NL2026925B1 - Vessel comprising an engine room and a luxury area - Google Patents

Abstract

A vessel comprising an engine room in which an engine is positioned as well as a luxury area arranged adjacent said engine room, wherein the luxury area comprises a floor of the floating type, the floor being suspended by a compressible foam material that is arranged in one or more spaced apart lines, wherein the compressible foam material is arranged below the floor of the luxury area in a grid-like manner, at least one line of the grid being positioned directly below an interior wall of the luxury area, and wherein the floor has a honeycomb construction.

Description

Title: Vessel comprising an engine room and a luxury area Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vessel comprising an engine room and a luxury area adjacent said engine room. Positioned in the engine room is an engine. The luxury area comprises a floor of the floating type, which floor is suspended by a compressible foam material that is arranged in one or more spaced apart lines. Such vessels are e.g. manufactured today by several vessel or yacht manufacturers throughout the world. One example of such a yacht builder is the applicant of the present application: Heesen Yachts Builders B.V., located in the Netherlands. Inherent to sailing on a vessel — when using an engine for propulsion —is that noise is produced by the engine. Especially in rooms and areas adjacent the engine, this is conceived as unpleasant by passengers of the vessel. Several noise- mitigating features are usually implemented on luxury vessels. At present, one of the noise-mitigating features taken is to make use of a so-called floating floor. When such a floor is used, the floor of a particular room or area is suspended with respect to the deck of the room below it. The suspension can e.g. be achieved by arranging compressible foam material below the floor. At present, such compressible foam material is applied in straight lines which are spaced apart from each other. Although for noise mitigating properties the foam material should be relatively soft — i.e. relatively compressible — this is undesirable for other reasons. Namely, when the floating floor is suspended by very soft foam, it sinks in when a person walks over the floor and/or when heavy furniture is placed on it. This gives an unsatisfactory experience, e.g. due to the floor being experienced as unsteady and/or due to the furniture being non-levelled. Furthermore, it is often desirable that floors in luxury areas are finished with natural stone material, such as marble. If the suspension would be too soft, there is a relatively high risk that this would lead to cracks in the stone material. In luxury areas of a vessel an unsteady floor, non-level furniture and broken floors are undesired, leading to contrasting requirements between on the one hand noise mitigation and on the other hand user experience in the sense of the experience of build quality. Present-day vessels therefore use a relatively hard foam, that does not sink substantially when walking on it. A near-constant thrive towards more comfort and, thus, less noise remains. A lower noise level is experienced as a major improvement of the comfort on board. For this reason, it would be desirable to decrease the noise level in areas and rooms adjacent an engine room of a vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a vessel comprising an engine room in which an engine is positioned as well as a luxury area arranged adjacent said engine room, wherein the luxury area comprises a floor of the floating type, the floor being suspended by a compressible foam material that is arranged in one or more spaced apart lines, characterized in that the compressible foam material is arranged below the floor of the luxury area in a grid-like manner, at least one line of the grid being positioned directly below an interior wall of the luxury area, and in that the floor has a honeycomb construction. In accordance with the present invention, the vessel comprises an engine room in which an engine is positioned. The engine directly or indirectly drives a propeller of the vessel, so that the vessel can be propelled. Typically the engine is positioned in a dedicated room, so that the noise produced by the engine is mainly contained in said room. However, the noise produced by the engine is always spread — to a higher or lesser degree — across the vessel; both through the air and by the transfer of physical engine vibrations to the hull and other structural components of the vessel. In accordance with the present invention, the vessel comprises a luxury area, adjacent the engine room. For example, the luxury area may be positioned above, e.g. right above, or next to, e.g. directly next to, the engine room. In general, the closer the luxury area is positioned to the engine room the more of the noise produced by the engine is noticeable in the luxury area. On luxury yachts, there are often rooms and areas mainly used by staff and there are rooms and areas for use by the owner (renter) of the yacht and his/her guests. It is especially these latter rooms and areas which are made as comfortable as possible and which, in accordance with the present invention, are luxury areas. As described in the above, and in accordance with the present invention, the floors of such luxury rooms and areas are typically of the floating type -

suspended with respect to the deck of the room below it. The suspension is typically achieved by arranging compressible foam material below the floor.

