Vitruvius Yachts and Feadship: Shinkai Explorer

Custom superyacht Shinkai was recently relocated from Feadship docks in Aalsmeer for retrofitting ahead of sea trials. The 55-meter exploration vessel was built and designed by Vitruvius Yachts led by Philippe Briand and Feadship De Vries, and the interior was designed by Daniela Boutsen. This team was able to push the boundaries and combine a superyacht and an explorer in one hull.

“This is a very special project for us as Shinkai is the second project we have created for this owner. And its owner was among the first to appreciate the efficiency of this building, ”says Philippe Briand. The unique exterior design seamlessly intertwines every facet of the project: a luxury superyacht and a dependable exploration vessel. It has stylish lines and a practical and high freeboard at the same time.

The 974GT yacht boasts a number of serious characteristics.

• High technologies

Adventure lovers will have the opportunity to reach the most remote corners of the planet, because the yacht has ice class certification. And a huge gyroscope is responsible for its stabilization. Nothing like this has ever been used on a vessel of this size. The weight of the gyro stabilizer of 23 tons is especially important when performing certain manipulations under water. This technology is equally useful when navigating in high latitudes, where it is necessary to find replacements for conventional fin stabilizers, which can be damaged by ice and are ineffective at low speeds.

• Comfort

Building on the characteristic Vitruvius Yachts aesthetic, Shinkai has four decks including an observatory. The owner’s forward suite is 73 m2 and offers a 135-degree view through full-length windows. Four more guest cabins and a crew compartment for a crew of 12 are located on the lower deck.

• Explorer

On board Shinkai you can find an arsenal of watercraft such as the 7,400 kg U-Boat Worx for three passengers. “I suppose Jean-Jacques Cousteau himself would have envied such an opportunity to explore the underwater world!” – adds Briand. The yacht’s layout includes an extended stern area for other toys, including a 4×4 SUV, a large tender limousine and several RIBs. This will enable Shinkai to provide guests with the opportunity to explore land and oceans in multiple dimensions.

• Rational consumption

As Shinkai will explore remote corners of the planet, Philippe Briand has paid particular attention to environmental friendliness during the design of the hull. The Explorer will consume 19.5 liters of fuel per nautical mile at a cruising speed of 12 knots.