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Feadship Delivers 84m OBSIDIAN: The Future of Superyacht Sustainability

By Frances Flannagan

84.20m OBSIDIAN is Feadship's first delivery of 2023. She represents a significant step towards Feadship's goal of producing carbon-neutral superyachts by 2030. She is the first of Feadship’s new generation of superyachts furthering carbon reduction through a variety of innovative methods.

OBSIDIAN was built with the intention to be even more energy efficient than SAVANNAH, Feadship’s ground-breaking hybrid yacht launched in 2015. Through hulls optimised at cruising speed, weight control, advancements in electric propulsion, and the ability to run engines on HVO, a non-fossil diesel fuel which reduces carbon emissions by 90%, OBSIDIAN represents the future of sustainable yachting solutions. She has 4.5 times more electrical storage capacity than SAVANNAH along with no draft shafts or rudders, preventing added drag. Whereas SAVANNAH and LONIAN operated on 560 volts, OBSIDIAN is a 1000-volt system as she is fully powered by electricity. 

A key focus for fuel savings onboard OBSIDIAN is capturing “waste” heat to use for other purposes. Waste heat is captured from the generators and from the AC chillers themselves, the AC being the largest consumer of energy. This energy is essentially carbon-free as it reuses incidental heat generated by another function. Mark Jansen, Project Manager, has recognised the success of energy saving onboard OBSIDIAN: ‘There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count’. 

An innovative heat pump system which transforms thermal energy from one place to another is used to pull heat from various sources. According to Jongepier, it is five times more efficient than making heat with a regular electrical heating coil. A computer system onboard helps to choose the appropriate combination of sources which translates into a number of operational modes. 

OBSIDIAN’S hull form contributes to the advanced sustainable nature of the yacht. She has a low, slim hull optimised at cruising using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Carbon fibre has been effectively used for weight reductions, a complex engineering method which also offers new deck layout possibilities. 

The volume of OBSIDIAN is typical of that on 100m Feadships. The single level engine room leaves more scope for interior layout, and she features a total of seven staterooms. Her bold and modern exterior translates to the interior design, both penned by RWD in collaboration with MONK Design. From a spectacular Aqua Lounge to an observation lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views, the interior design of OBSIDIAN is just as impressive as her advanced sustainability. 

Bram Jongepier, Senior Designer at Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects, developed a sustainability index, which became known as YETI: the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index. This is a guide which shows how all of a yacht’s operations and components contribute to its carbon profile and environmental impact. This shows how Feadship goes further than just reducing CO2 emissions by addressing the overall environmental impact of its vessels. This tool is significant in relation to OBSIDIAN as it can show just how much of a step forward she is with regards to sustainability, showcasing the success of Feadship’s environmental developments. 

YETI operates on the philosophy that one cannot control what one cannot measure. The algorithms describing the environmental impact of individual components, for instance CO2 emissions, have been made freely available by Feadship to the signatories of the Water Revolution Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to driving sustainability in the superyacht industry, resulting in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) under the flag of the Water Revolution Foundation.

The YETI JIP produced a tool that is able to predict the environmental impact of an operational year in the yacht’s lifecycle. Using this tool, it is estimated that OBSIDIAN will operate with 27% less total environmental impact than a similar size yacht launched just five years ago if run on fossil fuel, and 60% less when using HVO. 

Superyachts.com would like to congratulate Feadship on the successful delivery of this ground-breaking yacht.

"There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count." Mark Jansen, Project Manager of OBSIDIAN

"There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count."

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By SuperyachtNews 31 Jul 2023

Feadship delivers 84m Obsidian

The dutch shipbuilder claims its latest renewable diesel-powered delivery brings it one step closer to building completely carbon-neutral yachts by 2030….

Feadship has delivered 83m Obsidian , its latest yacht designed to run on renewable diesel and electric propulsion. The ship is the first of Feadship’s new generation of large yachts with the aim of reducing carbon emissions through advancements in weight control, propulsion technology and the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel, instead of traditional diesel.

