Builder: Niigata Shipyard & Repair Inc, Niigata, Japan

Year Launched: 1996

Refit: 2023 / 2024

Hull No.: 187

LOA: 45 m

Beam: 7.40 m

Moulded Depth: 3.20m

Draft: 3.75m

Gross Tonnage: 319t

Net Tonnage: 95

Service Speed: 10 knots

Main Engine Capacity: 1103 kW

Top Speed: 14 knots

Cruising Speed: 10-12 knots (7,500nm range)

Construction: Steel hull with an aluminum superstructure

 

The Niigata 45m is an expedition yacht that combines practical design with serious exploration capabilities. Originally launched by Japan’s Niigata Shipyard, she was extensively refitted in 2023/24 to transform into a specialized expedition vessel, ideal for remote cruising. The exterior was designed by Periscope Naval Architects, with interiors by Ashley Sutton Design and naval architecture by the original builders, Niigata Shipyard. With a robust, seaworthy build and accommodation for up to 13 guests across five cabins, she’s perfectly suited to adventurous owners seeking comfort without compromise.

 

Constructed as a Japanese Government Scientific Research Vessel in 1996, this capable vessel underwent an extensive refit in 2020-2021, transforming her into an Expedition-Type Motor Yacht in Batam, Indonesia. Subsequently, the present owners undertook a four-month refit in New Zealand, which was successfully concluded in March 2024. Japanese-built vessels are generally held in high regard, for their construction, redundancy and good seakeeping capabilities.

 

The vessel was built by Niigata Shipbuilding & Repair, in Niigata, Japan and was delivered in 1996 as a Japanese Government Scientific Research Vessel.  In 2020-2021 the vessel was converted into an Expedition Style Yacht in Batam, Indonesia. In 2023-2024 a refit was undertaken in Nelson, New Zealand.

The hull and decks are of welded steel construction on formed steel frames, stringers, and fore and aft girders. There are 6 traverse watertight bulkheads throughout the hull. Integral tankage is forward and aft and in the engine room.  The superstructure is of aluminum construction.

 

The wheelhouse is forward of the accommodation block on the forecastle deck, with internal access to the Forecastle deck accommodation and externally onto the focsle and side decks.  Aft of the wheelhouse is the captain’s cabin to port with the day head adjacent to starboard and then aft to the large saloon and dining area. Aft of the superstructure is the funnel casing with the Rescue Boat and crane to port along with two life rafts stowed on both sides. On the main deck are five double staterooms with ensuites, the galley, walk-in chiller and freezer, storerooms. Moving aft to starboard is the Media/Lab room and the ablutions and the access via a watertight door onto the aft deck.  On the Lower deck are five crew cabins, crew mess, laundry, ablutions, and access aft to the engine room. On the Sun deck above the wheelhouse is an open superstructure shelter with seating and a 3.2 tonne touch and go helipad above. 

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The vessel’s propulsion is provided via a single main engine driving a controllable pitch propeller.

 

Main engine: Niigata

Construction: Four-stroke direct injection with exhaust turbo charger                     

Mode: l6MG25HX

Output: 1103 kW @ 750 rpm

No. of Cylinders: Six (6) in-line

Bore: 250 mm

Stroke: 350 mm

Bow Thruster: Kamome TCA – 30LN

 

The main engine is a Niigata 6MG25HX six cylinder in-line medium speed diesel engine which develops 1103 kW at 750 rpm.  The main engine is close coupled to a Nico, MGR1843VC37 reduction box with 2.37:1 ratio that drives a Kamome V185200 4 blade Controllable Pitch Propeller.

The main engine is air start, plate cooled and solid mounted. The main engine is mounted on the centerline with the auxiliary power plants mounted outboard. Engine exhausts are through silencers with spark arrestors and casings to a funnel aft of the accommodation. The engine room is provided with forced ventilation.

There are several electrically driven pumps for fuel transfer, hydraulics, fresh water, air compressors, oily water separator, and fire/bilge pumps.

The engine room area and its associated equipment all appears well laid out, functional and to be in good tidy condition.

The vessel is fitted with Kamome bow thruster and a Becker type flap rudder hung on a rudder pintle.

 

Fuel Capacity: 74,250L

Fresh Water Capacity: 10,000L

Fuel Oil: 7 x 70.5m3    

Potable Water: 2 x 22.22m3

FW Ballast: 4 x 19.74m3

Lube Oil: 2 x 7.22m3

Hydraulic Oil: 2 x 9.13m3

Sewage: 2.85m3

Waste Oil: 2.06m3

 

 

Auxiliary power is provided by two Niigata 6NSFG turbocharged diesel engines driving 200 kVA Shinko alternators and a Nippon Sharyo HO7DC Harbour Generator driving a 72 kW alternator respectively to supply ships primary 220 & 110 volts, 60 Hz AC electrical power. Shore power is provided via an Isolating Transformer.

DC voltages are primarily 24volt.

