Alva joins solar-electric charge

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Alva Yachts is building multiple units of the Ocean Eco 60

Alva Yachts is a new solar-electric catamaran builder co-founded in early 2020 by Germans Mathias May (Managing Director) and yacht designer Holger Henn (CEO).

Offering electric yachts from 50-90ft, the company evolved from the former Pica Yachts, which had six years’ experience in the development, construction and marketing of smaller electric-driven sailing and motor yachts, selling 54 boats.

Although Alva is headquartered in Bad Pyrmont in inland Germany, its shipyard is 3,000km away in the Antalya Free Zone on Turkey’s southwest coast. The brand recently completed its first hull, delivering an Ocean Eco 54 to a European client, although the company’s product range has since evolved.

US dealer Yacht Sales International (YSI) has secured the first Ocean Eco 60

Its primary models are now the Ocean Eco 60 and the flagship Ocean Eco 90 superyacht, both of which are offered in Explorer versions that feature an enclosed flybridge, carbon-reinforced hull, alternative layout and stronger air-conditioning.

GLOBAL NETWORK

Multiple units of the Ocean Eco 60 are in build, while the first unit of the Ocean Eco 90 is under construction.

Alva is building hull one of its flagship Ocean Eco 90 superyacht

“These yachts will be delivered to USA, Russia and Europe. For such a new brand, we’re more than happy with our orders and are excited about delivering yachts across the world soon,” says May, who says Alva’s shipyard can accommodate up to six 60ft and three 90ft models.

“We even think the pandemic helped our online marketing campaigns quite a lot because more people got into yachting from home and through digital media.”

Alva has also prioritised the establishment of a global network of dealers including Yacht Sales International (YSI) – which has four offices in the US – as the exclusive distributor for North America.

The interior of Alva’s Ocean Eco 90 with the galley-up layout

Dealers have also been appointed in northern Europe, Russia, the Gulf, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan in Asia.

ELECTRIC FUTURE

Alva’s models are offered with hybrid propulsion or in a fully electric, solar-powered version with a back-up diesel generator. May acknowledges the role played by Silent-Yachts in pioneering solar-electric catamarans in the boating industry.

“For us, the future of yachting, like the car sector, is electric. Silent-Yachts has done great work as solar yacht pioneers for many years and while we acknowledge our similarities, we try to focus on our strengths and differences,” May says.

The master suite on the Ocean 90 superyacht

“Solar-electric yachts have a lot of advantages over conventional yachts in addition to the lower CO² emissions. The silent engines and the opportunity to be completely self-sufficient on the water are just two arguments that show why solar power will transform the yacht market.

“Moreover, we’re working on technologies like hydrogen fuel cells that replace conventional generators to make our yachts fully electric, which is the next step for e-yachting.”

Despite being a new company initially driven by orders from Europe and the US, Alva is looking to make a concerted push into Asia and has opened an office in Singapore.

Alva is building its Ocean 60 and 90 (pictured) in Turkey

“Although Alva currently finds a lot of success in USA and Europe, we believe we can also inspire a lot of customers in Asia,” May says.

“These boats are perfect for environmentally continuous, long-distance boating in Asia, so the next expansion step is to grow our sales structure there. We’re continually expanding the brand and are excited about entering the Asian market as well as the charter market.”