Obsidian's trials were conducted with the engines running on HVO, which has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 90% when compared to yachts operating on fossil fuels. Notably, HVO is a ‘second-generation’ biofuel, meaning that it was made using by-products rather than crops that compete with food production.

Feadship says the aim of the project was to build a more energy-efficient vessel than its first hybrid yacht, Savannah , which launched in 2015. Using Feadship’s Advanced Electrical Drive (FAED) programme for diesel-electric hybrid power, Obsidian has 4.5 times more electrical storage capacity than Savannah . 

Bram Jongepier, Senior Designer, De Voogt Naval Architects , developed the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI),  a sustainability index that provides guidance on how a yacht’s components and operations contribute to its carbon footprint and environmental impact, and used it during Obsidian's  12-month design process.

According to Jongepier, YETI can calculate 90% of the total lifecycle of a yacht. With YETI available to Water Revolution Foundation signatories, the Foundation predicts that the environmental impact of O bsidian  will operate with 27% less total environmental impact than a yacht of similar size when powered by fossil fuel, and 60% less when using HVO. 

Inside the hull, Obsidian’s propulsion and steering are supplied by two Veth contra-rotating thrusters that deliver both shaft and rudder functions. These are powered by a 4.5 MWh battery bank that is charged by four generators — two large and two small, custom, variable speed units based on tweaked CatC32 engines with permanent magnet alternators. 

The change in propulsion methods alone didn't provide the level of fuel savings Feadship desired. Using the YETI tool, the shipyard noticed about 60% of the energy consumed goes simply to powering the onboard lifestyle. To combat this, Feadship sought to utilise the yacht’s waste heat for efficiency.

Feadship’s engineers introduced a heat pump system to pull waste heat from ambient seawater, generators and AC chillers. The heat pump then transports thermal energy from one place to another and is five times more efficient than making heat with a regular electrical heating coil, according to Jongepier.

Obsidian also has a single level engine room, which gave the designers more freedom in creating the interior layout and more space for guest accommodation with a total of seven staterooms. Jansen says the volume of the yacht is more typical of that on 100m Feadships. Both the exterior and interior design are by the British firm RWD and Switzerland-based MONK Design.

Obsidian will also employ Quantum XT™ (extendable) Fin Stabilizers, a semi-retractable boat stabilizer fin system that operates underway and at zero speed, optimised for energy efficiency.

Renewable diesel and biofuels are becoming more prevalent in superyachting as the race to decarbonise the industry continues. And it is availability is increasing too. Recently,  Peninsula announced that it will supply biofuels to yacht owners in the Gibraltar Strait and surrounding areas, having recently received its International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).

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This 276-Foot Hybrid Superyacht Emits 90% Less Carbon Than Gas-Powered Vessels

Feadship's obsidian is expected to be able to cover 35 nautical miles at 10 knots on batteries alone., rachel cormack.

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Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

This new 150-foot superyacht can cruise through shallow waters in florida and the bahamas with ease.

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Feadship has outdone itself with its latest fleet member, and that was precisely the point.

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It is estimated the Obsidian will operate with 27 percent less total environmental impact than a yacht of similar size launched only five years ago if run on fossil fuel, and 60 percent less if powered using a non-fossil diesel fuel called HVO. Obsidian actually ran on HVO during sea trials and emitted 90 percent less carbon than a traditional gas-powered vessel. Feadship says the trials showed Obsidian is even more efficient than previously calculated.

Biofuel isn’t the only exciting innovation, of course. Obsidian ‘s low, slim hull has been optimized for cruising, her fighting weight has been reduced, and her overall balance improved. On top of that, the yacht is equipped with a streamlined diesel-electric propulsion system and has 4.5 times more electrical storage capacity than its predecessor.

The cruiser is powered by a 4.5 MWh battery bank and four tweaked CatC32 engines. The 1,000-volt system is fully powered by electricity, too. Obsidian is expected to be able to cover 35 nautical miles at 10 knots on batteries alone. At anchor, the batteries will provide silent operation for between 10 and 15 hours. Feadship also incorporated several energy-saving features that reduce the yacht’s hotel load.

