Support vessel
Abeona
Helicopter hangar
- Length
- 75 m
- Builder
- Damen Yachting
- Year
- 2023
- Range
- 5,000 nm at 15 kn (YS 75 model)
- Ice class
- Not confirmed
Yacht support vessels
Shadow boats: what they are, what they carry and the notable ones, with sources.
A yacht support vessel, or shadow boat, is a separate ship that travels with a yacht and carries what she cannot: tenders, toys, supplies, spare parts and fuel (Boat International), and on larger ones a helicopter hangar or a submarine (Boat International). Damen Yachting has built them from 46 m up to the 75 m Abeona (Boat International, data 2021; Boat International).
Damen lists 20 support vessels delivered, and the YS53, YS65 (a concept design) and YS75 in its current portfolio (Damen Yachting). Astilleros Armón has built catamaran support vessels such as Hodor and Nebula (Boat International, Boat International).
- 46–75 m
- Damen support vessel sizes (data 2021)
- 55 m
- Most popular Damen size (data 2021)
- 20
- Support vessels delivered by Damen (accessed Oct 2026)
- €13.95m
- Asking price of a 45.6 m Damen YS 4508, VAT paid (data 2021)
Notable support vessels
Support vessel
Game Changer
Lengthened from 69.15 m to 72 m in a refit completed in 2021
- Length
- 72 m
- Builder
- Damen Yachting
- Year
- 2017
- Range
- 4,500 nm at 16 kn
- Ice class
- Not confirmed
Support vessel
Nebula
Catamaran with helicopter hangar
- Length
- 68.2 m
- Builder
- Astilleros Armón
- Year
- 2022
- Range
- 5,000 nm at 12.5 kn
- Ice class
- None stated
Support vessel
Hodor
Catamaran, Incat Crowther design
- Length
- 66.2 m
- Builder
- Astilleros Armón
- Year
- 2019
- Range
- 5,500 nm at 14 kn
- Ice class
- None stated
Support vessel
Chasing Romance
Built on spec as a support yacht; ex New Frontiers, ex Shadow; refit 2023
- Length
- 55.5 m
- Builder
- Damen Yachting
- Year
- 2017
- Range
- 5,000 nm at 10 kn
- Ice class
- Not confirmed
Support vessel
Bad Company Support
Ex Joy Rider, ex Pink Shadow; asking price €13.95m, VAT paid (data 2021)
- Length
- 45.6 m
- Builder
- Damen Yachting
- Year
- 2019
- Range
- 5,000 nm at 12 kn
- Ice class
- Not confirmed
What they carry
The point of a support vessel is to take bulk off the main yacht: tenders, water toys, stores, spare parts and fuel (Boat International).
Larger ones carry aircraft and submersibles. Abeona, 75 m, delivered by Damen in 2023, has a helicopter hangar (Boat International); Axis carries a Triton submarine and an Icon A5 aircraft (Boat International). Nebula, a 68.2 m Armón catamaran, also has a helicopter hangar (YachtBuyer).
Some have long range: Hodor, a 66.2 m catamaran, is quoted at 5,500 nm at 14 knots (Boat International). Abeona is based on Damen's YS 7512 design (Boat International), and Damen's 75 m YS 75 model is listed at 5,000 nm at 15 knots (YachtBuyer). For yachts that carry their own equipment instead, see the explorer yachts list.
Support vessels compared
| Yacht | Length | Builder / platform | Delivered | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abeona | 75 m1,2 246 ft | Damen Yachting (YS 7512 platform) | 2023 | 5,000 nm at 15 kn (YS 75 model) | Helicopter hangar |
| Game Changer now Indratus | 72 m3,4 236 ft | Damen Yachting (Sea Axe 6911) | 2017 | 4,500 nm at 16 kn | Lengthened from 69.15 m to 72 m in a refit completed in 2021 |
| Nebula | 68.2 m5,6 224 ft | Astilleros Armón | 2022 | 5,000 nm at 12.5 kn | Catamaran with helicopter hangar |
| Hodor | 66.2 m7,8 217 ft | Astilleros Armón | 2019 | 5,500 nm at 14 kn | Catamaran, Incat Crowther design |
| Chasing Romance ex-Shadow, ex-New Frontiers | 55.5 m9 182 ft | Damen Yachting (YS 5009) | 2017 | 5,000 nm at 10 kn | Built on spec as a support yacht; refit 2023 |
| Bad Company Support | 45.6 m10,11 150 ft | Damen Yachting (YS 4508) | 2019 | 5,000 nm at 12 kn | Ex Joy Rider, ex Pink Shadow; asking price €13.95m, VAT paid (data 2021) |
Owners and the yachts each vessel supports are not listed. The small numbers after a length are sources in the list at the bottom.
Questions
What is a shadow boat?
Another name for a yacht support vessel: a ship that travels with a yacht and carries what she cannot, such as tenders, toys, supplies, spare parts and fuel (Boat International), sometimes a helicopter or a submarine (Boat International).
Why do some superyachts have a second boat following them?
To carry equipment, toys and staff the main yacht has no room for. Boat International describes support vessels as "a floating helipad, tender garage or accommodation for specialist staff" (Boat International).
How big are yacht support vessels?
Damen Yachting has built them from 46 m up to the 75 m Abeona, with 55 m the most popular size (Boat International, data 2021; Boat International). Its current portfolio lists the YS53, YS65 (a concept design) and YS75 (Damen Yachting).
What does a yacht support vessel carry?
Typically tenders, water toys, supplies, spare parts and fuel (Boat International). Some go further: Abeona has a helicopter hangar (Boat International), and Axis carries a Triton submarine and an Icon A5 aircraft (Boat International).
How much does a yacht support vessel cost?
One published figure: in 2021 the 45.6 m Damen YS 4508 Pink Shadow (now Bad Company Support) was asking €13.95 million, VAT paid, and sold less than six months after joining the brokerage market (Boat International, data 2021). That was an asking price, not a sale price. See Explorer yacht cost.
Is a support vessel the same as an explorer yacht?
Not necessarily. A support vessel is defined by its job: it travels with another yacht and carries what that yacht cannot (Boat International). An explorer yacht is one built or converted to cruise long distances without outside support; see What is an explorer yacht?. The two can overlap: Hodor is quoted at 5,500 nm at 14 knots (Boat International).
More on Explorer Yachts
What is an explorer yacht?
Definition, criteria and how it differs from an expedition yacht
Explorer yachts list
40 yachts, support vessels and models with length, range and ice class
Explorer yacht builders
Who builds explorer yachts and their main models
Ice class yachts
Ice classes explained, the Polar Code and yachts
Explorer yacht cost
Published list prices with dates, and running costs
Sources (14)
- Boat International: Abeona (launch/delivery) 2 Feb 2023
- YachtBuyer: Damen YS 75 model (range)
- Boat International: Game Changer
- Boat International: Game Changer (refit, 69.15 to 72 m) 20 May 2021
- Boat International: Nebula
- YachtBuyer: Nebula (role)
- Boat International: Hodor (specs)
- Boat International: Hodor (role) 25 Jun 2026 (first published 25 Apr 2025)
- YachtBuyer: Chasing Romance
- Boat International: Bad Company Support
- Boat International: Damen Yachting support vessel Pink Shadow sold 22 Dec 2021 (data 2021)
- Boat International: The rise of the support yacht 27 Jul 2021 (data 2021)
- Boat International: Shadow boat: 8 superyacht support vessels as cool as their motherships 21 Aug 2025
- Damen Yachting: Yacht Support portfolio accessed Oct 2026