The 45.6-metre fishing trawler yacht Scintilla Maris has left Damen Maaskant's shipyard in Rotterdam and is now on her maiden voyage to London. Translating from Latin as "the spark of the sea", she was delivered to her owner in September 2023.
Scintilla Maris underwent a full-scale conversion to turn her into a capable and competent explorer yacht while also reducing the yacht's 570GT to below the 500GT threshold. This was done at her home shipyard of Damen Maaskant, with work concluding in August 2023.
She is currently a finalist in the 'Rebuilt Yacht' category at the World Superyacht Awards 2024, which will be returning to Venice from 3-4 May.
Dutch studio Vripack was responsible for the yacht's new interior calling it a "fun collaboration" between the design house, the yard and the owner. The interior imagery was shared with BOAT International in October 2023.
Her new interiors have a contemporary loftlike aesthetic, incorporating skylights, curved feature walls and an eclectic colour scheme of reds, greens and yellows.
Key changes also included the installation of hybrid-electric propulsion and a harbour generator. Stricter emission regulations meant that the original 4,400hp Deutz MWM diesel engine, which was in "excellent condition" according to the yard, had to be abandoned. The new hybrid system offers four sailing modes with the help of three diesel generators.
The yard's goal of paring down the internal volume has meant more semi-enclosed and open spaces. Ten guests can be accommodated in the lower deck in four double cabins and a large owner’s suite amidships underneath the original hatch into the fish hold.
The ambitious project began in 2019, with the yard stripping back the hull to bare metal and completely ripping out the interior, decking and propulsion. According to the shipyard, the vessel's new owner wanted to build on an existing hull because of the "exceptional quality" of its design, engineering and construction.
"We’re used to working with demanding commercial clients who require a high degree of flexibility,” said Eric Moerkerk, managing director of Damen Maaskant. “Owners and their reps are always here in the yard during construction requesting changes and we’re able to react to their needs. This is the nature of the shipbuilding business today and that flexibility means we’re well prepared to handle conversion projects like Scintilla Maris.”
The vessel was one of eight models built at the shipyard, which was founded in the 1940s and later became part of the Damen Group. She was launched in 1988 and previously named Vertrouen HD23.
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