Thursday 5 May 2016

Superyacht builder announces new expedition yacht design

#expeditioncruising

Dutch Damen Shipyard has presented SeaXplorer, a new range of Explorer yachts ranging 65m to 100m. The yard claims this is the world’s first purpose-built, Polar Code compliant range of expedition yachts with true global capability. Yachts under this range will be able to cruise from extreme polar to remote tropical areas. Damen debuted SeaXplorer designs last week at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Damen is a large, financially strong and stable company known for both its Amels and Damen brands. The firm generates an annual €2 billion turnover in markets including harbour, defence and security, offshore and its yachting portfolio.

Starting from the drawing board, Damen has designed every detail of the SeaXplorer range. In the Netherlands, a dedicated Damen SeaXplorer team headed up by product director Mark Vermeulen has developed the three designs. Amels will be responsible for sales and marketing.

Real expedition

“A number of experienced yachting clients approached us about adapting Damen’s professional vessels, so we knew from them that there were simply no globally capable luxury explorer yachts out there,” Rob Luijendijk, Amels managing director, explains, adding that EYOS Expeditions, who have decades of experience in bespoke luxury expeditions to the wildest places on the planet, has also contributed its input.

“So that’s why Damen began developing the SeaXplorer. The result is well beyond a pretty rendering. It’s a fully developed range – something only Damen could do,” Luijendijk comments.

The shipyard has invested thousands of hours in research and development, ice tank testing, and real expedition standards through detailed design input from partner EYOS Expeditions.

The SeaXplorer range has exterior lines by Azure Yacht Design and Naval Architecture. Damen says the SeaXplorer makes no compromise on the superyacht lifestyle with the owner’s choice of luxury interior designer.

Global comfort and icebreaking capability

Damen describes the SeaXplorer range to be safe and comfortable in any sea thanks to its patented Sea Axe hull design. In addition, while other yachts have to wait at a distance, the SeaXplorer’s Polar Class double-acting hull will break through the ice.

The three models in the range can reach the most remote destinations and enjoy up to 40 days of full service for all guests without port call.

The SeaXplorer has been designed to carry tenders (including a dive support tender), expedition equipment, toys, submersibles, dive equipment (including recompression chamber) and up to two helicopters.

Designed for smooth expedition logistics, the yachts can deploy tenders and toys quickly and safely so guests never miss a chance encounter or spontaneous adventure.

Speaking at the Monaco Yacht Show, the yard’s chief commercial officer Arnout Damen said the SeaXplorer range shows what can be achieved by bringing together the right team to focus on solutions to client demands.

“It’s the synergy of Damen and Amels, the shipbuilding know-how, the deep understanding of superyacht lifestyles and the right experienced partners who understand luxury expeditions. It makes the SeaXplorer a very attractive project at an advanced stage so we can have a real conversation with each client about what they want to achieve.”


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