A two-decade long dream is realized in the rebuild of fishing trawler Scintilla Maris, with Captain Feite-Jurre at the helm
It’s hard to imagine Scintilla Maris lounging in a superyacht marina, surrounded by glossy, white-hulled giants. Her story began far from these Saint-Tropez scenes, in the rough, gray waters of the North Atlantic. Built in the 1980s by Damen Maaskant Shipyards in the Netherlands, she was one of the last in a proud fleet of fishing trawlers, crafted for power and steadfast seaworthiness. Under her original name Vertrouwen, meaning “trust,” she spent 20 years scouring the North Sea for flatfish, proving her reliability in punishing conditions.
It was this formidable pedigree that caught the eye of Dutch-American owner Erik Vonk, a man with a lifelong passion for trawlers and tugboats. In 2006, when Vertrouwen came up for sale during a round of decommissioning, Erik jumped at the chance to buy her. “The pedigree of these vessels is about survival, safety and speed in the most unfriendly waters,” Erik says. No stranger to conversion projects, he previously had converted a tugboat and sailed her for more than two decades. “If you want a ship that can take you safely and comfortably anywhere in the world, why would you try to improve on what has been developed by many generations?”
After sitting idle at Damen Maaskant for more than a decade, Vertrouwen was poised for her next chapter. In 2019, Erik embarked on the task of transforming her into Scintilla Maris, an expedition yacht designed for high-latitude exploration. And fittingly, the project took place at the same shipyard that built her. This return to her birthplace was more than symbolic; it brought continuity, expertise and even nostalgia, with long-time workers recalling the days they first worked on her frame.
Sandblasted back to her bare hull, she was rebuilt from the inside out over the next four years. The challenges were many, especially in designing an engine room that balanced commercial durability with eco-credentials. The solution came in the form of a hybrid-electric propulsion system, a departure from her original 4,400-horsepower Deutz MWM diesel engine. Now she has three 585kW generators based on Volvo D16 blocks and an efficient electric motor. Sustainability wasn’t just a consideration — it was the driving force behind every choice, down to plans for a 1MW battery bank and the potential for solar panels. “Scintilla Maris is an example of how green technology can create a whisper-quiet yachting platform with a minimal carbon footprint,” Erik says.
At the helm is Captain Feite-Jurre de Vries who joined the project in its late stages. He holds commercial tickets in both deck and engineering and, having climbed the ranks in both departments, has a well-rounded view of what it takes to run a vessel, from the people to the mechanics. His last role was chief officer on the 228ft expedition yacht Sherakhan. Scintilla Maris is the 28-year-old captain’s first command.
“The goal is to visit the most remote areas and leave absolutely no impact on the environment, including noise. The modern bridge and engine room, along with the range that allows for extended expeditions without refueling, were very appealing,” he says.
On deck, practical elements merge with sociability. The midships platforms offer easy water access, a departure from the stern beach club, while an outdoor kitchen and bar, formerly the fish-handling area, invites guests to gather. The retained masts and crow’s nest, accessible via a sturdy ladder, offer panoramic views — a feature Feite-Jurre notes as a “unique touch that reminds everyone of her heritage.”
Dutch design studio Vripack took the lead in crafting the yacht’s interior, featuring curved walls and bold colors. An abundance of natural light comes from more than 30 skylights on the main deck, which give the yacht an open and airy ambiance. The owner drew inspiration from years of experience on “white yachts,” creating a vessel focused on outward connectivity, stability and comfort. “Yachts in the 40- to-60-meter (130ft to 200ft) range are very similar in that their orientation is inward,” he says. “They tend to be floating living rooms with limited outdoor access. Scintilla Maris was designed with the opposite in mind: optimal seakeeping qualities, connected indoor and outdoor comfort, and midship access to the water.”
In private mode, the yacht runs with just five crew as the owner’s wife enjoys cooking, and guests and crew dine together. In charter mode the crew complement increases to eight, with several chefs on standby who offer different styles. The idea, Feite-Jurre says, “is to allow the guests to select the chef that best suits their needs.”
With a 9,000-nautical-mile range and rugged build, Scintilla Maris is designed for guests who seek exploration, and she will host specialists like biologists and local guides to enrich their experience.
After a celebratory maiden voyage to London in early 2024, Scintilla Maris set her course for the British Isles, navigating through the Hebrides and the Faroe Islands. “Those regions offer a true explorer’s experience, untouched and pristine,” says Feite-Jurre. “Almost no other yachts and best of all, no cruise ships.” The crew are looking forward to future destinations in the Nordic region and Central America.
“It’s rare to see a vessel this capable, comfortable, and connected to its surroundings,” Feite-Jurre adds. “And to bring a piece of Dutch maritime history back to life. It’s truly special.”