Design & Yachts
Twice a Week…all the latest yacht concepts – by Adrien Jousset
World’s largest superyacht hotel put on hold, thanks to recession
Plans for the world’s largest luxury yacht hotel have been put on hold. Aquiva, the world’s biggest floating hotel, was due to open in London in time for the 2012 Olympics. The original plans were to moor permanently the 170m Aquiva superyacht at Canary Wharf in London.Rainsford Mann Design (RMD) was appointed in 2003 by Aquiva to design the exterior and interior of the superyacht hotel, which features 158 rooms and suites, an onboard ballroom, a spa, gym, pool, a business center with five meeting suites, bars and several restaurants. Unlike most mega-yachts that feature the captain’s bridge, the Aquiva will have a presidential suite. Every suite on the floating hotel will boast its own Jacuzzi. Steve Tight, the chief executive of Aquiva, said…
Everything is on hold at this point. We’re going to wait until the global economy improves a bit before we go forward.
When the yacht is completed, it will have seven decks and will accommodate 300 guests in high-class luxury. The Aquiva superyacht hotel is designed to be integrated into a number of island concept designs. These are private islands with private access that offer freedom to arrive by land or water.
Initially featured in Q4, James Carley, Senior Designer at Bannenberg & Rowell Design, discusses the studio’s latest concept the BR55, whose sculpted profile is in keeping with Bannenberg & Rowell’s signature styling based on function and clean, simple forms.Bannenberg sailing yachts have been a rare breed in the past, but have included Tiawana, Acharné and Bannenberg’s own yacht, Beaupré. Here we see additional renders and a sketch of the design.
The yacht’s raison d’être is sailing performance combined with lifestyle. Our aim has been to maintain a simple, efficient structure that supports both mast and keel and also gives us greater freedom when designing for lifestyle. The hull’s performance is maximised by using a slender form and a high power-to-weight ratio, which means reducing weight while increasing ballast and righting arms, achieved in some part by using a lifting keel mechanism that increases draft from 4.2 to 6.5 metres.
The use of continuous decks without steps at main and lower deck level and a slightly greater freeboard contributes enormously to the yacht’s overall longitudinal strength and stiffness. The superstructure literally sits on top of the main deck allowing floor-to-ceiling windows in the main salon/dining area without restrictive bulwarks masking the sea views.
The yacht’s enclosed bow and stern rise up out of the main deck level, with the tender housing in the forward section and built-in seating and fold-out platforms aft. These platforms mean that the aft deck space can literally “grow” to provide much greater exterior living space and greater connection with the sea.
The interior layout is defined by large open spaces, centralised stairwells and strong links to the exterior environment. With the fold-out platforms open, the owner’s suite has direct access to the aft decks. The design features two helm stations, both in the wheelhouse and on the flybridge.
The yacht’s most distinctive design feature, however, are the fold-out aft decks. A priority was to keep weight out of the fore and aft ends of the yacht and with this in mind the fold out platforms evolved into an athwartships movement. This not only results in a more practical deck arrangement, but also minimises the projected distance of the platforms thereby reducing the moments. The straight edges along which each platform rotates is designed so that a simple piano hinge can be fitted.
Our thoughts for the opening mechanism are similar to that of a hatchback car door, using a door using a combination of springs with pneumatic or hydraulic dampers. The composite platforms are lightweight with inherent stiffness in their shape, so they can be easily and manually opened by one crew member. The main support of the platform in the open position would be split between the piano hinges and a series of buffers in the hull side, against which the platform rests and is locked off.
The hull’s longitudinal strength and local structure supporting both the platforms and rigging as well as watertight integrity, remain within the hull form and are distinct from the platforms to keep the platforms simple, lightweight and more manageable. The yacht has a projected displacement of 350 tonnes and a sail area of 1,200 sqm.
Ranger 58: Eco-Friendly Yacht For Traveling On The High Seas
As of late there has been a huge increase in the desire to explore the world solo, and one of the more extreme examples is that of the young Abby from California who sailed her Wild Eyes all the way to the Indian Ocean before submitting to the unrelenting weather conditions. The new Ranger 58 has been designed with exploration in mind, but it has also been conceived with the environment in mind.
The company that designed the boat (Egg and Dart Design) have made the vessel ‘eco-friendly’ with a quieter propulsion system so as not to disturb the ocean life and of course clean emissions for traveling on the high seas. We all know that there is plenty of pollution on the water these days thanks to a certain petrol company that claims to have everything under control.
Egg and Dart have also made sure to use sustainable sourced materials for the interior rather than using rare and expensive materials. This may not suit the tastes of many individuals, but for those who are interested in preserving our environment, it will be quite acceptable. In addition to that, it lowers the overall cost of the yacht, even if not by much.
