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Servo Yachts

Alexander Griffiths, Staff Writer at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYacht Times (Company)">SYT</a>, sits down with some of the key players at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6523" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="3deluxe Ocean (Company)">3deluxe</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merveille Yachting (Company)">Merveille Yachting</a> to question what the future may hold for the wheelhouse.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219922/image/large-864eb86b89d8fc5a8422deabc543f02b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219922">The battle between tradition and modernity wages on – and the fight is just as fierce in the yachting sector. This year alone has brought forth an array of designs that throw caution to the wind. The 45-metre Martini catamaran, for instance, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6546" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Servo Yachts (Company)">Servo Yachts</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1555" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shuttleworth Design (Company)">Shuttleworth Design</a>, features twin mechanical hulls that battle the waves to, as Justin Ratcliffe aptly described, fend of “Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Then there’s the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino</a> designed concept which intersects the characteristics of CAT and SWATH yachts, in a bid to improve sustainability by reducing drag. The list goes on…&nbsp;Three concepts deserve particular attention though, as the shared innovational drive is rooted not just in sustainability, but pivot on changes to the wheelhouse itself. An area which hasn’t been the subject of radical penmanship for some years now. The concepts are: <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6523" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="3deluxe Ocean (Company)">3deluxe</a>’s VY-01, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merveille Yachting (Company)">Merveille</a>’s line of Eco-explorers and the 81.75-metre Pure from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>.Revolution has never looked so green<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219923/image/large-55bbf34ab73f9d19926313eb9ce4fab5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219923">The 110-metre VY-01 concept radically overthrows traditional and bends the expected into a lush haven filled with meandering rivers, tall trees and a natural habitat. The onboard sanctuary, in lieu of a main saloon, may have been the lodestar for the designers but it also led them to rethink the wheelhouse – in order to stretch the interior landscape to this full extent, it had to be moved.&nbsp;“We want to stir things up,” Björn Asmussen, Director &amp; Executive Architect at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6523" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="3deluxe Ocean (Company)">3deluxe</a> explained. “The components of ships are normally stacked on top of each other, because that’s what makes sense. You have your technical equipment in the engine house, then your crew cabins and you build up on that vertical stack. So every technology that allows us to free up a component paves the way for innovation.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219921/image/large-fa88c2b592a77eb8ea9e97cee50e3bb9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219921">Asmussen explained that digital innovations have expanded the boundaries of creativity as these advancements whet the appetite for what can be possible. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6523" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="3deluxe Ocean (Company)">3deluxe</a> has expressed very clearly that it’s target demographic is an owner daring to adventure and experiment with the very idea of yachting. The wheelhouse is part of this vision. “The intent of the concept is to embrace all technology. If it’s possible to incorporate remote navigation, then why not? With an AR setup, the owner or captain could steer the yacht from any location; they could be in the yacht’s garden, or up on one of the terraces and not forced to be in the Wheelhouse.”As it stands, the wheelhouse is very forward, more so than normal. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6523" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="3deluxe Ocean (Company)">3deluxe</a> nestled it in between the A pillars of the superstructure to increase the spatial offering in the midsection of the yacht, giving more room to the park and the owner. It did come with a problem though: visibility. “Where it’s situated there is a fairly decent view for the captain; however there will be a few blindspots. AR will help overcome this, as we can install cameras and screens to re-open these spaces for the human eye.”Interactive and fully immersive <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219925/image/large-78079e8636b65246101c5823fa5a08a4.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219925">In a slightly different vein, but just as radical, is the idea of incorporating dual controls. Nicolas Cantenot and Jerôme Vollet, the creative leaders of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merveille Yachting (Company)">Merveille Yachting</a>, have been compelled to do just this with their line of Eco-explorers.&nbsp;The lineup is driven – as the name suggests – to reduce the ecological footprint of yachting post-construction. The yachts, both in catamaran and monohull form, are characterised by large automated Oceanwings that jut out from the superstructure and which are but one part of the line’s ‘eco’-DNA. What goes slightly unnoticed though is the changes that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merveille Yachting (Company)">Merveille</a> has made to the traditional helm to encourage onboard interaction. &nbsp;“We often hear how owner’s feel that they are missing out from the experience itself as they are separated from the operations of the yacht and they don’t get the chance to be in control,” Cantenot said. “That is why we’ve incorporated dual controls to our yachts, situated on the skydeck, so that guests can take control and be fully immersed in the full experience.