Feadship ushers in the fuel-cell era with the launch of 118.80-metre Project 821
The 118.8-meter flagship Feadship 821 superyacht has been launched from the Amsterdam Facility in the Netherlands. She is currently offered for sale by Edmiston.
Designed by RWD and with owners representation by Edmiston, Feadship's bold response was a multi-faceted, zero-diesel approach designed to cruise between harbours or anchorages and to operate the yacht's hotel load and amenities with emission-free power from green hydrogen. "The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world," said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship Director / CEO Royal Van Lent Shipyard. The size of the proposed yacht – 100-metres-plus – made it a good candidate to explore pure green hydrogen as the fuel-cell source. For those captivated by cutting-edge innovations, this yacht presents an opportunity for potential acquisition as it showcases the pinnacle of modern technological advancements.
"The value of the research as well the development of class and flag safety regulations for an entirely new type of energy generation is an advancement we are proud to have made available to all," Verkuyl said. Next year, for example, two long-route Norwegian passenger and car ferries will enter into service utilising the system pioneered with PowerCell Group for Project 821.
Project 821 also features the most efficient waste heat recovery system yet developed, a system heating everything from the pool, Jacuzzi and steam room to the ambient air temperature and towel bars and floors in the guest bathrooms. Further savings in the hotel load will come from a Smart AC system linking sensors to an energy management system that automatically reduces air conditioning or heating in unoccupied guest spaces.
But Project 821 has more than one superlative, she's also the largest motor yacht ever launched in The Netherlands, just edging out the recently delivered 118.00-metre LAUNCHPAD for flagship status. Despite the fact the two yachts have nearly identical LOAs, Project 821 has 30 per cent more volume. With five decks above the waterline and two below and even with her sleek mast yet to be attached, her height is commanding – the owners' deck, for example, is 37 metres above water – yet the profile drawn by RWD is flowing and modern. She also has the most hull openings of any Feadship to date including fourteen balconies that slide out from the 'tweendeck space, five massive shell doors, and seven large opening platforms, all of which create an impressive connection to the sea. The balconies are unnoticeable when closed but slide out at the touch of a button, carrying with them their side railings or walls. When fully deployed, their floors rise to become perfectly level with the interior room.
Project 821 is designed for family use. The full owners' deck above the bridge is essentially an apartment with two bedrooms, twin bathrooms and dressing rooms, a gym, a pantry, two offices each with a fireplace, and a living room. A full walkaround deck, with shaded areas forward and aft, there are beautiful locations to ensure time onboard dining and relaxing in the forward Jacuzzi. The hefty 19-metre beam allows wide corridors inside and gracious sidedecks outside where guests can easily walk side-by-side.
However, the owner accommodation extends beyond a single deck. A unique and completely private vertical corridor extends to the lower deck. This includes both a spacious staircase lined with bookshelves and display nooks and an owners' elevator. At each deck level, there are inviting private lifestyle destinations to savour such as a coffee corner and games niche on the bridge deck, a library on the main deck, and a private dining room with a sea terrace and adjacent ensuite stateroom on the lower deck. It creates, in essence, a secluded four-level townhouse-by-the sea within the much larger yacht.
British RWD Studio created Project 821's exterior, GA and interior décor. The designers used a pallet of light neutral colours in textured fabrics and leathers, marble, rattan, fumed and taupe eucalyptus, and limed oak to create a luxe coastal vibe. For overall cohesiveness, details such as door trim features and hallway railings repeat their shapes from deck to deck but the materials change.
Jan-Bart Verkuyl says fuel cells will play an important role for yachts in the years to come considering their superior efficiency, low particle emissions and low noise radiation. "We have now shown that cryogenic storage of liquified hydrogen in the interior of a superyacht is a viable solution. Future innovations on fuel cells and onboard reforming of methanol to hydrogen are on the near horizon. For Feadship, the bottom line is that the decarbonization of Feadship's upstream process such as our extensive use of aluminium produced in a more environmentally sensitive way and the production of net-zero carbon-free fuels or hydrogen carriers deserves utmost priority."
Jamie Edmiston (Chief Executive) also shares his experience with this project. "The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise. It was a huge challenge, but one that the team has embraced and delivered on. The yacht we see today, designed by RWD and built by Feadship is without doubt the best yacht ever built. I am proud to have been involved since the inception of this idea.”
Charlie Baker (Director) adds “RWD are immensely proud to have been involved in such a forward thinking project, as a collaboration alongside Feadship and Edmiston. We hope it inspires other projects to think differently in the future”.
Project 821 is being offered for sale by Edmiston.
