NORD is a 465-foot-long superyacht that designer Dan Lenard says looks like "warship wearing a tuxedo"

Tom Van Oossanen

According to multiple news sources, the 465-foot-long superyacht NORD (that was built by Lurssen in Germany and designed by Nuvolari Lenard in Italy) recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz from Dubai to Muscat, Oman.

Now, since I’m just a humble yachting journalist, I could not begin to speculate on what something like this means in the context of the significant geopolitical tensions in the area. But, I can refer to multiple news sources that report NORD is associated with Russian steel magnate Alexey Mordashov who’s currently worth almost $37 billion and is #58 on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list.

But, since I’m only a humble yachting journalist, I can draw attention to this 464-foot-long superyacht simply because, some might say it looks like a luxury aircraft carrier that, oh-by-the-way, has recently passed through a blockade of the Straight of Hormuz. Or maybe it’s simply part of growing genre of yachts that sport a pseudo-military style?

However, when it comes to describing one of the largest superyachts to be launched over the last few years, it’s hard to compete with Dan Lenard of Nuvolari Lenard. He and his firm were responsible for designing NORD’s exterior and interior. And as you can see, when it comes to describing NORD, Lennard is an inspired wordsmith as well.

NORD was designed with one idea in mind: she must cause strong emotions in every observer, not only through her sheer size, but with the design itself,” he said at the launch, “No one should be left indifferent.

“Whether you like the design or not, it must strike you. Nord is a serious ship first and foremost, but she also transcends the traditional language of yacht design. She is a warship wearing a tuxedo, an explorer with the elegance of a gentleman's yacht. We have entered a new direction in serious yacht design."

Stay tuned for more information.