45m Awatea relaunched following refit at Balk Shipyard
Balk Shipyard has relaunched the 45-metre Awatea. The Hakvoort-built motor yacht was with Balk Shipyard for an extensive seven-month programme of works, which included changes to both the exterior and interior, as well as numerous technical upgrades.
Most visually striking from this refit is the ode to her original colour scheme. Awatea arrived at Balk with a custom pastel blue hull, which was faired and repainted. Her hull is now finished in a rich Poseidon Metallic Blue from Alexseal’s range, balanced by a crisp White superstructure, also supplied by Alexseal. This latest scheme adds an extra dimension to the livery she first bore in 2008.
Antifouling was also applied, and spot corrosion work was addressed to ensure longevity and ease of maintenance. All main equipment, including engines and generators, watermaker, sewage treatment plant, anchor winches, and pump valves, was serviced, and safety equipment was surveyed. Other exterior work included the revarnishing of exterior furnishing, deck doors, and other details, and the replacement of several windows.
The technical scope included a completely upgraded HVAC system, new radars, depth sensors, and speed sensors, a full upgrade of the AMS and PMCS systems, and an upgraded lighting system throughout the interior and exterior with full ambient control. The galley was also fully renovated.
Awatea was first built at the exceptional new build shipyard Royal Hakvoort. The quality of workmanship is unmatched. Constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure to a design by Cor D. Rover and engineering by Diana Yacht Design, she was brought to life by an entirely Dutch team. Choosing the Netherlands, and ultimately Balk Shipyard, to undertake this refit was a decision to uphold her pedigree with the standard of craftsmanship the nation is renowned for.
The benefits extended beyond skill alone. The Netherlands is a relatively small country with an exceptional output of custom yachts, built by a close-knit community of shipbuilders and an extended network of suppliers and integrators. As a result, it is not uncommon during a refit in the Netherlands – regardless of when a yacht was originally constructed or by which yard – for the Dutch refit yard to personally know the hands that originally built, engineered, and installed the equipment. There were numerous instances where this proved the case with Awatea.
One such instance concerned the doors. It is fitted with a unique hinge system that had suffered minor damage, and was an ongoing frustration for the crew, as no solution could be found in the Americas. It was resolved within minutes of Awatea arriving at Balk Shipyard.
Sourcing inventory proved equally straightforward. The crew had spent months searching for wine fridges in the U.S. that met the right specifications for dimensions, voltage, and connectivity, without success. At Balk Shipyard, they were ordered within 30 minutes. This is the practical dividend of the Dutch shipbuilding network: quality and access, together.
Balk Shipyard has acted as the gateway to the Northern Europe for Awatea. Having crossed the Atlantic for this significant programme of works, she is now undergoing the final prep work that will get her out on the water with her itinerary and cruising schedule unimpeded. Awatea and her crew are well-placed for the northerly remote waters ahead, and her owner and guests can enjoy the yacht refreshed, upgraded, and ready for the seasons to come.