In accordance with the present invention, compressible foam material is used to suspend the floor of the luxury area. When a load is placed on such a material, it is compressed and reduces in thickness. Such a material mainly helps to prevent noise arising from physical vibrations of components. As will be described in the below, compressible foam materials exists in stiffer and softer types.

In accordance with the present invention, the compressible foam material is not arranged as a continuous layer below the floor, but is arranged in one or more lines that are spaced apart from each other and with some empty space in between them.

In accordance with the present invention, the compressible foam material is arranged in a grid-like manner. The lines of compressible foam material can e.g. be arranged in transverse and longitudinal lines, that e.g. cross each other at an angle of between 60° and 120°. For example there can be several transverse lines, e.g. arranged in parallel with each other. For example there can be several longitudinal lines, e.g. arranged in parallel with each other. For example the lines can be arranged below the floor in a graph-paper like pattern.

In accordance with the present invention, when seen in a cross- sectional view, at least one line of the grid is positioned directly below an interior wall of the luxury area, so that the interior wall is properly supported by the compressible foam material.

In accordance with the present invention, the structural part of the floor of the luxury area has a honeycomb or other sandwich construction, giving the floor a high stiffness-to-weight ratio. Of course, the structural part of the floor may be covered or clad by a non-structural layer, e.g. made of marble, wood, or any other material.

After elaborate testing, it was found by the applicant that noise in the luxury area of the vessel comes mainly from two sources. On the one hand there are the physical vibrations of the engine, which is transferred to the construction of the vessel and causes noise in the areas and rooms surrounding the location of the engine — in this case surrounding the location of the engine room. On the other hand there are the vibrations of the air surrounding the engine, air-borne noise, which can also be heard by passengers of the vessel. These air vibrations are also transferred to rooms and areas surrounding the engine and/or engine room.

By arranging the compressible foam material in a grid-like manner, softer foam, i.e. more compressible foam, can be used compared to solutions of the prior art wherein the compressible foam is e.g. arranged in parallel lines. By using softer foam, noise resulting from the physical vibrations can be dampened better, resulting in less noise in the luxury area. Also, by arranging the compressible foam material in a grid-like manner — compared to arranging it only in parallel lines — the floor of the luxury area sinks less when a relatively heavy-weight person walks across the floor, even when a soft foam material is used. This further increases the sense of comfort in the luxury area.

Furniture in a luxury area of a vessel is often placed against a wall. Therefore, by arranging at least one line of the grid directly below an interior wall of the luxury area, the likeliness that the furniture is inclined with respect to the horizontal level is reduced even when very soft foam is used. This results in a higher comfort for the users of the vessel.

After elaborate testing, it was found by the applicant that having a stiffer floor helps to decrease the amount and level of noise transferred into the luxury area from the adjacent engine room, as the natural frequency of such a floor is higher.

Therefore, advantageously the floor of the luxury area has a honeycomb construction. Without wishing to be bound to a particular theory, it is furthermore expected that a honeycomb construction traps some of the sound waves transported through the air, and makes it more difficult for sound waves to reach a luxury area from an engine room arranged below it. At the same time, a stiffer floor construction allows the floor to be clad with heavy (natural) materials — in particular marble or other natural stone — without the risk of breaking these natural materials and while being allowed to use a relatively soft compressible foam material.

All measures of the characterizing portion of claim 1 combined may result in a reduction of noise level — measured in dB(A) — of between 2 — 3 dB(A) in the luxury area. Of course, the skilled person knows that due to the logarithmic scale in which dB(A) is measured a reduction of about 3 dB(A} corresponds to half the sound energy and half the noise experienced by persons in the luxury area.

In a practical embodiment of the present invention, the compressible foam material is a polyurethane elastomer, e.g. of the type known in the field under the trademark name Sylomer (on the filing date of the present patent application). Polyurethane elastomers, and in particular Sylomer, are one type of compressible foam materials. However, many other types of compressible foam materials are known by one skilled in the art, and the invention is not limited to the use of a particular type 5 of compressible foam material.