According to Jansen, the Obsidian ‘s volume is in line with larger 328-footers. Feadship opted for a single-level engine room for the first time in many years to give the designers more freedom with the layout. Both the exterior and interior styling was executed by RWD and MONK Design. The duo kept things bold and modern both inside and out.

Feadship says the living quarters are full of surprises. There is a hidden staircase that leads to a study and a sunken lounge on the main deck, for instance. Similarly, an asymmetrical atrium staircase takes guests to a lower deck dining saloon with an entire wall that opens to provide a stellar view at sea level. Further toward the stern lies a scenic Aqua Lounge that can double as a cinema or a classroom and a fully equipped gym.

Another surprising touch is that none of the rooms have any 90-degree angles except for the seven staterooms. One more hidden gem is the observation lounge in the bow. Accessible via a main deck corridor, this secret escape sports floor-to-ceiling windows for cinematic vistas.

In keeping with the green theme, Obsidian ’s two custom-made primary tenders are both electric-powered and can be charged at special stations installed on the yacht.

Obsidian is the first of Feadship’s new generation of large eco-friendly cruisers, and its launch puts the yard another step closer to its goal of producing carbon-neutral superyachts by 2030.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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One of the greenest superyachts ever built, Feadship’s Obsidian, has been delivered to her undisclosed owner. While most ships brag about beauty, brawn, and being a behemoth, Obsidian garners accolades with “net zero” claims. The 285 feet hybrid superyacht seems to be the boat of the future from the Dutch shipyard. It has successfully completed its maiden voyage boasting an array of avant-garde design elements.

What sets this ship apart from its predecessors are second-generation biodiesel generators that considerably reduce carbon emissions by a whopping 90 percent compared to conventional fuel-consuming yachts.

The eco-conscious owner wanted it no other way. In fact, he desired a vessel so efficient it would leave Feadship’s first hybrid yacht, Savannah, behind, and Obsidian Yacht does the needful. Upping the coolness quotient of the luxury superyacht is an Aqua Lounge that becomes the eyes to explore the underwater world with large windows below sea level. The asymmetrical atrium staircase welcomes guests into the lower deck dining saloon, where the soul feeds on one-of-a-kind terrace views just above sea level. Obsidian offers a dining experience unlike any other superyacht; one might just forget about hunger and revel in the vistas.

Up to twelve guests have the time of their life while being serviced by a crew of twenty-seven. Among several noteworthy features of the Obsidian is an observation lounge with double curved glass floor-to-ceiling windows. These sprawling views are enjoyed even from the main deck, packed with engineered glass throughout.

The Feadship ground-breaker boasts fold-out balconies and a spacious beach club area that extends towards the open sea. It is also impressing industry experts owing to the louvered aft deck carbon fiber overhangs attached to the aluminum superstructure that eliminate pillars, thus considerably reducing weight.

The boat lives up to its brief of being zero-emission and has a 1,000-volt system making it fully powered by electricity. Obsidian cruises for 35 nautical miles at 10 knots on batteries alone. “There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count,” said project manager Mark Jansen to Boat International. This next-generation yacht is setting a high benchmark for all future yacht builders and owners, but one that’s worth following.

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Luxury yacht OBSIDIAN | image https://www.instagram.com/dronepilot_lion

The sturdy superstructure is softened with elegantly curved architecture plus an accentuated plumb bow. A selection of fold out balconies and terraces plus expanses of glass at the stern and bow create a seamless connection with the ocean including a beach club, aqua lounge and sea level dining terrace.

Superyacht OBSIDIAN | image https://www.instagram.com/dronepilot_lion

Luxury yacht OBSIDIAN is the first in a new generation of Feadship yachts designed to reduce carbon emissions with innovations including weight control, advanced electric propulsion and generators run on HVO biodiesel fuel.

We look forward to sharing details about her designer interior and features once she is running.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "84m Feadship superyacht OBSIDIAN (ex Project 710) ready for sea trials".

