EYOS recently announced that Scintilla Maris, a brand new 46m expedition yacht, has joined the fleet. This newest addition is thanks to the craftsmanship and vision of Damen Maaskant, a yard with a rich history dating back to 1948.
We spoke with Damen Maaskant’s Managing Director Eric Moerkerk and Product Manager Wouter Kleijpoel to learn more about the process behind bringing the concept of Scintilla Maris to life, from the drawing board to the waters of the Arctic.
Even at first glance, Scintilla Maris is unique among all of the expedition yachts sailing today. What sets it apart from other yachts in terms of build?
Giving an existing vessel a new function is in the DNA of Damen Maaskant, with more than 75 years of experience. The 46.5-metre beam trawler was built in 1989 at our yard in Stellendam. In addition to the fact that, at the request of the owner, robust elements have been preserved from the time when the ship was fishing at sea, it is immediately noticeable that the yacht now features a large outdoor kitchen on the foredeck, steps leading to the water level on both sides of the ship and many indoor and outdoor spaces for sitting and relaxing.
Scintilla Maris underwent a full-scale conversion to turn her into a capable and competent explorer yacht. This included reducing her 570GT to under the 500GT threshold. What did this conversion involve and what was the idea behind it?
The scope of the project – basically a new build in an existing hull – made sense because the quality of the beam trawler’s design, engineering and construction was a good basis for a unique yacht.
What sustainability measures or eco-friendly practices are incorporated into the construction or refit process of yachts at Damen Maaskant, particularly in the case of the Scintilla Maris?
First of all; giving an existing vessel a new function. The wooden deck is made from very durable iroko instead of teak, and the team chose diesel electric propulsion with power management and as little filler as possible.
Scintilla Maris will be sailing in the Arctic waters of Svalbard, Norway, and Greenland. What considerations did the design team make to ensure she could sail through these challenging waters?
By its nature, this is a very seaworthy ship and because it can operate beyond marina infrastructure, this yacht is extremely suitable for expeditions to the far north.
Given the bespoke nature of luxury yachts, how does Damen Maaskant collaborate with clients during the construction or refitting process of a vessel like the Scintilla Maris to ensure their unique preferences are met?
In 2020 we started Yacht Refit & Conversions when owners’ representatives and yacht captains started approaching us. They value our simple, no-nonsense mentality. We’re genuine shipbuilders, and that makes us different.