Italian designer Luca Dini Design & Architecture has unveiled a futuristic new concept for carbon-free water transportation. The 28-meter vessel Cetacean is equipped with an electric propulsion system and solar panels on the roof to assure “total respect for the environment.”

The aluminium multihull design was the result of Luca Dini Design & Architecture’s collaboration with a Middle Eastern marine reserve. The company desired to design a vessel that could navigate within the area without harming the environment.

With a shallow draught of 1.2 metres, Cetacean is powered by batteries that can be recharged when the vessel is docked at a specially designed port. The patented dock design functions by absorbing the tides and waves of the water, and a complete charge takes about four hours. Solar panels on the yacht’s superstructure will power all on-board systems, including lighting and home automation, while the vessel is in motion.

The design of Cetacean was partially influenced by Leonardo da Vinci’s 1470 drawings of a yacht that utilised wind turbines for propulsion. A representative from Luca Dini Design & Architecture explained, “A vessel whose essence and philosophy is total respect for the environment combines clean and harmonious lines.”

With a cruising speed of 12 miles, Cetacean will be able to accommodate 25 passengers and five crew members. “Cetacean was designed to serve multiple purposes and can be outfitted with a variety of configurations, including a shuttle for transfers from the marina to smaller islands, a mobile hospital, a cargo carrier, and even a completely private vessel,” said the spokesperson.