It is already home to the UK’s tallest building and now Canary Warf could host the world’s largest yacht thanks to a proposal to moor a giant floating hotel on its doorstep.Chelsea Harbour-based Aquiva Developments has lodged plans to permanently berth a 170m-long boat at Thames Quay in the West India Docks. If stood vertically, the “super-yacht” hotel would be taller than the BT Tower and Barclays’ One Churchill Place Headquarters. It also throws down a challenge to Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, who wants to build a 160m-long yacht to add to his collection. The Russian billionaire already has three of the world’s top 20 largest yachts. The longest, the Pelorus measures in at 115m. The five star Aquiva super-yacht hotel will be six stories (23m) tall and house 181 rooms, two restaurants, bars, a ballroom, business function rooms, a heath spa, a gym, floating shops and an executive lounge with an outdoor water feature Jacuzzi. A company spokesperson said: “This is the largest yacht in design. The style that goes with a super-yacht is one of the most powerful symbols of luxury, having universal recognition and appeal.” The Aquiva will offer both corporate and leisure guests an exclusive, no compromise experience of unprecedented luxury.” The boat will be built off site and take 24 months to complete. A hotel operator is still to be appointed. The project is part of Aquiva’s strategy to moor giant yachts in key cities across the world. Access to the Canary Warf vessel would be via a new road from March Wall and a pedestrian swing bridge would be built to link the hotel with the South Quay plaza. There will be no on-site parking and all goods will be ferried by water taxi. It is Aquiva’s second attempt to moor a yacht in the dock. In 2002 Tower Hamlets Council approved a proposal for a smaller scheme in South Dock, next to Price Waterhouse Coopers’ building, but Aquiva has scrapped those plans. British Waterways is backing the new project, saying it will be a “striking addition” to Docklands and underline the Warf’s status as one of the world’s finest waterside business districts. The plans are expected to go before the council’s development committee before the end of December. renato.castello@warf.co.uk |
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