A Coventry University graduate has claimed a top award in a prestigious superyacht competition with her sustainable design for a ship that “never dies”. Amel Khsouma was named winner in the Master’s category at the Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition, held at the Southampton International Boat Show.

For the competition, designers were tasked with designing a 50-metre motor yacht, suitable for family use, with a scientific and sustainability angle. Incorporating these aspects into her design, Amel envisaged a yacht that remains profitable during its 50 to 60 year charter, during which it is equipped to host a team of researchers.

By embedding scientific utility into a luxury space, the concept challenges traditional boundaries. The dual-purpose layout allows standard commercial operations to co-exist with active marine preservation, proving that high-end hospitality and environmental responsibility can share the same waters.

Rather than thinking only about how the yacht is used during its charter, Amel considered what could happen to it afterwards. Her concept ensures the vessel can be reconfigured for a new purpose, extending its useful life rather than simply reaching the end of its original role. Specifically, her blueprinted configuration allows the vessel to smoothly transition into a functional museum and cafeteria open to the public.

The idea reflects a growing interest in looking at yachts as products with a complete lifecycle, from the earliest stages of design and construction through to operation, refit and what happens when their original purpose comes to an end. For Amel, sustainability isn't simply about the materials or technology used to create the yacht. It’s also about giving the vessel a future beyond its first life and finding ways for it to remain useful and valuable over several decades.

This focus on circular design marks a significant departure from standard maritime manufacturing, where vessels are rarely built with their eventual retirement in mind. By mapping out the secondary and tertiary phases of the ship from the very first sketch, the project establishes a new benchmark for how legacy vessels can avoid the scrap yard.

Amel, who is from Italy and graduated from her Automotive and Transport Design course at Coventry University, said: “I’ve always been interested in ships, I studied nautical science at school before coming to study at Coventry and I really focused 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 and 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 is able to host researchers from the Water Revolution Foundation and that research can 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”.

The research element gives the design another dimension. During its working life, the yacht is able to accommodate researchers, creating a connection between the vessel and scientific work at sea. The idea also gives the research a potential audience beyond the researchers themselves, with Amel envisaging it eventually forming part of the story told by the vessel.

Her concept brings together several of the interests that have shaped her studies and her ambitions for the future. Her early studies in nautical science gave her an understanding of ships and the sea, while her Automotive and Transport Design degree allowed her to develop her skills as a designer.

In recognition of her achievement, Amel won a four week apprenticeship at luxury motor yacht brand Sunseeker International. The opportunity gives Amel the chance to gain experience with one of Britain's best known yacht builders.

Sunseeker's history dates back to 1969, when brothers Robert and John Braithwaite began building boats. The company went on to develop from its early day boats into larger motor yachts and superyachts.

For Amel, the apprenticeship provides an opportunity to see how ideas move from the drawing board into the world of yacht design and construction. It also gives her the chance to build on the experience she gained at Coventry and explore the two areas of design that interest her most.

Her winning concept also offers an insight into how the next generation of yacht designers are thinking about the future of the industry, where design is increasingly being considered alongside sustainability, research, longevity and the changing uses of vessels.

Michael Beattie, Manager at Superyacht UK, added: “We are thrilled to see Amel take top honours in the Master’s category of the 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”.

For a designer at the beginning of her career, the competition has provided more than a title. It has given Amel the opportunity to have her work seen by people working within the superyacht sector and to take an important step towards the career she has wanted to pursue.

At the heart of her design is a simple idea, a yacht doesn't have to have just one life. By considering what the vessel could become decades into the future, Amel has made longevity part of the design itself.

Find out more about studying Automotive and Transport Design at Coventry University.

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