The most exciting revelation at last year's Monaco Yacht Show wasn't a new-build boat at all. Instead, it was a detailed model of what should become the world's first hydrogen-powered superyacht. Designed by the Dutch yacht-design company Sinot, in collaboration with Lateral Naval Architects, Aqua is a 112-metre hydrogen-electric concept with carefully resolved engineering and architectural schematics.
At the heart of the vessel is a propulsion system whose only by-product is water. Liquified hydrogen, stored at minus 253 degrees Celsius in two 28-tonne vacuum-isolated tanks, is converted into electrical energy by proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, powering every one of the yacht's needs. Large batteries buffer the generated electricity, and the result is a top speed of 17 knots, a cruising speed of 10 knots and a range of 3,750 nautical miles.
Across five decks, Aqua offers accommodation for 31 crew and 14 guests. The undoubted highlight is the full 15.4-metre-wide owner's "pavilion", which occupies the front half of the upper deck. Its open-plan layout is divided by wooden screens, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides and crowned by an extraordinary all-glass room at the bow that delivers a genuine "top-of-the-world" feeling.
Elsewhere, the amenities read like a wish list for life at sea: a cascading infinity pool, a gym, a hydro-massage room and a yoga studio, alongside carrying space for two 32-foot tenders, three Jet Skis and a helicopter. It is a vision of luxury that asks whether the future of superyachting can be both indulgent and clean, and answers, persuasively, in the affirmative.