In a practical embodiment of the present invention, the polyurethane elastomer is configured for carrying a static load of up to 0,042 N/mm?, preferably of up to 0,028 N/mm?, e.g. between 0,011 N/mm? and 0,042 N/mm? preferably between 0,018 N/mm? and 0,042 N/mm? more preferably between 0,018 N/mm? and 0,028 N/mm?Z. For example, Sylomer SR11 is configured for carrying a static load of between about 0,011 N/mm? and about 0,018 N/mm?2. For example, the most preferred Sylomer SR28 is configured for carrying a static load of between about 0,018 N/mm? and about 0,028 N/mm. For example, Sylomer SR42 is configured for carrying a static load of between about 0,028 N/mm? and about 0,042 N/mm?.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a line of compressible foam material is arranged directly below all interior walls of the luxury area. This optimally minimizes the sinking of the furniture in the luxury area due to the floated construction of the floor on a compressible foam material even when a soft foam is used. Hence, this ensures that the surfaces of the furniture are arranged level and optimizes the comfort and luxury experience in the luxury area.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the floor of the luxury area has a weight of between 100 and 250 N/m2. For example, the floor may comprise a carrier and a top layer, the carrier being configured for carrying the weight of the top layer and for providing stiffness to the floor construction. For example the top layer may be a cosmetic top layer, visible to persons in the luxury area. For example, the top layer may be constructed of wood or marble.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the luxury area is arranged above the engine room, e.g. directly above the engine room. Typically, it is the area or room arranged directly above the engine room which experiences the most noise.

Therefore, preferably this room or area is optimally isolated against noise resulting from the engine.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an angle between transverse lines of the grid is between about 60° and about 120°, preferably about 90°. That is, preferably the grid corresponds to a graph-paper grid, having straight angles between longitudinal and lateral lines thereof. However also other configurations, such as e.g. a diamond pattern, may be possible.

In an embodiment of the present invention a gearbox is further positioned in the engine room, the gearbox being coupled to the engine at one end thereof, and to a propeller shaft of the vessel at the other, opposite, end thereof via a thrust bearing. When a thrust bearing is used in between the gearbox and the propeller shaft, the thrust load on the propeller shaft is not taken by the gearbox but is instead directly transferred to the hull of the vessel, reducing the amount of noise produced by the gearbox and thus the amount of noise that can be transferred to the luxury area. In an embodiment of the present invention a gearbox is further positioned in the engine room, the gearbox being coupled to the engine, the gearbox and the engine being mounted together on a skid so that the engine and the gearbox form a unitary engine-gearbox combination, the skid being arranged in between a floor of the engine room and the engine-gearbox combination and the skid having a length that at least approximately equals the combined lengths of the gearbox and the engine, wherein the skid is supported on vibrational dampers with respect to the floor. Advantageously, when the gearbox and the engine are mounted on a skid — in particular one skid, that bridges at least the area in between the gearbox and the engine — and form a unitary engine-gearbox combination, from a vibratory perspective the engine-gearbox combination behaves as a single part, vibrating in one mode. This is beneficial compared to the situation in which the gearbox vibrates in one mode and the engine in another — typically different — mode. It was found by the applicant that in the situation wherein the gearbox and engine form a gearbox-engine combination the vibrations produced in the engine room are significantly reduced, and thereby also the noise. When the noise produced in the engine room is lower, also the amount of noise that can reach the ears of a person in the luxury area is naturally lower. In this particular case, the implementation of a skid may reduce the noise in the luxury area by approximately another 1 dB(A). The engine-gearbox combination, mounted on vibrational dampers, essentially behaves as a mass-spring system, wherein the vibrating equipment (i.e. the engine and the gearbox) behave as the mass and the vibrational dampers behave as the spring. Resilient mounting systems using a mass- spring system are designed to attenuate the disturbing frequencies. This works as the natural frequency of the mass-spring system is far from the disturbing frequency. In practice this means that the mass-spring system is designed to have a natural frequency that lies far below the disturbing frequency. This natural frequency significantly changes when the engine and the gearbox behave as a single rigid part. With the gearbox-engine combination mounted on vibrational dampers , the vibrations invoked by the thrust and torque acting on the gearbox are not directly transferred to the hull of the vessel, but are damped by the vibrational dampers .

It is noted that, when both a thrust bearing and a skid are used, only a single gearbox will typically be present in the engine room per engine.

It is noted that the solution wherein the engine and the gearbox are mounted on a single skid to form a unitary engine-gearbox combination may be implemented independently from the improved floor suspension as described in the above.

