Spanish Company Martínez Otero is Participting in the Constructon of the Orient Express Corinthian, Considered One of the Largest and Most Luxurious Sailing Yachts in the World

With more than 80 years of experience, Martínez Otero has established itself as an international leader in high-end fit-out solutions, technical development, and the manufacture and installation of bespoke interior joinery. The company was selected to contribute to the interior outfitting of Orient Express Corinthian, one of the most ambitious and innovative projects in contemporary luxury maritime travel.

Designed by Maxime d’Angeac, Orient Express Corinthian marks the first maritime venture for one of the most celebrated names in travel history. The project also represents a significant milestone for Martínez Otero within the marine sector. The company’s role was to transform Maxime d’Angeac’s vision into reality, developing bespoke technical solutions capable of bringing the design concept to life while meeting the exacting standards of the naval industry. Beyond fulfilling the project’s aesthetic ambitions, every element was engineered to comply with stringent requirements relating to weight, fire safety, vibration control, acoustic performance and onboard stability.

In a project delivered through a supply chain dominated by French companies, Martínez Otero stood out as one of the few international firms chosen by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Orient Express and Maxime d’Angeac’s creative team. The appointment underscores the company’s reputation for delivering complex projects to the highest standards of quality, precision and excellence.

Having been involved in the project since 2023, from the earliest stages of technical development, Martínez Otero was selected to deliver a substantial share of the interior joinery and fit-out works for Orient Express’s first sailing yacht, encompassing design, manufacture and installation.

Beatriz Gómez, Sales Manager of Martínez Otero’s Marine Division, said: “It has been a privilege to contribute to a project of this magnitude, conceived not only to endure over time but also to leave a lasting impression on those who experience it. Our role has been to understand Maxime d’Angeac’s vision and translate it into reality with absolute precision, meeting the highest standards of quality while working within an exceptionally demanding timeframe. Delivering a project of this scale and complexity in just 43 months is an achievement of which we are particularly proud.”

Martínez Otero worked on the yacht’s 16 Mirror Suites, developed in five distinct configurations, where every component was required to integrate flawlessly within a highly coordinated design scheme. This level of precision represented one of the project’s principal challenges, demanding a rigorous analysis of every construction detail and the production of highly detailed shop drawings by the company’s technical design team.

The project highlights several of the capabilities that distinguish Martínez Otero in the market: a technical design team of more than 40 specialists, a methodology rooted in value engineering, five proprietary manufacturing facilities and the direct management of specialised installation and assembly teams. This integrated model allows the company to oversee every stage of a project while ensuring the highest standards of quality and execution.

Martínez Otero’s scope of work included curved timber joinery, architectural arches, bespoke fixed furniture and sophisticated flooring compositions combining carpeting, brass detailing and oak parquet. Each component carefully crafted to align with the project’s exacting aesthetic and technical requirements

One of the most demanding aspects of the project was the veneer matching process. Essential to achieving seamless visual continuity throughout the suites, it required the precise alignment of the grain patterns in the machiche wood to create a sense of harmony and visual perfection. To achieve this level of precision, Martínez Otero carried out an initial selection of veneers at source, followed by a second screening process at its own facilities based on colour and grain characteristics. The company also implemented a meticulous piece-by-piece mapping system, supported by bespoke coding to ensure full traceability throughout the engineering, manufacturing and installation stages.

According to Maxime d’Angeac, Martínez Otero played a fundamental role in delivering some of the vessel’s most complex suites: “They succeeded in bringing our vision for these spaces to life with remarkable fidelity. They never stepped back from a challenge and, even during the most demanding phases of the project, delivered an exceptionally sophisticated and complex result on schedule” .The designer also praised “the quality of the craftsmanship, the level of integration, the coordination of the teams and the precision with which they collaborated with our own team throughout the project.”

Specialists in the marine sector

Martínez Otero has contributed to several of the marine industry’s most significant projects and continues to collaborate with leading players across the sector. Its portfolio includes work on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessels Evrima, Ilma and Luminara, as well as the Falkor research vessel for the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The company also partners with some of the world’s foremost shipyards, including Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Meyer Werft and Freire, and works alongside internationally renowned interior design studios such as Tillberg Design of Sweden, AD Associates and, more recently, Maxime d’Angeac. Martínez Otero is currently involved in the construction of Disney Cruise Line’s latest cruise ship project, further strengthening its position within the global marine sector.

Following its launch in May, Orient Express Corinthian made its first public appearance at anchor in the Bay of Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival. The sailing yacht is now navigating the Mediterranean before setting course for the Adriatic and, subsequently, the Caribbean.

“We hope passengers enjoy the experience as much as we have enjoyed helping to bring it to life,” concludes Alejandro Valladares, CEO of Martínez Otero.