Benetti Diamond 145, world’s largest fibreglass boat, launched

The official launch ceremony, held at the Azimut/Benetti shipwrights at Viareggio, Italy, saw the 456-tonne motor yacht slide down the slipway after breaking the traditional bottle of champagne on the bow.

The motor yacht, named Ink, is the first of two Diamond 145s already sold. Built as a cruiser, Ink will come with a range of 3600 nautical miles – about the same distance as Sydney to the South Pole – at a speed of 11 knots.

The boat is so new that a video of the launch shows bubble wrap still covering the motor yacht's drive shafts.

The Benetti Diamond 145 is built to be as comfortable for its 10 guests as it is for the motor yacht's seven crew.

“The design of the big seamless glazed surfaces on the main decks flows along the entire length of the yacht, allowing natural light to flood into interiors accommodating 10 guests in four cabins on the Lower Deck, while the captain has a private cabin on the Upper Deck, near the helm station,” Benetti said.

“In the stern, sliding glass doors open out onto a spacious beach area.”

Azimut Benetti Group president Paolo Vitelli said the slipway launches were part of the history of Benetti shipyards.

“We have a great tradition and hundreds of yacht launches to our name, but the revolutionary features of the class category today promise to bring Benetti new success,” he said.

“This slipway is in fact a launch pad for our technical expertise and desire to push ahead, in a technological challenge focused on the goal of continuity.”