Damen's new SeaXplorer superyacht range is designed to cut through ice

Dutch yard Damen, parent company to superyacht builder Amels, has announced a new range of expedition yachts from 65 to 100 metres.

Details of the Damen SeaXplorer range — which will combine luxury with commercial ship capabilities — were revealed at a press conference during the Monaco Yacht Show.

The Damen SeaXplorer team have worked with EYOS Expeditions — who organise trips to incredible ice destinations with superyachts — to ensure that the range will have an exceptional expedition performance. Azure Yacht Design has been responsible for creating the “off road” appearance of the the SeaXplorer yachts. The design features Damen’s patented Sea Axe hull, which has been strengehtened to enable the explorer yacht to easily cut through ice.

Managing director of Amels, Rob Luijendijk, said that the SeaXplorer range had been created because of a gap in the market.

“A number of experienced yachting clients approached us about adapting Damen professional vessels, so we knew from them that there were simply no globally capable luxury explorer yachts out there,” said Luijendijk.

“That’s also what we heard from the expedition specialists in the industry. So that’s why Damen began developing the SeaXplorer. The result is well beyond a pretty rendering; it’s a fully developed range.”

The SeaXplorer range is designed to give guests a new sense of freedom, as each yacht will be capable of spending 40 days in between port calls. Each of the new Damen explorer yachts will also be able to carry up to two helicopters as well as a selection of tenders, toys and submersibles.