Ragnar: The Explorer Yacht to Conquer New Worlds Is Released

Icon Yachts releases its latest conversion project – The new Explorer Yacht Ragnar, since entering the shed for conversion back in 2017.

The name Ragnar of Norse origin, means “warrior or judgment”. It is a fitting new title for an old ice breaker that used to be called ‘Sanaborg’, that once lay idle and unused near Holland’s northern coast. The new owner, who takes an interest in medieval battles and weaponry, had a different vision for the vessel’s future and after working with UK design firm RWD, the explorer yacht was given character with a helmet-like face, a new body and new armour to suit.

The 77 meter Explorer Yacht Ragnar (previously named ‘Sanaborg’ and built in 2012) went into Icon Yacht’s shed for the extreme conversion in 2017 and only now on January 25th 2020 has the doors to the dry dock opened for the new ice warrior to be released and its new body and armour to be admired by all.

Being the first LY3 compliant superyacht (*explained below) to also be in the Ice Class 1A Super category, Ragnar is able to operate in Arctic temperatures as low as -35°C and maintain a speed of four knots in ice over half a meter thick. One of Ragnar’s ice-breaking weapons is her unique ICE class PC5-rated electric-driven ice pods. With an incredible range of 6,000 nautical miles, Ragnar enables the owners and their guests the enviable ability to explore the most remote areas of the planet.

Inside Ragnar, the conversion included an increase of luxury accommodation which will allow for 16 guests split across eight cabins and including two owner’s suites. Some of the standout features include a superyacht spa, complete with massage room, sauna, ski room, snow room, ice pool, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and gym.

Outside, the new functional deck is designated for plenty of toys and has a fully-certified helicopter landing pad. As well as being able to accommodate an Airbus H145/EC145 sized helicopter, some of the other toys on Ragnar will include a sea explorer submarine, two tenders, jetski’s, Castoldi RIB, two Laser sailing boats and a Ripsaw EV2 luxury super tank which can be deployed by 10-tonne and 5-tonne capacity deck cranes.

Jen Wartena, CEO of Icon Yachts, has said of the project “Complex conversions require experience and know-how, but also a different mentality: you have to be flexible, creative and solution-minded. I think Ragnar is further proof that we have what it takes.”

If the 2,450 GT ice-breaker warrior explorer yacht Ragnar sound like you then you’ll love to hear that it’ll eventually be available for charter with Burgess.

*Large Yacht Code LY3 Explained

Originally written to protect commercial seafarer’s rights, The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 standards (MLC 2006) stipulates crew accommodation sizes that would be difficult to fit within the confines of a yacht. Studies show that yacht guests would lose approximately 40 per cent of their space to crew and because MLC 2006 did not specifically exclude superyachts, something had to be done.

The LY3 code was created and adopted in response and appropriately addresses the MLC 2006 restrictions, adding two new sections, 21A and 21B, to implement substantially equivalent arrangements to the crew accommodation requirements of MLC. The LY3 code also created standards for many other issues such as fires in galleys, elevator and ship radio capabilities, polar operations and also submersible craft regulations among others.