VESSEL REVIEW | Wayfinder – Australian-designed, Spanish-built 68m yacht support vessel

Spanish shipyard Armon has delivered a new yacht support catamaran vessel.

Custom-designed in compliance to Lloyd's Register class rules, the all-aluminium Wayfinder has a length of 68 metres, a beam of 14 metres, and a draught of 3.1 metres to allow close coastline navigation. Features include a fully certified helipad and helicopter hangar, with accommodation and storage over four decks.

As a yacht support vessel, Wayfinder is tasked primarily with transporting additional fuel and provisions for its assigned mother ship. It will also be used for transporting all the equipment needed by passengers for a complete range of recreational activities on land, sea, and air. Hence, the vessel has space for an assortment of smaller vehicles such as five large tenders and jetskis in addition to a helicopter.

Designer Incat Crowther's Technical Manager Dan Mace said the vessel's catamaran hull offers 60 per cent more deck space and 40 per cent more volume capacity, allowing operational efficiency and greater flexibility. The vessel is capable of sailing at high speeds yet is stable enough to ensure the safe transfer of guests from helicopters via tenders. Specifically, the hull provides a 70 per cent increase in stability for loading and offloading of equipment and tenders, and this stability is enhanced further by the incorporation of a Praxis dynamic positioning system.

In addition to boasting an 18-crewmember capacity, the vessel can also accommodate up to 14 extra crew and service personnel. The vessel's hulls are occupied by a multitude of service spaces including those for waste management and treatment, tech stores, laundry, and workshops.

The approximately 1,000 square metres of interior space on Wayfinder features outfitting and design elements supplied by Oliver Design. This encompasses the bridge, the engine control room, crew cabins, an infirmary, offices, a galley, a mess area, a gym, lounges, and the dive support room, which even has its own decompression chamber.

The vessel was designed to meet or exceed IMO Tier III emissions guidelines. An onboard treatment plant cleans all wastewater discharged to a drinkable quality while wet and dry waste are also fully treated onboard to allow the vessel to operate with a zero discharge policy.

Power is provided by a pair of MTU 16V4000M73L engines, each with a rated output of 2,832 kW at 2,050 rpm. The engines drive two Servogear controllable-pitch propellers via ZF gearboxes to deliver a maximum speed of 22 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 14 knots, making the vessel ideal for accompanying its mother ship on long-endurance voyages.

Click here for the other news, features and reviews comprising this month's Passenger Vessel Week.