Ultra-efficient Hybrid Yacht Design Unveiled for Explorers

For superyacht owners who want to explore further and more efficiently in a vessel which goes beyond paying lip service to green technology, DLBA Naval Architects has unveiled a truly-radical explorer yacht concept. The conceptual designs are provided by SDG.

The 45–meter design’s fast explorer hull is based on DLBA’s proprietary hull form, which  results in a yacht which is quick, beautiful, and capable of both high speed transits - with a fast cruising capability of 25 knots for day trips to remote locations - and efficient cruising at 16 knots, an unusually high speed for a hybrid vessel of this length.

The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric-hybrid propulsion plant which reduces fuel consumption, emissions, noise, and vessel maintenance costs when operating at low speeds. To ensure her new owners aren’t curbed in their exploring, exhaust after-treatment has been designed to be IMO Tier 4 compliant which means the vessel will not be restricted from accessing any area/location worldwide.

The project team wasn’t content with keeping the yacht’s green credentials in the engine room and has ensured no old growth hardwoods can be found within the interior design. Bamboo has been used throughout to minimize the yacht’s overall footprint with the addition of natural leathers to avoid man-made materials.  On the electrical side of the equation, the vessel is equipped with waste heat recovery from the generators to provide hot water, all-LED lighting, and flat panel satellite antennas to reduce weight on the mast to improve roll stability.  Guests will be entertained via a centralized audio video entertainment system with a virtual reality entertainment room.

While this is a highly-efficient yacht, much thought has gone into the intersection of comfort and efficiency. The use of Veem gyrostabilizers reduces motion while operating at low speed, before the Humphree Active Ride Control interceptor system kicks in to reduce motion when operating at high speeds.

Images: DLCA Naval Architects