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Carbon reduction and environmental impact: Feadship delivers 84m yacht Obsidian

The goal is producing carbon-neutral superyachts by 2030: the recently built 84.20-metre  Obsidian  is the first of Feadship’s new generation of large yachts furthering carbon reduction through hulls optimised at cruising speed instead of top speed, weight control, advancements in electric propulsion, and the ability to run engines on non-fossil diesel fuel called HVO. In fact, the yacht’s trials were conducted with the generators running on this second-generation biofuel, reducing carbon emissions by 90% compared to yachts operating on fossil fuels.

The brief for the yacht was to be more energy efficient and emit less carbon than Feadship’s ground-breaking hybrid yacht,  Savannah , which launched in 2015. Reducing the environmental impact by more than 30% would have been a tall order in any case, but the entire 12-month design period for  Obsidian  occurred at the height of a global pandemic. With Covid-19 lockdowns, none of the designers, engineers, or other parties were able to collaborate in person.

Working in parallel, Bram Jongepier, Senior Designer at Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects, developed a sustainability index, providing a great deal of guidance on how all of a yacht’s components and operations contribute to its carbon profile and environmental impact.

Reducing CO2 emissions is a top priority, but Feadship goes even further by addressing the overall environmental impact of its vessels. The emissions of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide (NOx), particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and the impact of building materials like steel, aluminium, fairing compounds, antifouling, teak, interior finishing, and more, are under scrutiny. This, together with CO2 emissions, is what we call environmental impact , which is calculated using life cycle assessments (LCA).

Yacht Environmental Transparency Index – Jongepier’s work became known as YETI , the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index. Operating on the philosophy that one cannot control what one cannot measure, 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.

The YETI JIP produced a tool which, with data augmented now by other partners like engine manufacturers, predicts the environmental impact of a standardized operational year in the yacht’s lifecycle. 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.

For  Obsidian , the first step was building on innovation from the award-winning  Savannah . Using Feadship’s Advanced Electrical Drive (FAED) program for diesel-electric hybrid power,  Obsidian  has 4.5 times more electrical storage capacity than our first hybrid yacht,  Savannah . She has no drive shafts and no rudders, preventing added drag caused by these appendages. Propulsion and steering are supplied by a pair of Veth contra-rotating thrusters that deliver both functions. Veth’s experience with compact units for ships operating on rivers was seen as a perfect fit for a yacht specified for a relatively shallow draft. Feadship and Veth collaborated on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the shapes of the drive legs and the propellors to maximize efficiency and minimize vibration, dampening vibration being another key component of the brief.

Powering it all is a 4.5 MWh battery bank that is charged by four generators — two large and two small, custom, variable speed units based on tweaked CatC32 engines with permanent magnet alternators that deliver power as needed. Where  Savannah  and  Lonian  – which launched in 2018 – operated on 560 volts, the DC system on  Obsidian  is a staggering 1,000-volt system because the yacht is fully powered by electricity. A total of 560 battery modules are housed in a special chilled room amidships on the tank deck, revealing another benefit of the hybrid system: The components no longer need to be adjacent. The thrusters are in the best location for steering and water flow, while the generators and their exhaust systems, batteries, and electrical switchboard are located elsewhere for optimal weight distribution and crew access.  Obsidian  should be able to cruise for 35 nm at 10 knots on batteries alone. At anchor, the batteries will provide silent operation for 10-15 hours.

Fuel savings – Advanced propulsion alone, however, would not result in the level of fuel savings required. When analysing  Obsidian  using the YETI tool, it revealed that about 60% of the energy consumed goes simply to powering the onboard lifestyle – the air conditioning, heating, hot water, lighting, cooking, entertainment electronics, pools, and laundry service. Reducing the energy needed to provide for the yacht’s “hotel” load became the target.

Several major innovations adapted for  Obsidian  address these target areas through peak load shaving and reducing HVAC demand through the computerized management of cooling guest and crew zones. But since making and using energy creates heat, capturing unwanted or “waste” heat to be used for other purposes became a key focus. Out of every 100kW of energy created by fossil fuel combustion in a typical internal combustion engine, only 35 to 40% is effective mechanical energy, with the rest being heat, usually discarded overboard with the water-cooling system and in the exhaust gasses. Feadship’s design and engineering team began by developing a much more comprehensive system than simply using generator cooling water to heat a swimming pool, a process that has become standard for many superyacht builders.

