Breakthrough sets a new standard in yacht innovation

The 118.80-metre Breakthrough has been named Ship of the Year 2025 by the Royal Dutch Association of Technicians in Shipping (KNVTS) at the Maritime Awards Gala in Rotterdam. The award recognises a defining moment in yacht innovation and Dutch maritime excellence.

For this project, Feadship not only developed pioneering hydrogen technology but also worked closely with the flag state and class society to create the regulations and safety standards that made it possible. These frameworks did not exist before. They are now freely available to the entire industry, enabling others to take meaningful steps towards zero-emission operations.

“For the owner, the most important aspect of this project was to give this technical development a real push and to make the knowledge gained openly available to the entire industry,” says Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship Director / CEO Royal Van Lent.

Several vessels are already adopting the systems and standards that originated with Breakthrough, proving that progress gains strength when innovation is shared. This achievement captures the spirit of Feadship: to pioneer, to collaborate, and to move the industry forward for generations to come.