Mercedes-Maybach's 508-Foot Megayacht Moves Closer to Reality
The longstanding official love affair between the maritime and automotive worlds has yielded another novel creation, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Splendid Sea, and a German shipyard.
The world-renowned automakers are officially helping bring a private members' club to the high seas with a custom megayacht. The automakers will serve as the branding and design partners, with Splendid Sea as the developers.
The concept isn't a traditional yacht charter. It isn't like joining a country club, either.
With the help of German shipbuilder Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, the group is one step closer to building a 508-foot (155 m) megayacht named Beyond Horizons. Once launched, it will be the most boutique members club in the world.
Beyond Horizons will be the centrepiece of the Maybach Ocean Club, an invitation-only club with a seven figure buy-in and a six figure annual membership fee. But, rather than using the vessel as a conventional charter yacht or cruise ship, the project will give its select group of 300 members access to a floating private club complete with luxury accommodations, dining, wellness facilities, and an international social calendar.
The confirmation of Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven shipyard now brings the project closer to fruition after it was first pitched at the 2025 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show before quickly moving into the development phase by June 2026. Construction hasn't begun yet, but with Lloyd Werft officially onboard, the vessel is expected to be ready by 2030.
The concept behind the Maybach Ocean Club was developed in collaboration with yacht specialists Splendid Sea, German naval architects Dölker + Voges, and Mercedes-Benz Design. Once operational, the club and its Beyond Horizons centerpiece will feature 30 residential-style suites at nearly 800 square feet (74 square meters) per suite. Each one will feature a private balcony with an unobstructed ocean view and follows the same design template to purposely avoid the traditional hierarchy between levels of state rooms on cruise ships.
Beyond Horizons will accommodate up to 72 members and guests at a time, with six additional cabins reserved for visiting family and friends. 80 to 85 crew members will provide onboard services to the membership.
Onboard amenities will rival the world's most exclusive resorts and cruise ships, including panoramic lounges, multiple dining venues, wellness and spa facilities, a beach club with direct water access, and split-level infinity pools. Entertainment will include live music and art exhibitions throughout the yearly calendar.
Beyond Horizons will also be accompanied by a separate 230-foot (70 m) shadow vessel carrying tenders, watercraft, a helicopter, and additional entertainment equipment. By using a dedicated support ship, the engineers and designers will be able to arrange Beyond Horizons to preserve the entirety of its available space for guests and recreation.
The project has also attracted some notable hospitality partners. Wellness programming is being developed with Swiss company Chenot, while culinary offerings are expected to include The Waterside Inn and its three-Michelin-starred chef Alain Roux.
Even as a unique luxury members club, perhaps the most unusual aspect of the project is its ownership structure. Maybach Ocean Club plans to limit membership to approximately 300 people worldwide, with members acquiring a fractional interest in the club rather than purchasing an individual cabin or chartering the vessel. Each member will receive four weeks of onboard access annually, with the yacht following seasonal itineraries between the Mediterranean during summer and the Caribbean during the winter.
The founders of the project, Michael Hehn and Matthias Bosse, envision a concept that combines the privacy and freedom associated with yacht ownership with the social atmosphere and hospitality of an exclusive private members' club. Bosse brings considerable maritime experience, having previously captained prominent superyachts including Lady Moura and Carinthia VII. Hehn complements that experience with an extensive background in finance and hospitality.
For shipyard Lloyd Werft, the project adds another high-profile superyacht to its portfolio. The Bremerhaven shipyard in Germany has built multiple world-renowned superyachts including Luna and Solaris.
If delivered as planned by 2030, Beyond Horizons will introduce a new angle to the already burgeoning superyacht market. Where previously the ultra-wealthy purchased a vessel outright or chartered one on a case-by-case basis, under the new Mercedes-Maybach concept members will effectively be buying into a floating private club that organizes trips, operation, and maintenance with an annual calendar full of signature events. #news #culture
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