Expedition Yachts are ushering in a new age of luxury exploration
Explorer yachts, or expedition yachts, have been tipped as the ‘next big thing’ for years, with a new breed of owner looking for experiential ocean adventures and a seamless connection with nature. The market has certainly accelerated. New builds for explorer yachts have grown exponentially since 2010, and the trend shows no sign of slowing.
The appeal of explorer yachts goes far beyond the spacious layouts, robust technology, and history of some of the vessels. Explorer yachts are shaking off the dusty ideals of the yachting lifestyle and bringing back the allure of seafaring far beyond the familiar cruising grounds of the Mediterranean or Caribbean.
Safety, Functionality and Comfort at Sea
Numerous elements combine to make a yacht an exploration vessel. The demand for function takes precedence over aesthetics, as ice class hulls, hybrid propulsion systems, commercial grade safety equipment and eco-sensibilities such as black water treatment and waste management seek to reduce their footprint in virgin cruising zones without standard infrastructure.
However, both commercial vessels that have been converted into expedition yachts as well as the latest explorers custom-built for safety and endurance, have additional comforts to make guests’ experience more pleasant during long-range cruising.
Many have stylish features that are the antithesis of ‘roughing it’, such as cinema rooms, gyms, swimming pools, fully-certified helidecks, private balconies, beach clubs and huge garages to carry multiple tenders, toys, submersibles, dive and fishing equipment.
Ultimately, these vessels are built for owners and guests who appreciate the luxury of a superyacht with the incredible range and self-sufficiency afforded by an explorer yacht.
Extreme Destinations: Beyond Ordinary
Yacht owners are increasingly interested in marine wildlife, adventure sports and ice exploration and, with growing concern for the health of the world’s oceans, a number are also involved in facilitating or funding research and conservation efforts. No longer interested in sitting at anchor on a beautiful yacht; they’re looking for experiential encounters with plenty to do onboard, in the water and on land from amazing diving to cultural explorations.
However, navigating the waters of Greenland, the Galapagos Islands or French Polynesia couldn’t be more different from the more traditional haunts of Monaco and St Tropez. Utilising professional services from dedicated risk management organisations has become critical, assisting with details as small as outfitting for special equipment and clothing, maps and reading material about the destination, to more complicated tasks such as arranging permits or providing access to specialists in ornithology, scientific research, or polar diving. With the pursuit for adventure and exploring fragile environments comes unprecedented responsibility.
Professional risk management companies provide logistical assistance and support personnel who know these remote regions intimately from a technical and cultural perspective. Safety in these pristine and remote environments is critical, so it’s essential to utilise highly-skilled professionals such as security experts, ice pilots, wildlife experts and medics who are adept at fast-changing conditions.
Superior Crew for Oceangoing Adventures
Yacht itineraries including highlights such as glacier-riddled fjords, spectacular coral gardens and rare wildlife are capturing the imaginations of HNW travellers who may never before have considered places off the beaten track.
Likewise, yacht crew with dreams of landing a job on a global expedition yacht are finding that minimum certifications just don’t cut it when challenging itineraries require extensive at-sea experience rather than textbook learning. A military background is becoming increasingly attractive for both deck and operational crew positions aboard yachts, and expedition vessels are now anticipating a balance for finding elite crew to match the roles and demands of the yacht.
Explorer yachts are now cruising beyond the calm and safety of anchorages in the Med and the Caribbean. Many of the charter itineraries are reaching into yachting areas with limited or no infrastructure or venturing to the polar regions, so having competent and confident crew aboard is a safety and operational consideration. Tailoring a crew’s capability to the demands and needs of the yacht is integral to the successful outcome of any remote expedition: without great crew, great things simply don’t happen. Even more so for explorer yachts, where minimising risk in wilderness regions is paramount. The crew that succeed have advanced offshore ability and are used to marine vessels covering thousands of nautical miles without making landfall.
A Road Less Travelled
With all the hallmarks of a superyacht lifestyle, expedition yachts aren’t alone in turning the tide toward intrepid cruising. There’s a push towards building smaller explorer yachts with hardy range and power. They may be smaller in size, but they aim to cruise to remote places with live-aboard comfort that matches larger vessels.
Long-range yachts are opening up new routes that follow in the footsteps of pioneers, affording owners and guests the chance to witness polar bears lumbering across frozen tundra or to encounter magical flora and fauna in pristine rainforests.
Priavo Security Maritime is a security and risk management company dedicated to the protection of superyachts, utilising physical, electronic and cyber security measures. we work directly with owners, captains and crew to provide bespoke, tailormade security solutions that meet our individual client needs. To learn more about our services, click here. If you’re looking for a security professional to advise on an expedition you are planning, or to provide security and risk management training for your crew, please contact enquiries@priavosecurity.com.