Expeditionyacht.org

We finally found an elegant and safe solution to create even more space on our helideck in our effort to comply with the latest CAP 437 (North Sea off-shore helicopter operation guidelines) and MCA guidelines on helipads.   Although we are not required to comply on a private yacht, and we already had an acceptable clearance, the solution shown below makes a good thing even better.

As you can see, the deck extracts almost 3 meters (10 ft.) allowing sufficient rotor tip clearance.  Our situation is shown in the drawing below.  Even when landing partly outside the forward area of the ‘H’-circle  (1/2 D) we’re still OK. Read the rest of this entry →

As we are looking to make some changes to the top wheelhouse deck, we started reviewing our liferaft setup.  The amount of  ‘life safety appliances’ on yachts is regulated by flag state authorities like the British MCA while passengerships must comply with SOLAS Chapter III passenger ships regulations.  We had originally planned for a total of 3 SOLAS-A package life rafts of 25-person capacity each.

The MCA Large Yacht code, paragraph 13.2.2.3 states that for vessels of less than 85m in length, or those complying with 13.2.1.3 (which applies to yachts over 85 m. in length), a sufficient number of liferafts should be provided so that in the event of any one liferaft being lost or rendered unserviceable, sufficient aggregate capacity remains on either side of the vessel for all persons on board. This may be achieved by transferring liferafts from one side to the other. Where liferafts are transferable, this requirement may be met by the ability of the rafts to be transferred within 5 minutes, as below:

• Liferafts of 6 – 15 persons capacity to be carried by 2 persons
• Liferafts of more than 15 persons capacity to be carried by 4 persons

So we could have a setup with two liferafts on one side and one liferaft at the other side and comply with the rules. But we think that carrying a 185 kg liferaft container isn’ t much fun under normal circumstances, let alone in rough seas and emergency circumstances.

Our initial liferaft racks would look like the pictures on the the right below.  However, the Viking ‘stacked’ rack (center picture) is a better solution and made possible by moving the rack away from the ship’s centerline so the falling raft won’t hit the ship’s hull.

And as the most left drawing shows, having two of these Viking racks with capacity for 2 x 2 rafts takes about the same deck space as two original 1-raft racks.  Interesting detail: the containers of the 20-person and 25-person liferaft not only have the same size (OK, that can be explained) but also the same weight. I hope a VIKING rep. can explain that soon.

We’re also required to carry a rescueboat but this can be a non-SOLAS approved properly equipped tender.

For an informative discussion about liferaft and liveboat requirements, see this forum discusssion on PMY.

You’d think 132 ft. (40.2 m.) is enough but, it’s never enough .

We’d like to create a little bit extra space for our dive tender.  We were looking at 7.5 m. Humber Inflatables (2.8 m. wide offshore model) and 2 extra feet of boat deck would be nice. We’ve now decided to go for a custom aluminium tender design (see post (…soon).   It would also give two extra feet of tip clearance if we have to land with a helicopter.   That’s about a 25% more than we have now although since we wrote this post, we decided (September 2009) to create an extractable helipad.

Click on the image to see it bigger and let us know what you think.

When we started asking feedback on our galley design from chefs, the response was overwhelming.  It lead to suggestions on laundry equipment, tableware and a lot more.  So, we’re going to dedicate a section of our blog to crew-related issues such as crew accommodations, crew management, crew-guest relations and a lot more.

Of course there are online forums dealing with these issues.  There are Dockwalk forum, YotCrew.com and Yacht Forum to name a few and please visit them if you are crew. But our purpose is to get back specific feedback and there are things we cannot do on these other forums like posting questionaires or posting images.

We appreciate your visit and we love your feedback.

Here are some direct links to crew-related topics:

• General crew feedback & forum
• Galley design
• Bridge lay-out and equipment
• Helping the stewardesses
• Crew spaces

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thorwald Westmaas
Project manager

In our continued effort to create the ideal yacht for guests AND crew, it’s now time to get feedback from the stewardesses. While converting an existing vessel obviously creates some restraints, we’ve made a considerable effort to make life for crew as pleasant as possible.  As you explore this site and the yacht’s proposed layout, you’ll see things like never more than 2 crew members per cabin, a decent cress mess not tucked away below the waterline,  a big laundry space with pro-line Miele’s, no white carpet but easy to clean parquet; all seating with leather(like) covering instead of hard to clean fabrics,  bathrooms that will be easy to clean (no nasty edges,  showers that always drain to name a few features of our low-maintainance interior design.   No silverware either!

Read the rest of this entry →

Our yacht galley is really coming together now.  With our interior designer making progress, there have been some minor changes to provide access to the rear cabins as well. In December we had made the galley bigger, added a dumpwaiter (from Lift Emotion) and moved the entrance  The exact list of galley equipment is still to be decided but this list is what you see in the drawing below (click on link for big version).   We have consulted with some people in the restaurant business and hope to get more feedback from yacht chefs in the field (see form below) and THANK YOU YachtChefs.com for posting this request on your website!   And thank you too Palux in Germany for your outstanding customer service.  If you need a professional galley, contact this company. You won’t be disappointed and their quality equipment will make any chef smile.

Click here for a general arrangement of the yacht. This is how it looks currently.  Click on the image BELOW for a bigger lay-out with an updated distribution of the galley based on your overwhelming input of the last few weeks.

June 10
Thank you, thank you all for your feedback!  We added the ‘stewardess station in the front’  and  have added an automated sliding door.  We hope to find a better option for the fire door, ideally to panes, turning outwards of the galley.  The walk-in cooler and freezer rooms will be on the deck below the galley.  Do we really need 6 induction zones? This has been a long discussion but eventually we decided to go for 4 zones and add the more flexible variocooker.  Yes, occasionally we may have 20 guests but it won’t be a-la-carte dining. For such big groups you’ll know the menu for the whole week in advance.  Wouldn’t you rather have some more counter  space?   And that’s what we did.  Of course, comments are still welcome.  Please use the form below.    Read the rest of this entry →

Peter Sampson has done it again. Here’s a first draft of our lounge ‘look’. We’re quite happy with it!

Just thinking about adding an upper section to the bar – suspended from the ceiling as I’m sure the stewardesses will want more storage space.  And of course another flat screen TV behind the bar stools.

You’ll also see 2 visuals of the guest bathrooms.  We wanted a stylish design that would be easy to keep impeccably clean and very accessible for maintainance.  I think we’re succeeding on all counts.  These units will be fabricated in the factory for ultimate quality control and be placed on board completely ready. Just connect.

If you click on the thumbnails and then click of full size, to get back to regular size, hit the ‘back’ button to get back to this post.