AMELS 60, the 60-metre superyacht with Hybrid by AMELS technology, is now under construction and available for a spring 2022 delivery.

The new Espen Øino designed AMELS 60 metre yacht has just been revealed today. The yacht is already currently under construction and will be ready for delivery in the spring of 2022.

The superyacht sits under AMELS Limited Edition semi-custom range from 55 to 83 metres) and has interiors designed by the London based Studio Indigo.

The project is the second collaboration between Espen and AMELS and will feature Hybrid by AMELS technology. This will allow cruising speeds of up to 7 knots with electrical propulsion motors, meaning very low noise and low vibrations for owners comfort and lower fuel and maintenance costs in general.

“The AMELS 60 is an exciting new take on the very best AMELS knowhow and craftsmanship that has shaped everything we have done for more than 100 years,” says Rose Damen, Managing Director of the Damen Shipyards’ Yachting division. “Just like the global fleet of Limited Editions yachts at sea today, the AMELS 60 will be a beacon of trusted reliability, quality and comfort for decades to come.”

The New PERSHING 140 – A first for Pershing

• First Pershing superyacht
• First Pershing aluminium hull
• First Pershing manufactured at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard
• First Pershing to feature a raised cockpit directly connected to the sun deck

The brand’s new flagship, the Pershing 140, marks its entry into a new design and manufacturing era and officially marking the brand’s entry into the superyacht sector. It is also the first Pershing to be manufactured in aluminium.

The Pershing 140 is the result of a collaboration between architect Fulvio De Simoni, the Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee (led by engineer Piero Ferrari), and the Group’s Engineering Department. The new 140-foot yacht is also the first Pershing manufactured at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, Italy.

The Pershing 140 is also the first Pershing to feature a raised cockpit directly connected to the sun deck; the first to have an owner-dedicated area on the main deck and the first to maximise the enjoyability of all the decks and outdoor areas. This achievement was made possible by joining them all into a beach club area, which becomes expandable thanks to three fold-out sides.

MAIN DECK

The new Pershing 140 features an original layout of the aft area, configured as a raised cockpit that becomes a mezzanine level. This creates a large waterside space that rises from the water up to the sun deck and joins together the entire aft section. This revolutionary design produces a vast waterside beach club, entirely accessible and furnishable with stools, chairs and freestanding pieces.

The garage can accommodate both a Williams 565 tender and a jet ski. Launching and hauling operations are carried out by opening the two side hatches on the port side.

Around the cockpit, the mezzanine assures greater privacy: a first sunbathing area protects the second cockpit lounge against intrusive looks. The latter is furnished with a table seating 10 people that can be reached by walking down a few steps towards the bow, and it is protected on the sides by large glass panels installed on the topsides. Designed to guarantee utmost comfort, this spatial solution enables the owner to enjoy an area that possesses all the benefits of sitting in an outdoors but private place, and facilitates the passage of guests, who can easily walk across outdoor areas or walk on the main deck and enter the saloon after passing through the lounge.

After walking through the glass door into the cockpit, you access an open space flooded with natural light and organised into two areas: first the living area, followed by the dining area. The central area of the main deck leads to the crew quarters on one side and to the owner’s suite on the other side.

On the left-hand side, a passageway ushers into the cockpit or into the day toilet. This area also hosts the master cabin. Still on the left-hand side, a door placed on the external walkway opens onto the stairs leading down to the area below decks, which accommodates the kitchen and the crew quarters.

On the opposite side, walking towards the bow, you first come to a hallway where stairs lead down to the guest suites. Proceeding further, you enter the owner’s quarters: a grand full beam owner’s private suite, that the owner can modify and decorate at will. Yard-fitted with a double bed, a walk-in closet on the left-hand side and a parlour on the right, it enjoys a magnificent view. The large bathroom, fitted with a shower separated from the bathtub, as well as the toilet and bidet on the two topsides, is located at the head of the bow. On the first unit, the owner has decided to install an entertainment room, eliminating the bed to make room for sofas and seats, tables and a big TV screen.