Accordingly, a second aspect of the present invention relates to a vessel comprising an engine room in which an engine and a gearbox are positioned, as well as a luxury area arranged adjacent, e.g. above, said engine room, wherein the gearbox and the engine are mounted together on a skid so that the engine and the gearbox form a unitary engine-gearbox combination, the skid being arranged in between a floor of the engine room and the engine-gearbox combination and the skid having a length that at least approximately equals the combined lengths of the gearbox and the engine, wherein the skid is supported on vibrational dampers with respect to the floor.

The advantages obtained and the problems solved with such a vessel are similar to the advantages and problems described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

It goes without saying that embodiments described in relation to the first aspect described herein can be combined with the invention according to the second aspect, as far as this is applicable.

In alternative embodiments, the gearbox and the engine may be directly coupled to each other in a rigid manner — without the use of a skid as described in the above — so that the engine and the gearbox, from a vibratory perspective, form a unitary engine-gearbox combination.

In an embodiment according to either the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the hull of the vessel is made from steel and the vessel is arranged for cruising at a speed of between about 12 knots and about 20 knots. In the experience of the applicant an excess amount of noise is mainly experienced as adverse by owners and users of vessels designed to cruise at a “medium speed range”, i.e. between about 12 knots and about 20 knots. For owners and users of vessels designed to cruise at a high speed range, i.e. higher than the mentioned 20 knots, it is more acceptable when there is more noise in the luxury areas. For owners and users of vessels designed to cruise at a low speed range, noise is not experienced in the same amount as for vessels designed to cruise at a medium speed range, as the former vessels often are equipped with less powerful engines (less powerful in terms of break horsepower), which produce less noise and less vibrations. In an embodiment according to either the first or the second aspect of the present invention, when the engine is operated, a noise level in the luxury area is below 60 dB(A). For example, this noise level may be reached even when the engine or engines is or are operated at 90% of their maximum continuous rating (MCR). As described, depending on the exact embodiment a noise reduction of at least between 1 and 3 dB(A) is achievable with the noise reducing measures as described herein. In an embodiment according to either the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the vessel is a yacht. Preferably the vessel is a luxury yacht, having e.g. a length of between 45 and 70 m, preferably of about 50 — 60 m.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects of the present invention will now be elucidated further with reference to be attached drawings, wherein like components and elements are denoted with the same reference numerals. In these drawings: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a partially open-worked isometric view of a floating floor of a luxury area of a vessel; Figure 2 schematically illustrates in a top view the suspension of a floating floor of a luxury area of a vessel; Figure 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a floating floor of a luxury area of a vessel; Figure 4 schematically illustrates an engine room of a vessel, the engine room comprising an engine; and Figure 5 schematically illustrates a longitudinal cross section of a vessel comprising an engine room and a luxury area positioned directly above the engine room.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES With reference to Figure 1, a floor 121 of a luxury area of a vessel is partially shown. The floor 121 can be made of several materials, including e.g. wood, marble and steel. A weight of the floor 121 may e.g. be between 100 N/m? and 250 N/m? The floor 121 may e.g. include a ‘cosmetic’ cover layer made of the aforementioned wood, marble or steel, as well as a ‘structural’ layer that carries the weight of the cosmetic cover layer. Preferably the structural layer has a honeycomb construction, as indicated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the structural layer can have any other sandwich-type construction that has a high stiffness/weight ratio like a honeycomb construction does.

The floor 121 of the luxury area does not coincide with the deck 117 of the area or room below the luxury area but, rather, is suspended with respect to said deck 117. That is to say, the floor 121 is of the floating type. The suspension between the floor 121 of the upper area and the deck 117 of the lower area comprises compressible foam material 122. The compressible foam material 122 is arranged in lines, in this case longitudinal lines 124 and transverse lines 123. The lines 123, 124 are spaced apart from each other. For example, a distance between the parallel longitudinal lines 123 may be between 300 mm and 700 mm. For example, a distance between the parallel lateral lines 123 may be between 300 mm and 700 mm. For example, the lines may have a width of between 30 and 80 mm The longitudinal lines 124 and lateral lines 123 define a grid shape, in this case a graph-paper shape. When the lines form a graph-paper shape, the longitudinal lines 124 and lateral lines 123 are arranged at an angle a of 90° with respect to each other. Other grid shapes are however very well possible, e.g. a grid shape wherein the angle of the longitudinal 124 and lateral lines 123 has a magnitude of different from 90°, e.g. between 60° and 120°. For example, the grid may have a diamond shape.

