12 May 2023

Refitting the Lady Jade: how to extend a superyacht by 20%

12 May 2023

To check that extending the M/Y Lady Jade by 6 metres would not have affected watertightness, CFD techniques were used

To check that extending the M/Y Lady Jade by 6 metres would not have affected watertightness, CFD techniques were used

3 minutes of reading

Built by Brazilian shipyard Inace in 2008, the M/Y Lady Jade underwent a complex refit in 2017, which included extending the hull by 6 metres and adding in a bimini top on the upper deck.

Following this complex work, which was carried out in the Turkish shipyard Alia Yachts, NAMES (Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Studio) founded by Francesco Rogantin, were able to complete this challenging refit thanks to their years of experience in naval architecture, including their profound knowledge in hydrodynamics, materials and various types of propulsion.

His team of experts guaranteed their full support throughout each phase of the project, from feasibility analysis to detailed projections on weight, stability and performance, through to executive design.

THE OWNER’S REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LADY JADE

“The owner – says Rogantin – fell in love with the classic lines of this yacht, but he had also fallen in love with one of her sister ships that had been extended to the stern. This was the input that we, and other design studios, were given at first contact.”

“When the choice fell to NAMES – continues the studio founder – we immediately looked at the executive design of the structure and naval architecture, which had to be studied carefully in order to fulfil the requirements – an extension of 6 metres with a complete revision of the hull, recalculation of the weight distribution, and testing the resistance of the existing structure, to ensure it could withstand such radical work.”

CFD (COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS) TECHNIQUES

Thanks to computational fluid dynamic techniques, the method which uses numerical analysis and algorithms to study problems of fluid dynamics, comparative analyses were completed, before beginning any physical intervention: only once the wave field, drag and alignment values had been tested following the modification, could they be certain that the 6 metre extension, bringing the waterline length to 36 metres, and overall length to 40 metres, would not have had any ill effects to watertightness.

NEW EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS FOR LADY JADE

“Extending the stern – concludes Rogantin – was functional and completely changed it’s use, under precise instruction of the owner, who wanted it more open to the water, as well as a refit of the lower deck, where, in addition to mechanical rooms, a sauna was added.”

In addition, the work of designer Stefano Pastrovich, who refitted the 3 decks, created more space below deck, in particular with the addition of a structural bimini top on the upper deck. Also new are the interiors, with 6 cabins for 12 passengers and 4 crew cabins for the captain and 5 sailors.