Wight Leading Environmental Stewardship with Hybrid Explorer Vessel

U.K. shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co is continuing to build on its solid reputation in the commercial ferry build sector by becoming involved with a new company set up to build the most capable and efficient explorer vessels available on the market.

Arksen is developing, building and supporting semi-autonomous, hybrid explorer vessels, responsibly designed from the ground up to have the least impact on the environment and take adventurers to the most inaccessible corners of the world’s oceans.

Wight Shipyard Co has been appointed to develop the fleet of Arksen series vessels including the Arksen 70, Arksen 85 and Arksen 100, in a team also comprising fellow south coast businesses Humphreys Yacht Design (exterior) and Design Unlimited (interior).

“Ship building on the Isle of Wight goes back hundreds of years. The Isle of Wight builds the finest aluminium vessels in the world and this explorer yacht range fits perfectly alongside our high-speed ferry building operation,” said Peter Morton, chief executive of Wight Shipyard Co.

“My aim with Arksen is first and foremost to develop exceptional products to the highest build standards with their full lifecycle in mind; from sourcing to recycling at end of life. We share similar values with Arksen, so are delighted that we will build these forward-thinking explorer vessels with them. This project will be a great boost for the Marine manufacturing businesses on the Isle of Wight.”

Ground-breaking

The Arksen team first aims to develop a semi-autonomous, hybrid explorer concept vessel. Arksen 85 will be the first in build with tank testing having already begun. The team is hoping for a Summer 2019 start date with a ten-month build schedule.

The green credentials don’t just stop at the beginning and end of the vessel’s lifecycle, they also extend to operations. All future Arksen boat owners must commit to donating 10 percent of seagoing time to the Arksen Foundation, a non-for-profit organization set up to provide project funding, facilitate cutting-edge scientific research and create innovative media to inspire a greater understanding of the fragility of the ocean. 

Arksen, which was launched at boot Düsseldorf on 19 January 2019, is the brainchild of U.K. based tech entrepreneur and investor Jasper Smith who, after a career spanning 30 years in the games and tech industry, has expanded and set his sights on the marine industry.

“We are working closely with Wight to design and build vessels to be the best in class in efficiency and fuel economy, as well as understand the procurement process and the supply chain for the components that we use in and during construction to ensure the vessels are fully recyclable at the end of their life,” said Smith.

“This cradle to grave approach is one that we believe will be common place in the industry within the next ten years, but we are proud to be pioneering it with our suppliers.”

Strong reputation

As Europe’s leading high-speed craft and aluminium ship builder located on Britain's Isle of Wight, Wight Shipyard Co has recorded exceptional success in the fast ferry sector since its inception, delivering high-performance cutting-edge designs and the most comfortable passenger accommodation in fuel-efficient hull forms.

Wight Shipyard’s latest newbuild ferry delivered to the MBNA Thames Clipper is the yard’s seventh build in two years and features the very latest in cutting edge design.

Previous notable builds include the renovation of the historic motor yacht MY Shemara, Red Funnel’s Red Jet 6 & 7, another two MBNA Thames Clippers, Scotland’s Jacobite Cruises and TCL’s Fast ferry.