Vibrant Curiosity — the 85m, 2000 tonne vessel owned by German billionaire Reinhold Wurth — docked at Birch St wharf yesterday after arriving from Akaroa.
The superyacht is destined for Stewart Island and shipping schedules suggest it will depart at noon today.
The company’s shipping agent is listed as marinelogix, but the company’s co-founder, Mark Donaldson, would not be drawn on who was aboard the vessel or why it was sailing the South Island.
Luxury yachting website Superyachts.com said the 7-cabin vessel accommodated 14 people with a crew of 26. It was built by Dutch shipyard Oceanco in 2009 at a reported cost of about £65 million (about $NZ113 million).
The superyacht’s construction raised the ire of many in Europe as it came at a time when its 81-year-old owner’s company cut employees’ pay and working hours. Mr Wurth, also known as the Screw King, has a reported worth of $US11 billion.
The yacht has its own helipad and swimming pool, and the master stateroom features its own office and private exterior deck complete with a spa.
