Azimut has added a new series to its portfolio of yachts with three new models that together form the Seadeck range. Designed with the latest in environmental technologies, the Seadeck 6, 7, and 8 models will be launched sequentially over the next 20 months with the aim of bringing the yard closer to the IMO’s CO2 emissions target ahead of the 2030 deadline.
The yard has said that the driving force behind the line was finding ways to reduce the yacht’s fuel consumption and incorporating sustainable materials on board. As a result, the Seadeck series aims to offer a 40 per cent reduction in emissions compared to a traditional vessel of the same size.
The Seadeck 6 will measure 17.2 metres, while the Seadeck 7 will measure 21.8 metres. The design borrows inspiration from sister brand Benetti's bestselling Oasis range, with a focus on al fresco living and a so-called "Fun Island" at the stern of the vessel.
The yacht line was presented at an exclusive event attended by journalists in Milan. Speaking to BOAT International, CEO Marco Valle revealed that the yard has entered production on the initial unit of the Seadeck series, having already sold ten Seadeck 6 yachts and five Seadeck 7 yachts.
Alberto Mancini developed the design concept together with Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez. The hull shape was modified by Mancini to allow the yacht to plane efficiently in order to maximise the amount of time spent under economical cruising speeds. In addition, the yard’s heavy use of carbon fibre for the hull and superstructure will keep the yacht's weight as low as possible.
Other sustainability measures will include an energy recovery system, through which collected heat energy is repurposed for the supply of hot water on board. Elsewhere, anti-UV films on the windows act to lower indoor temperatures and the subsequent need for air conditioning. The series will also be capable of operating the yacht’s hotel load at zero emissions for four to eight hours while at anchor, with the battery pack supplemented by solar panels fitted overhead. Over an average year of use, the combined effect of these advancements promises to deliver a 40 per cent reduction in emissions.
In terms of experience, the Seadeck aims to “embrace” the sea with its open aft lounge Fun Island. According to Mancini, the team "wanted to create a boat that puts maximum emphasis on the concept of openness and transparency, and that also represented a radical change in terms of the relationship with nature. With the introduction of the Fun Island, Seadeck is actually a floating island where owners can get away from their daily routine and live in total contact with the sea.”
Meanwhile, the yacht's sustainable onboard materials include the use of cork instead of teak, an eco-gel coat for bulkheads and decks, recycled fabrics and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood. Matteo Thun emphasised how the selection of resources specifically aimed to serve the series’ lightweight and affordable functions while still maintaining “the beauty of economy”.
The Group expects its new series will become the most sustainable market offering of its size when it launches next year. The Seadeck series is also intended to serve as an entry point into sustainable yachting for a vast consumer base. To aid in this effort, newly-appointed Group chair Giovanna Vitelli noted how choosing to build primarily in composite materials comes with a 30 per cent hike in build costs, but promised this premium would not be passed onto the consumer.
Marco Valle said that the yard has been able to recover the shouldered cost by scaling up the yard’s productive capacity.
This effect will create a more accessible offering tailored towards sustainability, reflecting Azimut-Benetti’s “conscious approach” when it comes to the future of shipbuilding.
"Seadeck is a new starting point for future generations,” Vitelli said in a statement. “We wish, once again, to chart a course that will be an inspiration for the entire industry, so that the theme of respect for the environment is interpreted – as it is for Seadeck – with a concrete approach made up of investment, technological research, and the courage to introduce a new lifestyle that embraces the sea."
The fully constructed Seadeck 6, 7 and 8 models are slated to debut in order at boot Düsseldorf in 2024, the Cannes Yachting Festival later that year and again at boot Düsseldorf in 2025.