It all starts with a dream, whether we're talking about a small accomplishment or the most daring, outrageous feats. The same goes for superyacht designs, where the vessels of tomorrow are born out of the fantasies of today's dreamers.
That's what conceptual studies are: fantasies rooted in the realm of the possible, meant to push boundaries and aspire for finer achievement in a particular field. Superyacht concepts might seem like a fun way of passing the time to the non-initiated – and they definitely are that as well – but their function is to show what could be done in an industry governed by strict norms and rules.
Indeed, the vast majority of superyacht concepts never get a second shot at life beyond the digital sheet of paper they're drawn on, and that's ok, too. Since they're studies, they might end up inspiring other designers, so maybe some of those revolutionary features will make the transition to real life in a future build.
Concept studies, to put it in much simpler terms, are the countless hours of training before a marathon. No outsider will know about them, but they're necessary for the successful completion of the marathon.
Photo: Finn Berg Yacht Design
That said, here is one designer getting off to a great start. Finn Berg has just completed a Bachelor's Degree course in Automotive and Transport Design at the University of Coventry in the UK, and his final-year project is a design for a superyacht explorer he calls EXO-X. He doesn't explain what the name stands for, but he says his superyacht is meant "to go places."
Take that both literally and figuratively.
Superyacht explorers are a relatively new breed of large private vessels, enjoying increased popularity over the past several years. They're half superyacht and half explorer yacht, which means they're capable of reaching remote locations, so they boast extended autonomy and are equipped with an ice-class hull.
Photo: Finn Berg Yacht Design
As explorers, they're also loaded with exploration and research gear, and have dedicated features just for that.
Superyacht explorers are equally fancy, matching and sometimes even beating proper superyachts in terms of features, accommodation capabilities, or luxury amenities. These range from pools to private cinemas, bars and chef's kitchens, super lavish finishes, and features you'd be hard-pressed to find on most other vessels in the same size category.
EXO-X definitely fits the description above, adding an industry first in the process: it is the first superyacht explorer (concept) in the world to feature a telescopic observation elevator. It also boasts an underwater observation lounge, which is a most incredible feature to have but has been done before – both in concepts and in actual builds.
Photo: Finn Berg Yacht Design
EXO-X is has a total length on water of 63.3 meters (207 feet), with a beam of 11.3 meters (37 feet), and a draft of 3.3 meters (11 feet) that enhances its go-anywhere capabilities.
It offers accommodation for 12 guests, a crew of 14, and additional quarters for a research team of four. Since it's a superyacht explorer, it perfectly combines luxury features like an infinity, glass pool with a science and research lab and the aforementioned observation points.
The most impressive is the telescopic observation elevator, which is exactly what its name implies: an elevator that rises up through the hardtop of the sundeck to offer the best vantage point in the house. Renders show it as a tubular extension that could maybe fit two people at once, as long as they're more on the slender side, ideal for whale watching. Berg notes that an observation point of this type has never been done before in superyacht design.
Photo: Finn Berg Yacht Design
Oppositely, the underwater lounge (which has been done before, with the most notable examples including Feadship's Savannah and Abeking & Rasmussen's Elandess) is super fancy and larger in size. Located just below the water level, it offers a good look on the water surface and at some depth, and is styled like a screening room with large, comfortable sofas facing a floor-to-ceiling window.
The displacement hull with a near-vertical bow is designed to be robust and smooth during operation, while propulsion would be future-proof with three methanol fuel cells. This is the part where dreaming comes in, since major shipyards are yet to introduce this type of propulsion despite sustained efforts to integrate it in a bid to curb emissions and reduce impact on pristine environments they're meant to explore.
EXO-X also features a helipad, a large garage that can hold everything from tenders and jet skis to rescue boats, several outdoor lounging areas and the pool mentioned above, and a sundeck designed as the ultimate invitation to relaxation and sun-worshipping. Meanwhile, the interiors are minimalist, with clean lines and gorgeous, sleek furniture pieces, but not lacking extra features, like bars and formal dining.
Photo: Finn Berg Yacht Design
As superyacht concepts go, they could move on to the next stage of development after publication if an interested party or shipyard comes along. No word yet if that's what's in the cards for EXO-X, but dreamers hardly ever care about that.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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