The 52.6-metre NB 116 – Amphib II, the second hull in Mengi Yay Yachts’ Virtus XP series, has been launched at the shipyard’s Tuzla facilities. Combining a steel hull, aluminium superstructure and a sub-500 GT design, the project reflects the growing engineering strength of Türkiye’s superyacht industry.
By Bilal Yazkan
Global Maritime Media Network Strategist
Mengi Yay Yachts has successfully launched NB 116 – Amphib II at its shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, marking a significant milestone in the construction of one of the Turkish builder’s latest custom superyacht projects.
Developed as the second hull in the shipyard’s Virtus XP series, Amphib II brings together long-range capability, explorer-inspired functionality and contemporary superyacht comfort within a platform measuring more than 52 metres.
The yacht features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, while remaining below the 500 GT threshold—an important technical achievement for a vessel of this size and operational scope.
Amphib II’s design was developed by VYD Studio, while the naval architecture was undertaken by the Netherlands-based Van Oossanen Naval Architects.
The launch represents not only a new stage in the yacht’s construction programme, but also another demonstration of Türkiye’s increasing ability to deliver sophisticated custom yachts above 50 metres.
More Than 52 Metres, Yet Below 500 GT
One of Amphib II’s most notable characteristics is the relationship between her overall length and internal volume.
The yacht measures approximately 52.6 metres, yet has been engineered to remain below the 500 gross-tonnage threshold. Achieving this balance requires careful coordination between exterior design, interior planning, technical systems, crew circulation and operational areas.
Every space must be considered within a tightly controlled volume. Guest accommodation, machinery rooms, service corridors, crew areas, storage spaces, tenders and exterior decks must all be integrated without compromising the yacht’s visual identity or operational capability.
This makes Amphib II more than simply a large yacht. The project demonstrates how intelligent naval architecture and disciplined volume management can create a capable 52-metre-plus platform while maintaining efficiency and flexibility.
The combination of a steel displacement hull and aluminium superstructure also supports this engineering strategy. Steel provides strength and reliability for long-distance cruising, while the lighter aluminium superstructure contributes to weight control and stability.
Explorer Capability Meets Superyacht Comfort
The Virtus XP series has been developed around a broader cruising philosophy than that of a conventional motor yacht.
Its design language combines the endurance and functionality associated with explorer yachts with the refinement, outdoor living areas and guest experience expected from a modern custom superyacht.
Amphib II’s most distinctive operational feature is the large helipad positioned on the aft deck. This area strengthens the yacht’s suitability for remote destinations and extended voyages, while giving the platform a clear explorer character.
The yacht’s extensive exterior spaces are designed to support multiple uses, from relaxation and entertainment to tender operations and expedition-style cruising.
Large deck areas, uninterrupted exterior circulation and a powerful hull profile indicate that Amphib II has been conceived for more than short coastal itineraries. She is designed to support owners who want to travel farther, remain at sea for longer periods and access destinations beyond traditional Mediterranean routes.
A Strong and Balanced Exterior Profile
Amphib II presents a contemporary exterior profile defined by long horizontal lines, dark glazing and layered deck structures.
The extensive black window bands visually reduce the height of the yacht and create a cleaner, more streamlined appearance. The stepped arrangement of the superstructure also allows the exterior decks to remain spacious while maintaining a balanced silhouette.
Her near-vertical bow gives the yacht a strong and purposeful presence, reflecting the functional character of the Virtus XP platform.
At the stern, the large helipad and open operational areas immediately communicate the yacht’s intended use. These elements are not hidden within the design; they form part of Amphib II’s visual identity.
A fine turquoise accent along the hull adds a distinctive detail to the white and black exterior palette without interrupting the yacht’s understated character.
A New Chapter in the Virtus XP Series
Amphib II is the second hull in the Virtus XP series and represents the continued development of Mengi Yay Yachts’ 50-metre-plus production capabilities.
