She’s the 53m (173ft) support yacht built to work with After You, Damen’s 60m (196ft) Xplorer.
Delivered together as a pair, they’re designed to travel far and operate flexibly, but it’s Emotional that does all the heavy lifting. Toys, fuel, containers, helicopters, people... she handles it all. There’s 200 sq/m (2,150 sq/ft) of working deck, a 15-tonne crane, and space to lash down just about anything you’d want to take with you. But there's more to her than a floating toolbox. She’s got accommodation, a saloon, bridge seating and crew spaces.
Damen YS 53 Key Facts
- LOA 173' 11"
- Model Year 2025
- Cabins 4
- Crew 11
- Max Speed 20 knots
- Status In Production
- Yacht Type Support Vessel
- Use Type Oceangoing
- Vessel M/Y Emotional
The YS 53 is Damen’s latest purpose-built support platform, and Emotional is the third hull in the series. She was constructed at the builder’s facility in Antalya, alongside her mothership After You, and delivered in summer 2025.
Damen has been developing these vessels for well over a decade. The first support yachts arrived in 2009, based on fast offshore supply designs, with early builds like the YS 5009s Umbra and Axis showing what was possible if you stripped back the luxury and focused on function. The YS 53 keeps that workboat style (steel hull, commercial-grade engineering) but wraps it in something far more refined. This is a clean-sheet design, developed entirely in-house by Damen Yachting.
The profile is typical of the range: vertical bow, high freeboard, lots of deck. That bow form isn’t just for show. Damen developed its axe bow with MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) back in the early 2000s to tackle one problem: slamming. Instead of riding over waves, the axe bow cuts straight through them. The result is a smoother, more predictable ride, with less vertical motion and better directional stability, especially at speed. The high bow and spray rails help keep decks dry, which matters when you’ve got 50 tonnes of kit out back and maybe a helicopter coming in.
As with all Damen Yacht Support vessels, the focus is on versatility. The YS 53 can be configured for various roles, including dive operations, helicopter support, and additional accommodation, which is largely determined by the platform's layout. There are multiple structural variants, but the fundamentals remain the same: long range, big payload, fast deployment.
Every part of the boat has been engineered around that idea. The superstructure is kept compact to maximise deck space, and the hull form was developed in collaboration with Damen’s research lab to reduce resistance and improve ride comfort at speed.
Step inside and you’ve got a comfortable saloon that’s nothing over the top, just a space to sit down, cool off and take a breath. It’s bright, air-conditioned, with big windows and a good view out to the aft deck. There’s a sofa area, a TV, and space to eat inside if the weather turns.
If guests are arriving for the first time or heading back off the mothership, it works well as a holding area with an easy flow in and out, and enough room to move without everyone bumping elbows. Carry on forward, and you come to the lobby. There’s a side door to the aft deck, stairs up to the bridge, and a day head just beside it. To port, there’s crew access through to a pantry, then down to their accommodation and the galley.
Guest Accommodation
Forward are the guest cabins. And this is where things start to feel different from older support yachts. Boats like Axis had guest space, but it was very basic, and more like crew quarters with nicer pillows and furnishings. On Emotional, it’s much better.
The main cabin is designed for the owner to use when staying on board. You’ve got a full walk-around bed, a good amount of storage, and natural light coming in. There’s a desk tucked in, and the bathroom’s huge, with a big bath, nice finishes, and plenty of space to move around. It's not nearly as luxurious as the mothership, but it's still perfectly comfortable.
Next along is the captain’s cabin, and then another guest room. This one is more functional with bunk beds and a more compact footprint. If the mothership’s full, it works as overflow for guests. Or you can use it for staff, pilots, guides, whatever the trip needs. You’ve got a private bathroom here too, and a bit of desk and storage space.
Right at the front, there’s another double. Again, there’s decent light, a clean layout, and a simple, workable setup. The whole arrangement gives you a mix of flexibility depending on who’s staying on board and what the boat’s doing.
Damen offers multiple layout configurations on this platform, depending on the role. It could be more guest-heavy, more staff-focused, or fitted out for specialists. The basic structure is pre-engineered for all of it.
Crew Accommodation
Outside the engine room is the engineer’s office. It’s separated from the machinery space, nicely air-conditioned, and right at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the main deck access under the crane.
Opposite the engineer's office is the laundry room. You’ve got washers and dryers lined up, a bit of storage, and space to hang clothes. No sink in here, but it’s functional and tidy.
Carry on forward, and the passageway is lined with crew cabins. They have single berths, a bureau, a private bathroom, and a bit of storage behind the door. Right at the end of the passage, you come into the crew mess. This is their main living space. The ceiling height is decent, and it’s wide enough to move around easily. Two big tables, plenty of seating, and a lounge with a big TV and storage underneath.
There’s also a small office space off to the side for admin or paperwork. The galley’s just next door. It’s not huge, but there’s good counter space, decent lighting, and room for two chefs to work if needed. There’s a dumbwaiter that links up to the main deck pantry, which makes service straightforward when guests are on board.
Further forward in the technical spaces, provisions storage is extensive, including dry and freeze stores and dedicated tanks for potable water, greywater and urea. The idea is to keep her running well beyond normal resupply points.
The bridge on Emotional is laid out with a clear commercial mindset. Twin adjustable helm chairs sit forward of four wide screens, each one displaying a mix of radar, charting, and ship systems. Visibility is excellent, with a full sweep across the bow and working deck.
Aft of the main helm, there’s a dedicated nav station, with a chart table, comms gear and a view back across the deck.
