One of the highlights for me each year at the Monaco Yacht Show is seeing the latest concept project from Feadship. For the past three years, the design team at De Voogt Naval Architects has created a model that embraces adventurous design elements and technology. Between last year’s C-Stream model and the previous X- and F-Stream designs, the concepts have been pretty creative – perhaps a little extreme in looks at times for my own personal tastes, but then again, that’s the fun of a concept project. You get to push boundaries because there’s no one reigning in your imagination.
This year’s concept project was no different. She’s named Aeon, to reflect the idea that decisions have long-lasting impact not just for us but also for the Earth. The starting point was what a typical Feadship owner might want in 2020. These include eco-friendly elements – but not necessarily for the reasons you’d assume. The De Voogt team, along with representatives of the Royal De Vries and Royal Van Lent yards, incorporated them because everyone believed that being environmentally conscience would be an everyday occurrence, rather than an exception, within the next decade.
That’s why there’s an abundance of exterior space for solar panels and a reliance on fuel cells and biodiesel. (On an interesting side note, fuel cells are quite large – far larger than can be installed on yachts these days. However, the designers interviewed experts in the technology and learned that it is realistic to anticipate fuel cells becoming small enough to be used onboard by 2020.) The biodiesel is processed in a reformer to convert to hydrogen, which powers the fuel cells. Of course, there are carbon dioxide byproducts of the process, so the gases are captured and fed to an algae reactor. This reactor, which also uses wastewater and sunlight, in turn creates more energy for other systems.
All of the energy coming from these eco-friendly systems not only power the lighting, air conditioning, and other amenities, but also can be stored in batteries. The stored energy can be tapped to flatten peak loads – and for propulsion. Aeon is designed for a continuous 18-knot top speed based on the fuel cells, with 25 knots achievable with the addition of the battery banks.
Inside, eco-friendly ideas continue. You’ve heard of herb gardens – but how about an oyster farm? Yes, Aeon features one, along with an environmental research laboratory and an ocean observatory (above). The lab and observatory are contained within a glass tower, which runs from the uppermost deck to the bottom deck. There’s also a “moon pool” at the waterline, where a dive boat can exit Aeon. Other toys aboard include a sub and a seaplane.
If the exterior design has you puzzled, question no more. The design team drew inspiration for the overall shape from a whale shark. As to the seemingly randomly placed, small circular windows, they, too, are inspired by the whale shark. It may be a little difficult to see, but take a look at the skin pattern of the whale shark gliding by the observatory window above, and you’ll see the resemblance. The windows are also smaller than we’re used to seeing, but for good reason: to lessen the heat transfer from the sun, thereby lessening power needs.
If you’ll be attending the upcoming Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, you’ll get a second chance to see Aeon. Be sure to ask one of the Feadship representatives for the full explanation behind how the design was conceived and how the team performed research. Even if the look isn’t to your liking, I think you’ll agree that Aeon encompasses some pretty interesting concepts that aren’t too far into the future.
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