Arcane Era and Arcane Nova

RMK Yachts and Espen Oeino International unveil 55m superyacht concepts: Arcane Era and Arcane Nova

Arcane Era and Arcane Nova-Turkish builder RMK Yachts has revealed details of its latest 55-metre superyacht concepts: Arcane Era and Arcane Nova, which have been developed with renowned design studios Espen Oeino International (concept, general arrangement plan and exterior styling) and Giorgio Cassetta (interior and exterior deck design).

The Arcane Project from RMK Yachts, consisting of the two 55-metre concepts, takes its name from “The Arcane Edge”, which is the shipyard’s core motto. This involves creating vessels that go beyond conventional luxury and comfort to offer owners experiences which have not yet been imagined.

Cüneyt Okcu, Director of RMK Yachts, emphasises the importance of the Arcane project to the shipyard: “Arcane Era closes the chapter. Arcane Nova opens the future. Representing the ultimate expression of a design direction that has defined the industry for years, Arcane Era stands as the final and most refined evolution of that era. Arcane Nova in particular marks the beginning of a new design era for us, representing a truly groundbreaking yacht which we are delighted to have developed alongside Espen Oeino, one of yachting’s most respected designers. The innovations introduced by Arcane Nova will set expectations for the industry, shaping what owners want from tomorrow’s yachts.”

Effortless indoor-outdoor living

With both superyachts measuring 55 metres, they feature a reimagined general arrangement plan, including an exceptionally spacious sundeck. As designer Espen Oeino says: “The idea was to create living spaces that are genuinely comfortable and usable, whether the yacht is at anchor in a bay or alongside in port, while also providing areas that are protected from direct sunlight and the elements. On the upper deck, for example, the exterior area forward of the owner’s cabin connects directly with an interior lounge, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living space that becomes particularly enjoyable when the yacht is in port.”

He continues: “We also developed a more radical version of Arcane Nova with the wheelhouse positioned forward, which allowed us to create an exceptionally large sundeck – by far the largest in its class. There is a strong physical connection between the different spaces, with considerably more exterior living area while still ensuring guests can remain protected from the elements.”

Moving beyond convention

Arcane Nova is the expression of RMK Yachts’ bold new design language. Through its forward-looking approach, it reinterprets familiar forms and represents the beginning of a new design philosophy, pushing boundaries through its strong and iconic vision.
Arcane Era is the more traditional of the concepts with respect to the arrangement, with the bridge positioned on the sundeck, but it still retains a distinctive character in its design elements. For example, the distinctive clamshell form of the owner’s deck. Serving as a bridge between traditional aesthetics and the future, it marks the first step toward a new design language.
Standout areas on board the Arcane concepts include the aft deck Piazza®. This reimagines the traditional beach club and stern experience, creating a seamless 20-metre-long 180-square-metre continuum with the outdoors. Other exceptional areas are the Piazzetta®, a unique forward-facing lounge and alfresco living space at the bow, the panoramic Love Nest® terrace, and the 35-metre RMK Jumbo Deck®, which encompasses an impressive 190 square metres of outdoor space.

Flexible power from Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform

With Arcane Era based on an ICE-powered configuration and Arcane Nova designed around a hybrid architecture, power to the Arcane vessels will be provided by the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform, the use of which was vital to the design process. As Nicola Pomi from Volvo Penta explains: “The compact aft installation gave Espen and RMK much greater freedom in developing the GA and allocating volume below deck, while also creating the foundation for the efficiency, comfort and operational flexibility expected from a new generation of superyachts.” “For a 55-metre yacht below 500 GT, that translates not only into more usable space, but into the ability to combine long-range capability, efficient operation and greater freedom in how the yacht is designed and used.”
He continues: “The flexibility of IPS allowed Arcane to evolve into two different expressions – Era and Nova – without changing the fundamental philosophy of the platform. Arcane is really an example of what can happen when propulsion becomes part of the creative process from the beginning.”

With both hybrid and ICE-powered configurations available for future vessels, a key strength of the IPS Professional Platform lies in its flexibility to offer the right power architecture based on the vessel’s operational profile.

While the technical foundations of Arcane were shaped through close collaboration between RMK Yachts, Espen Oeino and Volvo Penta, bringing such an ambitious vision to market also required partners who shared the same long-term perspective. This alignment of expertise, creativity and commercial insight became a defining element of the project from its earliest stages.

Jean-Claude Carme, Managing Director at TWW Yachts, which is representing the new concepts, explains the company’s rationale for becoming involved. “The project started with the exciting prospect of being involved with a reinvented RMK Yachts: a new team, a new modern shipyard (that should open in the first part of next year) and new projects. This breath of fresh air proved irresistible, and meeting the new RMK team – so enthusiastic and engaging – was the primary driving force behind our collaborative project.”
He continues: “The prospect of working with two of the yacht designers with whom I share the greatest affinity, both personally and professionally (Espen Oeino and Giorgio Cassetta), has only strengthened my desire to be involved not only in the promotion, but also in the origination of this new project. I firmly believe in the success of the ‘Magic Triangle’ formed by a builder, a designer and a broker when they share a common sensibility and vision.”

That shared vision lies at the heart of the Arcane project. By bringing together a forward-looking shipyard, world-renowned designers, innovative engineering partners and an experienced brokerage team, Arcane Era and Arcane Nova demonstrate how collaboration across disciplines can redefine expectations and help shape the future of yachting.