SUPERYACHT #521
Sep 2005
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
articles, images and yachting news
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Article by
Angelo Colombo
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NORTH WEST BAY SHIPS "E-MOTION"
The Australian yard North West Bay Ships is known for building
fast commercial crafts, but with "E-Motion" it makes its debut in
the world of megayachts and this is done by immediately setting a
record: "E-motion" is the first pleasure trimaran of this size
ever built. As for the yard, this is the second vessel of this
type and size built on the yard's premises, the first one was
launched four years ago and still sails in the Sea of Japan
carrying 450 passengers at 40 knots, even in rough sea conditions.
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TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 61.45 m (201'6")
Beam: 15.40 m (50'6")
Draft with full load: 3.53 m (11'6")
Displacement: 125 metric tons (275,625 lbs)
Range at 15 knots: 4,000 miles
Range at 12 knots: 5,000 miles
Maximum speed: 19 knots
Construction material: aluminum
Engines: 2 x 2,130 hp 3512 BTA Caterpillar
Type of transmission: through propeller
Propellers: one bow thruster and two stern variable pitch five-
blade propellers
Fuel capacity: 90,400 l (23,884 gall.)
Freshwater capacity: 17,000 l (4,491 gall.)
Classification: DNV+, 1°1, LC, Yacht, E0.
For further information contact: North West Bay Ships; 83
Gemella Rd; Margate Tasmania; 7054 Australia; tel. +61 3 62670101;
fax +61 3 62670102; e-mail: info@yachts.nwbs.com.au; website:
www.yachts.nwbs.com.au.
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It is from this first model that the shipyard's managing directors
understood that the wide beam and the trimaran hull were features
that could be applied to the world of pleasure yachting. Impressed
by the behavior of the trimaran in rough seas, an Owner asked the
yard to design a similar yacht for himself. A few months later,
the design, building and testing of the new megayacht called "E-
Motion" started. The displacement of this original yacht is twice
that of the first-born trimaran of the Australian yard and some
technical characteristics are different, such as the center of
buoyancy and the design of the side hulls. These were designed in
such a way as to reduce windage and optimize performance and fuel
consumption. During model testing, carried out in the Australian
Maritime College, the designers found the most effective
waterlines and decided to install underwater engine exhausts
without reducing the hydrodynamic efficiency altogether. Hulls and
superstructures are in aluminum and were designed by Sam
Sorgiovanni Designs of Western Australia. The special structures
used for decks and hulls allowed the yard to balance weights and
to efficiently meet the Owner's requests as for the interior
layout. "E-motion" has four decks: the lower one is as wide as the
central hull whereas the main and the upper intermediate deck take
advantage of the extraordinary width of the platform. The engine
room is aft of the main section of the central hull and includes
two 2,130 hp 3512BTA Caterpillar engines coupled with ZF 4660
reduction gears and with transmission to two five-blade
propellers; the engines must be staggered because the hull is not
wide enough. In practice, the port side engine is forward of the
starboard side one, requiring a greater and longer shaft to the
propeller which is obviously on the same level across as the
starboard one. The two propellers are quite forward in order to
thrust the flow inside the two big tunnels created by the existing
side hulls, which convey the thrust with very little noise and
vibration. The asymmetrical installation of the engines allowed
for a large and easily accessible engine room that includes all
onboard systems (electric power, water purification, etc.). The
cabins are arranged on three decks. The lower deck includes the
crew quarters with cabins, bathrooms, crew dinette and service
rooms. The main deck includes the Owner stateroom, covering the
15.20-meter (50') width of the superstructure. On this same deck,
aft, there is a large open-air space with a 1,200-liter (317
gall.) aquarium to exhibit the catch of the day plus an enormous
deep-freezer for storing the catch, many shelves for bait
preparation, wells for fish cleaning plus a fighting chair. All
this fishing gear makes it clear how the Owner is a deep-sea
fishing enthusiast: on the upper deck aft there is a fisherman
area and in the main deck aft there are two tenders.
But let us go back to the interior layout. In addition to the
master stateroom, the main deck includes a relaxation area to
starboard with sofas, armchairs, bar counter, a gaming table and
entertainment systems, while to port there are the dining room and
the salon with sofas and coffee tables. The two areas are
separated by a central structure over which lays the stairway
connecting this deck to the first upper one. All guest cabins are
on this upper intermediate deck, together with the captain cabin
and helm station with direct access to the technical areas. It was
thanks to the ample surface of the platform as well as to the
exceptional stability of the trimaran hull that the five guest
cabins could be fitted on this deck. Just one of them is set up as
a VIP cabin, but all are very spacious and have a double bed. Two
of the guest cabins have an extra single bed. This intermediate
upper deck also includes two relaxation areas aft, one to
starboard with sofa and dining table and the other one to port
with sofas and two coffee tables; these are partially protected by
the aft extension of the highest deck which includes two separated
sunning areas and an additional relaxation area aft with tables
and armchairs. Amidships, there is a central enclosed lounge
offering panoramic views even in bad weather conditions or when
the yacht is under sail, thanks to the raised position of this
deck.
Even though "E-Motion" derives from a commercial ship, it is quite
evident that she is a pleasure yacht. The only features that
remind us of fast ferries are the shape of the bow and of the
stern - with tunnels between the hulls - that we are not used to
see in pleasure boats.
As it is legitimate to expect, originality is the norm on this
North West Bay's yacht: starting from an unusual platform the rest
goes without saying. Many are the fittings and accessories
available for water sports, such as jet skis, the surprising
presence of deep-sea fishing gear, a tender for towing water
skiers. In short, whatever we can think of for guaranteed
amusement during a cruise. The extensive areas and their layout,
developed by the architects according to the original Owner's
indications, offer privacy and comfort to the guests.
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