EMPIRE is a 2024 Cantiere delle Marche Darwin-class explorer yacht, 86 feet (26.1m) with a steel hull, a 24-foot (7.4m) beam, and an 8-foot (2.5m) draft. At 199 GT, she carries serious volume for her length. Exterior design is by Hydro Tec, with interiors by Alessandro Massari featuring custom furniture alongside pieces from Poltrona Frau and Poliform. She was purpose-built for long-range voyaging in demanding conditions: the hull includes an ice belt at the waterline, reinforced rudders for icy waters, and partially ballistic-rated steel plating. Twin Scania engines (294 kW each) deliver a top speed of 11.6 knots, backed by three Northern Lights generators producing 155 kW total and sodium-lithium chloride batteries for enhanced energy efficiency. A fourth pilot station in the engine room and Boening integrated bridge monitoring underscore how seriously this yacht was engineered.
She accommodates 10 guests across four staterooms: a full-beam owner's suite amidships on the lower deck, a forward VIP suite, and two twin cabins with Pullman berths. Crew quarters for four are located forward on the main deck with a dedicated crew mess and private staircase to the wheelhouse. The main deck serves as the social center with indoor and outdoor dining and a bar. The upper deck houses a gym that doubles as a lounge opening onto a furnished stern terrace, while the sun deck is fitted with loose furniture and sunbeds. Currently lying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, EMPIRE is a rare sub-27m steel explorer built to go where fiberglass yachts simply cannot.
EMPIRE is currently located in United States in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
