The 274’9” (83.5-meter) megayacht Savannah made quite a splash when she launched in January. Besides the metallic green paint job she bears, she stands apart for being the first hybrid yacht built by Feadship. It’s important to note that Savannah is not the world’s first hybrid, as has been widely reported. Rather, it is the configuration of her system that is truly different. It includes a single Wärtsilä diesel engine, three gensets, batteries, a central variable-pitch propeller, and an azimuthing thruster just aft of that propeller. Furthermore, the prop is 40 percent larger than that of the equipment aboard similar-size yachts, yet has half the load thanks to the thruster. The thruster also, of course, aids in maneuvering Savannah.
A few weeks ago that hybrid system was put to the test, during sea trials. Here’s a look at how Savannah performed:
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