A call to James Munn at Fraser Yachts brings more news of the new build Kaiserwerft 75m motor yacht he’s just listed for sale.

Construction is due to begin in 2012 by Kaiserwerft to a design by Marco Casali with completion scheduled for 2015.

Her Oldenburger interior offers accommodation for up to 16 guests in six staterooms and twin 2680hp MTU engines will give her a range of 6,500 nautical miles at 14.5 knots. The range of special features is extensive and includes a sauna, two massage rooms, gymnasium, glass swimming pool, two Jacuzzis, a heli-pad and a large beach club.

James goes on to say that swimming off the stern of such a large motor yacht can be an unnerving experience so the naval architect has created a beach club that’s more of a harbour.

Companies within the megayacht business tend to know when a competitor is on shaky ground. For a builder to publicly state that it “has been shaking for almost a year now” is pretty uncommon – but KaiserWerft did just that in late January. It was part of an announcement that the Germany-based yard was acquired by a group of investors and has an additional facility at its disposal.

With headquarters in Nürnberg, KaiserWerft has been building yachts from 31 to 41 meters (102 to 134 feet) since 1989. The rounded lines of launches like Catwalk (above), GoldenEye, and Cloud 9 probably drew the most attention to the yard in recent years. But things changed in 2008: “In the beginning of the economic crisis, clients cancelled their orders,” the yard states in a press release – another pretty uncommon admission. (While most megayacht companies have admitted the past year was a “challenge,” to say the least, some will only admit privately that they lost clients, while others won’t confirm or deny any difficulties.) An investors group with experience in yacht and ship construction acquired the molds and machinery at the Saal shipyard, additionally dramatically increasing the area occupied by construction sheds. The same investors bought a facility in Antalya, Turkey, for KaiserWerft to use.

The changes mean KaiserWerft can now build up to 65 meters (215 feet). It intends to still build mostly in Germany and focus on lightweight aluminum and steel yachts. It additionally intends to continue building custom as well as semicustom vessels.

The German shipyard KaiserWerft has in the past produced a number of yachts including the 40.6m Catwalk (2006), the 31m C'est la Vie (2004) and the 40.6m Cloud 9 (2007). Following the onset of the economic crisis, however clients cancelled their orders placed at the shipyard which saw the yard enter into a difficult and shaky period where its future was uncertain. Now, however, with new investors the yard has a new lease of life. The yard's presence this week at the Boot Düsseldorf demonstrates their long term commitment to the market.

As part of the plan moving forward a construction facility was acquired in Antalya, Turkey, as well as the purchase of new machinery and inventory. As a result the production area now available to the yard has grown from 4,000m2 to 33,000m2, no small leap. Whereas in the past the yachts procuced ranged from 30metres to 40.6metres the intention now is to produce yachts up to 65m, with the size increase reflecting the increase of yard space available. The yard intend to continue producing yachts that reflect the excellence of German production, with all parts of the yachts in construction to be built or bought in Germany, with the exception of the larger complete units such as engines. With their ability to build in light-, superlight-, steel- and aluminium-construction, as well as semi-custom projects, the yard hope that they will be able to appeal to a wide range of clients.

Despite a difficult year one would hope that with new investment, and 20 years of yacht building experience behind them, the yard will be able to look forward with optimism. KaiserWerft say that with their new financing they will now be able to "introduce and speed up new production, to support clients and dealers and to develop new sales channels.", stating that they will avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Also on the agenda of the yard's new owners is increased co-operation with internationally renowned superyacht designers in order to develop a new range of sail and motoryachts.

It is hard to imagine a more attractive interior for a luxury motor yacht built on spec than Birgit Schnaase's design for Catwalk, KaiserWerft's new 40,5 meter Baron 104. It has everything that appeals -uniqueness, high craftsmanship and the all- important feel-good factor deriving from alluring shapes and tactile materials. An aim of the design was to blur boundaries with the exterior, creating a sense of wholeness, and the very first conceptual drawing achieved that by echoing the long window line in the yacht's signature Catwalk which leads from the stern gateway through the saloon and up the stairs to the dining room.

KaiserWerft of Bavaria, Germany built 5 Baron motor-yachts of 31 meters and then embarked upon building a 40.5 meter Catwalk, a huge leap by any means when you are told that the yacht's interior volume was 200% larger and that it was built entirely in-house in less than 12 months.

What is clear when you board CATWALK, is the Germanic sprit it exudes. Her exterior lines were styled in -house with additional input from Grischa Schmid of Switzerland. By not having a topmost sun-deck as usually the case; Its profile is clean, sleek and low slung.

Catwalk the new addition to the KaiserWerft's baron line, boasts an dazzling design and surprising style. On this luxury superyacht, extraordinary comes as standard. Words Paul Calder. KaiserWerft the German builder of the Baron line of custom motoryachts, has never been bound by tradition. In 2004, the company flouted convention when it released the 31 m (102ft) Ocean of Love.

"We have been closely working with KaiserWerft shipyard on the complete interior design of motor yacht Catwalk. A dedicated and skilled team with an open mind to our ideas and ready to implement these to a quality end product" says the famous designer Birgit Schnaase about the yard team.

Luxury yachts are designed to meet the needs of a very select clientele. The group of Builders capable of supplying these swimming palaces is no less select. One of the most distinguished competitors in its segment is KaiserWerft GmbH from Bavaria, Germany. The owned-managed company's secret of success is its simple yet vert demanding philosophy: "Everything extraordinary is their Standard.

"Catwalk" is the name of distinctive new luxury yacht manufactured by KaiserWerft GmbH as part of Baron series. Measuring 40,6 meters in length, its most distinguishing feature is mirrored in its name. An illuminated catwalk extends from the exterior deck through the salon in the dining room. The saloon which takes up the full breadth of the yacht features large windows and stucco lustro walls three meters high. -Writer Adrien Colombo