Turning to Figure 2, a top view of floor 121 the luxury area 12 is shown, including the compressible foam material 122 which is positioned below the floor 121 of the luxury area 12. As shown, the luxury area 12 comprises several columns 126, which e.g. support a deck of the luxury area 12. Running along and/or in between the columns 126 are interior walls 125. It will be noted that — when seen in a top view — the position of the lines 123, 124 of compressible foam material 122 supporting the floor 121 coincides with the position of the interior walls 125 of the luxury area 12. In other words, at least one line 123, 124 of compressible foam material

122 is positioned directly below an interior wall 125 of the luxury area 12. Preferably, as shown, a line 123, 124 of compressible foam material 122 is positioned below each and every interior wall 125 of the luxury area 12, although not every line 123, 124 of compressible foam material 122 finds an interior wall 125 positioned above it.

Turning to Figure 3, a cross section of the floating floor 121 is shown. Floor panel 121 — having a honeycomb construction — is shown as one of the top layers in the figure. On the left side of the figure, an interior wall 125 is arranged on the floor 121, on a position directly above a line of compressible foam material 122. The floor 121 is suspended by several lines of a compressible foam material 122, the foam 122 being arranged below the floor 121. The foam 122 can e.g. be a polyurethane elastomer, such as the polyurethane elastomer which on the filing date of the present application is known under the trade name Sylomer. For example, the foam is configured for carrying a static load of up to 0,042 N/mm?, preferably of up to 0,028 N/mm? e.g. between 0,011 N/mm? and 0,042 N/mm?, preferably between 0,018 N/mm? and 0,042 N/mm?, more preferably between 0,018 N/mm? and 0,028 N/mm?.

The foam 122 is supported on a frame, e.g. made of wood, that acts as a levelling material. The frame is supported on the deck 117 of the room that is positioned below the luxury area — in this case the engine room of the vessel. The deck 117 of the engine room may comprise two layers 117A, 117B with e.g. an isolating material 118 in between the layers 117A, 117B. The isolating material 118 may e.g. be positioned in the deck 117 of the engine room to contain most of the heat and noise produced by the engine inside the engine room.

Turning to Figure 4, engine room 11 is shown. Recognizable from Figure 3 are deck 117, comprising two layers 117A, 117B and isolating material 118 there between. Positioned in the engine room 11 are engine 111 and gearbox 112, coupled to each other via a coupler in a manner as known in the art of ship propulsion. Further visible in Figure 4 is a propeller shaft 13, which is driven by the engine 111 and gearbox 112 to propel the vessel in a forward (or rearward) direction. Arranged in between the gearbox 112 and the propeller shaft 13 is a thrust bearing 113, which thrust bearing 113 reduces the thrust load acting on the gearbox 112, and thus the physical vibrations and the noise produced by the gearbox 112.

Further visible in Figure 4 is a skid 114, on which both the engine 111 and the gearbox 112 are mounted. By mounting both the engine 111 and the gearbox 112 on one and the same skid 114, the engine 11 and the gearbox 112 are coupled to each other and form a unitary engine-gearbox combination 120 which, from a vibratory perspective, behaves as a single component (instead of two or three individual components). As can be seen in Figure 4, the skid 114 is arranged in between a floor 115 of the engine room 11 and the engine-gearbox combination 120. Arranged in between the floor 115 of the engine room 11 and the skid 114 are vibrational dampers 116, which support the skid 114 and reduce the transmission of physical vibrations from the skid 114 / engine-gearbox combination 120 to the floor 115 of the engine room 11. As can be seen in Figure 4, the length of the skid 114 is approximately equal to the combined lengths of the individual gearbox 112 and the individual engine 111, to properly support the engine 111 and the gearbox 112 along their entire length.

Furthermore visible is that both the engine 111 and the gearbox 112 are mounted on the skid 114 with additional vibrational dampers 119A, 119B, to further reduce the transmission of vibrations from the engine 111 / gearbox 112 to the floor 115 of the engine room 11. However, in certain embodiments these vibrational dampers 119A and/or 119B may be omitted.

Turning to Figure 5, a cross sectional view along a length direction of the vessel 1 is shown.

As quite recognizable, the vessel in this case is a (superyacht, e.g. having a length of about 50 or about 57meter.