Considering that 25% of that “hotel” energy demand is about making heat, everything that needed heat was identified. The largest consumer was air conditioning.

The reason being that to sufficiently dehumidify the surrounding sea air, the HVAC system needs to cool incoming fresh air to about 7 degrees Celsius, but then, to keep the interior from feeling like a meat locker, heating units must warm the air to the desired temperature for each room.

Many points of energy savings – Conventional installations typically reheat with an electric heating element, but  Obsidian  uses waste heat for that purpose. Not only is waste heat captured from the generators, but also from the AC chillers themselves. This is not just free energy, but it is essentially carbon-free energy because it reuses incidental heat generated by another function. “There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count,” said Project Manager Mark Jansen.

Urged to explore all avenues, Feadship’s engineers introduced an innovative heat pump system to pull heat from various sources, including ambient sea water. Using a heat pump, which transports thermal energy (heat) from one place to another, is five times more efficient than simply making heat with a regular electrical heating coil, according to Jongepier.

An onboard computer system helps to choose seamlessly the appropriate combination of sources. This translates into the following operational modes:

• In harbour at normal sea temperatures plugged into shore power: Heat is provided by AC compressor waste heat, augmented by the heat pump if necessary.
• At anchor at normal sea temperature, operating on battery power: Heat provided by AC compressor waste heat, augmented by heat pump if necessary.
• Sailing, at anchor or in harbour at normal sea temperature with generators in operation: All necessary heat provided by generator waste heat.

Because the path to carbon-neutral superyachts goes far beyond a single solution,  Obsidian  also involved fresh approaches 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 fibre. The louvered aft deck overhangs, for example, are all carbon fibre attached to the aluminium superstructure and require no support pillars. This weight benefit also offered new deck layout possibilities.

For the first time in many years, Feadship is delivering a yacht with a single level engine room , which gave her designers considerably more freedom in creating the interior layout. It also lends more space for guest accommodation and features a total of seven staterooms. According to Jansen, the volume of this 84-metre yacht is typical of that on 100-metre Feadships.

The layout is just as bold and modern as the exterior profile would suggest. Both the exterior styling and interior design are by the British firm RWD, in collaboration with MONK Design .

There are surprising destination spaces such as an asymmetrical atrium staircase leading to a lower deck dining saloon with an entire wall that opens to provide a terrace view just 75 cm above sea level.

Near the stern is an Aqua Lounge where massive windows below water level offer a unique view from the nearby gym. The Aqua Lounge can also function as a cinema and even a classroom.

From decks to the interior, the design leitmotif is all about surprise – most of the corridors and many of the rooms, as well as all of the al fresco living spaces, are not oriented on a fore and aft or athwartships axis. In fact, except for staterooms, none of the interior rooms have any 90-degree angles. A hidden staircase to a study and a sunken lounge on the main deck are just two more of the unexpected interior elements. But the biggest surprise involves the use of submarine anchors. Eliminating the need for a mooring deck forward allows  Obsidian  to feature a fantastic interior bow observation lounge with double curved glass floor-to-ceiling windows. Access is via a main deck corridor from the guest accommodation area through the tender garage to this hidden gem.

In keeping with the carbon reduction theme, both of the yacht’s primary tenders are electric-powered and custom made by Tenderworks. Four fast charging stations installed by the yard will allow them to be charged in the water or in the tender garage.

After the sea trials it turned out that  Obsidian  is even more efficient than previously calculated.

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Feadship releases images of superyacht OBSIDIAN heading for sea trials

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By Nina Done   26 June 2023

With the sun shining and Goldilocks sea conditions, the impressive 84m (276ft) superyacht OBSIDIAN departed Feadship ’s build facilities at Alsmeer in the Netherlands to undertake her first round of sea trials, designed to test her capabilities, equipment and safety features.

