The 2023 Monaco Yacht Show exhibited many exciting and cutting edge superyacht designs, one of those being Feadship’s Dunes. The impressive 83 metre vessel boasts significantly reduced energy needs and takes a big leap towards the company’s goal of creating Net-Zero superyachts.
The design combines features that reduce energy demand with technology that increases efficiency and eliminates emissions. Many additions such as shaded windows to reduce cooling requirements and extra-capacity storage batteries contribute to reducing the environmental impact of Dunes, without sacrificing the enjoyment of yachting. The vessel eliminates up to 95% of the potential negative environmental factors associated with operating a superyacht compared to a yacht meeting today’s minimum environmental regulations.
Dunes‘ nature-inspired concept design
“Before we could begin drawing lines, we had to define the scope, from customer input, we thought the ‘envelope’ should contain six guest staterooms, plus a spa area, a beach club, an owner’s private deck and a pool. It would be a substantial hull.”
Thijs Orth, Lead Concept Designer at De Voogt Naval Architects.
When designing the concept, a lot of questions came to light and were followed by innovative solutions such as moving the engine room from the most comfortable spot on the boat to a more forward area, opening up the possibility of a new layout where lower deck guest suites link to a beach club, water sports platform, and the pool above. This also eliminates large engine room air and exhaust trunks from compromising saloons or dictating stairway placement. Electric yachts have no need for large gearboxes, long shafts or propellors. Electricity-generating fuel cells, battery banks and the power management station can be decentralized and located virtually anywhere convenient to the crew. To add to the convenience, where feasible, a virtual helm station or command centre on the lower deck next to the crew quarters rather than several decks away where it can compromise owner/guest space.
When looking at the aesthetics of Dunes, Studio De Voogt focused on the movement of waves within sand dunes themselves. As dunes are never fixed and ripple and forge valleys that appear to shift with the light, the designers explored the ideas of line, flow and adaptability. The vessels curves create a backdrop for the on board lifestyle of adaptable, multi-purpose spaces, endless views, and a mix of open-plan areas and cosy, intimate spaces. Surrounding guests with designs inspired by nature allows them to relax when on board.
A main feature of the deck’s design, to reduce the tight feeling from indoor accommodation, is allowing spacious, shady walk around decks and offer alternate circulation routes around the yacht as well as additional outdoor seating and entertaining areas. A defining feature of Dunes is the asymmetrical structure with almost no straight lines. All staircases, windows and doors are circular or gently curved. The glass windows and doors are hidden by strategically placed overhangs to reduce heat loads and decrease heat building by 60%.
How does Dunes demonstrate a sustainable future?
When talking about sustainability, it is important to note that it is more than just controlling exhaust emissions. An international treaty prohibits the world’s yacht builders from using old-growth Burmese teak imports and with the demand out running the supply of suitable plantation-grown teak, the responsible option is to move away from teak entirely. Dunes is completely teak free with Feadship testing and combining two new luxury decking systems.
The outside of the superyacht features teak-free decks made with glass and stone chips, all sealed in a transparent aliphatic polyurethane resin. This type of resin is inherently more eco-friendly than majority of other plastics and has a greater longevity. The designers have included alfresco loungers clad in maple wood, a sustainable teak replacement. The long aft over hangs are supported by single maple clad columns, uniting the decorative sections overhead with those below.
The uppermost Pavilion Deck structure is built of wood. While Feadship and most steel-hulled vessels were built before aluminium, the choice to use wood was based on science rather than to create a contrast. Treated timber is a CO2 negative building material and has a high natural insulating capacity, this benefited not only the appearance but the overall weight. Surrounded by glass, the Pavilion Deck separates a forward sun and jacuzzi area from an informal dinning and conversation zone. Circular stairs lead from this area to the superyacht’s signature feature with an important technical function, the 10 metre mast.
Further reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the vessel, the mast is part of Studio De Voogt’s Cool Core Concept. Dunes is split into temperature zones, the sleeping quarters are kept at around 19-20 degrees, social areas are about 22-23 degrees, and the Pavilion estimate is 24-25 degrees. The Pavilion is kept cool by using the air drawn up from lower areas of the yacht. The mast is triangle shaped of convex and concave foils that sits on a large bearing ring that allows it to align with the direction of the wind. As the breeze crosses the mast, the shape generates a low-pressure zone on the leeside, naturally pulling the slightly over-pressurized cooled air from lower decks to this level. Alongside the large overhangs, optimized recirculation, and increased insulation throughout, Feadship calculates that HVAC energy use is reduced by 35% on an annual basis.
A new propulsion system introduced by Dunes
Since the 1840’s the same two methods of propulsion was used. Unveiled last May, Dunes introduces a breakthrough, high-efficiency electric propulsion system from ABB called ABB DynafinTM. With development and testing happening over the last decade, he ABB Dynafin™ utilises revolving, vertical blades to mimic the thrust of a whale’s tail, known as one of the most efficient forms of thrust noted. The first prototype is estimated to be available in 2025, with hydrodynamic efficiency targeted to be up to 85%, up from 65% for current pod drives, or 55-60% for typical propellors on shafts. An independent study of ABB Dynafin™ of a passenger vessel design equipped with different propulsion solutions has verified savings in propulsion energy consumption of up to 22% compared to conventional shaft line configuration.
The ABB Dynafin™ propulsion will be driven by electricity generated from solid oxide fuel cells that use green methanol as a reaction agent. Methanol can be converted to hydrogen in one step and does not require cryogenic storage. Green methanol is seen by Feadship as the best fuel option, due to the relatively high energy density and ease of storage.
“Contrary to the common assumption that using methanol means more than two times the fuel storage volume, on Dunes, we have so many power savings that we actually need less storage volume compared to a regular diesel fuel yacht.”
Bram Jongepier, Senior Specialist at Feadship.
Not only are Feadship acknowledging the environmental impact of the final product, they are addressing the sustainability of the construction process. At the beginning of the construction process they are shifting to “low impact” steel and aluminium for hulls and superstructures, which make up more than half of the build CO2 impact. Using a high scrap content and sustainable energy in the manufacturing process, these certified metals can be produced with 50-70% less CO2 emissions. Feadship has already integrated low-impact aluminium on one vessel, currently being manufactured, and has made it standard material for all future new builds.
If you are interested in new technologies and designs that will shape the future of yachting, contact us today to learn about our 2024 event, MTB Superyachts.
Press release & images from Feadships.
