New Icebreaking Megayacht Will Have Adventurous Billionaires Drooling

Cruising around the Caribbean or Mediterranean in a mega yacht may be relaxing and all, but for you more adventurous yachtsmen unafraid of a little cold and literally boatloads of cash to burn a new line of expedition vessels may be just what you are looking for.

The new line of purpose-built, Polar-capable expedition yachts, called SeaXplorer, was unveiled this week at the Monaco Yacht Show, promising “life-changing encounters with exotic cultures, majestic wildlife and spectacular wildernesses.”

Among many notable features, the SeaXplorer line is built to be Polar Code compliant, with a reinforced, double-acting hull capable of breaking ice stern-first without impacting the vessel’s overall seakeeping ability while on long-hauls.

The 65 to 100-meter SeaXplorer range was developed through a collaboration between Dutch luxury superyacht builder AMELS and DAMEN, a Netherlands-based shipbuilder specializing in a wide-range of commercial and public-sector vessels from harbor and terminal tugs to offshore vessels and security and defense.

The SeaXplorer also comes with a helicopter hanger, an ultimate dive center with optional decompression chamber, an open bridge, storage for tenders and toys, a crow’s nest with panoramic views, and a swimming pool and jacuzzi, The line also features the proven SEA AXE bow design, known for its wave-piercing bow and seakeeping characteristics.

“A number of experienced yachting clients approached us about adapting DAMEN’s professional vessels, so we knew from them that there were simply no globally capable luxury explorer yachts out there,” says Rob Luijendijk, AMELS Managing Director. “And that’s also what we heard from EYOS Expeditions who have decades of experience in bespoke luxury expeditions to the wildest places on the planet. So that’s why DAMEN began developing the SeaXplorer. The result is well beyond a pretty rendering. It’s a fully developed range – something only DAMEN could do.”

To come up with the design, Damen says that thousands of hours has been invested into research and development, ice tank testing, and real expedition pedigree through detailed design input from partner EYOS Expeditions, and exterior lines were penned by AZURE Yacht Design and Naval Architecture.

The three models in the range – 65, 90 and 100 – can stay at sea for up 40 days without a port call and travel at speeds up to 16 knots.

Illustrations courtesy DAMEN Group