By
Alex Smith |
YSA Design has revealed a concept for a new type of sail-powered catamaran cruise ship, codenamed Seabreeze.
The design proposes a 104.5-metre-long ship with a four-metre draft, allowing the vessel to access shallow waters. Dual hulls would counteract listing under sail, maintaining stability for up to 200 guests onboard.
Four 50-metre-high foldable sails would be mounted on six-metre-high bases on deck to capture wind for the main source of propulsion. Engines running on green bio-methanol would sustain hotel operations and – when the wind is insufficient – the main propulsion for the ship. The ship would also be equipped with a hybrid drive to allow operation on battery power.
The two 18.2-metre-wide hulls would be connected by an inverted U-shaped structure spanning 18.5 metres, with the catamaran’s two-deck central superstructure including the bridge and some public spaces. Each hull would include four decks and a yacht top, with room for 100 dual occupancy guest cabins and 155 crew.
The hulls would also feature a retractable aft and two central platforms which would extend down to the water when Seabreeze is at anchor or in dynamic positioning mode. Sea lounges could then open for sunset dining as spas, or as beach and water sports clubs.
The ship's two hulls would feature a retractable aft and two central platforms that could extend down to the water
The design also proposes a transparent bay structure between the hulls so that guests can step out over the sea, with auxiliary lighting allowing them to see underwater features below. Alternatively, the ship could feature a mesh connecting the hulls which guests could relax on.
“Sustainability is critical but cruise shipping also needs to continuously reinvent itself,” said Trond Sigurdsen, senior architect and partner for YSA Design. “A sustainable ship which brings environmentally conscious guests closer to the sea and reaches destinations others cannot is a clear opportunity at the premium end of the cruise market.”