SW108 Superyacht Goes for Sustainable Sailing With Diesel Hybrid Electric System

At first glance, the SW108 model looks like an elegant yacht that’s not too different from other custom versions. But there’s more than just an exquisite design, when it comes to this newcomer. Built as a sustainable alternative, this yacht is environmentally friendly, without sacrificing efficiency.

The 107 ft. (32.77 meters) long ship, weighing 71.5 tons, was manufactured by Southern Wind Shipyard and it represents their newest project. Nauta Design and Farr Yacht Design developed the overall concept of a custom yacht that would also be an innovation in terms of power systems.

According to Southern Wind Shipyard, the SWS Diesel Electric System was developed with help from experts in defense and aerospace hybrid solutions. By combining an electric propulsion motor with 2 powerful generators and a high-voltage group of batteries, the result is a more efficient fossil fuel consumption, which leads to less emissions.

This makes SW108 one of the top yachts in the long-range cruising category, with a high level of autonomy, because hybrid propulsion allows extended hours of sailing, with less harmful emissions. On top of that, it can also operate in silent mode, making the sailing experience more pleasant.

In fact, the SW108 comes with 3 operating modes. The Silent mode uses only battery power for simple maneuvers such as anchoring, making the boat emissions-free and noise-free. When operated in Electric Hybrid mode, the Diesel system’s fuel consumption is low. This mode can be activated when the battery needs to be recharged.

The Sailing mode or hydro generation is when the propeller acts as a hydro generator. This is what gives the boat optimal speed, while sailing.

“Smart” and reliable, the SW108 superyacht is ready to be customized for its future journeys at sea.