You will also be glad to know that some of the biggest concerns surrounding the Ranger 58 have been comfort and safety. The amenities available on this boat are absolutely amazing, consisting of an observation deck, research area, and even a library right next to the wheelhouse. For those who want to sail around the world or even take a short expedition, this is the perfect boat as it provides plenty of opportunities to watch the world go by or research the things you find along the way.
The Ranger 58 will feature a number of other amenities in addition to the obvious research and exploration additions. There will be two foldout balconies, a gym for exercise (when you’re on the open water for any length of time exercise will become necessary), and of course a sauna for relaxing in the evening. If you’re into some extreme exercise you might take advantage of the interior pool as well, seeing as how it can become difficult to swim at sea without facing great danger.
For those who would prefer their yacht to have toys, they will not be disappointed by the Ranger 58. This is an amazing yacht that features diving equipment, an HSR-Benelli JetSki, a helicopter, and even a lightweight aircraft that is capable of landing on air, water, and snow. This is an impressible sea worthy vessel and if you are in the chartering business, it is certainly one that you might take a look at.
Oceanco Magnitude
ce 1990, Oceanco has been creating and building luxury yachts for visionary owners. The Dutch yacht builder lately presented design details of the new 90m superyacht concept named “Project Magnitude,” which is based on the original Y700 Oceanco Series. Designed by Lukasz Opalinski, in collaboration with John Henson of John Henson & Associates, the Project Magnitude yacht features a range of innovative elements, such as natural lines and the application of glass surfaces, which helps create lighted interiors and bigger visual spaces. At the 2010 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, US-based designer Opalinski said…
Magnitude was conceived with form and function in mind and is an introduction to an entirely new yachting experience. Aerodynamic styling, free of unsightly electronic aberrations thanks to state-of-the-art technology, makes for low upper deck volumes. This results in better stability, reduced wind resistance and improved performance.
The Project Magnitude luxury yacht comes with a retractable solar panel on the top deck, which shows a sundeck underneath. Other highlights include the ability to launch and recover tenders at a speed of up to 10 knots, a detachable floating island with a built-in sea pool and a retractable helipad. Former captain Henson explained that for the yacht interiors, they have drawn inspiration from the experience of dealing with people. The duplex owner’s comes with a cinema, library, lounge and the owner’s office.
Freedom
With its geometric glass and titanium superstructure, reverse bow, a conning tower style bridge deck and inventive stylistic touches, this 84-metre design from Espen Oeino is something to behold. Initial plans for this concept started before the economic crisis hit the superyacht industry but like many other designs, work had to be put on hold as clients concentrated on more fundamental business matters during the tough economic times. With things in the industry looking up after a much more positive 2010, Project Freedom is now back on the table for development.
Jim Evans, Managing Director of SuperYachtsMonaco, who is working with Espen Oeino on this project, explains that this unusual yacht design has emerged from an unusual design process. The development of the concept took place over many meetings on board a yacht, while cruising down the Moskova River in front of Moscow’s Kremlin.
Unquestionably a bold design, Project Freedom seems to be harking back to the imaginative yet feasible designs that were more characteristic of the pre-crisis years. At 84m in length, this distinctive yacht will have a large beam of 14m and will be able to accommodate up to 12 guests and 19 crew. According to Evans, the client wanted to incorporate in Project Freedom some of the unique features found on previous Oeino designs, such as a floodable stern dock, pool and beach club. The bridge deck is reminiscent of a submarine conning tower and below it is a striking geometric superstructure, which will be constructed out of a combination of glass and titanium. With a fully compliant helipad suitable for an Augusta 109 Power helicopter, as well as numerous toys and tenders, Project Freedom also boasts several bars, a glass-bottomed pool, a sauna, a Turkish hammam and other spa pools.
While most details of the interior layout are still under wraps, the concept boasts three-metre ceilings in the main deck guest areas and there will be an immense two-deck atrium complete with palm trees.
Odin
Odin, a 50-metre concept by Sigmund Yacht Design, is the most recent to be announced since the presentation of her bigger sister Centurion, at the end of 2010. The futuristic and aggressive looking exterior incorporates complex, stealth-like angles into the surface to create an unusual faceted superstructure. “Facet surface design, which Odin is the showcase for, is financially advantageous from a low volume production point of view,” explains Director, Peter Symonds. “Although facet surfacing looks very stylish and modern, it also aims to keep finishing costs down. Curved surfaces are labour intensive on this scale of construction, whilst simple, small surfaces cut down the finishing involved.”
The concept offers a stable hull design and practical interior layouts on a compact scale, with accommodation provided for 12 guests across six guest suites and a master suite, with 10 crew. Symonds explains that the interior aims to be modern but at the same time achieve a classical and time-proven style by using modern materials, similar to Centurion. Guests will benefit from a vast private sundeck, galley, lounge, a tender and toys garage and a custom-designed Jacuzzi.
