Silver Cloud (now Nurja): the first SWATH superyacht, 40.5 m Abeking & Rasmussen

In short

Silver Cloud is a 40.5-metre motor yacht that Abeking & Rasmussen delivered in 2008 on a SWATH (small-waterplane-area twin hull) platform: two submerged, torpedo-like hulls carry most of her buoyancy below the waves and support the deck on narrow struts (Abeking & Rasmussen, Boat International). The yard calls her the first of her kind; Boat International notes that the hull form had previously been used only on commercial vessels (Abeking & Rasmussen, Boat International). Her building contract set a maximum vertical acceleration, and on trials she recorded 0.035 g rms in two-metre seas; she then completed a 19-month, 48,000-mile maiden voyage around the world and won two World Superyacht Awards in 2009 (YachtBuyer, Abeking & Rasmussen, Boat International). Sold in 2020 and renamed Nurja, she went through a three-year rebuild at the yard from 2021 and was listed for sale in April 2026 at €38 million (Boat International, Boat International).

Two awards at the World Superyacht Awards 2009; Abeking & Rasmussen names the technology category — Boat International, Yacht owner and philanthropist Alexander Dreyfoos dies at 91, Boat International, Abeking motor yacht Silver Cloud sold, archived 22 Jun 2025 (the live URL now redirects to the 2026 listing article), Abeking & Rasmussen, Silver Cloud: SWATH@A&R motor yacht
World Yachts Trophies 2009: winner, Best Innovation (38–50 m) — YachtBuyer, Nurja
International Superyacht Society Awards 2026: finalist, Best in Refit — YachtBuyer, Nurja

Videos

Three tours from YouTube, most viewed first.

**Silver Cloud Yacht - Charter**Camper & Nicholsons · 2012-05-03 · 52,828 viewsWatch on YouTube

**SWATH YACHT Silver Cloud**Stephen Martin · 2013-06-17 · 22,498 viewsWatch on YouTube

**Yacht NURJA - ReLaunch at Abeking and Rasmussen shipyard**DrDuu · 2024-08-19 · 1,658 viewsWatch on YouTube

Photos

Silver Cloud under way seen from above at three-quarters, blue twin hull, white superstructure and helipad aft — Under way as Silver Cloud, before the rebuild

Profile at sea

View down onto the stern of Silver Cloud with the two submerged hulls visible under the water on either side — The two submerged hulls of the SWATH platform

Silver Cloud seen bow-on at anchor, with open water between the two hulls under the platform — Bow-on, showing the gap between the hulls

Aerial view of Silver Cloud from astern with the yellow-marked helipad on the upper deck aft — Helipad on the upper deck aft, original layout

The stern of Silver Cloud with crew on a floating platform between the hulls and steps up to the aft deck — Stern and water platform between the hulls

Main saloon of Silver Cloud with a grey sectional sofa, wood joinery and framed photographs on the walls — Main saloon, original interior

Sky lounge with a row of black leather recliners facing a screen lowered from the ceiling — Sky lounge and media room, original interior

Double cabin with a patterned bedspread, wood-panelled bedside tables and lamps — Double cabin, original interior

