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Ilma: a new chapter
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection further develops its offering with its latest yacht
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s new vessel Ilma signifies a development of the operator’s product by boosting sustainability and capturing learnings from first vessel Evrima.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vice president, newbuild Tobias King explains, “The main consideration behind the design and construction of Ilma was to create an authentic Ritz-Carlton experience at sea, drawing upon inspiration from the best of luxury hotel and yacht design, while capturing operational learnings from Evrima to ensure a continuous development of our product.
Ilma is the first vessel of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to deploy LNG dual-fuel propulsion. Mr King explains, “The international shipping industry is going through a paradigm shift on the topic of sustainability, and when Ilma was designed in 2021, we decided we wanted to contribute to our joint path toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. During Ilma’s lifecycle, we are optimistic and believe the supply chains of sustainable fuels will continue to expand, but there is uncertainty on what type of sustainable fuel will be available to us, whether various forms of biofuels or synthetic e-fuels, and the type of sustainable fuel may vary according to the area of operation.
“By installing an LNG system on Ilma, we are increasing our flexibility, while reducing local emissions in port and at anchorage.”
Enter LNG
The LNG dual-fuel system was developed in collaboration with the shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique and the engine maker Wärtsilä. Mr King comments, “The system is novel regarding fuel holding, supply and engine consumption, with the focus on energy efficiency. From an operator’s perspective, we also benefit from a significant holding capacity that gives us a range of up to two weeks operation on LNG.”
In early August, the first bunkering took place by barge in Marseille and was a success, Mr King notes. “We continue to work with our partners to secure bunkering at locations that match our itineraries.”
Ilma has plenty of other energy efficient, green technology and features. Mr King says, “Ilma is designed with state-of-the-art technologies and solutions for energy efficiency. The hull shape and propulsion system are highly optimised to maximise energy efficiency specifically for our itineraries, and on the technical side, we benefit from a well-designed power generation system carefully selected and designed with energy efficiency in mind.
“The relaxed pace of our itineraries and overnights in ports of call also means we consume less time at sea which has a significant impact on energy efficiency.”
Ilma also features an integrated data acquisition system developed in partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Mr King says, “It is a pilot test both for us and the shipyard that gives us valuable insight into the ship’s operation, both with regards to live data and in-depth analysis. With this system and relevant processes in place, we hope to continuously optimise how we operate our ships, but also be smarter in our design decisions as we expand our fleet in the future. The system also allows us to motivate the shipyard and various makers to innovate and offer us energy-efficiency measures that we all can benefit from.”
Evaluation study
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has also carried out an evaluation study of ABB’s Dynafin propulsion on Ilma.
ABB’s Dynafin, launched in May last year, is an electric podded propulsion system that takes inspiration from whale movements, which can achieve open water propulsive efficiency of up to 85%, and reduce fuel use and emissions by more than 20% compared with conventional propellers, according to its architects.
Its signature feature is five individually pitch-controlled blades projecting from the ship hull. Sophisticated control of each blade via an electric motor and converter enables the optimal ‘whale tail’ motion during each revolution. This, says ABB, overcomes both the limitations of conventional fixed-pitch propellers and mechanically restricted cycloidal propellers.
The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s contribution to the evaluation study carried out with ABB was to provide input for a case study and to participate in validating results. The cruise operator provided the hull shape and all technical details for Ilma, which was used for the study.
The study has reaped impressive results. From the base case, ABB Dynafin reduced needed propulsion power by 12% based on the estimated operational profile, or 710 tonnes of LNG in a year. For more, see the feature in PST Q3 2024.
Innovative aspects
Asked about the most innovative aspects of the new yacht, Mr King says, “The most innovative aspects lie in how we can create an environment of ultra-luxury within the framework of ship design. Together with our partners, we have successfully been able to implement design and service solutions from luxury hotels and smaller private yachts into our product.
“On the technical side, we have worked on the intersection between the demands of ultra-luxury versus the needs of engineering and naval architecture. We are a ship at sea facing the elements, powered by a sizable power plant with many supporting systems, and thanks to many smart solutions on Ilma, we are proud our guests will enjoy unparalleled performance on important comfort elements such as seakeeping, noise and vibration.”
On the horizon, the profile of Evrima and Ilma look very similar, however, while still intimate in size, Ilma is slightly larger in length and width. Mr King says, “As a result, Ilma will feature expanded public spaces for our guests to enjoy and more space per guest, with one of the highest space ratios at sea. On the technical side, the ship is redesigned as a prototype, with the LNG fuel system being among the main differences.”
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s next vessel, Luminara, will start voyages in 2025. Luminara will be similar in profile to Ilma and share the same technical elements. From a guest offering perspective, Luminara will accommodate up to 452 guests across 226 suites and feature different design elements across suites and public spaces. “We recently opened reservations for Luminara’s itineraries in the Asia-Pacific region, expanding our offerings across the globe,” says Mr King.
Interior perspective
London-based architectural and design firm AD Associates and lighting designer DPA are responsible for the interior design. The yacht’s exteriors reflect the vision of Helsinki-based design studio, Aivan, drawing inspiration from the graceful aesthetics of private yacht design. Continuing to bring the legendary service of The Ritz-Carlton to sea, the yacht boasts one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios in the luxury cruising category, providing nearly one staff member for every guest.
Ilma features five restaurants, seven bars, a wine vault, and signature spaces such as an expanded marina with a mezzanine feature and The Ritz-Carlton Spa with 11 treatment rooms. The yacht’s amenities include three distinct fitness spaces and a dynamic pool and entertainment area on Deck 10. A reimagined onboard destination is the Beach House, a vibrant Pan-Latin restaurant and global beach-house inspired lounge space conceptualised with Toronto-based luxury design firm Chapi Chapo Design, which will transport guests to a waterfront haven with 180° views.
“It is with immense pride and excitement that we welcome Ilma to our growing fleet,” The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection executive chairman and chief executive Jim Murren sums up, “Since Evrima’s debut, we have been steadfast in our pursuit of excellence at sea. The addition of Ilma signifies a continuation of our mission to deliver legendary service and unparalleled enjoyment to our guests.”
Tobias King (The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection)
Tobias King, the company’s leader in newbuild projects, holds the position of vice president, newbuild. His dedication and expertise have been pivotal in the company’s growth, particularly in building and leading the newbuild team at Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the company’s upcoming superyachts Ilma and Luminara, slated to sail in 2024 and 2025, respectively. With a background in naval architecture and marine engineering, Mr King managed several projects for Celebrity Cruises and held engineering and consultancy positions with DNV prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
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