The Darwin 86 Empire, acquired by an American owner, boasts a custom configuration, machinery, and layout, meticulously designed to its owner's specifications. Some of the client's requests, such as a hull reinforced with bulletproof steel plates, stem from the owners' sailing plans, as they seek to venture into distant and challenging seas.

It features four guest cabins and two crew cabins equipped to the same standard as the guest cabins. The owner invested over €4 million in upgrades, including armored steel protection. Empire can be registered with a length of less than 24 meters and a gross tonnage of less than 200 GT.

Designed with Hydro Tec's signature Darwin aesthetic and Cantiere delle Marche's unique technical approach, it is a testament to excellence in construction and design. The yacht's design was developed for long voyages, even in high-latitude regions, and therefore includes an anti-ice belt at the waterline and a reinforced hull and rudders for icy conditions. With a length of 26 meters and a beam of 7.43 meters, the exterior design is by Sergio Cutolo, with interiors by Alessandro Massari. Another unique feature is a fourth helm station in the engine room. It is powered by a pair of 400 hp Scania engines.