In this particular case, the yacht 1 has a hull 14 which is made of steel.

As the hull 14 is relatively heavy (compared to an aluminium hull), the yacht 1 is of the medium speed range, and may e.g. be arranged for cruising at a speed of between about 12 knots and about 20 knots.

As shown the luxury area 12, including floating floor having the described noise-reducing measures, is arranged adjacent the engine room 11, in this case directly above the engine room 11. It is found by the applicant that it is especially the rooms adjacent, and in particular above, more in particular directly above, the engine room 11 which “suffer” the most from the noise produced by the engines in the engine room 11.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Vessel 11 engine room 111 engine 112 gearbox 113 thrust bearing 114 skid 115 floor 116 vibrational damper 117 deck 118 isolation layer 119A vibrational damper between engine and skid 119B vibrational damper between gearbox and skid 120 engine-gearbox combination 12 luxury area 121 floor 122 compressible foam material 123 line of compressible foam material 124 line of compressible foam material 125 interior wall 126 column 13 propeller shaft 14 hull a angle between transverse lines of grid

Claims (14)

CONCLUSIONS A ship (1) comprising an engine room (11) in which an engine (111) is positioned and a luxury area (12) arranged near said engine room (11), the luxury area (12) being a floor (121) of the floating type, wherein the floor (121) is supported by a compressible foam material (122) arranged in one or more spaced lines (123, 124), characterized in that the compressible foam material (122) under the floor (121) of the luxury area (12) is arranged in a grid-like manner, wherein at least one line (123, 124) of the grid is positioned right below an inner wall (125) of the luxury area (12), and that the floor (121) has a honeycomb construction. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the compressible foam material (122) is a polyurethane elastomer. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the polyurethane elastomer is Sylomer. The ship according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the polyurethane elastomer is adapted to bear a static load of up to 0.042 N/mm 2 , preferably up to 0.028 N/mm 2 , e.g. between 0.011 N/mm 2 . and 0.042 N/mm?, preferably between 0.018 N/mm? and 0.042 N/mm? more preferably between 0.018 N/mm? and 0.028 N/mm. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein a line (123, 124) of compressible foam material (122) is disposed right below all interior walls (125) of the luxury area (12). The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the floor (121) of the luxury area (12) has a weight of between 100 and 250 N/m 2 . The ship according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the luxury area (12) is arranged above the engine room (11), for example directly above the engine room (11). The ship according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an angle (a) between transversely oriented lines (123, 124) of the grid is between 60° and 120°, preferably approximately 90°. The vessel of any preceding claim, further wherein a gearbox (112) is positioned in the engine room (11), the gearbox (112) coupled to the engine (111) at one end thereof, and to the propeller shaft (13) of the vessel (1) at the other, opposite, end thereof via a thrust bearing (113). The vessel of any preceding claim, further wherein a gearbox (112) is positioned in the engine room (11), the gearbox (112) being coupled to the engine (111), the gearbox (112) and the motor {111) are mounted together on a sled (114) such that the motor (111) and the gearbox (112) form a unitary motor-gearbox combination (120), the sled (114) being mounted between a floor (115 ) of the engine chamber (11) and the engine-gearbox combination (120) and wherein the carriage (114) has a length at least approximately equal to the combined lengths of the gearbox (112) and the engine (111), wherein the carriage (114) is supported on vibration dampers (116) relative to the floor (115). A ship (1) comprising an engine room (11) in which an engine (111) and a gearbox (112) are positioned, as well as a luxury area (12) arranged near, for example above, said engine room (11), with the characterized in that the gearbox (112) and the motor (111) are mounted together on a carriage (114) such that the motor (111) and the gearbox (112) form a unitary engine-gearbox combination (120), the carriage (114) is arranged between a floor {115) of the engine compartment (11) and the engine-gearbox combination (120) and wherein the carriage (114) has a length that is at least approximately equal to the combined lengths of the gearbox ( 112) and the motor (111), the carriage (114) being supported on vibration dampers (116) relative to the floor (115). The ship according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hull {14) of the ship (1) is made of steel and wherein the ship (1) is adapted to cruise at a speed of between about 12 knots and about 20 knots. knots. The vessel of any preceding claim wherein, when the engine (111) is in operation, a noise level in the luxury area (12) is below 60 dB(A). The ship according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ship (1) is a yacht.