Not every yacht originates from a blueprint. Scintilla Maris, a 45.6-meter vessel, started its journey as a fishing trawler, boasting over three decades of sea expertise. Undergoing a four-year conversion by Vripack for interior design, it transformed from a solitary fishing trawler to a proficient and capable explorer yacht.
Vripack is a robust design studio due to its extensive naval architecture and engineering experience. From the moment it opened its doors in 1961, the playful interactions between beauty and function have governed Vripack’s approach to design. With a portfolio representing over 7500 designs, Vripack has evolved its processes to be as efficient and effective as possible.
The owner had a triple vision: to craft a haven away from home with a versatile hull capable of navigating anywhere, to ensure seaworthiness in any condition, and to instill a stunning yet practical Vripack-designed interior that prioritizes light, space, and comfort.
“Scintilla Maris is less of a conversion and more of a rebuild on an existing hull,” says the owner. I wanted to use the magnificent Dutch fishing trawler hulls that have been built over the centuries and create something that offers optimum comfort and quality of life rather than luxury.”The 2023 conversion occurred at the yacht's home shipyard, Damen Maaskant, in the western Netherlands. Collaborating closely with Vripack, the yard successfully downsized the original 570GT to fall below the 500GT threshold. The hull, now a striking blue color, underwent thorough stripping down to its bare metal while the entire interior was completely revamped. The new interior design, crafted from high-pressure laminate, boasts a contemporary loft-like ambiance featuring skylights, gracefully curved walls to accentuate angles, and a vibrant color palette of reds, greens, and yellows. The high-pressure laminate was chosen for its durability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of maintenance.
Central to the interior design directive was the incorporation of ample natural light across all guest areas, resulting in many portholes in the hull and skylights on deck. The full-beam owner’s suite has a standout feature- a skylight converted from the original hatch to the fish hold.
Scintilla Maris comfortably accommodates up to 10 guests in five double staterooms, each equipped with its own en suite facilities. Additionally, there is ample space for a crew of nine, along with a separate crew galley area. Due to stricter emission regulations, the yacht has been outfitted with new hybrid-electric propulsion and a harbor generator to reduce its carbon footprint while minimizing noise and vibration levels.
“The owner had a clear idea of how he wanted to use the boat, and we incorporated that into the interior styling,” says Marnix Hoekstra, co-creative director at Vripack. He requested a functional aesthetic that feels both classy and utilitarian without being overly flashy. He liked our studio’s approach to the project, underpinned by our experience designing commercial vessels.”The owner’s ambitious 2024 itinerary includes Norway, Iceland, and Greenland as part of the maiden voyage. Check out more of Vripack’s projects and designs.
