Feadship’s delivery of 276ft (84.2m) OBSIDIAN marks the Dutch brand’s next step in producing carbon-neutral superyachts by 2030. The new yacht is the first of Feadship’s new generation of carbon reducing yachts through hulls optimized at cruising speed, weight control and, the option to run on HVO – non-fossil diesel fuel and advancements in electric propulsion – all helping to reduce emissions by 90 percent.
Image Credit: Feadship
OBSIDIAN is the evolution of Feadship’s first hybrid yacht, SAVANNAH, launched in 2015, with the entire 12-month design period taking place during COVID-19 lockdowns meaning none of the team could collaborate in person, but it all had to be done virtually. Bram Jongepier, Senior Designer at Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects, spearheaded the sustainability index, detailing guidance of the yacht’s components and operations contributing to its carbon profile and environmental impact. She features an exterior yacht styling and interior yacht design by RWD, in collaboration with MONK Design.
A Holistic Approach to Carbon Reduction
Jongepier created the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI), in an effort to showcase “the algorithms describing the environmental impact of CO2, NOx, particulate matter, shore power, and fuel production have been made freely available by Feadship to the signatories of the Water Revolution Foundation, a yachting industry association dedicated to driving sustainability in the superyacht industry through collaboration and innovation. This led to a Joint Industry Project (JIP) under the flag of the Water Revolution Foundation with twenty major partners in the yachting industry.
“Jongepier estimates that YETI effectively captures 90% of the total lifecycle of a yacht and each new build helps gather more data. It is estimated that [OBSIDIAN] will operate with 27% less total environmental impact than a yacht of similar size launched only five years ago if run on fossil fuel, and 60% less when using HVO.”
While not just reducing the emissions output, the goal was to also help reduce the “hotel load” while running the yacht at anchor as well. OBSIDIAN helps offset peak load shaving and reducing HVAC demand through the use of computerized management of cooling guest and crew zones, and the capturing of “waste heat” from the generators and AC chillers. Project Manager, Mark Jansen shares, “There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count.”
With the carbon-neutral superyacht goal in mind, OBSIDIAN also made marked adjustments to the hull form. “De Voogt’s naval architects created the low, slim hull, optimized at cruising speed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the final form being made into a model tested in a towing tank. Complex engineering for balance and weight reduction includes new applications for carbon fiber. The louvered aft deck overhangs, for example, are all carbon fiber attached to the aluminum superstructure and require no support pillars. This weight benefit also offered new deck layout possibilities,” the team shares.
Thanks to the innovative single level engine room, the volume of this 275ft (84m) yacht is typical of other 328ft (100m) Feadship models, meaning larger interior yacht spaces and a total of seven luxurious cabins.
Other notable yacht design details include an asymmetrical atrium staircase leading to a lower deck dining saloon with a retractable wall that opens to a terrace view 75cm above sea level. An Aqua Lounge can be found on the stern with large windows located below water level offering excellent views from the gym. The area can also be converted into a cinema or classroom for families looking to spend extended time at sea. Submarine anchors are also used to eliminate the need for a mooring deck forward creating an observation area on the bow with large floor to ceiling windows.
The tenders onboard are also electric powered, and custom made by Tenderworks. Charging stations can be found in the tender garage to be used while in storage or on the water.
