Talk about a remodel: After 26 months of work, a team has converted a naval ship into a luxury superyacht, the Enigma XK. Previously named the Norna and built in 1988, the ex-military vessel was used to patrol fisheries in the North Sea. It was then purchased by its current owner, who envisioned using the vessel as a luxury expedition superyacht to polar regions and beyond.
The refit team consisted of Vitruvius Yachts (interior design), Philippe Briand (exterior design) and McFarlane Ship Design (naval architecture) at the Atlantic Refit Center, a refit center in France dedicated to complex conversion projects and super- and megayacht refits.
Since the ship’s owner wanted the project to be fast, efficient and true to the ship’s original character, the Vitruvius design team had to work with existing electrical and plumbing systems, as well as low ceiling and limited interior natural light. The team eventually added 35 km of new electrical cables and 27 port lights. The luxury quotient was also raised with a few fun features, including a glass observation room, a gymnasium and wellness room, and five guest rooms. The Enigma XK can accommodate 12 guests and 21 crew members. It also has a range of 12,000 nautical miles at an 11-knot cruising speed.
