Amels and Damen Yachting have announced the sale of the 55.5m/182ft support yacht GENE CHASER, which will accompany the luxury yacht GENE MACHINE.

GENE CHASER Yacht Support on sea trials at Damen Yachting

Support yacht GENE MACHINE is part of the YS 5009 Yacht Support range and was originally launched in late 2020 at BLUE OCEAN. The new name was unveiled during a private ceremony at Vlissingen in the Netherlands, and she now has a colour scheme to match the Limited Editions Amels 180 GENE MACHINE, with colourful LED name lights to be installed in March to complete the transformation.

Damen Yachting – Naming Ceremony Gene Chaser yacht support vessel

The last two months have been used to change the interior into a working research laboratory and hub for ongoing scientific projects: What was once the main salon is now a working wet and dry laboratory, while other areas have been transformed for conferences and education. The accommodation provides for eight visiting researchers and experts, while the crew area sleeps four full-time scientists and a crew of seven.

Damen Yachting – Naming Ceremony Gene Chaser yacht support

GENE CHASER is the eighth hull in the Yacht Support series to use Damen Yachting’s YS 5009 model, and like the previous hulls she uses the Damen Sea Axe hull form. One of her unique features is the main deck hangar, which also serves as a vehicle garage and workshop for submersibles and dive operations.

GENE CHASER Yacht Support on sea trials at Damen Yachting – bow view

The extensive 225m2/2421.9ft2 exterior deck is fitted with a high-performance knuckle-boom 13-tonne capacity crane for easy storage and launch of GENE MACHINE’s Fjord 42 and a Hatløy Maritime Oxpro AL8 landing craft, along with any equipment necessary for the current mission.