Feadship’s Project 817 seen for first time
Project 817 has left the Feadship yard in Kaag for the first time.
Having chartered virtually every Feadship available in the global fleet over recent years, the owner set a target of keeping the environmental impact of this 94m pure custom Feadship at around the same levels as his previous Feadship, despite that being 32m shorter in length.
One of the ways in which this goal was approached has been to install an ‘exceptionally advanced’ hybrid propulsion system. This, says Feadship, will allow Project 817 to travel a comfortable 12 knots on diesel-electric power in the pristine areas the yacht is set to explore. In this mode, all exhaust emissions are treated via the Tier III catalytic convertors and diesel particulate filters. A large battery bank ensures optimum generator loading and a smooth power grid. The top speed in diesel direct mode is 20 knots.
Other advanced green technologies deployed include the waste treatment plant and heat recovery systems. An immense amount of work went into optimising the efficiency of the air-conditioning so as to prevent excessive power consumption. This is especially crucial on a yacht with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, something which required taking a different approach to structural design in order to compensate for the complete absence of bulwarks.
The exterior design is by Feadship Studio De Voogt and Azure. The owner’s ‘less is more’ philosophy is said to have influenced every aspect of the design inside and out, with an abundance of clean lines. For instance, all doors in the sides of the superstructure that would normally be hinged have been fitted as electric sliding doors. Closing flush to the superstructure with no handles, hinges or recesses, this super-smooth solution has been applied to all crew access, deck locker and guest access doors.
Painted in a special pearl-white livery, the hull has been designed, engineered and built to be as efficient as possible and reduce the engine power required to move Project 817 through the water. Space has nonetheless been found within the 14m beam for the largest tender and longest hull doors ever seen on a Feadship.
