290ft superyacht's unorthodox design allows it to 'walk sideways' and even survive a tsunami

This quirky superyacht, ASEAN Lady, is no ordinary boat; its unorthodox design makes her feel more like a sea-faring puzzle than a luxury vessel.

Built in 2004 at China’s Pride Mega Yachts, its based on a Proa: a traditional Pacific outrigger canoe.

With asymmetrical hulls and both forward and aft drives, ASEAN Lady can literally ‘walk sideways’ when maneuvering into a berth.

And, in a dramatic test of its resilience, it survived a tsunami in December 2004 while anchored off Phuket.

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Its unorthodox design allows it to ‘walk sideways’

At 88.15 m (about 289 ft) in length, ASEAN Lady sits among the top 5 percent of yachts by length worldwide.

It features a steel hull, steel superstructure, and a teak deck.

One of ASEAN Lady’s most striking features is its ability to ‘walk sideways’, thanks to propulsion systems at both its bow and stern.

That functionality makes docking massive yachts in tight slips more of a precision dance than a brute-force shove.

In addition, its asymmetric, proa-inspired shape gives her extra stability, lowers drag, and helps reduce noise.

Perhaps its most dramatic moment came in December 2004, soon after her launch.

While anchored off Phuket, this superyacht withstood a tsunami that devastated much of the surrounding area, reportedly with little damage to itself.

That episode validated its design philosophy: graceful, bold, and capable of surviving the unexpected.

It can travel for up to 10,000 nautical miles

Inside, ASEAN Lady is nothing short of lavish.

It can host around 18 to 22 guests in 8 (or more) staterooms, with a standout 160 m² (1,722 sqft) master suite that includes a private balcony and office.

Its public spaces include grand lounges, a formal dining room for 14, and a helipad located aft to let guests arrive in style.

It also has storage for four jet skis up front.

On the performance side, ASEAN Lady is powered by a 2,000 hp Caterpillar diesel engine driving a counter-rotating propeller azimuth system, pushing it to around 15 knots.

It also carries a 600 hp retractable thruster, able to push it at about 7 knots when needed.

At cruising speed it can travel up to 10,000 nautical miles.

The ASEAN Lady stands out with its unorthodox design amid a world of sleek glass boxes.

If you ever felt unsafe during a storm at sea, you’ll rest easy knowing that it has survived much worse.

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