Cruise/yacht designers and operators are trying whenever possible to deliver something different into the cruise and yacht industry. One of these new ideas is themed yachts and cruise ships. The art of producing a themed cruise ship or yacht is to seamlessly weave a story into every element of the design, and it’s achieved through an extensive consultation with the client during the initial phases of the design process. This focus allows the creation of a truly unique environment from the overall exterior shape down to the smallest interior detail.
Yacht Island Design has presented its first proposal of themed yacht: a 155m SWATH vessel that takes the principality of Monaco to the ocean: The Streets of Monaco superyacht. They have selected the SWATH platform as its prime focus. Not only does this platform offer the best seakeeping ability, but the exceptionally wide beam for its length gives the maximum flexibility to achieve best utilization of space. It also allows for the exploration of bold and daring design ideas without the restrictions of a conventional hull shape. The feedback that the designer receive from the market is that yacht design is increasingly influenced by land-based architecture. The Streets of Monaco concept would seem an extreme reflection of this trend.
This 155m SWATH yacht would be built predominantly of steel with the use of aluminum in the upper superstructure. With a maximum speed of 15 knots she transports her 70 crew and 16 guests using diesel electric propulsion. This design called for a unique yacht that reflected the style and sophistication of the principality and centers around three main communal areas, ‘The Streets of Monaco’, ‘The Oasis’ and ‘The Grand Atrium’. Crew can access all areas of the yacht via a network of corridors allowing for maximum guest privacy.
Other features of this floating city include:
- Two large tender garages to store all manner of launches, offshore power boats, jet skis etc.
- Dive dock and Submarine, deployed from one of the submerged hulls.
- Multi-configurable sports court sized to championship tennis regulations which also doubles as a helipad.
- Ample crew quarters including a gym and private sun terrace.
- Sea level ‘Beach’ decks situated aft in both struts.
Although the cost is estimated by designers around 800€m (because reproducing Monaco is expensive in itself) the use of these SWATH hull form seems to be very interesting for a possible seastead. This type of vessel offers:
- High seakeeping capability, which is important in order to offer comfort and avoid seasickness.
- A large deck area over the waterline with a small submerged hull, which is precisely the target of any seastead.
In conclusion, SWATH vessels could be good candidates for future shipsteads.
I thought 16 guests with 70 crew was a typo, but that’s really in the PDF. WTF?!
But SLICE too.
http://ness.external.lmco.com/nessb/ship_systems/applications/seaslice.html
http://ness.external.lmco.com/nessb/ship_systems/platforms/technology.html
SLICE is trademark based in a type of SWATH:
Since SLICE™ is based on the principles of SWATH technology, SLICE™ possesses all of a SWATH’s advantages: smaller size, better seakeeping and cheaper acquisition and operating costs.
Not seeing how Streets of Monaco is SLICE. SLICE uses multiple short hulls in the water, each on independent, short struts. Streets uses long, single, continuous hulls and singular struts like SWATH.
BTW, SWATH is overly complex, but needed if the length is significantly less than long ocean wavelengths. If the vessel is longer, then it doen’t need active buoyancy mechanisms and all the attendant failure modes.
I think the comment about SLICE was not in reference to the Streets of Monaco ship but in reference to the statement “In conclusion, SWATH vessels could be good candidates for future shipsteads.”
I.e. “But SLICE too.” = “But SLICE vessels too could be good candidates for future shipsteads.”
That was the way I interpreted it anyway.
Agreed Ken. I misread the comment.