Arksen signs deal with aluminium shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co. for developing hybrid explorer vessels

Arksen, a soon-to-be-launched technology, and innovation company, has reportedly partnered with high-speed craft and aluminium shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Company based in East Cowes for developing, building, and supporting semi-autonomous, hybrid explorer vessels.

According to the report, Arksen has also teamed up with world-renowned naval architects Humphreys Yacht Design, based in Lymington, and award-winning Fareham based interior designers, Design Unlimited for building the new vessels.

The vessels are designed in such a way that will have the least impact on the environment and take adventurers to the most inaccessible corners of the world’s oceans.

The report also says that Arksen has appointed Isle of Wight resident Tanya Brookfield as Executive Director. She brings expertise from her previous roles as MD of Alex Thomson Racing, co-founder of Toe in the Water, and Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. Her extensive multi-sector experience is expected to benefit the Arksen Foundation, actively involving the Arksen owner community and providing marine institutions with sea time for scientific research to encourage and motivate the next generation of explorers, scientists, and adventurers.

Peter Morton, Chief Executive of Wight Shipyard Co. said: “Shipbuilding on the Isle of Wight goes back hundreds of years. The Isle of Wight builds the finest aluminium vessels in the world and this explorer yacht range fits perfectly alongside our high-speed ferry building operation. Coupled with the quality of the interior fit out that our sister company, SMS, has shown can do with the likes of Shemara and Alicia, we are confident to produce a world-class vessel.

“We share similar values with Arksen, wanting to do business differently, so are delighted that we will build these forward-thinking explorer vessels with them. We expect Arksen to be a great boost for the Isle of Wight and will add to the £50 million impact we have already had on the UK balance of trade.”

Arksen will be launched at boot Düsseldorf on 19th January 2019, when further details of the explorer vessel’s technology and innovations, as well as the Arksen Foundation and partnerships, will be released.