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Welcome
to an amazing
adventure
The ultimate major
conversion by ICON Yachts
A fresh take on exploration yachting
From the start Project MASTER was different. She wasn’t conceived simply to dazzle with her sumptuous interior décor or astonish with her high level of craftsmanship. Admittedly, we wanted some “Wow! factor” but what really inspired us was to create an extra dimension for life on board where discovering the marine world and science played a more significant role than usually happens in traditional yachting.
Equipped with a science lab and teaching room, MASTER can be scaled up or down, to work for any projects from exploration, adventure, a scientific mission, or to just pottering around the Mediterranean or any other ocean for that matter. Depending on what type of cruise or expedition is being planned, in high or low latitudes or anywhere in between, MASTER is equipped to cater across the board and can stay at sea for weeks at a time.
The choice to stay under 3000GT was deliberate since it entails less stringent regulatory compliance and consequently lower costs in manning as just one example. Equally importantly, from experience, we knew that smaller operations are more personal, more engaging and essentially more fun.
Our commitment to nature started right from the beginning of the project. A conversion is more eco-friendly than a new build. As an ISO 14001 company, we upcycle and recycle where we can. Our key partners, Cookson Adventures and SeaKeepers, shared their knowledge and insights, supporting us in the planning phase and advising about future operations. It has been an adventure right from the word go!
Project MASTER: yachting with a purpose
Project MASTER
Project MASTER
Our Vision
At ICON we don’t do
explorer conversions because they are easy, we do them because they are smart.
Conceptually smart, technically smart, safety smart, environmentally smart and price smart.
The Story
We chose the
toughest hull built for
the toughest job in
the toughest of seas
The ERRV (Emergency Rescue and Response Vessel) Ocean Ness was chosen because she came with her own pedigree and track record. Built at Kleven in Norway she had spent most of her life working in the North Sea. Structural checks to the hull, her design and stability confirmed our initial assessment: she was selected for the conversion.
The Conversion
We marry
the sturdiness of a proven, heavy-duty hull with the comfort and elegance of a
custom-built yacht
During the major conversion of MASTER, the yacht is stripped down to the bare hull and entirely rebuilt including new systems, equipment and machinery. The interior will be designed to complement the yacht’s potential, with large, airy interior spaces, a private owner’s apartment and accommodation for 12 guests, including excellent deck-space beautifully laid out for inside/outside ocean living.
The Designers
ESPEN ØINO
“You want your guests to be able to enjoy
the spectacular surroundings to the maximum”
The essence of good yacht design is creating spaces that are both functional and enjoyable to live in. Espen Øino has made this skill his trademark. It’s a skill that comes from understanding how yachts work and how to maximize a yacht’s structure and layout to ensure, for instance, that the vistas are uninterrupted in the guest areas. Espen made sure that the layout works well for crew as well as guests so service is discreet and efficient and that the hull is suitable for the conditions it will find at sea and, in the case of an explorer, that there is adequate storage and refrigeration for long voyages.
WINCH DESIGN
“We aim to design areas that are both
emotionally charged and very relaxing. You go in and say ‘Wow’, but you sit down and say ‘Aaah’”
Winch Design has been creating original interiors of the highest quality since the company was founded by Andrew Winch in 1986. An owner goes to Winch because he has an idea or feeling that he wants the designer to interpret for him. ‘We are a tool to deliver something better than they could have imagined themselves’ explains Winch. This keeps the bar at a very high level, a balancing act where Winch almost magically minimizes the practicalities of living on a yacht while maximizing the enjoyment of ocean living.
Sophisticated major conversions
like MASTER are increasingly adopting a unique
combination of proven technologies from
commercial shipping which offer significant
downstream advantages on operations
Sophisticated major conversions
like MASTER are increasingly adopting a unique
combination of proven technologies from
commercial shipping which offer significant
downstream advantages on operations
“Clients are no longer satisfied with
a simple cruise; they want to explore remote and exotic locations, which require specialized equipment and technologies that can only be supported by Explorer Yachts”
Micca Ferrero
ICON Yachts, Owner
In the footsteps of giants
"If you think adventure is dangerous,
try routine; it is lethal"
Paulo Coelho
Which is probably the first, most basic reason that has propelled man to travel. And the stories of those adventures have in turn inspired more stories and more adventures.
Isn’t it about time you start on yours? For inspiration, scroll down and find out what great stories have already been written.
Starting with one of the most spectacular explorer yachts ever built: OCTOPUS.
The 126-metre yacht was designed by Espen Øino International and features two helipads and a hanger aft. She is capable of exploration and scientific research voyages requiring months at sea. One of her key features is an integrated dock for a 20-metre guest tender and a submarine. Enjoy! And stay tuned for more.
Separating the men from the boys
Build smart.
Let's talk
Concept and text
Graphics
Penny Hammond-Smith
Matthieu Vuillaume
PHOTOGRAPHY, RENDERINGS AND VIDEOS
Blueprod
Guy Fleury
Yvan Grubski
Peter Neumann
Guillaume Plisson
Dimitris Stasis
VOITH
Winch Design
© Copyright 2025 ICON Yachts - All rights reserved
Icon Yachts
Founded to
revolutionize shipbuilding, ICON Yachts represents the gold standard for eco-friendly conversions and refits
ICON Yachts isn’t the oldest Dutch builder, but it has become one of the most versatile, and the first to embrace an eco-friendly approach to shipbuilding. Strategically positioned outside Holland’s network of locks and canals that hamper other large yacht builders, ICON Yachts enjoys unrestricted access to the North Sea and has facilities to match. There is a massive covered graving dock holding up to four large yachts and a 90m (295’) floating dock and 500m (1650’) of secure berthing alongside. Administration facilities include a secure and heated storage building with nearby office space for over 50 people.
Let’s talk tech
What makes MASTER the most interesting exploration yacht in her class
The price to start with; gross ton for gross ton, means a client can purchase a Dutch-built, full-custom yacht for a significantly lower price than even a new construction platform yacht with a shorter delivery time, while using the same resources and contractors. Let’s take a detailed look at Project MASTER’s design, construction and capabilities.
Tenders and helicopter capability
MASTER carries two impressive, heavy-duty 11.75m (38’6”) tenders and features a commercial heli deck capable of landing an EC145, Dauphin AS365 or similar helicopter.
The Conversion
MASTER was selected on account of her being a top-quality build in excellent condition with a proven track record of serious offshore seakeeping and stability
