Given that Icon Yachts’ CEO Wim Koersvelt managed new-construction projects for several Middle East-based owners during his career, it makes sense that he chose last week’s premier edition of the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show to unveil plans for a 95-meter (312-foot) megayacht.
The yard collaborated with Redman Whiteley Dixon, the design team responsible for other projects Icon is building and/or shopping around. In fact, this superyacht is based on the Icon 62, a 62-meter (203-foot) yacht nearing completion. This is in keeping with Icon’s philosophy of establishing set parameters for the hull shape, crew areas, as well as the engine room and other technical areas, yet still allowing owners the ability to customize exterior styling and interior living areas.
Justin Redman of the design team believes the Icon 95 is ideally suited to the Gulf States: “Structural fabrics and tensile surfaces are a modern interpretation of traditional Arabic shipbuilding and architecture.” He further says, “The raked fore and aft windscreens contrast to the sinuous hull and superstructure lines to give the profile a dynamic poise.”
In looking further at the profile, you’ll notice there are some, but not many, outdoor relaxation areas; among the ones that do exist, the overhang from the deck above keeps them relatively shaded. That’s because there’s a decided difference between Middle Eastern owners and their American and European counterparts when it comes to the sun.
Speaking of differences, Koersvelt declares that diesel-electric propulsion “is the preferred option for a yacht of this size.” Icon therefore is planning to equip the yacht with five MTU 16V 4000 gensets driving two electric motors fitted to controllable-pitch propellers. And because Icon believes in a back-up propulsion system, it’s selecting Schottel pump jets, each driven by an MTU 12V 2000 genset, to serve as the bow and stern thrusters. Though exact speeds haven’t been released, Koersvelt says, “The thrusters will be of sufficient capacity to propel the yacht at an acceptable speed in adverse conditions.” In addition, the thruster controls will be coupled to a dynamic-positioning system to allow the crew to hold the yacht’s position particularly in tight anchorages.
While Redman Whiteley Dixon and Icon are leaving the general arrangement up to an owner to select, there is one feature I think will be kept as is: the helipad with its own “arrival saloon” on the owner’s aft deck.
Leave a Reply