Delivered earlier this year, Breakthrough is the largest motor yacht ever built in The Netherlands at 118.80 metres in length with a 19.00-metre beam. She embodies an ambitious and transformative vision: How far can we push green technology on superyachts? The answer was a multi-faceted, zero-diesel solution that allows the yacht to cruise between harbours or anchorages and operate all onboard hotel services using only green hydrogen.

A 92m³ cryogenic hydrogen tank powers sixteen fuel cells, generating electricity with water vapour as the sole emission. For extended passages, her ABB pod drives are supported by generators running on second-generation HVO biofuel, reducing emissions by up to 90 per cent.

With no regulatory framework in place at the start of the project, Feadship collaborated with Lloyd’s Register, PowerCell Group, and Edmiston to develop entirely new class and safety protocols, which have since informed broader industry standards. The hydrogen system developed for Breakthrough is now being adopted in commercial maritime vessels, including Norwegian passenger ferries launching next year.

“This project was never just about one yacht,” said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, CEO of Royal Van Lent Shipyard. “It was about developing clean technology that can shape the future of the industry.”

Jamie Edmiston, Chief Executive of Edmiston, commented: “The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise. It was a huge challenge, but the team delivered. The result is, without doubt, the best yacht ever built.”

Designed inside out by RWD, Breakthrough is as sophisticated in form as she is in function. She features five decks above the waterline and two below, fourteen slide-out balconies, a private underwater lounge, and a flowing silhouette that conceals her immense technical complexity.

The full private owners’ deck includes twin staterooms, dual bathrooms, offices with fireplaces, a gym, and a shaded foredeck with a Jacuzzi. A unique four-level vertical owners’ corridor links a series of private spaces across multiple decks, from a sea-level dining room with a fold-out terrace to a personal library and games niche.

The yacht accommodates 22 guests and 48 crew across fifteen staterooms, with additional spaces including a hospital, wellness centre, Dolby Atmos cinema, and expansive beach club.

Throughout, the interior employs natural materials, a palette of neutral tones, and advanced systems such as smart AC and waste heat recovery to reduce energy consumption.