Sinot reveals Aqua, the superyacht of the future

Looking like something bridging the divide between an alien spaceship and Captain Nemo’s Nautilus, the 360-foot/110-metre Aqua superyacht concept will form Sinot’s virtual showcase at the upcoming 2019 Monaco Yacht Show.

The uberluxury concept, featuring an internal spiral staircase, Apple-seque minimalism and an emphasis on showing fine art, took five months to design.

At its heart is a hydrogen fuel cell engine designed by Lateral Naval Architects, itself a collaboration between UK-based BMT Nigel Gee and Dutch superyacht builder Oceanco.

The concept – if it is ever built – will carry 28 tonnes of hydrogen. The lightweight fuel – one source of generating hydrogen is spitting it from water – will feed into a pair of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each generating 1MW – equivalent to the energy needs of almost 200 houses – and send drive to a propulsion system integrating a central gondola with a contra rotating propeller paired with twin vertical axis propellers – think cyclorotors.

According to Lateral, this will allow the long, thin Aqua to position itself precisely when docking or holding station, and change direction almost instantly just by altering their pitch.

The concept superyacht is also fitted with a pair of 300kW bow thrusters, and a bank of 1.5MWh batteries – that’s enough to power up to 300 homes for an hour.

The lack of rudders and propellor shafts also makes the hull much more efficient through the water; Lateral says their absence generates up to a 9.0 per cent gain at range speed, and 7.0 per cent at top speed.

Its long lines alone yield the Aqua up to a 30 per cent saving in drag compared with a similar volume yacht.

But owners will only see the level of luxury the Aqua concept offers. Its special feature is a viewing lounge built high into the wavebreaker-style bow, giving a 180-degree view of the ocean ahead.

From there back, everything shouts luxury.

“Superyachts, as both extremely elaborate pieces of professional equipment and meticulously crafted and superbly-detailed luxurious homes, require a balanced and highly organised spatial structure,” Sinot says.

“Planning and designing its form, space and ambience to incorporate functional, technical, social, environmental and aesthetic considerations within a restricted space perimeter demands the most from all professionals involved in the yacht realisation process.”

What that means is the yacht’s designers worked hard to cram a lot of high-end looks and features into the long, narrow shape of the hull.

Onboard, there’s room for up to 14 guests in accommodations that include four guest staterooms, two VIP staterooms, and an owner pavillion.

There’s also a wellness centre, and a waterfall.

But a big boat has to be managed, and that’s where the real cost comes in. Aqua has accommodation for 31 crew via 14 double crew rooms, two offer’s quarters and a captain’s quarters.

Specifications
Model: Sinot Aqua concept superyacht
Length overall: 112.3m
Waterline length: 112m
Beam: 15.4m
Draft: 3.95m (half load)
Weight: 3530t
Cruise speed: 10-12kt
Top speed: 17kt
Range: 3750nm