Gresham Yacht Design’s 118m National Flagship Concept

The British design studio began work on a 118m project before the news that the UK government was looking to build this prestigious vessel, and in 2021 became one of the stand-out candidates with the presentation of Project Albion.

The plan to commission a new National Flagship was announced in 2021 with the mission to boost British trade and industry globally. The vessel would be the first national flagship since the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was retired in 1997.  

A new video of Gresham Yacht Design’s National Flagship concept embodies the best of British design expertise, with a strong focus on reducing environmental impact.

“The idea for this design came during Boat International’s design symposium competition,” says founder and design principal of Gresham Yacht Design, Steve Gresham. “During that drawing competition, I penned a design that we called Project Albion. It set the foundations from which we developed the design you see today.”

Gresham Yacht Design’s concept has been developed with a belief that the National Flagship should harness the power of wind, leading to a striking sailing yacht design with modern, environmentally conscious features throughout.

“The National Flagship project is a very exciting proposition and would be an unmatched opportunity to demonstrate the best of British talent to the world,” says Gresham. “It is an opportunity to create a versatile and multifunctional vessel that could be used for official events and exhibition alongside private meetings and dinners for government officials and dignitaries.”

The design of Project Albion incorporates a large double-height atrium to be used as either an exhibition space, a ballroom, or reception area. The layout also offers offices and meeting rooms for British businesses to use when moored at home, abroad or at special events.

The vision for the interior is functional and engineered to be as environmentally conscious as possible, using wind and hybrid power for sailing. Other notable features of the design include a helipad and a hydrogen limousine tender.

In July of this year, Steve Gresham joined us at the premiere of the Top100 ‘Building Green Giants’ film. Prior to the screening, Gresham joined Shari Liu to speak in more detail about the responsibility of a designer to drive sustainable solutions, something that he has certainly carried with regards to Project Albion.