LOWER DECK

The space below decks accommodates four comfortable guest suites, of which 2 have double beds and 2 have twin beds, all with their own closet and en suite bathroom.
Maximum comfort is also given to the crew area: after walking through a lobby, the staff can access a large kitchen on the left, separated from the dinette by a door on the right and, proceeding towards the bow, there are three bunk-bed bedrooms, all with a private bathroom. From the lobby, the crew can also have direct access to the engine room and to the garage.

SUNDECK AND BOW AREA

The upper deck of the Pershing 140 is perfectly in line with the overall privacy assured to the central part, which is protected by an aluminium hard-top. Conceived as a spacious panoramic terrace, it is entirely furnishable with freestanding pieces, and it can be accessed by walking up from the mezzanine deck or from the raised cockpit. The latter is connected to the second control station, in case of wanting to steer the flagship from the outside. Perfect for entertaining, the upper deck also hosts a bar and grill area, a total-relaxation area with a sun pad and, exclusively on the first unit, a projector and screen (both removable) and fixed loudspeakers.

The ample forward outdoor spaces, only accessible through the lateral walkways, offer an area with a large sun pad just before a full-fledged concealed lounge equipped with a Jacuzzi, an inset dinette with two seats, a table and a sunbathing area. This area is only revealed when the yacht is anchored or moored while, during navigation, it is covered by a sliding platform, thus contributing to the streamlined sleekness of the external lines. The arrangement of this private area, as well as many others, can be completely tailored to the owner’s tastes.

PROPULSION AND STABILISATION

The first hull of the Pershing 140 installs four MTU 16 V 2000 M96L engines, each with 2,600 HP. MTU Friedrichshafen is the core business of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, a division of Rolls-Royce. The hydro-jet propulsion assures excellent performance levels, both at cruising and maximum speed, which can achieve 35 knots and 38 knots respectively.

Consistent with the DNA of the Pershing range, the domotics and electronic systems are all state of the art. In line with Ferretti Group’s tradition of making high performance its core value, while also ensuring maximum well-being and relaxation, the new 140-footer is equipped with 3 Seakeeper 35 to assure top comfort under power and also at anchor

An alternative to helicopter dominance

Offshore projects can be quite some distance from the shore and the further out they venture the more the challenges can increase when transporting personnel. In the case of crew transport, Damen has designed a water-borne solution that is intended to be safer, more comfortable and more cost effective than traditional helicopter transport with the Damen FCS 7011 ( fast crew supplier )

FCS 7011 Design

Offshore oil and gas companies such as Shell, BP and ExxonMobil had particular requirements in areas such as speed, sea state, transfer window time and comfort levels on board the vessel, explained Damen’s business development manager, David Stibbe.

Design work started in late 2015. At the time Damen already had ideas surrounding a high-speed crew transfer vessel and it began seeking input from customers to ensure the new vessel met their needs. The FCS 7011 design is now finalised. Tank testing is completed and construction of the first vessel is anticipated to start in Q3 of 2018 in Turkey, with completion expected by the end of Q2 2020, according to Mr Stibbe.

Assistance was also provided by research institutions such as TU Delft, a maritime engineering and hydrodynamics-focused Netherlands-based technical university.

TU Delft carried out tank-testing with a 2.8 m 1:25 scale model of the vessel undergoing testing at 30 and 40 knots to simulate 2-3 m significant wave heights. It was found that the vessel’s movements became calmer as the speed increased.

The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) advised on how to minimise motion sickness and boost passenger comfort through a host of methods, including the positioning of seating and windows, window size, ceiling height, HVAC systems, vessel layout, and even what drinks should and should not be served to passengers.

Sea Axe bow concept

“the Sea Axe bow shape reduces any uncomfortable slamming that might occur during high-speed transits.”

