In 2019, J&J entered into a very ambitious project for the government of the Maldives: developing a green boating vessel which would be able to take small groups of sea- and nature-lovers to the heart of the most intimate and delicate parts of the Maldivian archipelago. 

We were particularly interested because the project featured both environmentally responsible boating, and bringing together the worlds of pleasure boating and cruise-ship programs. Our focus was on the protection of the environment—something that large cruise ships are not really good at—as well as offering clients high-level comfort while allowing them to experience the beauties of the sea, both under and above the water’s surface.

We imagined a vessel under 30 m long, which would accommodate twenty guests and six crew members, with large lounging/socializing areas that provided excellent views, either fully air-conditioned or open-air. The ten twin-guest cabins, 11 m2 each, would be identical and built outside the boat for maximal production efficiency. Design enabled very easy access to the sea, to the dinghy, or to the shore, even for senior guests. A full range of toys could also be stored aboard to provide the full enjoyment of the pristine nature.

The ship would have twin 110 kW Torqeedo electric propulsion motors, 320 kWh of BMW i3-based Lithium batteries, and a 15 kW photovoltaic roof. Supported by twin 65 kW micro-turbine diesel generators (running without noise or vibration), and with 99% less emissions of NOx, CO or fine particles compared to standard diesel generators, the range would be over 100 km at speeds of 10 to 12 knots. 

The mini-ship would provide full-electric (no noise, zero emission, zero vibration), allowing for access to delicate marine habitats. In overall use it would emit more than 40% fewer CO2 emissions than comparable diesel proposed vessel, and the full-electric range would be more than 50 nautical miles. 

The project is still in the drawers of Maldives government, but maybe one day…