Specifications

Length overall: 40.5 m (133 ft) 41 m at SuperYacht Times
Length at waterline: 37 m
Beam: 17.8 m (58 ft)
Draught: 4.1 m in operating trim, about 3.5 m in harbour by adjusting ballast
Gross tonnage: 926 498 at SuperYacht Times (2020)
Displacement: 600 tonnes
Hull type: SWATH (small-waterplane-area twin hull): two submerged cylindrical hulls joined to the deck platform by narrow struts
Construction: Steel hulls, aluminium superstructure
Main engines: Two Caterpillar C32 ACERT diesels, 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
Stabilisation: Active fins working at zero speed and under way
Top speed: 15 kn 14 kn at Boat International's directory, 14.8 kn at SuperYacht Times (2020)
Cruising speed: 13 kn 12 kn at Boat International's directory, 12.5 kn at SuperYacht Times (2020)
Range: 4,000 nautical miles at 10 kn 3,900 nautical miles at Boat International's directory
Fuel capacity: 81,000 litres 85,000 litres at SuperYacht Times (2020)
Fresh water: 71,000 litres 68,000 litres at SuperYacht Times (2020)
Guests: 12 in five en-suite cabins 10 guests at Boat International's directory and SuperYacht Times (2020)
Crew: 8
On board: Helideck on the upper deck aft (the original was certified for helicopters up to 2.8 tonnes; a new one was fitted in the rebuild), elevator, spa pool, gym, tender stowed beneath the aft deck and launched between the hulls, forward conning station on the owner's private deck
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen, Lemwerder, Germany; yard number 6480
Naval architecture and exterior: Abeking & Rasmussen
Original interior: Kirschstein Designs and Spectrum Interior Design
Interior after rebuild: Focus Yacht Design
Technical advisers: John Fuglsang of North West Bay Ships introduced the owner to SWATH; John Adams, formerly of Maritime Dynamics, advised on the design, which went through 300 iterations
Classification: Germanischer Lloyd (2020)
Delivered: 2008
Maiden voyage: Around the world in 19 months, 48,000 miles
Names: Silver Cloud (2008–2020); Nurja (from the 2020 sale)
Rebuild: Abeking & Rasmussen, 2021–2024: every onboard system renewed, new interior, Crestron entertainment systems, Böning automation with dynamic positioning, new helideck
Flag: Cayman Islands
Owner: Reported by Boat International (May 2023) to have been built for Alex Dreyfoos; sold in 2020 (Boat International, December 2020). Current owner: private owner
For sale: Yes: asking €38,000,000, with Ocean Independence (April 2026). Previously sold in December 2020 with an asking price of $15,900,000

Where is she now

Live AIS position on:

MarineTraffic VesselFinder

IMO 9514860 · MMSI 319440000

Questions

What is a SWATH yacht?

SWATH stands for small-waterplane-area twin hull. Most of the buoyancy sits in two submerged, torpedo-like hulls joined to the deck by narrow struts, so very little of the vessel is exposed to the waves at the surface; the result is little roll and slow pitching (Boat International). The trade-off is draught: Silver Cloud draws 4.1 m (YachtBuyer).

Why was Silver Cloud built as a SWATH?

According to the yard and Boat International (May 2023), she was built for Alex Dreyfoos, who wanted a yacht that stayed calm in rough seas (Abeking & Rasmussen, Boat International). The building contract set a maximum vertical acceleration, and on trials she recorded 0.035 g rms in two-metre seas (YachtBuyer).

Is Silver Cloud the same yacht as Nurja?

Yes. Silver Cloud was sold in December 2020 and renamed Nurja (Boat International). She then spent three years from 2021 in a rebuild at Abeking & Rasmussen (Boat International).

Who built Silver Cloud?

Abeking & Rasmussen in Lemwerder, Germany, which did the naval architecture and exterior design and delivered her in 2008; the yard builds SWATH ships for commercial use under the name SWATH@A&R (Abeking & Rasmussen, SuperYacht Times, Boat International).

Is Nurja for sale and how much does it cost?

Yes. In April 2026 she was listed with Ocean Independence at an asking price of €38,000,000 (Boat International). Before the rebuild she sold in 2020 with an asking price of $15,900,000 (Boat International).

Where is Silver Cloud now?

She sails as Nurja under the Cayman Islands flag, IMO 9514860 and MMSI 319440000; her live position can be followed on VesselFinder (VesselFinder). In April 2026 she was on display in Port Adriano, Mallorca, during the Palma International Boat Show (Boat International).

Compare with

Other yachts on the Hyperyachts list built around an engineering first.

Silver Cloud

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Specifications

Where is she now

Questions

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