A Coventry University graduate has won a prestigious superyacht competition with her sustainable design for a ship that “never dies”…
Amel Khsouma, 22, was named winner in the Master‘s category at the recent 2024 Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition at the Southampton International Boat Show.
For the competition, designers were tasked with designing a 50m motor yacht, suitable for family use, that included a scientific and sustainability angle. Incorporating these aspects into her design, Amel envisaged a yacht that would remain profitable during its 50 to 60-year charter, during which it would be equipped to host a team of researchers.
Unlike other yachts, Amel’s design enables the ship to be reconfigured for a new life as a museum and cafeteria at the end of its charter.
Amel, who is from Italy and graduated from her Automotive and Transport Design course at Coventry University this year, said: “I’ve always been interested in ships, I studied nautical science at school before coming to study at Coventry and I really focussed on sea travel during the second two years of my degree.
“This is the first competition I’ve ever entered; I didn’t really know what to expect or what people would think of my design but I’m so happy to have won. It was a big surprise, I was speechless – I felt like I was in a dream. A key focus of the competition was sustainability – on the whole yachts are not designed to be reused after their charter but I wanted to design a ship that never dies as well as one which remains profitable during its charter. It would be able to host researchers from the Water Revolution Foundation and that research could be presented when the ship becomes a museum.
“My ambition is to be a yacht designer, either interior or exterior, I’m passionate about both, it’s my life goal.”
In recognition of her achievement, Amel has been awarded a four-week apprenticeship at luxury motor yacht brand Sunseeker International.
Michael Beattie, Manager at Superyacht UK, added: “We are thrilled to see Amel take top honours in the Master’s category of this year’s Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition. Her innovative approach, blending captivating storytelling with a thoughtful consideration of the boat’s lifecycle, truly impressed the judges. We are excited to see her flourish during her internship at Sunseeker International and look forward to watching her future contributions to the industry.”
Find out more about studying Automotive and Transport Design at Coventry University.
