The sale of a new 69-metre superyacht support vessel marks the next level of development for the successful Yacht Support range built by DAMEN in cooperation with Dutch luxury yacht builder AMELS. The new SEA AXE 6911 is the first in the Yacht Support range to feature the ultimate technical area for serious superyacht helicopter operations – a fully enclosed hangar beneath the LY3 / MCA fully certified helideck.
The new build vessel is under construction at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands and scheduled for delivery in June 2016 – the fifth purpose-built Yacht Support vessel to be delivered since DAMEN and AMELS introduced the revolutionary new concept to the superyacht market in 2009.
Heading the dedicated Yacht Support team at DAMEN, Product Director Mark Vermeulen says the new project builds on experience gained from previous deliveries ‘6711’ and GARÇON, as well as input from the client.
“In fact, the owner’s team came to us with a lot of client-specific customisations for what was then our 67-metre platform,” he explains. “They put a lot of thought into how the owner would like to operate the superyacht support vessel in combination with the mother yacht. This has created new possibilities within the design, resulting in an extremely high-end yachting experience. Now we’ve put a lot of that client feedback into the updated design – the SEA AXE 6911.”
As well as the helicopter hangar, the extended 69-metre platform also includes a dedicated helicopter workshop below deck, a well-equipped dive centre, plus 250 square metres of deck space for tenders and toys, and 110 square metres of below deck storage. At approximately 1,200 gross tonnes, the vessel is also large enough to accommodate 22 crew and staff while sailing at 20 knots.
Five Yacht Support designs from 43 to 85 metres
Based on DAMEN’s high-speed SEA AXE patrol and offshore supply vessels, the superyachtyacht Support range has been developed for demanding superyacht owners who take these purpose-built vessels all over the world carrying more toys, tenders, personnel, provisions, specialist gear and of course helicopters. Particularly for destinations with less developed infrastructure, this innovative solution opens up new possibilities for luxury yachting experiences and has justifiably generated great interest.
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The Yacht Support concept is a cooperation between DAMEN, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding companies, and AMELS, the luxury yacht builder within DAMEN. AMELS has an intimate understanding of how superyacht clients can benefit from Yacht Support solutions, while naval architecture, research and development, engineering and the build are the responsibility of DAMEN’s dedicated Yacht Support team.
