricated deck sections were installed on the former open deck, providing, for example, storage space for watercraft or diving equipment. Additional sections were created directly behind the existing bridge house to accommodate further cabins. No details have been disclosed about the client behind the project, and it also remains unclear whether the yacht will receive a new name.
The conversion is a publicly funded project, with the German federal government and the state covering almost a quarter of the costs. Eligible project costs amount to around €49.6 million. According to the draft grant notification dated 20 August 2024, total funding is set at a maximum of approximately €12.41 million.
On 3 May 2023, Lloyd Werft submitted an application to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), which administers the “Innovative Shipbuilding” funding programme, for the development and construction of a conversion system. This system consists of three largely turnkey modules (“Accommodation”, “Expedition” and “Partial Electrification”) and has now been applied industrially for the first time. The modules are intended to be replicated for subsequent conversions of similar vessel types.
