Previously known as Project Shackleton and later Icecap, the Lurssen yacht was launched in 2025 and is expected to be delivered later this year.
A long and complex build history
The project was first announced in 2017 and originally sold in 2018 through Moran Yacht & Ship. Construction began at Lürssen’s Peene-Werft facility in Wolgast, northeastern Germany, where the hull took shape before the yacht was transferred to Hamburg in 2022 for further outfitting and modification.
During construction, the yacht changed hands again, triggering a series of design revisions that altered her profile and onboard capabilities. Following the resale, the team at Occam Marine assumed oversight of the build, coordinating the final phases of construction and refinement.
O3 was completed in one of Lürssen’s floating dry docks in Hamburg, where she has remained largely out of public view until her recent departure for trials.
Design evolution and exterior profile
Naval architecture and the original exterior concept were developed by Salt Ship Design, whose influence remains evident in the motor yacht’s commercial-inspired stance. The defining feature is her inverted, axe-style bow, paired with a forward-positioned white superstructure and a grey hull, giving O3 a purposeful, expedition-led profile.
Following the 2022 resale, the exterior was extensively reworked by Espen Øino. One of the most notable changes was the addition of a large, fully certified helideck positioned aft, sitting above a raised deck structure that has significantly altered the yacht’s silhouette.
The final result is a 110m platform designed around function and endurance, with enclosed and shaded deck areas suited to a wide range of climates, alongside carefully placed outdoor lounges and observation points.
Despite her utilitarian exterior, O3 includes a wide range of leisure and lifestyle spaces. Key features include a large fold-out beach club, an aft deck infinity pool, spa and massage facilities, a dedicated dance floor, and multiple alfresco lounges.
Interior design remains private
Details of O3’s interior remain tightly controlled, with no official imagery released. The interior design is by CG Design, replacing an earlier concept developed by Adam Lay.
While the layout has not been disclosed, the yacht is understood to span five decks and carry an internal gross tonnage of approximately 6,300 GT. That figure places her among the world’s highest-volume yachts of her length and underlines her expedition brief, with generous space allocated to both guest accommodation and operational areas. Accommodation is expected for up to 20 guests across 10 suites, supported by a crew of around 30.
Engineering and expedition capability
O3 has been conceived as a true go-anywhere yacht. She features an ice-classed steel hull with an aluminium superstructure, a 17.5m beam, and a 4.5m draft. The technical package supports extended автономous cruising, with significant cargo capacity, tender stowage, and heli operations built into the design.
Propulsion is provided by three Wärtsilä 9L20 diesel engines, delivering a combined output of just over 8,000hp. The yacht is expected to reach a top speed of around 24 knots and is equipped with stabilizers for improved comfort at anchor and underway. Diesel-electric elements and advanced energy management systems are also understood to form part of the onboard setup.
Position within the global fleet
At 110m, O3 will rank among the world’s largest superyachts upon delivery. By length, she sits just outside the global 50 in the traditional Top 100, but her high gross tonnage places her significantly higher when ranked by volume.
Within YachtBuyer’s YB100 ranking, which orders yachts by the true measurement of GT rather than length, O3 is expected to sit 17 places higher than her length-based position, highlighting the scale of her interior spaces relative to her overall size.
According to YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the largest yacht database in the world, O3 joins a growing group of 100m-plus projects under construction at Lürssen, including the 146.2m Project Defy.
With sea trials now underway, O3 is entering the final phase before delivery, closing the chapter on one of the longest and most closely followed builds of the past decade.
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