Communication equipment, such as the radar and navigation equipment has been cleverly hidden in the way the team has integrated the hull and superstructure. “The bird tail fins and the faceting create a visual effect never seen before on a yacht,” Symonds concludes. “We aim to advance exterior design by using the exterior not just for aesthetics but for increased usability and ergonomics.”
Using twin MTU 16V 4000 diesel engines, the steel hull and alloy superstructure is expected to achieve an estimated top speed of 21 knots and a range of 3000 nm at a cruising speed of 16 knots.
Centurion
Centurion is a striking 112-metre concept launched at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show by the newly established Sigmund Yacht Design based in Vienna, Austria. Following the presentation of 98-metre Sigmund at Monaco in 2009, studio director and founder Peter Symonds teamed up with Olivier Dorrell, a joint partner in Totti Design, which specialises in tender design. Together they hope to push into the superyacht market under the Sigmund Yacht Design brand with the aim of “attracting clients and owners to advanced design and forward thinking.”
“The design combines elements of stealth with hard, aggressive lines and some innovative features”, explains Symonds, who has a background in the automobile industry (he won an ADI—Association of Italian Industrial design—award in 2006) and worked with Siddartha Yachts on large sail boats. “These include retractable bow thruster doors for extra efficiency and a flying superstructure (the three delta wings) with large windows for viewing the sea on the move.” Symonds claims that Centurion’s Ice Class, tumblehome hull has been adapted from a Queen Elizabeth II class destroyer hull concept, dramatically reducing slamming noise, vibration, longevity while improving sea-keeping as super-explorer vessel. The design also includes four custom tenders and a helipad in accordance with its long-range explorer vocation. With plans to attend the 2011 Abu Dhabi Yacht Show in March, Sigmund Yacht Design is already talking with an undisclosed American shipyard interested in joining forces.
Able to accommodate up to 14 guests, Centurion will have a steel hull and alloy superstructure and be capable of a top speed of 26 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots when powered by twin 8710 MTU engines with propulsion pods. There is also a provision for using thorium reactors, an idea subject to a pending patent.
Logica 160 motor yacht by Benetti Sail Division
Benetti Sail Division is working on a new tri-deck superyacht called the Logica 160. The BSD Logica 160 motor yacht features elegant lines and a low profile designed by Luca Brenta .
Logica 160 by Benetti Sail Division
The 31.5m BSD Logica 160 design follows on from Benetti Sail Division and Luca Brenta’s Logica 105 motor yacht which is 17m shorter than the new design.
The BSD Logica 160 is based on a specific client request for a steel and aluminium displacement motor yacht under 500gt. The Logica 160 motor yacht boasts several innovative layout features, such as a foredeck designed for the owner’s use with a swimming pool measuring 7m x 3m that may also feature a double bottom that can be raised to provide a dance floor. On each side of the swimming pool there are deck hatches for water toys and a crew tender. The main tender garage is located amidships leaving the lower deck aft free for a VIP cabin and spa area. There are another two guest cabins and a VIP cabin located on the same deck level forward of the tender bay, and the master cabin is located on the upper deck and enjoys forward-facing views. Particular attention is being paid to interior ceiling heights with continuous window areas while keeping the overall profile low and streamlined.
Logica 160 motor yacht by Benetti Sail Division
The Benetti Sail Division Logica 160 motor yacht features CAT C32 ACERT C (1319 hp @ 1800 rpm) engines and will have a maximum speed of over 16 knots and a range of nearly 3,000 nm at a cruising speed of just under 15 knots. Engineering on the Logica 160 is already at an advanced stage and the project is entering the final design feasibility phase.
Managing Director of Benetti Sail Division, Simone Marconcini said the following at the Cannes International Boat Show, “Our strategy is to create unique yachts that are very different from anything else available in today’s market”, “with an eye on the market for mid-sized customisable yachts, which is where we believe future demand will be focussed. With a new and updated range, we’ve maintained our existing client base, but we’re also aiming at a new segment of the market with projects such as the Logica series.”
Numarine 78 HT
The Frauscher Boats 717 GT
Like the luxury vehicles of the road, class and performance can be achieved on the water on the speedboat scale. The Frauscher Boats 717 GT is a prime example of the luxury speedboat, with a hull and heartbeat that means business– and a top end interior as refined as they come. The power in this poweryacht comes from a gasoline, diesel or hybrid engine pushing 184 – 309 kW of muscle as the 717 GT glides across the open water. That motor is centralized within the boat, with a shaft propulsion system, unlike the typical speeders with bulky (and ugly) engines hanging from the above-water rear side. While the Frauscher 717 GT may have missed our luxury yachts feature, we couldn’t help but give this one its own time in the limelight. [frauscher boats via yatzer]
Design & Yachts 