The SILENT 120 Explorer’s solar power will recharge the all-electric XP4 aircraft and NEMO sub.
The yacht’s 13.85-metre beam and sliding rooftop solar panels mean space for an e-VTOL touch-and-go pad on the hardtop roof
Electric propulsion means smaller technical spaces and more room for tender, toy or submarine storage in the hull garages
Solar catamaran builder, SILENT-YACHTS is marking the logical evolution of boating and global explorer yachting with its new superyacht, the SILENT 120 Explorer. The new project features powerful styling and interior design by Marco Casali, allowing owners to make the most of their adventure cruising itineraries. It features space for two of the latest must-have toys for remote voyaging; an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for heli-cruising; and a submarine for underwater discovery.
For a yacht of less than 37 metres to offer such extraordinary interior comfort and also space for such an impressive array of tenders is, in itself, remarkable. But the fact that the SILENT 120 Explorer offers this whilst being powered largely by solar energy makes the 120 truly ground-breaking.
The 36.74-metre SILENT 120 Explorer features a 13.85-metre beam and an astonishing volume of 499 gross tonnes. This offers extended cruising at 6-8 knots in economical mode or up to 16 knots at full power. It is currently in build and due for launch in 2024. The supercat also heralds the next step in solar-powered cruising, with 40kWp (kilowatt-peak) panels providing enough energy to cover the yacht’s hotel loads as well as offering significant fossil-free cruising autonomy. Carefully selected range-extender generators, in addition to the 800kW lithium-ion batteries driving highly efficient 340kW e-motors, give unlimited miles of cruising potential.
Travel further
The SILENT 120 Explorer offers her future owners more than just a technologically and environmentally advanced luxury explorer platform with a potentially unlimited range. The catamaran hull form, combined with compact electric propulsion units, offers significant space that enables the SILENT 120 Explorer to carry both a revolutionary eVTOL aircraft and an all-electric two-person submarine. These are in addition to the usual tenders and toys demanded on a superyacht.
SILENT-YACHTS’ partnership with VRCO, designers and manufacturers of the Xcraft XP4 eVTOL aircraft, marks the first time a yacht builder and an aircraft manufacturer have collaborated. This means the XP4 is customised to match the interiors of the SILENT 120 Explorer. The XP4 can be landed on the roof of the SILENT 120 Explorer, where large solar panels will slide outboard to port and starboard, to reveal a touch-and-go landing pad.
The XP4, which is due for certification in 2024, offers convenient aerial personal transportation for up to four people. It is designed with an array of safety features, including detection and avoidance technology, a ballistic parachute, and low-altitude crash-prevention systems. In addition to utilising technologies such as nanomaterials and hydrogen-based range extension, the XP4 can not only be charged from the SILENT 120 Explorer’s solar panels but can also deliver power from its own battery to the yacht, as a backup power source. The collaboration not only extends the remote cruising profile of the SILENT 120 Explorer but also marks a real advancement in carbon-responsible travel.
Deep dive
The U-Boat Worx NEMO submarine offers diving to 100-metre depths for two people in an all-electric package with a footprint smaller than two jet skis. The NEMO features the trademark acrylic pressure globe that gives the pilot and passenger a breathtaking view of the depths, while the Manta control interface is both easy to learn and easy to operate.
Offering up to eight hours of autonomy, speeds underwater of up to 3 knots and positive buoyancy for automatic resurfacing in the unlikely event of an issue, the NEMO really opens up new frontiers for exploration. These are made further possible by the capabilities of the mother ship. The SILENT 120 Explorer’s exceptional volume and deck space mean owners will have two options for carrying their submarine -either in the port hull’s tender garage or on the main deck next to the pool.
“The trend is for bigger yachts with more luxury, more comfort, more water toys, and more possibilities,” says Michael Köhler, Founder and CEO of SILENT-YACHTS. “In the SILENT 120 Explorer, we designed a boat that is bigger in volume -although not in length- and bigger gives the opportunity to store more of these toys. “We build catamarans, which means more beam and more space”, he continues. “We also build our boats with solar power and electric propulsion. This means we don’t have to give a lot of space to an engine room, so we gain room for things like a gym or extra tender storage. Finally, the extra beam of the catamaran form means the roof can accommodate an eVTOL aircraft. We can plug it in on board and it will be recharged in a couple of hours.”
Written by SILENT-YACHTS PRESS OFFICE / SAND PEOPLE COMMUNICATION
Photos @ Silent Yachts
Alexander Razinkov
silentyachts@sandpeoplecommunication.com
- +7 909 1672905
