Lürssen Delivers Nausicaä: The 114m Marc Newson Superyacht
On 23 May 2026, Lürssen delivered Nausicaä, the 114.2metre superyacht formerly known as Project Cosmos. The delivery marks the end of one of the most ambitious builds the German shipyard has ever undertaken. She now heads to Gibraltar on her maiden voyage. Her design breaks almost every convention the industry has established.
Nausicaä: A Singular Creative Vision
Nausicaä stands apart from the moment you see her. Lürssen handed the entire project, exterior, interior, and every detail in between, to a single designer. Australian industrial designer Marc Newson took the brief. He is best known in yachting for the 139.7metre Solaris. The creative freedom he received here is rare at this scale.
The result is unlike anything on the water today. Long, fluid curves replace the hard geometry of most modern superyachts. There are no flat surfaces. There are no sharp angular transitions. Louvred details, rounded edges, and sweeping glazed surfaces give her a sculptural quality. She reads more like a product of industrial design than traditional naval architecture.
The glass-domed observation lounge on the upper deck is her most technically demanding feature. Lürssen engineers developed a bespoke hot-bending process to shape seven panes of thick glass. Each pane measures 3,000 by 2,800mm, weighs 1,050kg, and is 62mm thick. The result is a seamless 360-degree structure with 3.15 metres of headroom. Newson describes it as a private study at the top of the yacht.
“It is extremely challenging for a design project, of any description, to literally deliver on the vision conceived at the concept stage,” Newson said at delivery. “Here, I am very proud to say that every detail, at every scale, has been realised at the most coherent level.”
Nausicaä’s Fuel-Cell Technology
Nausicaä carries two 500kW methanol fuel cells. This makes her one of the first private superyachts at this scale to use the technology. The system lets her cruise at up to seven knots for around 1,000 nautical miles on methanol alone. She can also sit at anchor for up to 15 days with zero local emissions. A 2MW battery plant powers all hotel systems at peak load, enabling fully silent operation for extended periods.
The yacht also retains conventional diesel engines and generators. Lürssen acknowledges that the technology is still maturing. Nevertheless, the shipyard frames Nausicaä’s fuel-cell installation as a step toward future integration across the fleet.
“While it is true that as a custom shipyard, no two yachts that leave our halls are ever the same, there are some that leave an indelible mark on our history,” said Lürssen CEO Peter Lürssen.
Nausicaä’s bow-on profile underway, her rounded, louvre-detailed superstructure is immediately distinguishable from any other yacht at this scale. 📸 Tom van Oossanen
The Nausicaä Lürssen Superyacht: Specification and Build
Nausicaä measures 114.2 metres overall. Her beam is 18.7 metres, and her gross tonnage is 6,300GT. She carries up to 18 guests across nine staterooms. A crew of 36 supports them. Construction began in early 2022 under the project name Cosmos. Lürssen laid the keel at its Rendsburg facility. The yard launched her in March 2023. She then left for painting and outfitting, staying largely out of public view until August 2025. Sea trials followed in the Bay of Kiel before her delivery in May 2026.
She also carries an Ice Class 1D rating. This gives her polar capability, a deliberate contrast to her sculptural elegance above the waterline. A Japanese owner commissioned the project. Delivery also coincided with Lürssen’s 150th anniversary.
What Nausicaä Means for the Industry
Superyacht design moves slowly. The conventions of a modern large motor yacht — tiered decks, broad flybridge, forward-raked superstructure have developed over decades. Few projects challenge them in any meaningful way. Nausicaä challenges most of them at once.
Her commissioning at 114 metres is significant. A project this bold is usually tested at smaller scale first. Here, it was not. Newson kept the design within one creative hand from first sketch to delivery. The finished yacht stayed faithful to his original concept across six years of development. That says something about both his conviction and Lürssen’s willingness to follow it.
For the Nausicaä Lürssen superyacht project, delivery arrives alongside a run of major milestones for the yard — including the 109-metre O3 and the imminent handover of the 102-metre Nixie. Together, they underline the yard’s position at the top of the custom superyacht market. Among them, however, Nausicaä is the one that will be discussed the longest.
FAQ
What is Nausicaä?
Nausicaä is a 114.2-metre custom superyacht built by German shipyard Lürssen and delivered in May 2026. She was previously known as Project Cosmos throughout her construction.
Who designed Nausicaä?
Australian industrial designer Marc Newson conceived every aspect of Nausicaä, exterior, interior, and all design details.
What makes Nausicaä’s propulsion system significant?
Nausicaä carries two 500kW methanol fuel cells, making her one of the first superyachts at this scale to use fuel-cell technology. The system allows zero-emission cruising at slow speed for up to 1,000 nautical miles.
Who owns Nausicaä?
A Japanese owner commissioned Nausicaä. Further details remain private.
How long did Nausicaä take to build?
Construction began in early 2022. Lürssen delivered her in May 2026, with a build period of approximately four years.
