3deluxe launches zero-carbon superyacht with cultivation garden

a floating garden in the middle of the sea

multidisciplinary design practice 3deluxe unveils ‘VY.01’, a zero-carbon superyacht with an ambitious design that combines luxury and technological innovation. the project adopts a nature-oriented philosophy, generating a light-suffused, loft-like space including a greenhouse, lounge living space, kitchen, bar, and vegetable garden. healthy food can be cultivated on-board, and fresh fish can be captured from the ocean, while additional water needed for the plants is made available by the seawater desalination system, powered by the zero-carbon solar panels on the roof and the exterior. relaxation, workouts, online business meetings, celebrations with friends — all this is possible within the inspiring ambiance of the ‘paradisiacal biotope’, as the creators call it.

all images courtesy of 3deluxe

biophilic superyacht

the simple, elegant exterior of the ship by 3deluxe (find more here) is characterized by a homogeneous, closed shape. reduced and streamlined, the volume offers minimal resistance to wind and weather, and the hull merges seamlessly with the side façade right up to the highest point of the ship. sensor-controlled louvers are integrated into the raised side walls to regulate the amount of light reaching the upper decks and can be closed during fast sailing and adverse weather. the protected flat roof is glazed and lets daylight into the interior, in addition to which, the side, sensor-controlled louvers also boast transparent photovoltaic cells, which provide power for air conditioning, light and the desalination system. the wheelhouse is unconventionally located at the bow, so the open sundeck behind it can extend seamlessly through into a generous one-space interior concept. at the open stern there is a saltwater pool and a small marina with direct access to the sea.

private yacht and educative vessel in one

ideally, the ship’s future owners will make it available for educational and training purposes during lay-up periods. the aim is to remove the elitist character of these kinds of private investments and to use the project as a communicative platform for discussion of the complex challenges of our time – as a modern, innovative training ship for new and inspirational approaches for young people, students, and innovative start-ups, and as an unconventional venue for summits, conferences and think tanks. ideally, this would compensate somewhat for the consumption of resources involved in its construction.

gentle technologies for the heavy metal sector

the most attractive and progressive key technology for zero-carbon propulsion of cruise ships and yachts is currently considered to be fuel cells driven by hydrogen. the hydrogen required for the fuel cells can either be refueled or produced locally using methanol from emissions-free production. methanol is more readily available and less complex to handle than hydrogen, and with one full tank of bio-methanol a fuel-cell yacht travelling at slow speed can still cover a distance of 1,000 nautical miles. this technology currently remains expensive, but with the appropriate maturity and greater prospects for marketing, it will become increasingly affordable for commercial shipping. the silent electric engines, which can be distributed decentrally throughout the ship, also avoid any outward noise pollution, while the interior of the ship would likewise be unusually quiet and free of vibrations.

yet it’s not only the operation, but also the construction of a yacht that needs to be as emission-free and sparing in its use of resources as possible. there are already some innovative steel and aluminum producers in norway and germany who are driving down CO2 emissions considerably through the use of renewable energy, optimized manufacturing processes and recycling, and similar optimization should apply to the entire manufacturing process of the yacht. after all, here too innovative yacht construction could be a driving force for an emissions-free future for the entire shipping industry.