Araok II casts off
Ocea’s latest motor yacht has been delivered after undergoing rigorous sea trials.
12 August 2024
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The keys to the new Ocea motor yacht have been handed over to its owner. Araok II is a 32.7-metre Ocea Commuter 108 that was fully custom built, like all yachts from the French boatbuilder.
The yacht has recently undergone testing and delivery phases. The initial trials began in the large outfitting centre in Les Sables-d’Olonne for all equipment that can be tested there.
However, it was only after the launch that the serious testing began, with harbour trials.
“Our teams attend, but there are also subcontractors and representatives from the certification body and the flag state,” explains Antoine de Jonckheere, Head of the business management department at Ocea.
“To leave the port, the boat must obtain a provisional navigation permit. This means ensuring a minimum level of seaworthiness and the safety for subsequent trials.”
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At this stage, Ocea tests water ingress detection, bilge and mobile pumps, door and window seals, fire detection, generator load, degraded emergency modes, electronics and more.
Next come the sea trials to finetune the yacht and check its performance and behaviour at sea. Since Ocea yachts are all custom-built, the yard says that adjusting the parameters of onboard equipment—such as stabilisers and steering systems – is essential to achieving peak performance.
“There are always issues that crop up and the point of the trials is to identify them,” says De Jonckheere. “We even try to generate problems to see how the boat reacts.”
Tests include endurance at full speed, stopping distances during crash-stop manoeuvres, and how the yacht handles blackout conditions, such as emergency shutdowns of propulsion systems and generators.
“Our yachts are built for long voyages, and we test their restart capabilities to ensure reliability,” says De Jonckheere. Representatives of the certification body and the flag state are present and can raise concerns before issuing the final certificates. These procedures are identical for all Ocea vessels, including yachts, workboats, transport vessels and military units.
Once the trials are complete, the delivery can proceed. The provisional acceptance is signed, marking the end of the trials and the start of the technical warranty, which will end upon final acceptance.
Araok II is an ocean-going yacht designed to navigate the world’s oceans. It can accommodate eight guests and four crew members.
It is the first Ocea yacht to feature engines meeting the latest IMO Tier III emissions standards, allowing it to navigate without restrictions in all emission control areas.
It is also equipped with solar panels to help charge the batteries and an optimised onboard energy management system. The large 1.5-tonne MCA-approved crane can launch tenders into the water even in the most challenging conditions. The interior was designed by French-Swiss designer Pierre Frutschi.
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