Lateral Naval Architects has received approval in principle (AiP) from ABS for its new design of a methanol-fuelled, 70-metre superyacht. The yacht is called Energy Transition Platform.
Lateral’s design focuses on reducing carbon emissions by utilising alternative fuels, specifically green methanol. ABS utilised the ABS Requirements for Methanol and Ethanol Fuelled Vessels to review the design and award the AiP.
‘This superyacht design promises to capitalise on the experience gained from commercial vessels utilising methanol to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets,’ says Daniele Bottino, ABS manager, Business Development, Yacht Sector Lead.
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Energy Transition Platform
On its journey to net zero, Lateral have explored the extents of an adaptable architecture to enable a future proof pathway.
Future-proofing a superyacht is the process of anticipating the future to enable informed choices of layout, configuration, technology and specification that will avoid obsolescence within the intended lifespan of the yacht. Any yacht built today, will have to span the energy transition, a period of significant change in available fuel types and associated technologies.
This demands an adaptable technical architecture that can accommodate the alterations to layout, configuration and specifications needed to integrate future technologies and alternative fuels in the least invasive way possible. Lateral’s vision of a future-proof superyacht is named Energy Transition Platform, a solution developed to ensure multiple technical pathways can be discussed as technologies mature during the energy transition timeline.
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Lateral has previously explored the idea on a larger scale 100m+ in length ETP, such as the concept Aeolus (together with Oceanco). In order to scale the ETP design for smaller yachts, Lateral has returned to the drawing board, testing new ideas and concepts to deliver an optimised platform for 70-metre yachts.
Picture (top): Model of the Energy Transition Platform (courtesy Lateral Naval Architects).
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