Precision and power

All these dazzling features shouldn't distract one from the fact that this yacht is a seaworthy vessel. Her wheelhouse boasts the latest navigational equipment, including integrated nautical systems and radar, Inmarsat satellite communications, SSB and weather information displays.

Large, shaded windows provide an unobstructed 225-degree view from the bridge, while the open rear view also offers direct visibility to the aft. At a time when many bridges put style over substance, the captain will certainly welcome the concern for visibility.

A CCTV monitoring system with 18 cameras keeps a constant watchful eye over the entire yacht, including the engine room and every deck, plus its surrounding territories. The captain's cabin and office are just abaft the bridge. The wheelhouse also contains the command centre for the SeaTel entertainment system that extends throughout the vessel, offering a choice of more than 1,000 CDs and DVDs with surround sound, in every cabin, dayhead and lobby.

Meanwhile, the vessel's engineer can effortlessly oversee her entire array of powerful gear from his station next to the engine room. This includes two MTU 16V 595 TE70 diesel engines that can each generate 4,680 horsepower to power her massive twin Wartsila five-blade propellers, giving her a steady cruising speed of 14 knots that can be ramped up to 20 or 21 knots. A sturdy BrownBrothers/Rolls-Royce Aquarius stabiliser system controls the vessel's movements should a spell of difficult weather set in.

Alfa Nero's forward and aft thrusters can also propel her unaided in the event of serious engine failure, or when slow, gentle movement is called for. Perhaps most importantly, Alfa Nero has what it takes for extended sojourns around the Mediterranean. There are three 332-kilowatt generators powering a water-maker, air-conditioning plant, and low-maintenance plumbing system. Her fuel capacity is 294,000 liters, yielding a cruising range of 6,000 kilometers at cruising speeds.

The Alfa Nero has sleek lines and a relatively low displacement volume for her size. While her hull’s design may require more attention to fairing than more traditional models, her bulbous bow, with its slightly upward curve, draws water lower along the bow's entry, thus reducing the bow wave. These features earned her an excellent score during her sea trials.

When the Alfa Nero was commissioned in 2005, the owner requested a yacht with plenty of open deck space that was especially suitable for cruising the Mediterranean. The floating palace he received after 14 months of design and construction work at Oceanco’s Alblasserdam shipyard would undoubtedly satisfy any European monarch... maybe even a Roman emperor.