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About Shinkai

A striking mast and her own submarine were just two of the specific requests by an owner who has enormous experience of discovering the world by sea. Like every genuinely custom superyacht, the design for Shinkai revolved around how best to incorporate a 7.2-tonne submarine on the aft deck along with the giant crane required for launch and collection. Taking this as the starting point, Vitruvius and Feadship developed a 54.90-metre explorer yacht capable of remaining self-sufficient and fuel-efficient while travelling the world.

Shinkai’s launch specifications

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55m Feadship explorer Shinkai completes sea trials

Feadship’s 55 metre custom explorer Shinkai is now nearing delivery after completing sea trials in the North Sea. 

Designer Philippe Briand of Vitruvius Yachts was on board during the rigorous tests, after which he reported back to the owner that, " Shinkai will be the perfect protective and comfortable cocoon from which to explore all the world’s oceans."

“The cold, grey November weather presenting itself to us on the day of Shinkai’s sea trials could not have been better to test her unique blend of rugged explorer meets comfortable superyacht.," he added. 

Scheduled for delivery early next year, Shinkai is designed to embark upon gruelling adventures, such as the North West and North East passages and features a steel, ice-class hull and an advanced sonar system for exploring the ocean floor.

Previously known as Project 708, Shinkai was designed by the Vitruvius design studio with an interior penned by Danielle Boutsen of Boutsen Design.

Traditional stabiliser fins, which could be damaged by underwater ice, have been swapped for a gyroscope system that measures 3x3 metres and weighs 23 tones. Feadship estimates the system to be the largest built to date.

Elsewhere, Shinkai has a “striking mast” and a dedicated submarine – two features specifically requested by the owner who has “enormous experience” of ocean exploration, the yard said.

The 7400kg submarine is retrieved by a “massive crane”, which has a reach of eight metres and will also be used to launch Shinkai 's limousine tender and the owner’s car from the aft deck.

Described as both “self-sufficient and fuel-efficient”, Shinkai's first adventure will be to tackle the North West passage.

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Feadship’s Epic New 180-Foot Explorer Superyacht Hits the Water for the First Time

Project 708 features an ice-class steel hull and is exceptionally efficient., rachel cormack.

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Feadship is typically tight-lipped about its projects, but the Dutch shipyard is proudly showcasing one of its newest superyachts. The yacht builder captured the epic new 180-foot explorer , known as Project 708 , as it sailed through the waters of the Netherlands.

The expedition-style vessel, which just finished its stint at the hull-building facility in Papendrecht, was en route to the Aalsmeer yard. Here, Feadship will commence outfitting the behemoth for its delivery in 2021.

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Commissioned by a client well-versed in global exploration, Project 708 will be “fully self-sufficient and exceptionally fuel-efficient,” according to the yard. This will ensure she can tackle even the most demanding of ocean adventures with ease.

Designed by Philippe Briand and Vitruvius Yachts Ltd, Project 708 sports a hardwearing steel hull built to ice class. Her tough exterior was designed to power her through planned routes in the grueling North-West and North-East Passages.

Furthermore, the explorer will be fitted with the largest gyroscope system built to date. This will counteract the vessel’s natural motion, but, unlike traditional stabilizer fins, it won’t get damaged by underwater ice. Feadship estimates the unit will weigh a hefty 22 tons.

When it’s time to get acquainted with the world beneath the waves, Project 708 is fitted with an advanced sonar system that can explore the ocean floor. It also comes equipped with a 6.9-ton submarine that is stored on the long aft deck when not in use.

To get the sub into the sea, Project 708 features a massive crane that is capable of lifting up to 7.7 tons. The crane, which has an outreach of roughly 26 feet, will also be used to lift a limousine tender and the owner’s car from aft deck to shore.

In classic Feadship fashion, Details about the vessel’s interiors are scant, but we do know Daniela Boutsen of Boutsen Design is spearheading the fit-out.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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55m luxury yacht SHINKAI by Feadship ...

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If you have any questions about the SHINKAI information page below please contact us .

SHINKAI is a fully custom 54m explorer yacht, designed by naval architect Philippe Briand of Vitruvius design, and built by Feadship with a 2021 delivery. She is a true explorer, with specially designed capacity to store a 6.3-tonne, U-Boat Worx C-Explorer 3 submarine with its own 7 tonne winch crane. Accommodation is for 12 guests over 6 cabins, with additional generous quarters for 12 crew members.

NOTABLE FEATURES OF SHINKAI: ~Huge amount of storage capacity for tenders and toys ~Fitted with Gyro stabilisers for easy submarine and tender launch while at low speed ~Owners deck with two suites and two offices ~Ensuite cabins ~WiFi ~Air conditioning

A true explorer yacht, her main deck aft is dedicated to submarine and tender storage, and also featured a water-tight compartment for a land vehicle. There is also a 7 tonne crane specially installed for submarine launch. On her upper deck however, there is space for relaxing and taking in all the incredible views this hull is able to access.