Electrical circuits are monitored and controlled in the engine room.

Battery banks are provided for aux engine start, emergency lighting, radio and electronic equipment.

The Niigata auxiliary engines were overhauled during the 2023-2024 Nelson refit in New Zealand.

 

The wheelhouse is accessed internally from the main accommodation deck and externally on each side of the wheelhouse.  The wheelhouse is well laid out with good visibility forward.                         The Master has a central conning position with good access to the propulsion controls and navigation equipment.

Bridge Electronic equipment includes:

1 x Furuno FAR-2107 Radar via Furuno MU-190 Screen

2 x Furuno DRS4D NXT Radar/Chart Plotter via NavNet TZTL19F Touch Screen

1 x Furuno GD-700 Plotter via MU-190 Screen

1 x Furuno NAVpilot 711C Autopilot

1 x Toyo Keiki PR-2604-SS Autopilot

1 x Furuno F-170 AIS Transponder

1 x Furuno FCV-1500L Sounder

1 x Furuno GP-39 GPS

1 x Samyung SRG-3150DN MF/HF SSB Radio Telephone

1 x Furuno FM-4800 DSC Loud Hailer VHF Transceiver

1 x Icom DSC VHF Transceiver

1 x JRC JHS-32A VHF/FM Marine Radiotelephone

1 x Furuno NX-700 Navtex Receiver

1 x Cobham Sailor 6110 Inmarsat Mini C GMDSS

1 x CCTV Screen

1 x BNWAS

3 x Rotating Clearview Wipers

1 x Tokyo keiki TG-6000 Gyro Compass

1 x Tokimec SH Magnetic Compass

 

Plotter: Furuno Navnet TZE TZT19F

AIS: Furuno F-170 & Jotron AIS SART

GPS: Furuno Denki GP500 mk 2

Sonar: Furuno FC-1500L

Autopilot: Tokyo Keiki PR-2604-SS & Furuno Navpilot 711C

Gyro Compass: Tokyo Keiki TG-6000

Compass: Tokimec SH

Navtex: NCR-300A

MF/HF SSB: Samyung SRG-3150DN

VHF: 2 x JHS-32A

Sat Phone: Thurays SatSleeve

LRIT/Inmarsat: C Cobham Sailor 3027 Mini-C Terminal & Sailor SSS 6110 & Sailor 619

 

The foredeck has a hydraulic anchor windlass with twin gypsies loaded with six shackles on the port rode and five shackles on the starboard rode of 24mm stud link galvanized chain shackled to 470 kg Ultimus HHP anchors which are stowed in the hawse pipes. The anchor windlass also has twin horizontal warping drums.             

 

A Haoyo C-F3-10S3 Knuckle Boom Crane with a 4.5 t SWL @ 4 meters which is mounted on the port quarter of the aft deck and a Hiab 081 Knuckle Boom Crane with a 1720kg SWL @ 4.3m is also fitted on the Boat Deck and is utilized to launch and retrieve the Rescue Boat and is fitted with its own dedicated emergency hydraulic power pack.

 

Large bits and fair leads are fitted around the decks.

 

The galley is of commercial grade fit out and includes the following equipment.

 

Rational Self Cooking Center 5 Senses Model 61 Single Deck Combi Oven

Commercial electric fryer (capacity 16l)

Castle HG-24 Commercial hot plate Griddle

Marinox HPO-4S-900 series Commercial hot plate stove

Reyco model GW-11l Glasswasher/dishwasher machine

Bayin / Pola BY-100/200 Commercial Ice Maker

Commercial blender with sound cover

Hoshizakidenki HRF-96PT Freezer/refrigerator

Tiger JNO- A270 Professional rice cooker

Diamond drinking water filters

 

Laundry equipment includes:

2x Speed Queen 10.5kg Laundry dryers

2x Speed Queen 10.5kg Front Load Washing machines

 

There are nine Tecma silence plus 2G Toilets on board the vessel and the black water is treated with the onboard sewage treatment plant.

 

The vessel is equipped and maintained with the safety equipment required for Solomon Islands Maritime Authority survey.  There are four 25 person RFD Survival life rafts packed to SOLAS A that are stowed aft on either side of the Sun deck. The new Viking Norsafe Matrix-450 MK1 Rescue Boat is stowed aft on the Forecastle deck.  A Fire Pro Fixed Fire extinguisher system is fitted in the engine room and Stat-X 1500 aerosol generator fixed Fire system is fitted in the Paint Locker. Life buoys, BA Firefighting sets and a Tron 406MHz EPIRB are also provided.

 

Generators:

Niigata 6N5FG

Nippon 90 kVA

Nippon 90 kVA

 

The vessel was designed and constructed to satisfy all applicable rules and regulations of Japanese Government class, which has now lapsed, and she is currently maintained in Solomon Island Maritime Authority survey under the category of Cargo Passenger vessel.  Operating limits Near-Coastal and Inshore voyages.