Oceanco’s latest concept is an “artful and distinctive” superyacht that draws its inspiration from the moonstone in terms of purity, unity and light.

Launched to great fanfare at the 2016 Dubai International Boat Show in Dubai, UAE, the Moonstone project was developed in association with Van Geest Design.

Among its many touted properties, a moonstone is known as the psychic’s gemstone: it embodies white-colour energy, purity and unity, has a luminous sheen and colours of light dance through it, the Dutch builder points out.

Moonstone, it continues, promises to be “all of these things”.

With a distinctive faceted hull design, Moonstone aims to create a visual link between the ship, the sky and the sea – impressive to onlookers. Impressive for those on board is the vast deck area at the rear of the yacht, kept as low possible to the water. This kind of sea level space is now a regular request from customers, combined with an increased emphasis on lifestyle, and it has reshaped the way yachts are configured.

“People want to get closer the elements,” explains Michele Flandin, Marketing Manager at Oceanco. “We used to have gyms and spas on the upper deck, but we don’t have that anymore. Everything has to be at sea level. Our clients also want more and more space for wellness; on the last yacht we delivered, we had 350 sq m for a wellness and spa area.”

The 90-m-long yacht is “distinctive, innovative and artful” and the defining difference between Moonstone and all other yachts is her unique faceted hull sides.

The elegant lines and faceted hull suggest a hypnotic glamour, just as one sees in the multiple surfaces of a finely cut precious stone.

The multi-angled surface shapes of the hull sides reflect the water and play off sunlight. The unique ‘twinkle effect’ provides a visual link from Moonstone to the sky and the sea. This striking ‘facet’ motif repeats in many other areas of the yacht and is used in conjunction with special lighting effects.

In addition to working with these exceptional design components and lighting techniques, Oceanco is engineering the 90-m Moonstone to be Passenger Yacht Code (PYC)-compliant and capable of accommodating considerably more than 12 guests.

The Van Geest Design team has worked on numerous illustrious projects ranging from 10 to 95 m in length. Principals of the company Pieter van Geest and Tracey-Jayne Canavaggio have a combined 35 years of experience in the design field. Their talents lie in exterior and interior yacht design as well as furniture design and project management.

With their extensive knowledge and experience in shipyard production, project management and owner’s representation, they maintain not only an artistic, but also a practical hands-on approach to design.

As the principals put it: “We embrace innovation and integrate it in different forms within our design process. The challenge is not to create something different, but to create something unique in its philosophy and execution”

For Moonstone, Van Geest Design is working closely with Temeloy, an advanced lighting design company, to achieve extraordinary visually emotional effects throughout the yacht.

Light is essential to our lives, says Temology CEO Tiphaine Treins. “The way spaces are lit impacts on our well-being as well as our state of mind. Light has the power to transcend the noise that surrounds our daily life and bring us into stillness and wonderment.”

He continues: “To transform a yacht with light is not just about the quality of the light or the choice of the fitting, it is also the delicate, nuanced dance between tone, shadow, and brilliance. Through this difficult-to-achieve equilibrium it is possible to shape the emotional, even spiritual flow of this yacht.

“Light can infuse spaces and shapes with a multidimensionality that is felt, but almost impossible to adequately describe. Your eyes are seeing more than your mind can grasp. We use our extensive experience and our ability to listen to what owners are looking for. We do not have a recipe for this; it is more art than science.”

For Temology, lighting design is for a quest of clarity and beauty.

“Cutting-edge achievements are only as good as the skilled craftsmen, engineers, and technicians who bring an inspired concept to fruition. It is during this process that the ordinary can become extraordinary,” he adds.

Moonstone has several key lighting features. These include:

• Overhead panels: A backlit surface linked to fish-eye cameras can capture the magic of a night sky, a sunset or a sunrise as well as their refection on the water. Extremely versatile, this technology can also be used to affect an array of colour, moods, and ambience.

• Hull-side facets: Custom hull panel lights triggered by 300 individually dimmable white triangles per hull side create unlimited lighting possibilities. At night, these lights generate a unique shimmering twinkling effect.

• Swimming pool and hot tub: The pool walls have dimmable lights that will create a warm welcoming glow.

• Boot stripe lighting: A horizontal line of light plays with the water line of the yacht.


SPECIAL FEATURES

The yacht has been designed and engineered on the Oceanco 90-m platform taking full advantage of its efficient proven technical layout. The general arrangement was designed to give infinite flexibility, including an entire Owner’s deck, a generous gym and spa area, a cinema and a touch-and-go helicopter pad.

The hull light panels have been designed to be self-sufficient with the use of 70-sq-m standard solar panels on top of the superstructure. A day of sunlight could potentially allow the dimming and illuminating light panels to run for an estimated three hours.

The plumb bow has an integrated mooring and anchoring bay, which helps keep the bow area uncluttered.

There is a sky deck lounge with a 360-degree panoramic views. Custom exterior deck furniture is designed to be modular, lightweight, clean, chic, low maintenance and user friendly - allowing flexibility in the deck layout - in accordance with the lifestyle on board.

Unfolding navigation wings are designed to increase visibility - these stations spread out laterally like wings suspended in mid-air. Side platforms forward give access to water toys and rescue tenders. Aft side platforms allow access to two main guest tenders and an outdoor lounge play area. 

The yacht will be PYC classed for more than 12 guests.


YACHT AS ART

The surfaces of Moonstone’s unique multi-faceted hull and superstructure allows for a multitude of diverse visual effects. In its natural state, the faceted surface of the yacht constantly mirrors its environment— it reflects the sun, sky, clouds and sea. 

As the facets contain LED lights that are digitally programmed, a mere swipe of the finger on a mobile device will manipulate those lights and immediately allow the creation of a personalised light show.

As Oceanco says: “The power is built into Moonstone’s design for one to curate an ongoing video art experience with the yacht as a medium. The possibilities are endless.”

Moonstone, it concludes, is all about “seeing, being, giving, belonging, and sharing the experience.”

Oceanco is one of the world’s finest yacht builders, with a yacht building facility in the Netherlands and a design, sales, marketing and administrative office in Monaco. Its technically accomplished and distinctive yachts are built to standards that no other shipyard exceeds, it says.

For Oceanco, unsurpassed Dutch engineering, specifications, craftsmen, and quality control are “not aims but achievements”.  

Yachts are built with “meticulous dedication and respect to the visions of both the owner and designer”.


SPEC CHECK

Length Overall: 90 m/295 ft
Beam Overall: 15 m/49 ft
Maximum Speed: 18.5 knots
Accommodation: 14 guests (1 Owner’s suite, 4 double guest suites, 2 twin guest suites), cinema, spa/gym, wellness area; and 29 crew members
Engine Type: 2 x MTU 20V4000 M73L (3,600 kW/4,828 hp each)
Naval Architect: Oceanco/Azure
Exterior Designer: Van Geest Design