Although yachts within the series share a common technical platform, each project can be adapted to suit the owner’s lifestyle, cruising plans and operational requirements.
This flexibility allows the shipyard to preserve proven engineering solutions while customising interior layouts, exterior areas, equipment packages and onboard systems.
The result is a platform that offers some of the efficiency of a series-built yacht while retaining the individuality expected from a custom superyacht project.
Amphib II therefore should not be viewed as a simple repetition of the first Virtus XP hull. She is a separate yacht shaped by a different operational brief and owner vision.
A Busy 52-Metre Construction Programme
The launch of Amphib II forms part of a wider production programme currently underway at Mengi Yay Yachts.
The shipyard’s active projects include NB 110, NB 113, NB 114, NB 115, NB 116 and NB 117, several of which are positioned within the 52-metre category.
This concentration of projects demonstrates that Mengi Yay is no longer dependent on a single flagship build. The company has developed the infrastructure, workforce and project-management capability required to manage multiple large-yacht programmes simultaneously.
It also reflects the growing international demand for Turkish-built superyachts combining customisation, engineering expertise and competitive production capabilities.
For Mengi Yay, the 52-metre category has become an important part of its current development strategy, positioning the shipyard among the Turkish builders capable of executing several technically demanding projects within the same period.
From Small Boats to Custom Superyachts
Mengi Yay Yachts’ history began in 1964, when company founder Ramazan Mengi entered the boatbuilding industry as an apprentice in Istanbul’s Ayvansaray district.
The company’s early production focused on small wooden boats and fishing vessels. Over time, the business expanded into gulets, sailing yachts, motor yachts and, eventually, steel-hulled superyachts.
Production moved to Tuzla during the early 1980s as Istanbul’s yacht-building industry was relocated to the region.
By the end of that decade, Mengi Yay had begun constructing yachts above 30 metres. The company signed its first contract for a steel superyacht in 2006, marking an important transition toward larger and more technically advanced projects.
The launch of the Virtus series in 2018 introduced a new generation of contemporary motor yachts developed around the shipyard’s own technical resources and production experience.
With the Virtus XP platform, Mengi Yay has taken another step forward, moving confidently into the 52-metre explorer-superyacht category.
Türkiye’s Growing Role in Global Superyacht Construction
Amphib II’s launch also carries significance beyond the individual project.
Türkiye has become one of the world’s most important superyacht-building centres, supported by established shipyards, an experienced skilled workforce, a strong supplier network and an expanding base of naval architects, designers and engineering specialists.
Turkish builders are increasingly competing not only through production costs or traditional craftsmanship, but through technical capability, project management, design coordination and compliance with international standards.
Amphib II brings together expertise from several disciplines: VYD Studio’s design work, Van Oossanen’s naval architecture and Mengi Yay’s construction experience in Tuzla.
This international collaboration, combined with Turkish production expertise, reflects the increasingly global nature of the country’s superyacht sector.
A Collective Achievement
The launch of a yacht of this scale is never the achievement of a single individual or department.
Behind Amphib II stands a broad team of naval architects, designers, engineers, welders, electricians, carpenters, painters, project managers, suppliers and subcontractors.
Every stage—from initial concept development to structural construction, outfitting and launching—depends on close coordination and technical discipline.
Amphib II therefore represents more than the completion of another construction phase. She reflects the accumulated experience of Mengi Yay Yachts and the broader capability of Türkiye’s yacht-building industry.
With her 52.6-metre length, sub-500 GT engineering, steel-and-aluminium construction and explorer-oriented deck arrangement, Amphib II is positioned as one of the most significant recent additions to Mengi Yay’s portfolio.
She is also a visible example of how a boatbuilding tradition that began with small craft in Istanbul has evolved into the production of internationally competitive custom superyachts.
Amphib II is not simply another yacht launched in Tuzla. She is a Turkish signature in the world superyacht league.
Bilal Yazkan
Global Maritime Media Network Strategist
Motor Yacht Magazine
Photography: Mengi Yay Yachts
