Innovation spotlight: sliding stairs access hatches

At Akerboom Yacht Equipment, we are committed to advancing technical excellence through constant innovation. Our developments are shaped by a focus on improving functionality, safety, and efficiency, while fitting seamlessly into the complex realities of modern yachting. Every solution is designed with the evolving needs of owners, captains, and crews in mind. The Sliding Stairs Access Hatches are a new advancement that combine modular engineering with elegant design.

From Challenge to Opportunity: Rethinking the Open-Beach Club Experience

The shipyard received a client request to optimize the passage to the beach platform at the aft of the vessel and asked Akerboom to contribute ideas for a suitable solution. The initially proposed doors were large, the arms didn’t fit within the available space, and all parties involved felt there had to be a better way. This was not only a technical challenge, but also an opportunity to rethink the open beach club experience.

Modular Engineering in Action: Merging Expertise Across Systems

After reviewing previously completed projects, we collectively concluded that a new item solution needed to be developed. The shipyard emphasized that this development had to take place within a relatively short timeframe, as engineering work from all parties needed to continue.

Akerboom utilized its modular engineering productstructure for this purpose. By combining components from two equipment disciplines — doors/hatches/platforms and boarding equipment — a new item was created. This marked a next step in modular engineering for Akerboom: merging components from multiple disciplines into one innovative product. The approach not only accelerated the development process, but also demonstrated how modularity enables flexible, cross-disciplinary solutions without compromising quality. The result: within a short period, a first concept was designed and discussed with the shipyard. Its approval confirmed the value of modular engineering as a driver of both speed and reliability in complex projects.

Delivering Beyond Expectations: Watertightness and Seamless Access

By using a housing in which the staircase is stored in the open position, the item is also highly suitable for delivery as a plug-and-play concept, minimizing work on board. Creating an open space, with no shades of a hatch is unique, and the threshold-free access adds extra comfort.

The biggest challenge in this project was ensuring watertightness on board due to the angle at which the stair access hatches are installed, as well as aligning the stair treads between the hatches and the fixed part of the ship. Both staircases are part of the watertight boundary of the vessel and were successfully certified by Class.