FROM START TO CONCEPT DESIGN: THE EXPLORER
After having introduced superyacht design methodology where we
tried to explain the main principles upon which superyacht design
is based, let us consider a real situation and describe all the
steps of a new design, from the initial idea and owner's
specifications to the concept design stage.
In our case, a 45-metre private yacht, two main approaches are
feasible: the first one is a semi-custom production line, i.e. a
flexible design, that complies with the requirements of several
owners, given just a few fixed standard specifications.
The second approach is a full-custom design, meeting the owner's
requirements and expectations.
The latter is the approach described in this article. We shall
imagine an owner requiring precise features: a vessel tailored to
his tastes, fit for long ocean passages, offering a life close to
the marine environment in every way: the Explorer.
Given the initial requirements, we sit around a table to discuss
all ideas related to the Explorer vessel: this brainstorming phase
is the most important moment for the design. Once the work team is
set up and the main concepts are clear, ideas begin flowing
freely.
Every team member reasons and discusses free from technical
constraints, avoiding any consideration, which could stop or
simply slow down the early stages of design or, even worst,
prevent the adoption of new architectural or engineering
solutions.
Brainstorming means feeling free to be inspired by various
concepts belonging to different disciplines not necessarily
related to the naval field. In this way, every component of the
work team builds up different futuristic and viable scenarios.
The barriers keeping man apart from the environment grow thinner
and thinner. Transparency is a term suggesting a myriad of
different scenarios: transparency considered as thin skin, as an
ethereal barrier between man and environment, as a means to become
chameleonic, dynamic, sensitive to the places the vessel will
visit. Transparency is considered as the possibility of involving
our senses with the voyage, without losing contact with the rest
of the world.
Online connection with the world means the will to use hi-tech
systems for a non-stop connection with the outside, with the land,
with our home.
Home environment is recreated onboard the vessel; it should ensure
the same cosy sensations offered by linings, materials and living
areas. If we imagine long Ocean crossings, snug atmosphere means
comfortable and it is the sensorial or real means that helps the
owner to reach and maintain a psychophysical well-being in every sense.
Well-being is achieved through entertainment and hobbies that make
life easier and less boring. We imagine toys capable of
facilitating access to all the elements let them be air, sea and
land. They should bring the owner nearer to the outside
environment.
On the other hand, he could feel the need for protection, the
comfortable sensation of feeling himself protected in every moment
and in every place, sheltered from any potential danger.
At the end of the brainstorming phase, several visions,
suggestions and emotions arisen from the initial idea are
collected. This material is filtered and arranged in three main
concepts, useful for the development of concept design:
Owner spaces
Relationship with the sea
Range
The problem now is how to translate such generic design concepts
into a real steel superyacht.
First of all we shall analyse what so far has been made with
similar purposes, what has been designed and realised with the
same mission profile. As the specific requirements of this order
do not allow a direct comparison with vessels having similar
characteristics (comparative analysis), we shall carry out a
typological analysis with different types of vessels sharing at
least one characteristic or one feature with our design.
The range of our analysis is wide and exciting: it starts from
pleasure yachts, then it considers cruise ships and oceanographic
vessels, followed by work boats like trawlers and supply vessels,
ending with warships.
The careful study of different solutions suggested by the above-
indicated types of ship opens the possibility of giving a shape to
every idea arisen during the brainstorming phase. Nevertheless,
each solution has different design requirements: dimensions,
shapes, layouts, functions are all influenced and must be taken
into account.
The first result is to achieve, through the analysis of technical
data, the general characteristics of the vessel, the bounding box
of our design. With the support of trend diagrams, where the
Explorer's length overall (45 m) is marked, it is possible to
obtain some basic data and specifications:
Maximum beam: 10.25 m (33'7")
Maximum draft: 3.20 m (10'6")
Displacement: 750 tons
Engine power: 2600 hp
Cruising speed: 12.8 kn
Of course, the above-indicated specifications do not complete the
required technical analysis but they represent the first step
towards integrated design. The meaningful contribution of
engineering should not curb inventiveness, placing severe
limitations, but it should support the most innovative stylistic
and layout solutions turning them feasible. This should be done
through the search for new techniques and materials, without rigid
assumptions or pre-established approaches.