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6491" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Merveille Yachting (Company)">Merveille</a> hasn’t stopped there either. The wheelhouse is equipped with large screens to give the captain and the crew 360° view of the sea and the yacht’s surroundings. “This is another important aspect of creating a fully immersive onboard harmony,” Vollet added, “as it removes all barriers between the captain and the guests.”Enclosed Command Centre: An exercise in trust?&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/219924/image/large-4cd204500e28212b8e987cdd72ea1700.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/219924">The 81.75-metre concept Pure is an art of extremes. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">Studio De Voogt</a> have spearheaded innovation in a bid to redefine what’s possible. Heading their agenda was flexibility and a commitment to reimagine typical GAs to give future owner’s the prime onboard real estate.&nbsp;“With a traditional arrangement of the engine room and bridge you're stuck, you lose a great deal of flexibility,” Giedo Loeff, Head of Research and Development at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, explained. “Because of new technology though, you can shuffle this arrangement, freeing up space and moving areas of a yacht previously untouchable.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> is proposing an entirely blind wheelhouse that fully embraces video and image processing technology so that it can be located anywhere enclosed. “We recognise that the Command Centre is a controversial proposal that may lead to resistance, but such solutions are already common on subs and naval vessels,” Bram Jongepier, a senior specialist at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">De Voogt Naval Architects</a>, previously said.Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/53771" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship’s latest ‘Future Concept’: The 82m hybrid Pure (2021-09-24 16:00:00 +0200)">Feadship’s latest ‘Future Concept’: The 82m hybrid Pure</a>At first glance this may seem like an exercise of trust, with the captain navigating a vessel from even the lower enclaves of the vessel; however, with the advantages of innovative tech, this may not be the case. Video and image processing technology has proved that it can be used to complement the essential systems – visibility, navigation, etc. – in the commercial shipping sector. As Jongepier said, in subs and naval vessels for years now.“We have been in contact with surveyors – and yes, we think it is feasible,” Loeff said. “You never know for sure if anything will be accepted. You have to make a design, you have to submit all the plans and then you get your firm approval. It’s not something that gets an approval from the get-go, we need to be the movers on this.”Theoretically great, but is it practically sound? <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/178419/image/large-db7a1a901e20a6a72ed9bfd5641ecee2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/178419">To properly get a handle on just how practical these innovations are, we sat down with Mike Rouse, captain of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1821" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Yachting (Company)">Damen Yachting</a>’s 72.15-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5955" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Game Changer72.15m (236'9&quot;)Damen Yachting2017">Game Changer</a>, to hear his insights.&nbsp;“Cars have AR these days, planes have had it for years, you can even get it in sunglasses,” Rouse commented. The technology might be novel in the yachting sector but it’s not new elsewhere and has been making strides in multiple other industries.“Every element of our daily lives is in a constant march towards greater technology, integration of life's devices. I agree that the wheel house has not really changed over the years, small advances in technology but fundamentally they have remained the same,” continued Rouse.“If it can be done in submarines and navy vessels it can be done on yachts. Yachting exists for a select few to have an amazing holiday in absolute luxury, the better the experience we can offer owners, charterers and guests the more people will want to engage with this industry. If that means learning some new skills and relocating the wheel house then l am all for it. Like all ‘drastic’ changes it would take some getting used to but over time it would be the new norm,” Rouse concluded.&nbsp;There will be a few hurdles that need to be overcome – the biggest, of course, getting the advancements certified by a surveyor. But if this can be done, then we may start seeing great changes riding off the back of this, not just with the wheelhouse itself but traditional configuration of yachts and the overall experience may get refreshed. All three concepts have the potential to bring this and to change the face of yachting entirely. The question then is: will a redesigned wheelhouse steer us toward a new era of yachting?&nbsp;This article was originally published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-times-issue-40-published" target="_blank">Issue 40 of SuperYacht Times newspaper</a><a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-times-issue-40-published" target="_blank">.</a> To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, <a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">subscribe here</a>.

