The 17-month conversion involved extending of this private yacht by more than 6 metres (from 85m to 91.5m) and completely rebuilding and/or refitting all areas of the vessel. This required a dedicated team of nine in-house project managers and technical superintendents to work closely with the owner’s team, with an average of 200 personnel on the project at any one time. The work was carried out in the shipyard’s 102m covered dry-dock.

Built to passenger vessel standards and Lloyds Register classification, Queen Miri was completed in record time. With her new Marshall Islands flag, the yacht carries 36 guests, plus 36 crew and additional staff.

Lengthening  – Although the hull lengthening took Queen Miri (ex-Delma) from 85.3m (280ft) to an LOA of 91.5m (300ft), the hydrodynamic and shape requirements of connecting the new aft block to the existing structure meant the hull had to be cut back by up to 16 metres from the existing stern platform. This represented a vast undertaking that required all the shipyard’s technical expertise.

Engineering  – The project further involved replacing the main engines with new twin MTU power units, requiring a complete foundation rebuild, and installing three new MTU diesel generators. The exhaust systems, gearboxes, shaft lines and propellers were all replaced, and the rudder stocks and steering system redesigned to match the new contractual speed requested by the client. The power management and alarm monitoring systems throughout the vessel were also upgraded.

Interiors and special design features  – New features were incorporated into both the interior and exterior design to provide outstanding comfort and amenities. These included a huge whirlpool with integrated sun pad for lounging on the sundeck, new spa and relaxation zones, and a new flood-able tender garage on the lower aft deck that converts into a heated seawater swimming pool. State-of-the-art audio, video and monitoring systems were installed throughout and 80% of the interiors were refurbished.