Superyacht Big Fish is the first in an advanced series of rugged but luxurious long-range world cruisers built for Aquos Yachts by McMullen & Wing Shipyard in New Zealand.This custom design from Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architects is a 45m large volume steel and aluminum explorer motor yacht engineered for remote operation throughout the Pacific. With a 10,000 mile range at 9-10 knots and extensive long term storage onboard she is a unique class of vessel capable of sustaining extended trips for up to three months away from refueling facilities. Fuel efficiency is a key element of her cruising capability. Through extensive water-tank testing her hull shape and plum bow make her super-efficient through the water.
Along with the innovative design ideas, Big Fish is energy-conscious, appealing to a lot of clients these days. She is the first super yacht featuring stone decking – epoxy-impregnated granite, which resists requires less maintenance, and does not require the use of chemicals or otherwise harsh treatments to keep it looking like new. Far less stainless steel is used aboard in comparison to other yachts, so that the crew doesn’t have to use polishing agents repeatedly and risk the chemicals entering the water.
Throughout the yacht, there is extensive use of LED lighting, which helps reduce power consumption and saving on power generation requirements. Systems-wise, Big Fish can create hot water from the waste heat emitted by the generators and engines. For protection of the oceans waters she is outfitted with state of the art fuel emissions filtration and waste water discharge systems complying with the new MARPOL 2010 regulation amendments for the prevention of pollution from ships at sea. Furthermore, Big Fish is fitted with ocean-monitoring equipment on behalf of the International SeaKeepers Society. Her crew are trained to conduct operations with the three “Rs” in mind – reduce-recycle-reuse. The “green” sensibility even extends to guests: They will be given their own reusable water bottles to use while onboard; no plastic bottles permitted.
Superyacht Big Fish proudly flies the burgee of the International SeaKeepers Society, a global organization dedicated to ocean monitoring, education and protection. Fully equipped with Seakeeper 1000 equipment, capable of continuous monitoring and collection of valuable atmospheric and ocean data providing scientists and resource managers with information vital to understanding changes in the world’s oceans and climate. Measurements of a wide variety of meteorological and ocean chemistry parameters are made every minute and transmitted via satellite for use by scientists and weather forecasters in more than 156 countries.
Superyacht Big Fish will make an invaluable contribution to better understanding our rapidly changing planet. On her maiden voyage, Founder Richard Beattie is attempting a polar circumnavigation, the first ever by a private yacht. He said, “I am proud that Big Fish may be the first vessel to accomplish this feat and in doing so with its SeaKeeper equipment will contribute substantially to learning more about these remote, rarely-studied waters, which are among the most pristine oceans left on Earth.”
From the Antarctic this January/February 2011, Big Fish will cruise north to visit the Upper Amazon/Rio Negro River Basin offering limited chartering en route. After crossing the Atlantic, Big Fish will spend mid-summer cruising the North Atlantic above Norway, and in late July will attempt to be the first luxury yacht to complete the fabled Northeast Passage, crossing the Arctic Ocean above Russia to the Pacific Ocean.
