Updated on October 19th, 2024
Four Italian designers, Francesco Olivieri, Giovanni Buratto, Luca Imperio and Riccardo Malagnino, have presented a unique concept of a 50m charter supercatamaran designed specifically to satisfy all needs at once.
This is no ordinary catamaran, it is as versatile as possible. In addition, it is adapted for people with reduced mobility: its design includes elevators and special dedicated routes on deck. At the moment it is the only catamaran of its kind, created according to the principle of “design for all”.
The aft upper deck has a modular design that allows the catamaran to be adapted to the needs of the guests. There are different layouts to choose from, which can be quickly set up for the charter period. The interior layout is clearly divided into zones: the starboard side has 6 cabins for 12 guests, the port side is for the crew.
Designers propose to use the main engines on an alternative biofuel – methanol. As we know, methanol is more environmentally friendly than diesel and also keeps the engine clean. In addition, it is planned to equip the catamaran with hydrogen fuel cells that will generate electricity for on-board systems, using batteries as a buffer, as well as for long-term storage of the received electricity and powering two auxiliary electric motors.
But that is not all. Four rigid wing-sails provide additional thrust, reducing fuel consumption and making the catamaran even greener. A clear advantage of such wings is the absence of wear on the sail fabric and the cost of maintaining and replacing rigging. Don’t worry about these rigid sails at anchor or in the marina: with a simple push of a button, they fold into special niches, making the hull aerodynamically streamlined, not dangerous in strong winds and completely invisible in terms of aesthetics.
All this together makes this catamaran practically an expeditionary vessel with a huge range. Since today people are much more attracted to exploring the most remote corners of the planet than anchoring in Cannes or Monaco, this moment is very important. You can also notice that the designers paid a lot of attention to seaworthiness. This is evidenced by the absence of a deep navigation bridge deck and the configuration of the hulls.
And, of course, one cannot fail to notice that the catamaran is very stylish and, apparently, has a positive and playful character. However, this is not surprising, given that it was created by the Italians.