Future of the wheelhouse design

SYT sits down with some of the key players at Feadship, 3deluxe and Merveille Yachting to question what the future may hold for the wheelhouse.

Are wheelhouses driving the change in yacht design?

<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6546" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Servo Yachts (Company)">Servo Yachts</a> in California has teamed up with UK-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1555" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shuttleworth Design (Company)">Shuttleworth Design</a> to develop an innovative series of catamaran designs with a unique marine stabilisation system.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/212358/image/large-721d3cc3fc5ecaa20bf668c544115f9e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/212358" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Pitching or vertical acceleration has been proven to be the main cause of seasickness, but most stabilisation systems are designed to deal primarily with roll. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1555" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shuttleworth Design (Company)">Shuttleworth Design</a>, the designers of the radical 42.5-metre trimaran Adastra, has worked closely with Servo Yachts on developing alternative technology for over eight years. During this time several designs and mechanical arrangements have been explored and tested. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/212357/image/large-b72d3b25cbd3118831e6531725d6c562.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/212357" style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 1rem 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.6px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The Martini 6.0 is a fast, 45-metre catamaran concept with an electro-pneumatic suspension system connecting the superstructure to two dynamic hulls that can adjust over 3.5 metres to the height and angle of the waves, effectively eliminating pitch, roll and heave. In addition, the design creates less drag than conventional fins, resulting in a more efficient and faster vessel in less than perfect conditions.“The result is a vessel that can move at speed through an ocean swell with virtually no motion in the suspended deck where the crew and guests are located,” says Orion Shuttleworth, Managing Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1555" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shuttleworth Design (Company)">Shuttleworth Design</a>.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i_-d-9tApqY?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> Martini 7.0 is the latest and most advanced 50-metre design in development. The superstructure has been widened to maximise the interior volume and cover the full beam of the two hulls. Connected by four articulating mechanisms positioned at each corner of the suspended deck housing the main accommodation, the patented suspension technology still provides over 3.5 metres of vertical travel in each hull, resulting in minimal motion for both guests and crew.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/212360/image/large-39466758a459fbe05e3ca1ecc64cfec0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/212360">Unlike the previous aluminium prototypes in the Martini series, the suspended deck of Martini 7.0 is engineered for construction in lightweight carbon fibre and foam cores. The main engines and onboard systems are housed in the hulls, making more space available in the suspended deck for guest use and services.At nearly 430 square-metres, the upper deck is home to the main social and entertaining area. Sliding doors lead forward to a spa pool surrounded by sun pads on either side and al fresco dining on the open aft deck. &nbsp;The master suite occupies the entire forward section of the main deck and is complete with a private office, gym and spectacular views through a large wraparound window. Moving aft there are four ensuite guest cabins, two of which overlook 195 square-metres aft deck with pool.The lower deck comprises the crew accommodation, galley, stores, workshop, dive store and a garage with space for an array of water toys and a 6.5-metre tender. When the suspended deck is lowered the garage becomes a wet dock for tender operations without cranes or winches. The bathing platform can be lowered into the water for easy access to the sea when scuba diving or swimming.David Hall, the founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6546" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Servo Yachts (Company)">Servo Yachts</a>, also set up Velodyne Lidar and invented a 3D vision system that spawned the development of autonomous vehicles. Like this vision invention, the suspension system adjusts to feedback received in real-time based on a computer-automated electro-mechanical system. As an active technology it is faster than passive marine stabilisation devices that take more time to react to the motion of waves. The system requires very little power and no warm-up time or vacuum systems as with gyroscopic stabilisers."Growing up, I spent my summers on my grandfather’s boat, where I developed a deep appreciation for marine travel,” says Hall. “With the Martini 7.0, I believe we have found a way to solve seasickness and significantly improve the sailing experience so that everyone can enjoy traveling on the ocean. I am very excited for Servo Yachts to continue to push the boundaries of marine technology and transform ocean travel. Ideas for better ways to do things are always out there floating around, and it's up to us to find a way to make it happen."

Servo Yachts and Shuttleworth Design team up to combat roll on two new catamaran concepts

Servo Yachts and Shuttleworth Design team up to combat roll on their latest catamaran concepts, the 45m Martini 6.0 and 50m Martini 7.0.