Zeelander’s 20m ‘mini superyacht’ set to globetrot

While many shipyards are reporting that superyachts are getting bigger and bigger (61 boats of 76 metres or more in length are being made, up from 55 in 2024), Zeelander is leaning into its ‘mini’ superyacht marketing.

The Dutch shipyard has delivered what it describes as a ‘highly customised yacht’ — Loloma — to a globetrotting owner and, in the process, has deemed the 20.3-metre vessel a miniature superyacht.

While Loloma is a head-turning vessel thanks to its sculptural grace and curved aesthetic with a single colour silver-grey hull, it’s standard practice that a superyacht is 24 metres, and anything below that is… not.

While 24 metres is not a legal definition, the length is widely recognised as a standard in the industry. It influences classifications and a shift in capabilities, triggering specific regulatory requirements for safety, construction, and operation.

The overall number of superyachts being built or ordered worldwide is expected to fall slightly this year to 1,138, but they are getting bigger, according to data from Boat International. So far this year, 61 boats of 76m or more in length are being made, up from 55 in 2024.

The current Zeelander Yachts range includes four models (Zeelander 5, 6, 7, and 8). These measure between 15 and 24 metres — the longest that the yard can currently build. The company revealed details of its flagship model, the Zeelander 8, in January 2024, which measures 24 metres.

This isn’t the first time Zeelander has gone for the miniature superyacht marketing line. The company says Loloma continues the legacy of its sisterships (also mini superyachts) and that it’ll become the ultimate collector’s item.

Anyway, Loloma is built on the successful Zeelander 7 platform as a bespoke project designed to match the owner’s actual ‘mothership’ superyacht — in terms of interior style and materials. Some structural changes have also been made. The exterior, however, (except for the colour and materials) is the same as every other Zeelander.

“Thanks to the close involvement of her dedicated owner from drawing board sketches right through to delivery, Loloma is one of the most ambitious and tailor-made creations from our yard to date,” says founder and owner of the Zeelander yard, Sietse Koopmans.

“Crafting a miniature superyacht which perfectly matches a mothership, jet, and helicopter was certainly a unique challenge and one we truly relished.”

Loloma’s range feels impressive. Capable of reaching 2,700 nautical miles at 7 knots, the vessel offers a range of 630 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 32 knots. Guests can also experience speeds of up to 40 knots, thanks to the triple IPS 1350 engines, while under the shade provided by a permanent mesh bimini.

Accommodation is for up to six guests. There’s a master suite in the forward third of the boat with a king-sized island bed, a large ensuite, storage and natural light. Then there are two guest suites while the captain is housed aft. A tender garage is accessed via a shell door to starboard.

The tall, flared bow slowly gives way to the deeply raked transom via a long S-shaped shearline, and the low profile of the deckhouse is dominated by a single strip of three-dimensionally sculpted glass.

‘Swamp oak’ features in the interior — a wood formed when oak is submerged in peat bogs, swamps or riverbeds for hundreds to thousands of years. Irons and tannins seep into the wood, lending it a rich, dark colour between grey and black.

Loloma’s now embarking on a tour to end in Fiji, where the owner has a house. The route will take in Monaco, Ibiza, St. Barths, the Bahamas and Australia before arrival.