From military conversions to cruise ship refits and pandemic-era deliveries, Ocean Independence’s top 10 historical yacht sales reveal unmatched versatility, discretion, and visionary design.
From military conversions to cruise ship refits and pandemic-era deliveries, Ocean Independence’s top 10 historical yacht sales reveal unmatched versatility, discretion, and visionary design.
Originally launched in 1973 as an Australian naval vessel, PLAN B is one of the few true military conversions in yachting — rebuilt as a 50m explorer with go-anywhere capability. Sold by Ocean Independence in 2010, she became more than a vanity project: the Owner circumnavigated the globe, reaching the Arctic, Galapagos, Patagonia, and Myanmar. Operating far from infrastructure brought challenges that Ocean Independence’s Team met head-on, supporting the Owner’s ambitious off-grid mission. Retaining navalgrade engineering and her gunmetal grey profile, she was adapted for private use without compromising performance. Between 2018 and 2023 she underwent major upgrades, including overhauls and refined interiors. Her aft deck offers shaded dining and a lounge that converts into an open-air cinema. Explorer features include a heli deck, spa pool, and tender storage, with twin Caterpillar engines delivering a 6,000nm range. Quietly philanthropic, she also served as a vessel for research and humanitarian outreach.
When Spirit launched in 2005, motor catamarans were virtually unheard of in the superyacht world — making this 34-metre wave-piercing catamaran a bold statement of intent. Built on speculation in New Zealand, she was both a financial and stylistic gamble, challenging the dominance of monohulls. With naval architecture by Jack Sarin and a GRP build, she combines strength and efficiency, while
twin MTU engines deliver a 24-knot top speed and solid range. Her wide beam affords interior volume
and deck space more typical of a far larger yacht, blending performance with comfort. SPIRIT proved
that visionary design could find its place in the market, and Ocean Independence secured her first
Owner — a milestone that underlined how bold ideas can shape the future of yachting.
Built by Oceanfast in 2003 for Australian golf legend Greg Norman, the 70m all-aluminium yacht FLORIDIAN — later NOMAD — was a true pioneer. Designed by Sam Sorgiovanni, she was one of the earliest large explorer yachts, well ahead of today’s booming trend. Her first Owner was visionary in commissioning such innovation. Sold by Ocean Independence at the 2011 Monaco Yacht Show, her buyer fought through crowds in the final minutes to step aboard and close the deal. Managed by Ocean Independence, FLORIDIAN saw major refits between 2005 and 2020. She offers 6 cabins for 12 guests and amenities including a Steinway piano, cinema, gym, helipad, spa pool, bar, and wine cellar. With stabilisers, tenders, and dive gear, she remains an icon of exploration and elegance.
Built in 2020 by Abeking & Rasmussen and named after the soar of an eagle, SOARING is a 68m steel-and-aluminium masterpiece by Focus Yacht Design. Her profile features scalloped windows, an orange boot stripe and an eagle-beak bow — ensuring she stands apart. Delivered mid-pandemic in March 2020, Ocean Independence’s Team drove empty German motorways, stayed in deserted hotels and secured dispensations to coordinate crew, recalling the surreal atmosphere as unforgettable. In SOARING’s 2023 sale, representing both Buyer and Seller, Ocean Independence proved its global reach and diplomacy in a Middle East deal. Inside, 1,500GT hosts 12 guests in 6 suites, including a master with a private terrace and library, all finished with meticulous detail. Outdoors include a beach club, gym, spa, Jacuzzi and swim platform. Powered by twin 2,000hp MTUs, she cruises at 12 knots and reaches 16. Elegant and innovative, SOARING remains distinctive.
Launched in 1929 by Krupp Germaniawerft and designed by Cox & Stevens, the 71-metre HAIDA G — originally christened HAIDA — is a true living piece of maritime history and one of the most iconic classic yachts still sailing today. During World War II she served as USS Argus, before transitioning back into private hands, where her distinguished presence even made her a cinematic star, famously featuring in the Mamma Mia! Money, Money, Money scene. Over nearly a century, she has sailed under several names, including SARINA and ROSENKAVALIER, reflecting her enduring appeal across generations. From 2002 to 2005, Ocean Independence provided key technical support during her complete rebuild, helping restore her stature as one of the first major classic superyachts to undergo a faithful, full-scale renovation. Remarkably, she still runs on original twin U-boat engines — so unique that manoeuvring requires old-school seamanship, with reversing demanding that the engines be stopped, shifted, and restarted, a process only a handful of yachts in the world still employ. Pendennis later undertook an 18-month restoration in 2016, carefully preserving her monumental twin diesels and original Art Deco details, while adding luxurious upgrades such as a Hammam spa, hairdressing salon, fireplaces, and carbon-fibre reinforced masts.
Sold in 2024, ALFA marked a standout success for Ocean Independence, blending sales, charter, and management in a seamless client experience. For a first-time yacht Owner, the search to find her was extraordinary — spanning numerous continents over two years, from Asia to the Americas, before that elusive “yes” moment came in the Med. Remarkably, after just one season, the Owner commissioned a major refit — proof that even the perfect yacht invites personalisation. Originally launched in 2020 by Benetti and a 2021 World Superyacht Award winner, ALFA was transformed at Lusben, with designer Mark Berryman reimagining her interiors and adding features like bespoke furniture, a Teppanyaki bar, and four additional bars. The master suite was overhauled with an entirely new configuration, while a dramatic wine corridor was introduced as a showpiece. A cinema-style beach club with infinity pool, helipad, elevator, and upgraded AV and IT systems ensure she delivers both luxury and performance. With seven staterooms, expansive deck spaces, and a refined blend of Italian craftsmanship and modern lifestyle features, ALFA exemplifies holistic delivery and sets a benchmark for sophisticated superyacht living.
