“Never judge a book by its cover” is a saying that does not apply to Panam, the world’s most sought-after superyacht for rent.
Announced as a concept by the design company Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN), Panam was constructed at the Baglietto shipyard in Italy in 2018, shortly after its owner—known only as “a European entrepreneur”—made his appearance. Initially scheduled for delivery in 2020, circumstances led to the launch being postponed until the summer of 2021.
Since then, Panam has become one of the most popular rental vessels and is among the most coveted superyachts by enthusiasts. With an exterior inspired by magnificent and powerful battleships, Panam boasts a distinctly unique beauty.
Essentially, Panam is a fully custom yacht measuring up to 40 meters in length and is the first of its kind. Its owner is said to have been actively involved in the design process, setting it apart from the mass-produced yacht models commonly found worldwide. While no price has been publicly disclosed for the vessel, Panam is available for rent at €250,000 (approximately $264,000 at current exchange rates) per week, excluding other costs.
The first thing that catches the eye of Panam is its very strong and masculine exterior, featuring a metallic gray color with glittering accents, large glass windows, exposed carbon fiber, and an impressive vertical bow. In September 2021, when the yacht debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival, it won the Best Exterior Design Award as well as the Best Innovation Award in the 30-50 meter yacht category.
Carlo Toracca of the Baglietto shipyard, who was the project director for Panam, admitted that the initial brief made it clear from the start that this would be a challenging project for his company. The owner wanted a superyacht that impressed with its powerful performance and the silhouette it left on the water, while not neglecting modern amenities inside.
“In fact, he wanted a family boat, but it had to look unlike any other out there. You could say it’s like a sheep dressed as a wolf,” Carlo shared.
And indeed, Panam has proven to be a beast, both aesthetically and in terms of performance. But once you step inside, it transforms into a vessel for comfortable, relaxing, and enticing vacations—something you would not believe could be found beneath its intimidating exterior.
Fortunately, this vision received help from Baglietto’s longtime architects, Francesco Paszkowski, who designed both the interior and exterior of the yacht. Renowned designer Margherita Casprini also collaborated on the interior design, while the initial battleship-inspired style was conceived by CCN.
Inside, Panam offers a total volume of 340 GT, spread across three decks with accommodations for 10 guests and five crew members. The rooms feature open and airy spaces, with subtle contrasting elements, such as a vertical garden placed just behind the formal dining table to create a separation from the nearby lounge, or the exposed carbon fiber elements inspired by automotive design, found on doors and tables. Glass walls erase the boundaries between the yacht and its surroundings, inviting interaction with natural elements.
The onboard amenities are diverse, but the standout feature is undoubtedly the deck designed to be the most flexible space on the yacht. It also includes a swimming pool with a large counter-current wave machine, a carbon fiber base, and glass walls, as well as a bar that can transform into a DJ mixing deck, accompanied by various lounge areas both outdoors and inside the yacht.
In some areas, components of the yacht can expand by sliding or folding out. This way, depending on what guests want to do at any given moment, they can enjoy the sun, be on the water, or stay indoors while still feeling the sea breeze.
Inside the yacht, the interior design exudes warmth, finished with a mix of different woods yet maintaining a certain elegance. Clients also receive premium leather details and white agate, along with numerous exposed carbon fiber details and metals, impressive black glass and selected marble accents. The interiors, however, also lean towards simplicity and practicality to maximize the available space.
An essential part of any superyacht is its collection of water toys. Panam has a partially submersible garage, allowing the launch and retrieval of a 5.5-meter tender without the need for a crane. However, it still features a crane at the bow, which also houses smaller vehicle storage.
In terms of performance, it is equipped with three MTU 16V2000 M96L waterjet engines. This allows it to move extremely fast, reaching a maximum speed of 31 knots (equivalent to 57.4 km/h), or it can cruise leisurely at 25 knots (46.3 km/h), which are very impressive figures for a vessel of this size. Its range is 1,800 nautical miles (approximately 3,333 km) at half cruising speed.
