Concept of the world's first yacht-submarine for billionaires (11 photos)

Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Roman Abramovich already ply the world's waters on huge floating pleasure craft known as superyachts. But what if they want to take their luxury ship underwater to admire the ocean depths?





An Austrian design firm may have the answer. This is the world's first supersubmarine, which is called the future of yachting.

The 165-metre-long Migaloo M5 will be able to accommodate 20 passengers and 40 crew while underwater continuously for four weeks. The yacht is planned to have swimming pools, a wine cellar and a cinema. Its construction will cost $2 billion, so it is intended exclusively for the world elite.

The 165-meter-long Migaloo M5 will be able to accommodate 20 passengers and 40 crew while submerged for four weeks.



Underwater, people on board will be able to observe marine life through a viewing window in the pressurized hull (it's highlighted in this rendering)





The ambitious vessel, capable of diving to depths of up to 250 meters, was designed by design firm Migaloo, based in Graz, Austria, and named after the white humpback whale.

Swimming pools on the sides of the vessel can extend above the water while the submarine is on the surface



“Our target audience is forward-thinking billionaires, with or without superyacht ownership experience, who have exceptional demands for exclusivity, security, adventure and experience,” CEO Christian Gumpold told the Times. “Because this is a completely new development, such a project will require appropriate financing, take a long time to design, build and erect, and require many decisions to be made.”

There is even a helipad for receiving guests before the ship is lowered into the water.



According to Gumpold, the company is currently negotiating with interested parties to build the submarine, but he declined to name potential customers.

According to the company, “the underwater superyacht represents the pinnacle of personal expression. It is intended for those who are looking for unusual experiences."



Promotional images of what the submarine will look like (when it is built) show a slender white vessel, completely different from the Royal Navy's Vanguard-class submarines. But, like other submarines, it will be able to operate both on the surface and under water.

Pools on both sides of the vessel extend out of the water while the submarine is on the surface.

Before launching, these basins are inserted back into the ship's hull. There is even a helipad for receiving guests by helicopter before the ship begins its descent. The descent begins when the huge onboard tanks (called ballast tanks) are filled with water to reduce buoyancy.

The interior of the Migaloo M5 is luxurious - gold and white leather trim, comfortable sofas, lounge chairs, mood lighting and much more



This inner sanctum is exposed to fresh air until it is sealed and pressurized before the submarine dives.



As the sun sets, billionaires and their pals can soak up the fresh air and take a dip in the pool



For design companies like Migaloo, creating detailed renderings of their imaginary creations is commonplace as they seek to attract billionaires and bring them to life.

For example, almost a decade ago, Migaloo introduced the concept of floating private islands that could be moved anywhere in the world, but it has yet to materialize. Penthouses, swimming pools, waterfalls and helipads were planned on the miracle islands, andas well as vertical gardens with palm trees.

Other design companies also regularly publish concept images of fancy superyachts, all of which have exorbitant construction costs. Among them are an “invisible” glass superyacht and a swan-shaped megayacht with a removable “head”.