As one of Ocean Independence’s most dynamic and collaborative sales, ROCK & ROLL brought together charter and sales consultants to act for the Buyer, making this a standout success story. Delivered in 1999 by Perini Navi as PHYRNE, she measures 164’1″ and epitomises the yard’s mastery of combining performance with comfort. The Owner’s vision was clear: a yacht both sporty and luxurious, without compromise. The solution was a new hull form, a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, and a taller rig — innovations that preserved Perini Navi’s trademark elegance while delivering exhilarating sailing. Inside, dramatic Oriental-inspired interiors define her character, none more so than the China Cabin, part of the Owner’s suite, with its walk-in wardrobe, striking portholes, and indulgent bathroom. On deck, a sunken aft cockpit ensures alfresco living even during tropical rains, enhancing her global cruising appeal. Blending opulence and performance, ROCK & ROLL stands as an enduring icon of bespoke yacht design. Her distinctive profile, cutting-edge build for her time, and unique design brief cement her place as a true individual in the sailing superyacht world — a vessel where bold aesthetics meet technical excellence, and where every detail reflects her Owner’s pursuit of originality.
ENGELBERG, the first Amels 180, broke convention with its Dutch engineering, bold grey hull, vivid orange waterline accent, and client-led design ethos. Delivered to a Zurich-based industrialist through Ocean Independence, this 55-metre yacht started from a clean slate — a rare opportunity to realise something deeply personal and imaginative. The Owner’s choice of landscape architect Enzo Enea for the interior brought fresh perspective: his philosophy was to let the environment flow seamlessly into the yacht’s spaces, blending nature and architecture for fluid, light-filled rooms. Having never worked on a yacht before, he was carefully supported by the Team to balance creativity with practicality and marine functionality. The result is refined yet playful: a Finding Nemo-inspired mosaic wall; a master suite with panoramic views; sliding doors opening saloons to fold-out balconies; and a spa-style bathroom with mirrored dressing room. Spaces were designed for leisure and connectivity, with clever features such as a wooden Metrica partition that doubles as desk and bed headboard, or a fold-out bathing platform that enables guests to board from shore or sea. Crowning the sundeck, a bespoke curved-glass windbreak adds flair and distinctive character. ENGELBERG ultimately demonstrates how semi-custom builds can be inventive, individual, and distinctive without excess — instead clever, elegant, purposeful, and unmistakably bespoke.
Sold by Ocean Independence in 2009, HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT marked a milestone in the company’s expansion into ultra-large tonnage and hybrid-use vessels. At 90 metres with accommodation for 120 guests in 60 suites, she was not technically a yacht — which meant Ocean Independence’s operations Team had to become passenger-ship certified to meet the Owner’s unique requirements. Originally built as a luxury mini cruise ship for extended global voyages, HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT later transitioned to private use for a Middle Eastern royal family, who travelled with a considerable entourage. Subsequently returned to boutique mini cruising, she demonstrated versatility, resilience, and enduring appeal across diverse markets. Featured in SuperYacht World, she underwent a major interior refit in 2001, elevating her luxurious offering while maintaining SOLAS and Lloyd’s class. Hotel-style amenities included a full-service spa, gym, plunge pool, beauty salon, library, and multiple lounges — delivering five-star comfort at sea. Designed for long-range immersion and authentic exploration, she also carried tenders, watersports equipment, and curated itineraries that balanced leisure, discovery, and cultural enrichment. Ocean Independence managed both her acquisition and resale, demonstrating its proven expertise in complex commercial and private transactions, regulatory compliance, and seamless global vessel repositioning.
Sold in 2016 to join Allen Exploration’s adventurous fleet, AXIS is a purpose-built 55.3-metre support yacht — designed for when a main vessel cannot carry the full arsenal of kit. Rather than upsize to a floating cruise liner, the Owner opted for this rugged Damen Yachting-built shadow vessel, conceived for a true explorer and constructed in steel with a commanding axe bow. Inside, AXIS features a sleek, minimalist interior by Patrick Dupuis, offering accommodation for eight guests in three main-deck cabins — two queen doubles with Pullman berths and a four-berth cabin — plus quarters for 11 crew. A large on-deck galley-barbecue lounge, sheltered by overhang and canvas, connects to a cosy saloon lounge and sit-up bar. Expedition capability is at her core: a 16-tonne Heila crane, heli deck (3,700kg capacity), and expansive deck host serious gear, from a Triton submarine to an ICON A5 seaplane. The bridge deck “sky deck” offers panoramic dining and entertaining with striking ocean views that reinforce her adventurous character. Powered by four 1,499hp Caterpillars, AXIS cruises at 12 knots, reaches 20, and delivers a 5,000nm range for extended global passage-making. Beyond exploration, she has also supported groundbreaking scientific projects and conservation efforts, further underscoring Ocean Independence’s unrivalled expertise in managing pioneering, purposeful vessels that consistently redefine what modern support yachts can achieve for discerning Owners.
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