SHINKAI Specifications

The top deck houses the wheelhouse and observation deck. Underneath is the dedicated owners deck, which features a wonderful full-beam dining room, as well as two suites and two offices, which enjoy wonderful views and light from the forward facing windows.

On the main deck is the main salon and remaining guest accommodation. Exact details of the interior layout and décor have yet to be revealed by the shipyard.

Yacht Accommodation

Accommodation is for 12 guests over 6 cabins, including 2 Owner suites, 2 guest cabins, and 2 twin cabins. The Owner suites are situated forward on the dedicated Owners deck. The remaining cabins are located on the main deck below. The 12 person crew have the lower deck to themselves, with 7 cabins, galley, a large mess room, and laundry.

Amenities and Extras

We do have available further amenity, owner and price information for the 54m (177') yacht SHINKAI, so please enquire for more information.

SHINKAI Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht SHINKAI displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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"Whether it’s wiring or plumbing, pipe fitting or painting, finishing or wiring, Feadship has the finest compilation of artists that I could find on my journey of discovery among the superyachts that exist today. It is all the small things that they do, the time they take to do what they do, and the extra effort that they take to make every corner, nook and cranny look great. - Review by the Owner who commissioned yacht ROCK.IT" (hull 687).

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Feadship Launches 55m Explorer Yacht Shinkai

Shinkai, a pure custom  Feadship explorer yacht has left the shipbuilder’s Alssmeer yard for final outfitting before her upcoming sea trials. This marks the first journey of what will be many more to come for the 55m superyacht. New additions include a striking mast and a 7.2-tonne onboard submarine, which is to be manoeuvred by a crane. The crane will also have the capability to launch Shinkai’s limousine tender and move the owners’ car on board.

Shinkai, which means ‘deep sea’ in Japanese, is set to embark on many far-reaching expeditions in the coming years. These will include both the northwest and northeast passages. The vessel’s steel hull has been built to ice-class standards to ensure she can weather the extreme conditions of such voyages. Additionally, for the first time on a yacht of this size, a gyroscope system has been fitted within the hull. At 3×3 metres, the 23-tonne gyro is the largest unit built to date and a heavy piece of equipment for the yacht “designed to go far on less fuel”.

Feadship and Vitruvius  worked with eco-designer  Phillipe Briand  on the ship’s exterior. The collaboration formed an impressive self-sufficient and fuel-efficient yacht capable of travelling the world. Monaco based  Boutsen Design was tasked with creating a luxurious interior. All teams worked closely with the owner throughout the process to achieve their desired custom explorer superyacht.

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Feadship fits 55-metre explorer yacht Shinkai with gyroscope system

by Mariska Buitendijk | Oct 7, 2021 | News , Shipbuilding , Yachts

55-metre custom Feadship yacht Shinkai has made its first trip as it was moved from the Feadship yard in Aalsmeer to the outside dock for final outfitting ahead of sea trials and delivery later this year. New additions include a striking mast and the yacht’s very own submarine. It is also the first yacht of this size to have a gyroscope system for stability.

Like every custom superyacht, the design for Shinkai revolved around these specific choices of the client. In this case, the key was how best to incorporate a 7.2-tonne submarine on the aft deck along with the giant crane required for launching and collection.

Taking this as the starting point, designer Philippe Briand and the teams at Vitruvius and Feadship have developed a 55-metre explorer yacht, which will be able to travel the world while remaining both self-sufficient and fuel-efficient.

The many adventures Shinkai is expected to embark on in the coming years include taking on the North-West passage. The steel hull has therefore been built to ice class and includes an advanced WASSP sonar system to explore the ocean floor.

Also read: Feadship reveals future yacht concept Pure

Gyroscope system

It is not being fitted with traditional stabiliser fins as these could potentially hinder the ability to retrieve the submarine in certain seas. For the first time on a yacht of this size, a gyroscope system has been fitted within the hull, with the tank deck arranged in such a way to enable traditional stabilisers to also be installed later if required.

Measuring 3 x 3 metres and weighing a hefty 23 tonnes, the gyro is the largest unit built to date and a heavy piece of equipment for a yacht built to go far on less fuel. More weight comes from the submarine, of course, and the massive crane required to lift 7400 kg when the sub is manned. This crane has an outreach of almost eight metres and will also be used to launch Project Shinkai’s limousine tender and lift the owner’s car and its crate from the aft deck to the shore.

These are exceptional preconditions for a 55-metre yacht in terms of weight and stability. The yacht also features a supremely comfortable Feadship interior, which has been designed in close cooperation with the owners by Boutsen Design.

Also read: Feadship launches 95-metre hybrid motoryacht Bliss

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