Oceanco Looks to Revolutionize Superyacht Design and Construction with Project Aeolus

What do an automotive visionary who designed the Ghost and the Phantom for Rolls-Royce, a dynamic interior design team that’s known for creating one-of-a-kind spaces, and a shipyard that’s built some of the largest and most recognizable superyachts on the planet have in common?

I think you can probably guess they’ve teamed up to design and build a new superyacht. But as you can see from these early images, this is not just another superyacht concept. In fact, it’s only a concept–but, it’s ready for a pioneering owner now, and it might already be in the running for “Superyacht of the Year.” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?

First off, it’s called Aeolus. It’s 430 feet long and it’s the culmination of a collaboration between the creative mind of Giles Taylor (of Rolls-Royce and other automotive successes), the Dutch superyacht shipyard Oceanco (that’s built a long list of iconic superyachts including Gerry Jones’ 357-foot-long Barvo Eugina and Jeff Bezos’ newly launched 417-foot-long, three-masted superyacht KORU), and the interior designers at Njord by Bergman Design House, who made a huge splash with the Burning-Man-inspired interior they designed for Dave Hagewood’s yacht Galaxy and the specialized technical expertise of ABB and MTU.

Other details include an innovative hull shape that features an interesting opening near the bow, three glass-clad decks, and a large private oasis for a courageous owner who’s ready to step up and build something that’s never been done before.

Overall, the interior features well-thought-out multi-use spaces that are shaped to make Aeolus’s interior feel welcoming and open. According to advance reports, the yacht is designed to be a natural, private, sea-borne sanctuary—rather than a party boat that can accommodate too many people! The private owner’s deck stands out as a secluded world for relaxation or business as necessary.

The next level down features the master suite with its unobstructed panoramic vistas, not to mention a stunning sunken bath and private seating nook for quiet contemplation. The aft part of the upper deck is given over to a multifunctional space for relaxing, dining with guests, or hosting a business function; fully glazed with stunning views, it has a symmetry of layout that reminds one of the great ocean liners from the Golden Age.

In addition to all that, Aeolus aligns with Oceanco’s NXT initiative to show that sustainability can be beautiful, stylish, and practical, both in terms of technical capability and materials.

Together with Aeolus’s technical partners ABB and MTU, Oceanco and Lateral continue to look for ways to help the yacht become more sustainable as new technologies emerge. One way they are trying to make a difference is by developing their Energy Transition Platform (ETP) to ensure multiple technical pathways can be pursued as technologies mature during the energy transition timeline. That means that Aeolus is obviously configured to be state-of-the-art today. But in her final ‘end state’, Aeolus would be configured with a 100% alternative fuel hybrid of fuel cells and internal combustion power generation. Critically, during her lifespan, a pre-strategized and intermediate upgrade can be implemented, dependent upon the advancement and commercial availability of technology.

So, what do you think? Superyacht of the Year? Stay tuned to find out.

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