The table below summarises the mental flow adopted when looking
for solutions complying with design requirements. Let us begin
from considering a pleasure superyacht: she represents a clear
example of a design customised to the owner's tastes, it is a
wandering and floating holiday home, where internal layout favours
owner's areas and where much space is devoted to common activities
and entertainment.
Another example of recreational vessel is the cruise ship, where
areas dedicated to fun and amusement, including those dedicated to
wellness, are plenty: here psychophysical well-being is the focus
of guest entertainment.
A debatable aspect is the idea of leaving for a long journey
around the world. The owner has a distinct will to break away from
stress, chaos and confusion of everyday life yet he is attracted
by the world through direct contact with the surrounding natural
elements. If, on one hand, the need for privacy recalls the
threatening profile of a warship, on the other hand, the desire of
exploring the environment is well represented by an oceanographic
vessel, whose standard fittings include tenders, bathyscaphes and
a helicopter. In this way, our vessel becomes a launching pad for
the exploration of sea, land and sky.
Another decisive aspect, as opposed to the above, is the need of a
shelter from the harsh environmental conditions encountered during
ocean passages. This feature could be taken from workboats like
trawlers and supply vessels, which often have to service in such
weather conditions. Here the shape of the Explorer is deformed,
masses are moved forward and protected areas aft are opened up.
Of course, typological analysis does not exhaust exterior profile
definition. It supports the phase where all main aspects of the
new design will be grouped together, giving shape to a well-
defined structure: the typological analysis supplies single
architectural elements for composing our design. Starting from the
hull and volumes in general, we imagine a bow high on the water
and a forecastle positioned well forward to give the impression of
power and of stateliness over the sea.
From a functional point of view, a forward forecastle allows the
owner to feel at the centre of the vessel. His suite is the core,
an irregular prism mounted onto and fitted into the ship's volume
which passes through all the strategic areas of the Explorer
through different levels, heights, ramps and elevators, thus
interrupting the traditional horizontal order of decks.
The internal layout is designed to allow the owner to reach
directly all areas, leaving plenty of space aft for recreational
activities, for fitness and wellness and for garaging of different
means of transportation.
The aft portion of the hull is intended for different uses: here
we find the chameleonic aspect of the Explorer. A wide section
below the waterline can be flooded and thus be transformed into a
comfortable drydock for tenders (with transom door lifted), into
an exclusive swimming pool fitted with air-conditioning system and
skylights that may be opened when outside temperature allows it.
The mid-section of the vessel is occupied by the engine room
(lower deck), the guest cabins (intermediate deck) and open-air
terraces (upper deck) sheltered by the forecastle. The crew cabins
and dinette are in the lower deck forward. Working areas and the
crew quarters are carefully separated from the rest of the living
areas with the aim of guaranteeing absolute privacy for the owner
and his guests.
In order to create such a different internal layout, the
traditional structural configuration of the vessel has to be
reconsidered.
Before introducing the Explorer's solution, let us analyse the
most common structural configurations adopted for this type of
vessels: "closed shell" and "open side".
The first solution (section A) has limited openings on the sides
because, together with hull bottom and upper decks, hull sides
constitute a closed section strong enough to sustain longitudinal
stresses on decks and shear stresses on hull sides. It is also the
most convenient solution with respect to stiffness-to-weight
ratio.
The second solution (section B), typical of cruise ships with
external balconies, has a widely perforated side shell, its
weakened structural function must be replaced by two recessed
longitudinal bulkheads. This implies a weight increase in order to
achieve the necessary strength but it offers the designer greater
freedom.
The Explorer's solution (section C) is a development of the above-
mentioned second one: the main structure is recessed inside the
hull and a framework along the centreline distributes shear
stresses between hull bottom and upper deck. This solution implies
a considerable weight increase in order to maintain torsional
strength but it offers a high degree of freedom for internal
layout.
Finally, we are approaching the end of the process that leads us
from the initial idea, through different phases, to the final
design. Using our imagination combined with our experience we
projected the outline of the Explorer vessel, in other words we
developed a "concept design".
From now on, designers' contribution will follow a well-defined
process: preliminary design, detailed design and construction
drawings. Through these phases the concept design will be
transformed into a real object with the valuable support of all
the professionals involved, from the architect, to the naval
engineer and to the shipwrights. All of them will make the owner's
dream come true.
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