VESSEL REVIEW | Dagger – Italian builder delivers 67m battery hybrid superyacht
Italian shipbuilder Benetti has delivered a hybrid superyacht to a private owner. Her main engines, shaft machines, generators and batteries can be combined to suit the passage being undertaken.
Dagger was built at Benetti's Livorno facility in Italy. She was launched on February 9, 2026, completed sea trials, and was handed over in May. She is the fourth yacht in a series.
Benetti developed the naval architecture while RWD designed the exterior and Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design was responsible for the interior.
The yacht's hull is steel, her superstructure is aluminium, and her decks are teak. She is classed by Lloyd's Register.
Dagger has an LOA of 67 metres (220 feet), a beam of 11 metres (36 feet), a draught of 3.1 metres (10 feet), a displacement of 1,250 tonnes at full load, and a gross tonnage of 1,334. She has a crew of 17 and accommodation for 12 guests.
Fuel and freshwater tank capacities are 115,000 litres (25,300 gallons) and 32,000 litres (7,000 gallons), respectively.
Primary propulsion comes from two Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines, each rated at 1,193 kW (1,600 hp). They drive controllable-pitch propellers, enabling speed changes and thrust reversal while the shafts keep turning in the same direction and the engines stay within their preferred rpm range.
The propulsion can deliver a top speed of 15.5 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 12 knots.
Propulsion arrangement permitting three operating profiles
Two 200kW VEM bidirectional generators on the shaftlines provide the hybrid link. In PTO mode, they draw on the main engines to supply hotel loads and charge the batteries. In PTI mode, they turn electricity supplied by the generators or batteries into shaft propulsion.
Electrical generation comes from two 118ekW Caterpillar C7.1 generators and one 200kW Caterpillar C9.3.
The yacht’s propulsion arrangement also includes a Naiad Dynamics bow thruster for additional lateral manoeuvrability.
Benetti has defined three operating profiles. In “enhanced comfort mode”, the main engines are stopped and the generators supply the electric propulsion motors for seven-knot coastal cruising and night passages, with the batteries absorbing demand peaks.
In extended range mode the main engines propel the yacht at 12 knots while the shaft generators carry all onboard electrical services, allowing the independent generators to be shut down. Benetti said this mode can yield fuel savings of up to 15 per cent compared to a conventional diesel-mechanical installation in this mode.
“Eco transfer mode” meanwhile runs one main engine with battery support at 10 knots for long transfers.
The 360kWh sodium-metal chloride battery bank provides up to 150 kW of peak shaving. Benetti said this allowed the modules to be placed in existing technical spaces rather than in a dedicated battery room.
"The sodium-metal chloride chemistry delivers total safety: the non-flammable electrolyte inherently eliminates the risk of fire and thermal runaway," the builder said.
Fitted with spaces for onboard and outdoor recreation
According to Benetti, the batteries can maintain hotel services at anchor for up to two hours with the generators shut down. Heat exchangers recover energy from the generators for domestic hot water and the swimming pool.
The generators' exhaust is directed to a high point above the superstructure, keeping emissions clear of the stern recreation areas.
On deck, fold-out side wings extend the aft oasis deck from the 11-metre beam to 14 metres (46 feet) around an infinity pool. The lower deck houses the beach club and wellness area, a tender and water toy garage, and the crew accommodation.
The wheelhouse shares the navigation area with the office and captain's cabin, and a glass lift serves all decks.