Yachting news from Interparus (03.04.2023)

New battery extinguishing system

The Dutch company FiFi4Marine has unveiled a new system that should make it easier to extinguish batteries. According to the head of the company, a new compound in the form of foam will help extinguish almost any battery in a matter of minutes.

Cor Midendorp, CEO of FiFi4Marine, says the switch to flammable lithium (and derivatives) batteries has significantly increased the incidence of fires on yachts of all types and sizes. Lithium-ion batteries can be especially dangerous and cannot be extinguished by standard methods. 

At the same time, Cor points out that lithium-ion batteries when used correctly quite safe and could not get such popularity if they were so dangerous, as some experts say about it.

The new FF4M system offered by Kor and his company, installed next to the batteries. The system is connected to the batteries and uses a variety of sensors that monitor the condition of the batteries. 

If FF4M detects a fire, it instantly injects foam into the batteries, which cools the battery and prevents further fire spread. According to a 2019 study, this extinguishing method is the most effective for battery fires.

The system has already been installed on nine Grimaldi RoRo merchant vessels and has shown its effectiveness. The FF4M has performed so well in trials that it is already on several unnamed superyachts and even a locomotive train in the UK. Smaller models are expected for smaller boats.

Details about the giant sailing yacht Sea Eagle II

The famous Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman has revealed new details about its largest sailing yacht Sea Eagle II. Recall that the yacht was launched three years ago! 

Among other things, new images of the 81-meter three-masted schooner were presented. The boat looks amazing. Launching and handing over to the owner went unnoticed amid the pandemic in 2020. Since then, the yacht has even managed to make a non-stop circumnavigation of the world and cover more than 45,000 nautical miles!

However, design and engineering details remained a mystery until recently. The three-masted schooner is a kind of reissue of the boat of the same name by the same owner. 

Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design worked on the design and naval architecture. The yacht took four years to build and, in addition to being twice as long as its predecessor, the Sea Eagle II is also nearly five times as spacious.

The yacht uses the Panamax rig, which consists of three giant carbon fiber masts, the tallest of which is a whopping 61 meters high. With the help of sails, the yacht is capable of speeds up to 21.5 knots. All three sails can be easily raised using powerful hydraulics. 

An impressive set of equipment for managing sails is installed on the deck. In total, you can find as many as 34 winches. The largest of them is able to withstand a load of 18,000 kg.

A representative of Dykstra Naval Architects says: “Now the yacht looks like a modern classic, neoclassical. But in 50 years it will be a living classic in the flesh.”

There are six cabins on the lower deck that can accommodate up to 12 guests, and there is also a huge master suite. The interior is done in a neutral but pleasing color palette with Alpine walnut bulkheads and minimal frills. 

EBI is going to scrap old boats

EBI (Association of the European Boating Industry) has presented a roadmap, the main purpose of which is to record the milestones passed on the way to the disposal of old and end-of-life boats.

Under the plan, which spans the next three years, EBI will involve public and private parties in collecting information on old boats, as well as creating a body to lead the process. Achievement of the main goal is scheduled for 2030. 

The association has declared its main goal to be the complete disposal of old boats and campaigning for the transition to more modern and environmentally friendly models. According to experts, at the moment there are more than 6.5 million boats in all European boats. Most of them are boats less than 7.5 meters long. The service life of such boats is up to 50 years. To date, the number of hopelessly outdated and abandoned boats is steadily growing.

By 2030, their number will exceed 30,000 boats out of service per year. Such a number of boats is thousands and thousands of tons of composite waste per year. In addition to the roadmap, EBI also provided recommendations on the sale of boats, financing their maintenance, installation and dismantling of equipment, recycling, etc. 

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04.04.2023