Introducing the Hybrid Superyacht/Submarine from U-Boat Worx
Meet the Nautilus, U-Boat Worx’s design for a hybrid superyacht submarine. This state-of-the-art vessel is the best of both worlds, combining the luxury and amenities of a superyacht with the exploration capabilities of a submarine. If you have plenty of disposable income, this is a ship worth considering!
First, a little information about U-Boat Worx, a company based in the Netherlands: started in 2005 by Bert Houtman; the company has grown to become the largest private builder of submersibles worldwide. On average, they produce ten submarines yearly and expect to increase this by at least double in the next few years. Their line-up consists of 20 different models, including the famous Nemo 2-person submarine seen here:
U-Boat Worx took their lead from Jules Verne's classic book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as the name Nautilus implies. Inspiration from this:
gave birth to this:
The U-Boat Worx Nautilus is 1230 feet long (375 meters) and can accommodate up to 10 guests and seven crew. To give you some scale on how large this vessel is, picture it next to this building, only 20 feet shorter.
When functioning as a yacht, the Nautilus will offer a massive sundeck equipped with a freshwater pool, a bar, and an elegant dining table. This al fresco arrangement will be retracted before the submersible slips below sea level.
The Nautilus is no small endeavor, ever apparent with the vehicle’s heft of 1250 tons. This behemoth is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system and will have a cruising range of 3,682 miles (3200 nautical miles). Expect it to reach up to 9 knots (10mph) on the surface and 4 knots (4.6 mph) underwater. It’s not fast, but the real selling point of this vessel is its ability to take its passengers on underwater adventures 656 feet below.
The submarine portion of the Nautilus is equipped with enough oxygen and air conditioning to support up to 36 hours of submerged operations. It has sonar, radar, and GPS for navigation and can even be outfitted with a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) for exploration. In other words, the Nautilus has you covered whether you’re looking to cruise in style or explore the ocean's depths.
When cruising along in yacht mode (above water), the vast sundeck has a bar, freshwater pool, and a large dining table.
When it’s time to wind the party down, the guests and crew can retire to the rooms below, which consist of the main suite, four staterooms, four bathrooms, and sleeping quarters for up to 6 crew (someone still has to pilot this ocean vessel). There is a big dinner and lounge area with four windows to enjoy underwater splendor.
Conclusion: If you’re in the market for a hybrid superyacht submarine, there’s only one option worth considering, assuming you can pay the $25,000,000 starting price: U-Boat Worx’s Nautilus design. This state-of-the-art vessel has all the luxury and amenities of a superyacht combined with the exploration capabilities of a submarine. Fully expect to be able to customize many of this ship's amenities as each of these is custom-built. Just don’t expect delivery for the next 30 months. So if you have money to burn, don’t hesitate to add this beauty to your fleet!
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