Known throughout her build as Project 710 , the steel and aluminum motor yacht  showcases a low profile with masculine lines and seamless tinted glazing that wraps around her plumb bow, bearing all the hallmarks of her Feadship pedigree. 

She also sports a metallic gray hull with teak accents on the lower edges of each faring on her superstructure, creating a distinctive look that marks her out against her contemporaries.

Her exterior design and naval architecture are from the boards of RWD, a long-time Feadship collaborator, while her interior styling is from the pen of French studio Monk Design, also in collaboration with RWD.

Some of the standout features on board the 2,555 GT yacht include an observation lounge on her bow with double-curved glass floor-to-ceiling windows, an asymmetrical atrium stairwell leading to a formal dining area that can be opened up for guests to enjoy waterside views and an Aqua Lounge in her stern offering unique underwater vistas.  

She is also fitted with the latest Starlink antennas enabling download speeds of up to 350MB anywhere in the world.

The yacht also boasts a raft of green credentials, including an optimized hull at cruising speed and the ability to run her generators on HVO, which is essentially hydro-treated vegetable oil, offering a 90% reduction in greenhouse gasses, helping Feadship and their clients work towards a net zero CO² fuel goal.

She is also able to capture waste heat from the custom variable speed generators and air conditioner chiller to supply heat to the AC system, pool water, domestic water, engine preheating, and more. Meanwhile, an innovative heat pump system allows the yacht to draw heat from seawater.

Delivery is expected in the coming months, following the successful completion of sea trials. It is not expected that superyacht OBSIDIAN will be available for charter once she’s delivered to her owner.

In order to make enquiries regarding a charter with a Feadship superyacht, please get in touch with your preferred charter broker . Alternatively, view all superyachts available for charter .

Image credits: @Feadship

Video credits: Dutch Yachting

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80m Feadship Project 715 superyacht spotted on transport

The 79.5-metre Feadship Project 715 has been spotted on transport through the Dutch canals. The superyacht is on its way to Aalsmeer for outfitting, with delivery expected in summer 2025.

Construction on the 2,025GT superyacht began in 2022, though details have been kept tightly under wraps since then. She is ice-classed and has "one of the most environmentally friendly and efficient yacht propulsion systems available today," according to the shipyard.

Powered by "diesel-electric-battery-solar" propulsion, Project 715 can have a zero-carbon footprint for up to two days running on technology water-cooled batteries. She's also been designed to "silently cruise some of the most sensitive marine environments", including the Northwest Passage and Fiji.

Initial imagery reveals a slightly flared bow that will be used for tender storage, floor-to-ceiling windows and a total of five decks. Naval architecture is owed to De Voogt .

This reveal follows a sequence of highly secretive Feadship sightings, including the 102.6-metre Ulysses (last seen on sea trials ) and the 75.7-metre Alvia , which was photographed in transit from Kaag Island .

The shipyard also recently celebrated the delivery of its longest project to date – the 118-metre Launchpad .

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The superyacht world is speculating that Mark Zuckerberg just bought this 118-meter boat

• The 118-meter superyacht Launchpad made her maiden voyage last week.
• The yacht world is speculating that her owner is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
• Here's what we know about the luxury vessel.

In the world of superyachts , privacy is the most valuable asset. It can be next to impossible to discern the details of a superyacht transaction — and that's particularly true if the vessel in question is worth nine figures.

Yet some in the boat blogging world are speculating that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the new owner of Launchpad, a megayacht currently moored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after she made her maiden voyage from Gibraltar to St Maarten last week. Launchpad clocks in at 118 meters long, about nine meters shorter than Jeff Bezos' superyacht Koru .

The transaction could not be confirmed, with yacht world insiders declining to share what they know and representatives for Zuckerberg not responding to a request for comment from Business Insider. In the past, reports about Zuckerberg owning superyacht Ulysses have proven false.

"It is Feadship's standard policy to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs, or delivery, etc," Feadship, the ship's builder, wrote to BI. "Whether it is an 18-meter Feadship from the 1960s or a 118-meter Feadship from the 21st century, we do not share private information."

