Cantiere delle Marche recognizes that a robust support vessel is essential for a rugged expedition yacht, leading them to commission Valerio Rivellini to design a new “explorer tender” for the Flexplorer 146 model.
Rivellini, a renowned designer based in Naples, has crafted the 33-foot Iceman, a powerful tender designed to navigate all latitudes and support its 146-foot mothership in challenging climates, from the North Pole to the South.
The Iceman boasts a sturdy aluminum hull, a lightweight carbon-fiber superstructure, and a draft of just 20 inches, allowing it to access shallow coastal waters.
Iceman’s design addresses the need for space on the mothership by featuring a clever solution. When stowed in the stern of the Flexplorer 146, Iceman can accommodate a second 13-foot tender in its own stern, reducing the space they typically occupy. This arrangement allows the mothership to allocate sufficient room for two 20-foot canoes, four Aerofoils, two Seabobs, fishing equipment, and diving gear. Additionally, placing the two tenders side by side enhances freedom of movement on the mothership’s main deck.
The Iceman is equipped to ensure comfortable exploration in icy conditions. Powered by a Yanmar engine generating 370 horsepower for smooth and speedy cruising, it can also be towed by the mothership if necessary. With a displacement of just over 4 GT, the tender offers a spacious interior accommodating up to 10 guests.
Cantiere delle Marche launched the first Flexplorer 146 in November, with Maverick being the second sold and the first completed among the three 146-foot models under construction. The next two Flexplorer models are expected to be delivered in 2024 and 2025. It remains to be seen if owners will opt to include the Iceman tender with their vessels.