You could manoeuvre from here if needed, but there are wing stations on either side, so the captain can step out and dock from whichever side suits. And unlike some of the earlier support yachts, this is a bridge guests can actually enjoy. There’s a bench to sit and take in the view, a bit of space to watch the action if you like being close to the crew. Still very much a working space, but not off-limits.
The performance matches the commercial setup. She’s powered by two 3,000hp MTUs, giving a top speed just under 20 knots and a range of 5,000nm at 12 knots. That gives her the legs to stay with the mothership or head off ahead depending on what the day demands. The whole system is designed to be quiet, with water-cooled exhausts, zero-speed stabilisers and reduced vibration through the hull.
The aft deck is big, open, and ready for gear. You’ve got almost 200 sq/m of deck space back here, rated to carry up to 50 tonnes. The crane is a whopper. It can lift 15 tonnes and reaches right across the deck, so whether it’s a couple of RIBs, a raft of jet skis or even a submarine, you’re covered. That’s the idea here, as there isn't any built-in clutter. You will move things on and off as needed.
It’s also a touch-and-go helipad. So if you want to fly in or out, you can. No need to involve the mothership. The whole space is about as flexible as it gets. There are multiple tie-down points across the deck, ready for containerised modules. One version even comes with a swimming pool inside.
Access points are where you’d want them. There’s a route straight down to the engine room and another into the machinery for the crane. It’s all very cleanly laid out. Nothing flashy, but built to do the job, and when the heavy lifting’s done, this space isn’t wasted. You can drop in some DJ decks and turn it into a huge dance floor.
Up on the bridge deck, there’s a lovely exterior living space, with big dining tables, sofas, and a good bit of shade. It’s where guests can be served if they want to eat on board, and it’s done nicely. Crucially, it’s protected. You’ve got glass partitions on either side, so the breeze can't get through here. You can sit and eat in peace without your napkin trying to take off.
Right aft, there’s another lounge space with sunbeds, more sofas, and a bar tucked into the corner. What’s nice is how separate this feels from the working deck below. Down there, the crew can be loading toys or setting up tenders. Up here, guests can stretch out with a drink and not even notice it’s happening until the toys are ready to go.
Access to the engine room is good. There’s a main hatch through the transom and another entry point under the crane on deck. Going inside via the transom, you hit the lazarette first. It’s part toy store, part watersports prep area. Kiteboards, wakeboards, scuba tanks, compressors, places to sit and suit up. There’s also a day head right by the transom, which is ideal for guests coming out of the water.
Move forward, and you come to an ante room. It’s fitted out with laundry machines, a workbench, tool storage and a cold store for garbage. A small detail, but helpful when you’re weeks from a port. It also gives engineers a space of their own to work without stepping into the main machinery room.
The engine room itself is clean and compact. Where older support yachts like Axis had four engines, the YS 53 runs two MTU engines. It’s a simpler engine setup that frees up space and makes maintenance easier. The generators are lined up in front, so everything’s easy to get at. There’s room to move, the lighting’s decent, and the whole space feels manageable.
There’s over 150,000 litres of fuel on board, 30,000 litres of fresh water, and separate storage for greywater, sludge, diesel exhaust fluid and petrol. The emissions system is fully integrated, using SCR filters to cut NOx by up to 70%. She’s Tier III compliant and built to run clean across a full transatlantic crossing.
Our Verdict
The value of a yacht like Emotional is in how she works. She can run ahead of the mothership at close to 20 knots, get the best spot in the anchorage, launch the toys, and have everything set before the guests even leave After You. That’s the job she’s built for. And she does it well.
She’s also capable on her own. With great engineering, long range and proper deck gear, she can support a dive team, carry out logistics, or operate as a mobile base for whatever the trip requires.
But it’s in tandem with the mothership that she really earns her keep. One boat focused on guest experience. The other one handling everything else. It’s a setup that gives you options and it makes the whole operation run smoother.
Reasons to Buy
- Massive working deck space
- 15-tonne crane capacity
- 5,000nm range
- Provides incredible flexibility
Things to Consider
- The finish is largely commercial
Looking to own a Damen YS 53? Use YachtBuyer’s Market Watch to compare all new and used Damen YS 53 Yachts for sale worldwide. You can also order a new Damen YS 53, customized to your exact specifications, with options for engine choice and layout configuration. Alternatively, explore our global listings of new and used yachts for sale and find your perfect yacht today!
Specifications
- Builder Damen Yachting
- Range Yacht Support
- Model YS 53
- Length Overall 173' 11"
- Beam 30' 2"
- Draft(full load) 10'
- Hull Steel
- Cabins 4
- Berths 8
- Crew 11
- Yacht Type (Primary) Support Vessel
- Use Type (Primary) Oceangoing
- Cruising Speed
- Max Speed
- Fuel Capacity 7,925 Gallons
- Fresh Water Capacity 40,947 Gallons
- Engine Model 2x MTU 16V 4000 M65
Damen YS 53 Layout
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Bridge Deck
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![Bridge Deck Damen YS 53]()
The bridge deck is home to some outdoor living space too
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Main Deck
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Main deck lifestyle
![Main Deck Damen YS 53]()
The main deck in lifestyle guise with the tender and jet skis on board
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Main deck dive
![Main Deck Damen YS 53]()
The dive arrangement with a pair of subs on board
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Main deck heli
![Main Deck Damen YS 53]()
There is space for heli ops and toy carrying
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Main deck gear
![Main Deck Damen YS 53]()
Storage containers can be locked in various positions on the deck
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Lower Deck
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![Lower Deck Damen YS 53]()
The lower deck with the crew accommodation and mess area
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