But Zuckerberg's name has been connected to Launchpad for a few months now, beginning in December when reports swirled that he visited Feadship's shipyard in the Netherlands.

Then, earlier in March, yachting bloggers like eSysman SuperYachts and Autoevolution started speculating that he officially snagged the boat, originally built for a sanctioned Russian businessman, at a $300 million price tag. (While that's a seemingly huge amount, it's still less than 0.2% of Zuckerberg's $177 billion net worth.)

Another clue that might point to US ownership is that the yacht bears the flag of the Marshall Islands, a US territory and commonplace for American buyers to register their ships, according to public marine tracking.

If Zuckerberg were to have bought Launchpad, he would join a cohort of superyacht-owning tech billionaires . Along with Bezos, the likes of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have purchased impressive boats with even more impressive amenities.

SuperYacht Times , an industry publication and intelligence platform, has some of the best images of the yacht. Photos show a swimming pool on her main deck and a large helipad.

While less is known of the interior, a vessel of her size can likely sleep dozens of guests and crew and may have amenities like an expansive gym where Zuckerberg could practice his jiu-jitsu or a spa with a massage area. We suspect there's also space for plenty of toys — which could include his viral hydrofoil foil .

Do you have any details about Launchpad or any other superyachts? Email reporter Madeline Berg at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

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Firebird nominated for World Superyacht Awards 2024

We are delighted to announce that Firebird , originally launched as Anna in 2007, has been nominated for the World Superyacht Awards 2024 in the category of Refitted Yachts!

In 2023, Feadship completed a major refit of the 67.00-metre Firebird at the shipyard in Makkum. This comprehensive renovation in its home base ensured that Firebird retained its 100% Feadship pedigree while undergoing remarkable transformations in both interior and exterior.

We eagerly anticipate the World Superyacht Awards ceremony, set to take place in Venice, Italy, on 3-4 May 2024. Stay tuned for updates!

IN MEMORIAM: Frits de Voogt

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Did Mark Zuckerberg just buy this 118-meter megayacht? It is a tad shorter than Jeff Bezos' superboat

Earlier it was reported that mark zuckerberg visited feadship's shipyard in the netherlands. did he buy a superyacht just like jeff bezos.

Mark Zuckerbger might be the new owner of Launchpad, a megayacht currently moored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 118 meters long boat made its maiden voyage from Gibraltar to St Maarten last week. The boat is reportedly nine meters shorter than Jeff Bezos' superyacht Koru.

Read more: Deepinder Goyal's apology on Zomato's veg fleet uniform: ‘Listening without ego… you made us understand’

Although, Business Insider reported that the transaction could not be confirmed as yacht world insiders declined to share any details. Earlier reports about Mark Zuckerberg owning superyacht Ulysses have proven false.

The ship's builder Feadship told the outlet, "It is Feadship's standard policy to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs, or delivery, etc. Whether it is an 18-meter Feadship from the 1960s or a 118-meter Feadship from the 21st century, we do not share private information.”

Read more: Microsoft AI’s new CEO Mustafa Suleyman is a college dropout: Top things to know

Mark zuckerberg's launchpad reports.

Earlier it was reported that Mark Zuckerberg visited Feadship's shipyard in the Netherlands. In March last year, yachting bloggers like eSysman SuperYachts and Autoevolution speculated that he officially bought the boat, originally built for a sanctioned Russian businessman, at a $300 million price tag.

Public marine tracking also said that the yacht bears the flag of the Marshall Islands, a US territory and commonplace for American buyers- which indicates Mark Zuckerberg's ownership. 

Read more: Sam Altman says he thought Elon Musk would have 'more empathy' for OpenAI: ‘Truly astonishing’

Which other billionaires have superyachts.

If reports are true, Mark Zuckerberg joins a cohort of superyacht-owning tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

More on Jeff Bezos' superyacht

Jeff Bezos has a $500 million superyacht, reports suggested. Named Koru, the colossal ship began cruising the Mediterranean around Mallorca as the 417-foot megaship first left Rotterdam in the Netherlands for sea trials in February and dropped anchor in Mallorca last year. 

Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail

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