Glistening Silence: The Megayacht 'Artefact' Calls at Mahón and Shows How Luxury Can Be Quiet

Glistening Silence: The Megayacht 'Artefact' Calls at Mahón and Shows How Luxury Can Be Quiet

A piece of the future in the harbor: German shipyard, Canadian owner, lots of glass and a hybrid heart

In the early morning, when the first cafés in the port of Mahón set out their chairs and fishermen mend their nets, an unusual vessel caught the eye today: the megayacht 'Artefact'. Just under 80 meters long, angular in profile and with a façade of 227 panes of glass, it looks more like a moving work of art than a classic luxury cruiser. Passersby stopped, children pointed, and gulls circled curiously above the bow.

The facts are clear: the yacht was built in 2020 at the German shipyard Nobiskrug, and its value is estimated at around $150 million. The owner is Mike Lazaridis, one of the co-founders of BlackBerry. The exterior was designed by Gregory C. Marshall, and the interiors come from the studio Reymond Langton. All of this makes the 'Artefact' a premium product of the yacht industry — but not only because of its owner's wallet.

What is generating conversation on the quay in Mahón is what is not immediately visible: its propulsion. The 'Artefact' uses a hybrid system of diesel and electric motors and can run almost silently on battery power, similar in concept to a sailboat in Mallorca that quietly went electric. That means: fewer emissions, less noise — and less disturbance for sensitive marine life. Another technical detail that can be easily explained on site: a dynamic positioning system allows the yacht to hold its position without dropping an anchor into the sea. For the bays and seagrass meadows around our islands this is no small thing, but a tangible advantage.

In expert circles the 'Artefact' is no stranger: in 2021 it was honored as Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards. And even here in the Balearics it is not a complete newcomer — it already spent a short time in Palma in 2021, as did other notable calls such as “Yasmine of the Sea” in Palma. Today again, in the sunlight over Mahón, its presence is a reminder that technical sophistication and marine awareness do not have to be mutually exclusive.

For Mallorca and the neighboring islands, such a vessel brings more than just a photo opportunity. It is a glittering showcase for more sustainable solutions in an industry long regarded as particularly energy-hungry. Similar debates have accompanied visits by other high‑profile yachts like Black Pearl in Puerto Portals. Those standing at the harbor see not just glass and steel, but ideas: quieter drives, avoiding conventional anchoring in sensitive areas, and thus a measure of responsibility toward the coast and underwater life.

At the same time, the presence of such yachts stimulates local life: berths, supply services, waterfront restaurants benefit, and for craft businesses in the islands' shipyards, modern contracts are an incentive to evolve. When voices on the quay discuss technology and design, professionals and the curious mix — it's a small economic life that pulses between ferries and excursion boats.

In the end, a beautiful, almost ironic thought remains: luxury that sparkles today and remains quiet has a special aura. The 'Artefact' is not just a boat, it is a message. It says that at sea a different relationship between enjoyment and the environment is possible. For us here on Mallorca and Menorca, that can be an impetus: more attention to sustainable anchoring solutions, talks between harbor operators and owners, and the chance to use coastal space more carefully.

Those who stood on Mahón's shore today saw not just a yacht, but a moment in which technology and everyday life meet: the clatter of coffee cups, the squeak of a stroller, and behind it the quiet hum of a machine running on battery. It smells a little like the future — and that's a good thing.