The fleet includes the Arksen 70, Arksen 85 and Arksen 100 and will be constructed by a build team of South coast businesses including Wight Shipyard, Humphreys Yacht Design and Design Unlimited.

The Arksen team will first develop a concept vessel. The Arksen 85 will be the first in build with tank testing having already begun. The team is hoping for a Summer 2019 start date with a ten-month build schedule.

Arksen is the brainchild of UK tech entrepreneur and investor Jasper Smith who, after a career spanning thirty years in the games and tech industry, has expanded and set his sights on the marine industry. He says, “We are working closely with Wight to design and build vessels to be the best in class in efficiency and fuel economy, as well as understand the procurement process and the supply chain for the components that we use in and during construction to ensure the vessels are fully recyclable at the end of their life. This cradle to grave approach is one that we believe will be common place in the industry within the next ten years, but we are proud to be pioneering it with our suppliers” said Mr Smith.

Peter Morton, chief executive of Wight Shipyard Co comments, “Ship building on the Isle of Wight goes back hundreds of years. The Isle of Wight builds the finest aluminium vessels in the world and this explorer yacht range fits perfectly alongside our high-speed ferry building operation.

My aim with Arksen is first and foremost to develop exceptional products to the highest build standards with their full lifecycle in mind; from sourcing to recycling at end of life. We share similar values with Arksen, so are delighted that we will build these forward-thinking explorer vessels with them. This project will be a great boost for the Marine manufacturing businesses on the Isle of Wight”.