Austrian solar catamaran builder Silent-Yachts has announced a collaboration with aerospace engineers VRCO and U-Boat Worx that will see its new 36.7-metre Silent 120 Explorer catamaran offered with the option of an aircraft and submarine.
The new superyacht project, which is due to hit the water in 2024, has been designed with eco-friendly expedition in mind. The yacht will be fitted with solar panels that can power 40kWp of energy, enough for the yacht's hotel mode and with the capacity to recharge an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft as well as a U-Boat Worx NEMO submarine. The solar panels can also slide outboard port and starboard to reveal a touch-and-go landing pad across the Explorer’s 13.85-metre beam.
“The trend is for bigger yachts and more luxury, more comfort, more water toys and more possibilities,” said Michael Köhler, founder and CEO of Silent-Yachts . “In the Silent 120 Explorer we designed a boat that is bigger in volume although not in length, and bigger gives the opportunity to store more of these toys. “We build catamarans, which means more beam and more space,” he added.
“We also build our boats with solar power and electric propulsion, and that means we don’t have to give a lot of space to an engine room, which means we gain room for things like a gym or extra tender storage. Finally, the extra beam of the catamaran form means the roof can accommodate an eVTOL aircraft. We can plug it in on board and it will be recharged in a couple of hours.
The aircraft will offer transportation for up to four and includes detection and avoidance technology, a ballistic parachute and low-altitude crash prevention systems. The technology is due for certification in 2024.
Meanwhile, the U-Boat Worx NEMO submarine offers diving to 100-metre depths for two people in an all-electric package whose footprint is smaller than two jet skis. It can offer eight hours of autonomy and positive buoyancy for automatic resurfacing at three knots.
Designed by Marco Casali, the multihull model started life as the Silent 100 but has since been extended by around six metres.
Thee new Silent 120 Explorer has an impressive interior volume of 499GT, providing plenty of space for owners to make their own. Combined, the interior and exterior offer 900 square metres of space to unwind.
800kW lithium-ion batteries drive highly efficient 340kW e-motors, giving unlimited cruising potential. A cruising speed of eight knots is anticipated, while she is expected to reach top speeds of 16 knots.
While headquarters are in Austria, the Silent 120 is currently under construction in Turkey where the yard is also working on the 25-metre Silent VisionF 82. Part of a unique collaboration with Turkey’s VisionF Yachts, these models are built in aluminium, with four currently under construction.