VESSEL REVIEW | Saudi dive operator's fast hybrid boat to sail on Red Sea excursions

Spanish builder Moggaro Aluminium Yachts has successfully completed the construction of a new hybrid dive boat ordered by Saudi Arabia-based urban developer Neom.

The 16.2-metre (53.1-foot) newbuild is the first unit of a total of four boats scheduled for delivery to the same operator in fulfilment of a tender awarded by Neom. Its daily duties include scuba diving trips and leisure excursions in the Red Sea, reaching distances of up to 60 nautical miles from the home port at the Neom-owned Sindalah Sports Complex.

Neom commissioned the design and construction of a professional vessel for scuba diving excursions and recreational activities that was also capable of meeting high standards of quality, comfort, and sustainability.

The design therefore focuses on versatility, accommodating both diving and excursion activities, with special attention to onboard mobility to facilitate adaptive diving for people with reduced mobility.

Improved access for reduced mobility guests

In addition to the completely level deck accessible to wheelchair users, the vessel had to feature a hybrid propulsion system capable of silent, reduced-emission electric navigation in both port areas and diving zones, with a minimum electric-only autonomy of one hour and 45 minutes.

All of these features had to be integrated into a modern, safe, functional, and low-maintenance design.

“The requirements were particularly demanding, as the vessel needed to carry up to 25 people at high speeds with a range of 250 nautical miles,” Moggaro told Baird Maritime. “The boat had to be specifically adapted for inclusive diving. This meant having a fully flush deck with no steps, allowing seamless access for wheelchairs.”

The builder added that this completes the experience that the client aims to provide: a combination of luxury, innovation, sustainability, and social inclusion.

Versatile hybrid propulsion arrangement

The boat also features a hybrid propulsion system consisting of two BlueNav 15kW electric outboard motors with retractable propellers, two Volvo D11 engines, and Hamilton HTX30 water jets.

This configuration allows for a comfortable cruising speed of 25 knots and a maximum speed of 36 knots, while the retractable design ensures minimal drag when not in use, and the transom-mounted setup simplifies installation and maintenance compared to more traditional integrated systems.

“One of the valuable improvements implemented was the use of hull extensions beneath the jets (what Hamilton refers to as ‘flaps’). These additions significantly improved the vessel’s ability to transition quickly to planing and ensured better trim and stability at cruising speed, even in choppy waters.”

Importantly, these modifications did not excessively compromise the vessel’s top speed, which reached 37 knots at 30 per cent load. Moggaro said this was an excellent result for a vessel of this size and weight.

The overall propulsion system is the result of careful power-to-weight optimisation, ensuring the vessel meets both performance and comfort requirements. Various parameters—such as weight, power, propulsion, and hull design—had to be carefully balanced to meet all performance and usability requirements.

Design ensuring both comfort and function

“The main challenges involved designing a high-speed vessel capable of accommodating 23 plus two divers along with up to 40 diving cylinders, while ensuring that the boat could be used both for diving operations and high-end recreational excursions,” Moggaro told Baird Maritime.

“As such, the vessel’s aesthetic and design had to strike a balance between a functional workboat and a luxury vessel. To achieve this, we designed diving seats that can be converted into more comfortable passenger seating.”

In addition to the convertible seats, the vessel combines multiple features to meet the expectations of high-end clients. These include a synthetic teak-style deck, an accessible flybridge for up to eight people, high-quality sun pads, and premium interior carpentry with top-tier finishes.

Moggaro said these elements were carefully integrated without compromising the technical and functional requirements of the vessel.

The electronics setup includes a full navigation and communication suite installed on the flybridge, designed for both professional operation and user-friendly control. It includes a radar, a depth sounder, GPS, a plotter, a VHF radio, AIS, and an autopilot. There is also a fire control panel with temperature and smoke detectors.

The boat is fitted with a shore power and generator selector switch, battery chargers for each battery group (main engines, electric motors, generator, services, bow thruster/windlass, emergency), and an emergency battery backup for powering critical equipment such as the radio, the AIS, the radar, the autopilot, the emergency bilge pumps, and the navigation lights.

The electronics installation ensures redundancy and safe operation through a well-organised, clearly labeled electrical distribution system. All systems were installed and configured by specialised personnel to meet the vessel’s operational and safety requirements.

The deck is finished with synthetic teak, providing both durability and a refined appearance. There are also custom-designed diving seats with integrated space for easy placement of diving cylinders, which can be converted into high-comfort seating for leisure excursions. Additionally, there is an auxiliary rack for an additional 16 diving cylinders.

Two dive ladders are installed, one on each side of the vessel, to facilitate water access. For inclusive diving, the boat is equipped with a small crane designed to assist divers with reduced mobility in getting in and out of the water safely.

“The most critical constraint, given the project’s requirements, was weight,” Moggaro commented. “The vessel needed to reach cruising speeds of 25 knots under full load conditions (i.e., 25 people, 40 diving cylinders, 1,600 litres of fuel, and 350 litres of water), while also carrying the added weight of the hybrid system and its eight batteries (approximately 650 kg).

“The choice of waterjet propulsion was based on our extensive experience with jet systems. However, it was essential not to undersize or oversize the propulsion setup, as either could trigger a vicious cycle—more power means more weight, requiring a larger hull, which again adds more weight, and thus demands even more power, and so on.”

Moggaro explained that the construction process was smooth overall, as the company designs its boats with a focus on ease of maintenance on ensuring excellent accessibility to the engine room and all underdeck systems.

“Thanks to this approach, the construction of the vessel was straightforward,” Moggaro told Baird Maritime. “We have extensive experience in designing and building workboats, so the building and finishing phases were handled efficiently and without complications.”

The builder said that once the vessel’s performance was confirmed—particularly under maximum load—it became evident that the decision to use waterjet propulsion proved to be well-dimensioned in terms of engine power and jet model.