In the world of superyachts, anything seems possible. Whether it’s an onboard swimming pool with a waterfall or designs created by Pritzker Prize–winning architects , billion-dollar yachts spare no extravagance. And that includes features as nuanced as the side paneling. Pieter van Geest and Tracey-Jayne Canavaggio, co-principals of Van Geest Design in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Temeloy and Oceanco, have designed, and successfully tested, an advanced lighting concept that makes the exteriors of superyachts sparkle like the ocean’s surface on a calm day. Recently debuting at the Dubai International Boat Show, the Moonstone is a 295-foot-long superyacht that uses an innovative lighting design of triangular white side panels that wrap around the ship’s hull. Created in a collaboration with Netherlands-based Oceanco, a world-renowned builder of superyachts, the Moonstone is propelled by two engines, which move it at a maximum speed of 18.5 knots. What’s more, the yacht includes a gym, a spa, a cinema, a helipad, and enough space for 14 guests in seven suites, plus 29 crew members.

A rendering of Moonstone at night.

But it’s really the light show that makes the Moonstone so special. In total, close to 300 LED-powered lights cover both sides of the hull and can imitate the moonlit glow of the water’s surface in the evening, giving the yacht a shimmering effect. Alternatively, a swipe of the finger on a mobile application or the ship’s onboard entertainment system allows the Moonstone’s owner to stream video or video art on the side of the ship. “If you look at yachts and owners and how they deal with art, they always deal with it inside,” says Canavaggio. “For an owner of Moonstone, they can now share the mood on board for everyone to enjoy.” The light fixtures on the sides are designed to be self-sufficient. Solar panels up top provide Moonstone with enough energy for several hours of luminous effects at night. In the world of yachts, Van Geest Design has created something unique. So much so that guests might ask to be left behind on the dock to admire the yacht from afar.