How do you store compressed liquid hydrogen on a superyacht at the equivalent of minus-423 degrees Fahrenheit?

This was the toughest question Dutch builder Feadship faced as it set out to create Project 821, the world’s first hydrogen-cell superyacht. “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” says Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship director and CEO at Royal Van Lent Shipyard.

Hydrogen fuel cells offer great promise for combustion-free cruising, with only electricity and water as their byproducts. But unlike with vehicles and spacecraft, the technology is new to recreational yachts. Weight isn’t the problem because hydrogen is light, but safely storing it on a vessel requires a double-walled cryogenic tank in a dedicated room. According to Feadship, it takes eight to 10 times more space to store hydrogen than the energy equivalent in diesel fuel.

Project 821’s size, at 390 feet long, made it a good candidate to test the technology. The tank on board holds about 4 tons of hydrogen, with the system able to provide a week’s worth of silent operation at anchor, or navigating at 10 knots while leaving harbors or cruising in protected marine zones.

All of that was achieved in addition to the kind of luxury that Feadship clients demand. The yacht’s design is by RWD, with owner representation by Edmiston. It has the most hull openings of any Feadship to date, with 14 balconies. Guest amenities include an elevator and a library.

“We have now shown that cryogenic storage of liquefied hydrogen in the interior of a superyacht is a viable solution,” Verkuyl says. “Future innovations on fuel cells and onboard reforming of methanol to hydrogen are on the near horizon.”

New Horizons

There were no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems on a superyacht, so Feadship, along with Edmiston and Lloyd’s Register, developed appropriately scaled equipment, protocols and safety regulations as part of the build.

Record-Setter

Project 821 is also the largest motoryacht ever launched in the Netherlands. It is about the same length as Feadship’s Launchpad, but with 30 percent more volume.

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The Italian builder Austin Parker has launched a range of catamarans called Unica, along with a range of navettas called Iconica.

Each collection will have three models. For the Unica collection, there will be a 58, 68 and 78. In the Iconica collection, there will be a 77, 88 and 100.

At the recent Cannes Yachting Festival in France, the company unveiled the design for the Iconica 100, and had the Unica 58 in the water (its design was unveiled for the public last year). The company noted an A-shaped line on the hardtop support for all its boats as a signature feature going forward.

The introduction of the Unica and Iconica ranges follows the 2023 acquisition of Austin Parker by Baris Nalcaci, a Turkish entrepreneur active in various industrial sectors, including the production of composite products for the aeronautical sector. One of his goals is to help Austin Parker “make a significant leap in quality,” according to the company.

On the Unica series, there’s a full-beam master stateroom and large windows, with the idea of onboard comfort as well as a blending of the indoors and outdoors. The Iconica series also has large windows, as well as a two-level entrance aft and an owner’s stateroom with a private terrace.

Solar panels and sustainable materials are incorporated to reduce the yachts’ ecological footprints.

Austin Parker worked with Pininfarina and De Simoni Yacht Design on the concepts.

“We focused on identifying and addressing the missing features in the current market, ensuring our new products stand out by providing unmatched comfort and performance,” Daniele Mazzon, head of nautical design at Pininfarina, stated in a press release. “Our latest product range is designed to offer all the comforts of a private villa, without sacrificing the essential seakeeping capabilities that our customers expect.”

What does designer Fulvio De Simoni say about the new models from Austin Parker? “Designing a new line of boats for a shipyard is a great responsibility, and I thank [shipyard owner Baris] Nalcaci for believing so strongly in our work. We need to anticipate trends, imagine new ways to use onboard spaces, and define a distinctive style that identifies the shipyard. Collaborating and sharing ideas with such an important partner has certainly been stimulating, and I believe that together we are creating projects of great quality.”

Take the next step: go to austinparker.com

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Energy Observer, the first vessel of its kind, is sailing from Washington, D.C. to New York in an effort to raise awareness about solutions to fight climate change. 

The self-sufficient, zero-emission boat was a former race boat converted into an eco-friendly vessel by Frederic Dahirel and Victorien Erussard and was launched in 2017. The boat has traveled more than 64,000 nautical miles, spreading a message of sustainability along the way, and headed to the United States during the 2024 election year to motivate voters and lawmakers to prioritize the environment. 

The boat arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Feb. 27 before setting sail for Washington, D.C. Energy Observer will be docked at the Wharf Marina near the Capitol and White House to encourage lawmakers to visit the floating laboratory from March 14 through March 20 and witness climate-change solutions for a low-carbon society, especially in the marine industry. 

The United States is the second-largest consumer and producer of energy in the world, behind China. As the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world, America plays a crucial role in global warming, project leaders said in a news release. 

“Our ship will not be able to go unnoticed by those who influence the energy future of the country,” the project said in a Facebook update.

Project organizers hail Energy Observer “as being a symbol of our awareness raising and our ambitions at the service of ecological transition.” The boat is powered by the sun, wind and water; the technology can be replicated on a larger scale, Energy Observer leaders said. 

After its stay in Washington, Energy Observer will set sail for New York City, where it will dock from April 10 through April 22. While at North Cove Marina at Brookfield Place, project organizers said they will host investors, United Nations officials and students. The New York stay will conclude on Earth Day.

After departing the Big Apple, Energy Observer will visit Boston — which project leaders call “a mecca of knowledge and training” due to its esteemed research initiatives — from May 1 through May 5 before sailing to Canada and then Paris for the Summer Olympic Games.

For those who want to follow Energy Observer’s travels, you can track the boat here.

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