Vitruvius Yachts are pleased to announce the launch of Shinkai. In January 2022 she took to the waters and began her journey. Here we show you our journey from the brief and initial sketches to the yacht itself.

The steel-hulled, ice-class yacht, was commissioned by a highly experienced and discerning owner, who had extensive plans for touring the globe.

This was the second time Philippe Briand and Vitruvius Yachts had worked with the owner on an ambitious design. This brief was for a fuel efficient, 55m explorer, which carries a three-man submarine, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and an all-electric Jet-Ski. The yacht also had to have six guest suites and accommodation for 12 crew incorporated into the design.

The yacht design included the largest gyroscope built to date, weighing 21 tonnes, as conventional stabiliser fins could be damaged by the passing pack ice. Plus several features including various specialist equipment for safe cruising through ice.

The yacht incorporated a submarine for underwater exploration, a rough terrain vehicle for off-road touring and a bespoke limousine tender for comfortable and protected trips ashore, in challenging conditions.

Also included:

An open observation deck,

The uppermost enclosed deck contains the wheelhouse and captain’s cabin.

A full-beam dining room, two grand suites and offices that provide panoramic views forward.

Two spacious guest suites and two twin-bed children’s suites

A lower dec for crew with seven cabins, a large mess room, laundry and galley.

View the whole story in Boat International

Thank you to Feadship for the images and video in this article