Special Feature: Dockwise 685' "Yacht Express"

Set up for staff business conferences as well as after-hours entertainment viewing, the 50-seat theater offers commodious, padded comfort. A roll-down screen provides theater-size cinema viewing as well as instructional videos for yacht crew training, and onboard crew. It boasts an extensive media library.

Adjacent to the media room, Yacht Express’ full size dining room accommodates the entire crew as well as guests, in utilitarian seating. Comfortable arm chairs and lined-up tables provide a college lunchroom atmosphere, but allow quick serving and clean-up on the all-business ship. Tiled floors and generous overhead lighting complete the decor. There is also a separate 20-seat crew mess for those on duty.

An example of the guest accommodations, this double is set up with bunk beds plus a pair of easy chairs and a writing desk. It sports a closed viewing port, communications outlets, and overhead lighting. Up to 28 guests can become stowaways on YE.

An entire deck is dedicated to controlling YE's machinery, hydraulics & electronics. From here, twenty different ballast tanks can be filled or emptied. There are eight ballast tanks to port, another eight to starboard and four in between. Four Danfoss pumps feed these tanks, capable of transferring approx. 4800 tons of seawater per hour.

Yacht Express’ mammoth engine room houses its diesel electric propulsion plant: 2x 8700 kW Wartsila 12V38B common rail diesels; well capable of driving this magnificent yacht-circus across the ocean or around the world at 18 knots. An interesting concept not shown here; Yacht Express conceals a vast tunnel which extends 550 feet under her cargo deck. With walking headroom, from the engine/thruster room forward, the tunnel holds all the ships electrical wiring components, for careful and complete maintenance.

So now, even yachtsmen and women who may not have the range to reach anywhere on the planet on their own, can travel worldwide; tour all those far-away-places-with-strange-sounding names. Yacht Express’ different approach can take you there. On a regular schedule. With your yacht... and mind at ease.

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Review by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy
Photos: Onne van der Wal

Specifications:

LOA: 685’ 6”
Beam: 105’ 64"
Depth: 19’ 03”
Draft: 10’3”
Draft Submerged: 45’9”
Weight: 11,000 tons
Speed: 18 knots
Crew: 26
Guests: 26
Class: DNV, 1A1, General Cargo Carrier, RP, E0, DKG+, PWDK, Naut (OC)

For sailing schedules, contact:

Dockwise Transport, LLC.
1535 SE 17th St.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 USA
954-525-8707
www.yacht-transport.com