Vessels in the crew supply role are often catamarans, however the Damen design is a monohull called Sea Axe. This hull design came about after Damen sought cooperation between Delft University of Technology, MARIN and the US Coast Guard. Damen’s exclusively licensed and patented ‘Sea Axe’ hull shape was designed to provide high speed vessels extrodinary seakeeping characteristics, improved crew safety and comfort and fuel efficiancies. The vessels exhibit superior motion behaviour and significantly lower resistance through the water. This leads to a cut in fuel usage of 20% and, consequently, lower emissions.

“the Sea Axe bow shape reduces any uncomfortable slamming that might occur during high-speed transits. This is because the forward energy of the vessel allows it to go through the waves, instead of going over them,” said Damen product portfolio manager for research Albert Rijkens.

Another aspect of testing involved the vessel’s resistance at speed.

“Our results showed that, due to its long and narrow hull, the FCS 7011 has relatively low resistance at speed” said Mr Rijkens.

Positioned at the stern of the model, the FCS 7011’s ride control system – which measures ship movement and continuously determines the position of active control mechanisms through these signals – was also put through its paces. “The effectiveness of the system – enabling us to improve comfort levels even further – was also validated in these tests,” added Mr Rijkens.  

“The forward energy of the vessel allows it to go through the waves, instead of going over them”

Walk-to-work

Damen collaborated with Ampelmann on the walk-to-work gangway and Veem on the vessel’s stabilizing gyroscope. Measuring 28 m long, the gangway enables a continuous flow of personnel and is capable of transferring 50 people in five minutes. The gangway also comes with Seaqualize balancing technology, resulting in enhanced energy efficiency. Veem’s VG 1000 SD stabilizer gives the gangway a roll reduction of up to 70% in 2.5 m significant wave heights.

Dynamic positioning capability is provided by Kongsberg, and the DP2 design provides a broad range of marine access solutions for sea states of up to 3.0 Hs. The vessel will be able to land personnel on platforms and floating production units up to a landing height of 20 m.

The gangway is optional, however Damen says the vessel represents the next generation of crew change and hence it does not see basket-based transfers as being part of the equation. The stabiliser is also optional, but Mr Stibbe pointed out that while omitting this would save money and weight, it would negatively affect roll-reduction capabilities while at a standstill. While Damen is in discussions with other suppliers, such as Netherlands-based SMST, the first vessel at least will be equipped with the Ampelmann gangway system.

Interior

Aspects of the design such as hull length are standardized, however the vessel’s interior allows for a high degree of customization.

“High-density seating can accommodate up to 150 persons “

A luxury solution incorporates lie-flat seats where capacity reduces to less than 100. There is also provisions for meeting rooms and accommodation spaces are placed amidships to maximize comfort.

Engine options

The engine configuration sees several layouts available. The default configuration involves four MTU 4000 engines giving 12.5 – 14.4 mW, producing speeds of up to 40 knots. Other alternatives are Caterpillar and Cummins systems.

Buyers

The vessel has attracted most interest from Brazil, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico, according to Mr Stibbe, but operators in new frontier areas such as Guyana are also expressing interest.

For the US and Gulf of Mexico market Damen has selected Metal Shark to build and produce the FCS 7011

Metal Shark is an American shipyard based in Franklin, Louisiana, that has indoor construction and direct deepwater access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Results to speak for themselves

“Most questions from oil companies are about workability.” according to Damen’s business development manager David Stibbe. With the FCS 7011 Damen gives its customers access to multiple analysis tools so a client has transparency in regard to the the performance and costs of the FCS 7011. One of these tools provides detailed operational expenditure that includes daily costs and maintenance costs. A second tool is a hardware in the loop ‘digital twin’ of the yacht providing accurate models of systems and equipment characteristics, vessel limitations and how it handles in various sea conditions. Along with this, the gangway system and DP controller, a client will see the vessels workability and advantages as a fast crew supplier.

While operators may still retain helicopters for VIP transport and search-and-rescue purposes, Mr Stibbe sees vessels such as the FCS 7011 becoming the main offshore workhorses. In time the 7011’s data analysis features will give oil companies the information they need to determine where helicopters, or water borne alternatives, should sit in the mix over the coming years.