Together with Dutch naval architecture firm Vripack, yacht designer PAE/Nordhavn has designed its first metal yacht, the Nordhavn 148. As a mix of commercial ship and elegant superyacht, the yacht has been designed with an extreme cruising itinerary in mind, the Northwest Passage.
‘We’ve talked about building a larger boat for a while now,’ says Jim Leishman, Vice President of Pacific Asian Enterprises (PAE), Inc. headquartered in California and which manufactures Nordhavns. ‘It would be something specifically meant for the most challenging worldwide conditions.’
Reimagining a Nordhavn Design
Vripack was selected to mentor the project and head up engineering due to its experience with Northwest Passage-exploring yachts. When compared to other yachts in the Nordhavn product line, this new design will be built to a greater structural integrity with ice capability.
‘Nordhavn were keen to tap into our explorer heritage,’ says Marnix Hoekstra, co-creative director at Vripack. ‘Nordhavn boats are renowned for venturing to remote off-the-beaten-track destinations, and so the aim was to demonstrate to owners that this significant latest model has been conceived by a design studio that has a proven track record in this arena.’
The Nordhavn 148 possesses the strong Nordhavn DNA and feel, but with Dutch styling. ‘As a designer, we really were able to be on the cutting edge in terms of how far we could stretch the Nordhavn brand without losing its heritage. It’s a Nordhavn explorer – designed by Vripack – but it remains a Nordhavn nonetheless. Our aim was simply to reimagine it,’ Hoekstra adds.
Design Features
Key to the design are Vripack’s reinterpretation of particular features, including a flared, rounded bow, the yard’s combination of square and round windows, and an industrial chic aesthetic. The vessel can accommodate twelve people in addition to ten crew members.
The interior volume of the N148 will be approximately 25 per cent larger than the fleet’s current queenship, the Nordhavn 120, which is constructed of FRP and measures about 400 gross tonnes (GT); the N148 by comparison is expected to measure 495 GT. The vessel will be 45 metres long with an 8.6-metre beam and 2.7-metre draft. The yacht can reach speeds of about fourteen knots.
Aside from heft, building out of steel and aluminum is more custom-friendly, and also provides a more efficient process – both in production time and budget. Leishman expects a new Nordhavn 148 to be completed in less than two years.
