World’s first 3D-printed ‘invisible’ superyacht designed

Jozeph Forakis, founder, Forakis Design has designed the world’s first 3D-printed integrated hull and superstructure for a superyacht. With a reflective exterior and use of renewable energy sources, Forakis said that 88m (288ft) Pegasus is designed to be “virtually invisible” visually and environmentally.

Using 3D printing to create a mesh framework for superyacht hulls and superstructures results in a strong and lightweight structure, says Forakis. That can be produced using less energy, material, waste, space and time compared with conventional construction.

The design of the yacht features a multi-tiered wings superstructure with mirrored glass to reflect the sky and sea. The Italian designer said that he wanted to create a yacht “as close to the sea and nature as possible.

“I wanted to honour nature by blending into it, becoming virtually invisible,” he said. The decision to make the yacht invisible led Forakis to design what he calls “a true zero emissions yacht”.

To achieve  this, the glass of the superstructure will incorporate transparent solar panels to power electrolysers to extract hydrogen from seawater. Onboard fuel cells will then convert the hydrogen to electricity to be stored in lithium-ion batteries, powering both propulsion and operation systems.

“Now is the time for courageous leaps toward our collective sustainable future,” said Forakis. “Pegasus is a bold but achievable vision for the near future of the superyacht industry, where man and machine live in harmony with nature rather than compromising it.”

Pegasus is set for introduction in 2030.

Pictured below: The 3D-Printed structure of Pegasus, designed by Jozeph Forakis.