Bad Company Support 175 (BCS175) is not your average support yacht. Where most support yachts are designed to carry toys, tenders and transport, giving the main vessel more space for luxury accommodation and amenities, BCS175 provides both, remaining unique as there is no primary superyacht associated with the programme.
As the flagship vessel of the Bad Company fleet, the Damen-built BCS175 is designed with the specific mission to provide a base for the entire BadCo team, fishing vessels, and equipment, as they traverse the globe in search of the largest marlin fish.
We spoke to Captain Alex Kafka, skipper of the 53.25m vessel, to find out what makes BCS175 so unique, and how it redefines what a support yacht can be.
An Independent Operation
BCS175 was specifically designed to be an independent powerhouse, carrying everything required for extended fishing tours. “BCS is a ‘Swiss army knife’ do it all vessel,” says Captain Kafka. “She is unique in that she operates independently, carrying everything necessary onboard: an extensive selection of high-tech toys, game fishing boats, and a fully equipped crew with provisions to be self-sufficient for months at sea, if need be,” he continues.
The ability to operate entirely from one vessel gives the team the flexibility to explore and fish in areas that a lot of yachts don’t usually venture. The versatility and autonomy were meticulously planned from the outset of BCS175’s design.
Anthony Hsieh’s Vision
Owner of BCS175 is entrepreneur and angling enthusiast, Anthony Hsieh. Anthony played an integral part in the design and construction of the vessel, drawing from his vast experience running the world’s largest fishing fleet, which includes BCS150.
Hseih knew at the earliest stages what the vessel needed, collaborating closely with Damen Yachting to ensure BCS175 was tailor-made for long-range, high-stake fishing missions. “On top of being capable of long-range voyages, BCS175 needed to have the ability to carry, launch and recover a 50-foot game boat at any location on the planet,” Alex tells us.
BCS175 vs BCS150
BCS 175 is the first in Damen’s new yacht support series. “This vessel is optimised more for comfort than the previous generations,” Alex says. BCS175 boasts significantly enhanced volume and range compared to its predecessor, with a Gross Tonnage of 500, compared to the 309GRT of BCS150.
“The extra deck space has given us the ability to add an aircraft hangar aboard and stow a helicopter in safely, while at sea,” he continues. This hangar isn’t included in the overall GRT figure, meaning it adds storage without impacting the overall structure.
“All the extra storage capacity has allowed us to include a mezzanine floor, workshop with benches and tool chests,” Alex adds.
The vessel’s fuel capacity of 160,000 litres is double that of BCS150, enabling the 175 to reach all sorts of destinations around the globe, covering 3,500 nautical miles at 16-17 knots, and as far as 7,000 nautical miles at 11 knots.
Simple, yet Reliable
BCS175 takes a practical approach concerning high-tech gadgets and complex features, with Captain Kafka highlighting the yacht’s focus on endurance and simplicity. “It’s designed for reliability, and we do not have many bells and whistles aboard. The key features are the endurance, the aircraft hangar, and the large capacity 18-ton deck crane,” he says.
The Toys
As any good support yacht should, BCS175 carries an impressive selection of tenders and toys to support its operation, including –
GT7 Technohull RIB
Highfield 420 RIB
2 x Wave runners
U-Boat Worx Nemo Submarine
A custom-built 50-foot Croswait game boat
On top of this, the boat also features KTM electric dirt bikes for off-road exploration and a Bell 505 helicopter, so the team can access remote fishing spots and transport crew.
Early Challenges
Captain Kafka joined the program late in the build, with BCS175 delivered in March 2024. While many yachts stay close to the build yard for warranty work, BCS175 set straight off on a voyage navigating over 8,500 miles in just three months, for its first fishing mission.
“We are very mission-focused. Anthony and the fishing team are out in the game boat on the water from sunrise to sunset every day without fail,” says Alex.
“We are consistently going to places that yachts do not go, and this is always a challenge. Getting the permissions in place and explaining to the authorities what we will be doing there means there is a lot of planning and logistics involved to make it happen. We have to make sure that we’re provisioned fully because popping down to the shops is not an option. We have a huge spares inventory aboard and carry all engine and general consumables to cover us for 6 months ahead.” He continues.
The skipper wasn’t new to the helm of a Damen vessel, as he previously got to experience a stint captaining BCS150 across the Atlantic and down the west coast of Africa down to Ascension Island, for a month-long fishing trip. “How efficiently these vessels run, and how they handle head seas without the need to pull back on the throttles is impressive. Having the opportunity to visit places that superyachts do not go is a huge highlight to me and I enjoy all the challenges and problem-solving associated with making it all work.” Alex emphasizes.
The Complete Fleet
The addition of BCS175 to the fleet has allowed Bad Company to seamlessly fish all oceans around the world without the need for downtime, thanks to the increased volume, deck carrying capacity, endurance and speed. With the added ability to stow a helicopter on board, along with the boats, offroad vehicles and submarines, they have it all covered from sky to surface, to sea and below.
BCS175 is more than just a support yacht; it’s a game-changer in the world of sport fishing and long-range exploration, setting a new standard for support vessels.
