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Feadship's 55m SHINKAI Refit & Ready for Global Exploration
Ahead of her sea trials and delivery later this year, Feadship’s pure custom SHINKAI has taken her first steps towards a lifetime of global exploration. This impressive 55m motor yacht displays all the signs of a genuine custom superyacht, with the addition of a striking mast and enough space to accommodate her very own submarine.
Although the inaugural journey for the 55m superyacht was a short move from the Feadship shipyard in Aalsmeer to the nearby outside dock, SHINKAI is fully equipped to take on the challenges of future global exploration. Designer Philippe Briand, along with the teams at Vitruvius and Feadship, worked in close collaboration to develop an explorer yacht that could withstand the ever-changing waters of global travel, whilst remaining self-sufficient and fuel-efficient. One of the proposed journeys for SHINKAI is the renowned North-West passage, and thus her steel hull has been constructed to ice class and includes an advanced WASSP sonar system in order to explore the ocean floor.
In a first for a yacht of this size, SHINKAI has had a gyroscope system fitted within her hull. The gyroscope is the largest unit built to date, weighing an impressive 23 tonnes and measuring 3 x 3 metres. For a yacht built to travel long distances whilst remaining fuel-efficient, this weight is a lot to be contending with.
In addition to the heft of the gyro, the superyacht also has to contend with the 7.2 tonnes of added weight of the submarine plus the 7400kg crane required to lift the underwater craft. Fortunately, the crane will serve a dual purpose, its 8-metre outreach will also be used to launch SHINKAI’s tender and transfer the owner's car from deck to shore.
The individuality of the fully custom SHINKAI truly showcases Feadship’s impressive ability to craft bespoke superyachts in alignment to the owners greatest wishes. As with all Feadship yachts the sumptuous interior, designed by Boutsen Design, provides elite levels of comfort for the owner and their family.