Cookson Adventures & ICON Yachts: A Shared Vision for Exploration in Yachting
Leading luxury adventure travel company, Cookson Adventures and master Dutch builder, ICON Yachts have come together to create a short film highlighting their shared vision for expedition yachting and purpose-driven travel, putting a greater focus on marine conservation and science in yachting.
Combining their unique insight and over 32 years of experience, the collaboration will also facilitate more accurate predictions in terms of the design features and travel experiences that the next generation of explorers will require. This could be anything from sub diving with cutting-edge sonar equipment and assisting in the mapping the the ocean floor, to hosting world class scientists with a dedicated laboratory on board.
Filmed in March 2023 at the ICON Yachts shipyard in the Netherlands, viewers get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Project MASTER, the ambitious conversion of a loaden offshore rescue and standby vessel into one of the world's most capable explorer yachts. Project MASTER is due for delivery in 2025.
Nick Davies, Managing Director of Cookson Adventures said: “Rarely do shipyards and expedition providers come together to shine a light on the process that goes into designing elite yachting adventures. By collaborating from the concept stage and sharing our expertise, we’re then able to design complex and meaningful travel expeditions for clients which have purpose. We are excited to provide our input into the design and operation of Project MASTER and we hope to use her as a platform to explore more remote regions of the world in the future. With a state-of-the-art science lab and heli pad, the opportunities to design immersive and impactful conservation focused experiences anywhere around the world will be endless”.
“It is a true honour to join forces with Cookson Adventures within an historic collaboration during the entire lifecycle of Project MASTER," said Micca Ferrero, Owner of ICON Yachts. "This exceptional exploration yacht is designed with adventure and scientific expedition in mind, equipped with a full suite of solutions to support the missions while aiming to consistently reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. ICON Yachts and Cookson Adventures are, therefore, able to deliver a longterm philanthropic project around the vessel, and gather a unique community of like- minded travellers, experts, and scientists across the globe.”
As a growing number of owners and charterers look to discover our world’s more remote and challenging destinations by yacht, Nick and Micca discuss how this shift is opening up more opportunities to support conservation and scientific research, and why this explorer mindset needs to be incorprated into the design process from an early stage.
Click to watch the film below:
About ICON Yachts:
ICON Yachts is a Dutch shipbuilding company headquartered in Harlingen, Netherlands. Founded in 2005, the shipyard is owned, since 2021, by Mr. Micca Ferrero, a prominent Swiss businessman. Over the years, ICON Yachts has specialised in yacht conversion and refit projects, establishing a leading position in the sector of explorer yachts and purpose vessels, designed and built with multiple objectives, including exploration, sustainability, and science support, all crucial components of what defines a purpose vessel.
In 2015, ICON Yachts launched MY LEGEND (77m), one of the shipyard’s greatest conversion projects. The original vessel, an ice-breaking tug named MV GIANT, underwent an extensive conversion, shortly conducted at the Dutch shipyard. Upon completion, the vessel was renamed MY LEGEND, becoming one of the first ice-capable yachts with Lloyds 1A Ice Class.
In August 2017, ICON Yachts began the conversion of Sanaborg, today known as RAGNAR, which evolved into one of the shipyard’s most recognisable works.
Project Master, reborn out of an historic loaden offshore rescue and standby vessel, will be the perfect example of a purpose built Family Explorer Yacht.
About Cookson Adventures:
Founded in 2009, Cookson Adventures has pioneered a number of world firsts in luxury adventure travel. From organising the first manned submersible dive in Antarctica to carrying out crucial conservation work in the Galápagos Islands.
Putting luxury at the heart of extraordinary journeys, Cookson Adventures meticulously crafts travel experiences that mix adventure and luxury for its global client base. Through its worldwide network of dedicated experts including scientists, marine biologists, conservationists and award-winning photographers, adventures are designed for people with a curiosity and desire to explore without sacrificing the highest levels of comfort and safety.
Cookson Adventures is committed to carbon neutrality across its expeditions. The team sources audited and measurable carbon offset and reduction projects that are geographically relevant to each trip.
Henry Cookson, the company’s founder, is a dedicated adventurer and a Guinness World Record holder for the first expedition to the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility - the exact centre of the Antarctic Continent.
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