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Breakthrough wins at the 2026 World Superyacht Awards and charts a new course for superyachts

The 118.80-metre Feadship Breakthrough combines hydrogen power, silent cruising and a design closely connected to the sea

Breakthrough wins at the 2026 World Superyacht Awards with Feadship’s pioneering hydrogen fuel-cell technology

Giving an award to a yacht measuring almost 119 metres might appear to be mainly a celebration of scale, design and luxury. In the case of Breakthrough, however, the recognition received at the 2026 World Superyacht Awards carries a wider meaning. The Feadship project explores how large yachts could evolve when sustainability, silence and comfort are treated as parts of one integrated system.

The superyacht was named Motor Yacht of the Year and also distinguished itself in the category dedicated to the largest displacement motor yachts. The result places the focus not only on the vessel’s considerable dimensions, but also on the research behind its liquid hydrogen and fuel-cell technology.

A superyacht built around a different question

Breakthrough was not developed by beginning with the number of cabins, the size of the swimming pool or the amount of space reserved for guests. The project started with a more complex challenge, identifying which lower-emission technologies could be practically integrated into a yacht of this scale.

Answering that question required five years of development and a substantial rethink of the vessel’s technical architecture. The result is a 118.80-metre yacht built in the Netherlands and designed to use cryogenic liquid hydrogen through a fuel-cell system that generates electricity without combustion.

Three megawatts of fuel-cell power

Sixteen PowerCell systems installed on board provide a combined output of 3 megawatts. When operating with hydrogen, the electrochemical process generates electricity and releases water vapour, avoiding the emissions normally associated with burning fossil fuels.

The system can support the yacht’s hotel load for approximately one week while at anchor. It can also propel Breakthrough at up to 10 knots using electricity generated by the fuel cells, an option with particular relevance in protected marine areas where noise and emissions need to be reduced.

This does not mean that every challenge surrounding the production, availability and distribution of green hydrogen has been solved. Breakthrough nevertheless demonstrates that a technology still rarely used in yachting can be integrated into a fully operational vessel, moving from theoretical potential to real-world application.

The challenge of storing hydrogen at minus 253 degrees

One of the most demanding aspects of the project was the storage of liquid hydrogen, which must be maintained at approximately -253 °C. Installing cryogenic tanks and the associated safety systems inside a superyacht required dedicated solutions and close coordination between naval architecture, engineering and interior planning.

The project highlights how the energy transition at sea depends on far more than the choice of fuel. Infrastructure, regulations, monitoring systems and an understanding of the yacht’s complete operating cycle are equally important. Breakthrough can therefore be viewed as a testing platform for technologies that may eventually find applications on other vessels.

Silence becomes part of the onboard experience

Electric power is delivered to two rotating ABB azimuthing thrusters, each rated at 3,200 kW. Without conventional shaft lines or traditional rudders, the propulsion arrangement helps reduce vibration and mechanical noise throughout the guest areas.

Silence here is more than a technical achievement. Spending time at anchor without the constant sound of generators changes the relationship between the yacht and its surroundings. The sea, the wind and the nearby coastline become more noticeable, while the technology continues to operate discreetly in the background.

A design created to bring the sea closer

The exterior and interior design were developed by RWD, with naval architecture by De Voogt Naval Architects. Despite the yacht’s size, the design seeks a direct connection with the water through opening platforms, terraces and movable surfaces that can transform the profile of the hull.

Breakthrough features fourteen retractable balconies integrated into the hull sides, seven large opening platforms and nine shell doors. Once deployed, the balcony floors rise to the same level as the adjoining rooms, creating a seamless extension of the interior and uninterrupted views across the water.

Seven decks shaped by light and natural materials

The interior extends across seven decks and uses a palette based on numerous shades of white, cream and off-white. Fabrics and leathers are combined with Travertine marble, rattan, smoked eucalyptus and limed oak to create an atmosphere that feels refined without becoming overly formal.

Curves, circular forms and indirect lighting appear throughout the yacht, softening the scale of the spaces. This is particularly relevant aboard a vessel of this size, where impressive volumes can easily become monumental rather than welcoming.

An underwater lounge concealed below the beach club

One of the yacht’s most distinctive spaces is located inside the keel beneath the beach club. Reached by a hidden staircase, the underwater lounge has six near floor-to-ceiling windows made from double-layered glass approximately seven centimetres thick.

The room offers a direct view beneath the surface of the sea. Above it, the beach club brings together a lounge, spa, steam room, sauna, plunge pools, treatment areas and a twelve-seat Dolby Atmos cinema. The energy system may be the project’s technical centre, but the design still preserves the sense of wellbeing and discovery associated with a large custom yacht.

An award that recognises more than size

The title received at the 2026 World Superyacht Awards acknowledges a combination of engineering, construction quality, design and energy innovation. Breakthrough is also the largest motor yacht ever launched in the Netherlands, yet its significance extends well beyond its 118.80-metre length.

The project points towards a future in which luxury does not necessarily have to mean consuming more resources. It can also mean fewer vibrations, quieter anchorages, cleaner local operation and a more considerate relationship with the places a yacht visits. Hydrogen is not yet a simple or universal solution, but Breakthrough has begun turning a technical possibility into a tangible experience at sea.

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Feadship, Breakthrough

25 July 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Breakthrough wins at the 2026 World Superyacht Awards and charts a new course for superyachts
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