Unveiled during the Dubai International Boat Show, one of Oceanco’s most recent projects “the new 115 metre Tuhura” has proven itself as a yacht of unparalleled innovativeness that also reflects upon a design of forgone ages. This groundbreaking super yacht is the result of a brilliant collaboration with the Lobanov Design studio, BMT Nigel Gee and interior designer Achille Salvagni; with Lobanov Design doing the exterior of the vessel, BMT on the naval architecture, and Achille Salvagni obviously engaging in its interior design.
Tuhura is in a league of its own, from an unconventional exterior design to a contemporary interior layout. Its outer design is reminiscent of the early phases of canoes, in which it brings forth an archaic style to the vessel. The idea of returning an ancient concept to the yacht was precisely for giving it an impression of voyaging to the unknown and seeking pure adventure. In fact, the name “Tuhura” is adopted from the Maori verb, which meant to discover, ascertain, bring to light, and explore.
“Our Tuhura is a simple idea,” explains Igor Lobanov, “The thought was to take a natural shape similar to those seen in the earliest canoe-type craft and augment it multifold to a larger scale, using modern technology.”
The exterior design of Tuhura by Lobanov is incredibly flexible as it blends perfectly with the interior in such a way that allows the yacht to be designed seamlessly at a size anywhere from 80 to 120 metres in length. The beauty of this design is that it could be adjusted to a yacht size of your preference, which is quite helpful for those looking for a “Tuhura” in their own specifications.
“This is a technically challenging and intriguing project,” says Dirk de Jong, Commercial Director at Oceanco. “It is 180-degrees different from our previous two yacht collaborations with Lobanov Design studio, the 86m launched in 2013 and the 110m Jubilee launched just last year. Yet Tuhura is still 100 percent Oceanco DNA.”
Cutting-edge technology can be seen throughout the yacht’s 115 metres (377 feet), which emphasized the level of innovation with the primal exterior design. Numerous horizontal windows were added onto the hull, which employed avant-garde glass technology with countless dots that lets the view from the inside to be entirely clear, whereas from the exterior, the windows fully blend among the colour of the hull, thus masking its presence on the outside. In addition, more glass features can be integrated to Tuhura’s black superstructure, of which is inclusive of flat glass paneling.
As referred to as a “brushed Teak habitat” by Achille Salvagni, the interior design of Tuhura (mainly the floors, walls, and ceiling) gathered inspiration from East Asia and the Pacific islands. This “brushed Teak habitat” introduced thin reveals in gunmetal and natural bronze with tatami floors throughout the interior. “Tuhura is a megayacht conceived for a dynamic owner, nevertheless the timeless sense of peace and calmness are the main characteristics,” stated Salvagni. “This softness and dynamicity are reflected in the humble elegance and sensuality of the primitive organic shapes echoed throughout.”
The ship’s hull as well as its propulsion system, have both been developed together with the collaboration of BMT. Thanks to its uncomplicated form, the hull has lowered resistance, natural adeptness, high endurance, and top-notch maneuverability. Because of how the current propulsion systems were too difficult in setting up on the yacht’s canoe like form, the BMT team instead chose to go with a hybrid Azipod® CRP (contra-rotating) propulsion system from ABB.
James Roy, Yacht Design Director at BMT, stated, “The hybrid CRP system is inherently efficient and perfectly suited to the canoe form, there is a synergy between the efficiency of the hull form, and that of the propulsion system, leading to a yacht which marries an evolutionary simple hull with an evolutionary advanced propulsion system”
The creation of Tuhura can also be contributed to LuxLab, the custom design label from Van Berge Henegouwen (VBH), which joined the team to provide the yacht with the latest leading-edge technology from bow to stern. To turn Tuhura into a technologically advanced vessel, not only were controls for HVAC, lighting, audio, video, curtains, and others added, but controls for monitoring preferences, such as temperature and music, will also be available for her owner’s enjoyment. Another unique part about the ship is that there are plans underway for the creation of a 360° room. So, it could be said that the 115-metre Tuhura is the perfect sailing vessel for thrill seekers and innovators alike.
Images courtesy of: Oceanco/Lobanov Design
