Feadship has launched the 83.50 metre superyacht Savannah, previously known as project 686. The yard claims Savannah is the first superyacht to feature a combination single diesel engine, three gensets, batteries, propeller, azimuting thruster and a streamlined hull shape.
“It is not the individual technologies used on Savannah that are new in the yachting world – it is the way they have been combined,” says the owner’s project manager, Ted McCumber. “Feadship has leveraged on all the options available in the marine industry today to bring this hugely innovative system to completion.
“The possibility to choose between diesel, diesel-electric or fully electric is truly exceptional. Moreover, Savannah is the first yacht in the world to be running with an azipull and a variable pitch propeller. Only Feadship engineering and the rich experience of this yard could have successfully concluded a project of such scope and vision.”
The builder says the combination is extremely energy efficient, offering fuel economies of 30%. Further innovation can be found in the accommodation, in the form of a floating superstructure, an underwater lounge and open aft deck areas.
Inspired by the 2010 Feadship concept Breathe, Savannah is said to be a demonstration of a cost-effective and cleaner mode of propulsion for superyachts. Feadship has built Savannah with a dynamic hull shape and a very fine entry, giving a comfortable ride for passengers, quite apart from the fuel efficiency benefits. She uses one efficient medium-speed Wärtsilä main engine instead of two higher-rev diesels, with a single central propeller shaft installation on the centreline and three gensets.
Savannah boasts an exterior profile created in partnership between CG Design and Feadship’s designers that includes a ‘floating superstructure’. The glass and composite panels appear to float thanks to complex visual trickery involving polished stainless steel strips, aluminium supports and teak. The stainless steel doors form part of the yacht’s continuous line and also appear to be floating as part of what Feadship admits is a complicated design feature.
The aft owner and main deck areas have been designed as single open spaces, with sliding doors enclosing them from the elements but letting in plenty of natural light. With the doors open, the entire space from the swimming pool to the salon becomes al fresco experience.
“The owner of Savannah loves to be at one with the water,” explains McCumber. “This phenomenal design allows him to run from the main salon and dive straight into the sea.”
The exterior colour scheme of the superyacht is Sea Foam metallic green and Feadship says Savannahis the first superyacht to be entirely metallic painted, including the ceilings and fixed deck furniture, with the exception of the mast domes. Feadship developed a spray nozzle technique to attain the all-metallic look which had to be achieved in one sweep to avoid any colour discrepancy. The outside staircases are jet black and the steps covered in teak.
She is the second superyacht venture from the boards of CG Design and features an intricate level of detailing throughout, for instance lighting fixtures offering up to 10 different colours, lens types and positions.
The ‘underwater lounge’ at port side where guests can watch the fish outside or turn around and observe the fun and games in the nine-metre swimming pool. The room, which also converts into a cinema, is another first for a superyacht and features especially thick glass due to its position in the hull. The boat has a 12.5 metre or 41 foot beam and contains the owner’s suite and four large guest suites, as well as one VIP cabin with a balcony. Savannah will carry 26 crew members. She has a tender bay finished in teak with a hatch that doubles as a mooring platform. After docking, guests can walk inside the garage and take the stairs straight up to the main deck.
Feadship director Henk de Vries says, “More than a thousand people have been involved with the creation of Savannah since the contract was signed at the end of 2011. And the tremendous final result once again shows how Feadship is never afraid to venture into uncharted waters.”
Feadship
( www.feadship.nl )
