Echo Yachts Launches 56m Catamaran M/Y Charley 2

Australian full-custom superyacht builder, Echo Yachts, has made its mark with the delivery of internationally award-winning projects across all hull types. The shipyard’s propensity to take on challenging and forward-thinking projects is exemplified by its 84m trimaran superyacht, M/Y White Rabbit, which provides a shining example of how existing engineering design and technology can make a significant impact on efficiency and performance.

Launched this week from the Echo Yachts facilities near Fremantle, Western Australia, Charley 2 becomes the second largest superyacht launched by the shipyard. At 56m LOA and 1041 GT volume, the new aluminium hulled Charley 2 is a significantly larger variant of her predecessor M/Y Charley, a 50m catamaran delivered in 2017 with a composite hull.

Charley 2 features naval architecture by Australian firm One2Three Naval Architects, with engineering, electrical and fitout design by the specialised in-house team at Echo Marine Group.

“A very special day for the teams of Echo Yachts and One2Three Naval Architects seeing the fruits of our combined efforts in the launch of Charley 2,” shared Mark Stothard, Director of Echo Marine Group.

“She sits perfectly on the design waterline and is one of the most complete vessels I have seen at a launch. A few weeks of commissioning and trials, then she will be off on her first adventure!”

The design and construction of Charley 2 was completed within three years of project commencement in 2020, with a number of exciting upgrades made to the already successful platform of her predecessor.

Charley 2 has been constructed with a full-custom designed aluminium hull to bestow her with greater hydrodynamic efficiency, allowing her to use much smaller engines to propel a significantly larger yacht compared to M/Y Charley.

The developments can also be seen in the enhanced layout of Charley 2, with spacious interior accommodation, outdoor entertaining areas, and an large capacity to carry a variety of watertoys and tenders.

Charley 2 is accompanied by a large 12m custom-built catamaran tender, benefitting from an upgraded launch and retrieval platform at the stern of the vessel. The new tender platform design ensured improved tender operations and full walk-around access for ease of cleaning and maintenance.

Further enhancing the Adventure & Support yacht credentials, Charley 2 is equipped with a large touch & go helicopter pad suitable for an Airbus EC130 helicopter, as well as a dive store, decompression chamber, and specialist sonar equipment fitted on the tender for wreck finding and diving adventures.

The latest Echo Yachts superyacht will commence her sea trials at the beginning of September, with delivery scheduled several weeks later.

Specialised in the design and build of full-custom superyachts across all hull forms and materials, Echo Yachts will be in attendance for the upcoming 2023 Monaco and Fort Lauderdale Shows, with appointments and build slots available for newbuild, refit, and maintenance projects.