WORLD'S FIRST HYDROGEN SUPERYACHT LINKED TO BILL GATES HITS HIGH SEAS
- This 'mothership' superyacht must store its hydrogen fuel at -423.4 Fahrenheit
- Gates is reportedly selling a 224-ft 'shadow vessel' that pairs with the superyacht
- READ MORE: Hydrogen-powered plane takes to the skies over UK for first time
The world's first hydrogen gas fuel-cell superyacht, long rumored to have been commissioned by billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates, is now officially for sale.
Dubbed Project 821, the 390-foot (119-meter) superyacht is designed to run on 'green' hydrogen — although to be stored as a liquid, the gas must be cryogenically stored at -423.4 degrees Fahrenheit in painstakingly designed, double-walled tanks.
Dutch shipbuilder Feadship said the launch of this approximately $646 million vessel on May 4th at their Amsterdam shipyard sees the yachting world 'forever changed.'
The ostensibly ecologically friendly superyacht has taken over five years to construct from design to completion, with custom additions for the final buyer yet to be made.
While a spate of news reports in 2020 leaked that Feadship and design firm Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design had been commissioned by the billionaire to construct this hydrogen-powered eco-yacht, details verifying the Gates deal remained elusive.
As one yacht industry trade publication knowingly put it at the time, 'While Sinot has denied Gates is building the concept, it is understood that Gates is in talks to build a new superyacht with an unknown yard.'
That trade publication, BOAT International, published a statement from Sinot denying any official agreement with Gates for the luxury boat project.
Responding to reports in the Guardian and the Sunday Telegraph, Sinot said, 'Various articles have appeared in international media stating that Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design sold its concept Aqua to Mr. Bill Gates.'
'These articles are factually incorrect.'
Feadship, however, only declined to comment entirely, telling MegaYacht News that it 'does not comment on its order book.'
And this month, news broke on financial news site Benzinga that Gates intended to sell his ownership of an unknown superyacht as well as his $25 million yacht, the Wayfinder: a 224-foot catamaran-style boat built by famed shipbuilder Astilleros Armon.
The Wayfinder, according to Benzinga, was 'designed as a shadow vessel, typically accompanying a larger mothership, which until recently, was not disclosed.'
The site, which covers stock market trades and other business news, indicated that this mothership was, in fact, Feadship's new hydrogen superyacht, Project 821.
Unlike traditional yachts that rely on diesel engines or other fossil fuel-based means of propulsion, hydrogen fuel-cell yachts use hydrogen as their primary fuel source.
Hydrogen gas (H2) reacts with oxygen (O2) gas in the fuel cell, producing nothing but pure electricity and pure water: H2O.
'The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,' Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship's director and CEO, said.
The company added that the size of the yacht made it a good candidate for exploring the feasibility of a pure green hydrogen-powered fuel-cell system.
The ship's liquid hydrogen fuel requires approximately 8-10 times more storage space than traditional diesel fuel for an equivalent amount of energy, Feadship said.
All that fuel tank space, alongside the 16 fuel-cell energy converters themselves, plus the needed switchboard connection for the DC electrical grid, and a set of water-vapor emission vent stacks, added 13 feet to the ship's original specs.
'For those captivated by cutting-edge innovations,' Feadship said in a statement, 'this yacht presents an opportunity for potential acquisition as it showcases the pinnacle of modern technological advancements.'
The company pitched the high-priced luxury vessel as an investment in the sustainably technology's future, like a glamorous R&D project.
'Investing in the required technology is necessary to make the transition away from fossil fuel,' Feadship said, 'and hydrogen is one of the most efficient and cleanest options.'
But, environmentally conscious amenities aside, Project 821 does also serve its elite market of wealthy seafarers with a variety of 'superyacht' prerequisites.
The ship has five decks above the waterline and two below sea level.
It has 14 balconies, seven fold-out platforms, a pool, a Jacuzzi, a steam room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a home gym, pantry, and two offices each with a fireplace.
The ship also comes with space for its owner to stock a full library.
According to Feadship, the boat's power and food stores allow for an 'entire week’s worth of silent operation at anchor or [briefly] navigating emission-free at 10 knots while leaving harbors or cruising in protected marine zones.'
'It creates, in essence, a secluded four-level townhouse-by-the sea,' the firm boasted in their press release, 'within the much larger yacht.'
British RWD Studio, rather than Sinot, was reportedly responsible for crafting Project 821 ship-exterior and interior décor, deploying marble, rattan, taupe eucalyptus and limed oak to create, in Feadship's words, 'a luxe coastal vibe.'
When pressed for comment this year, a Feadship spokesperson reiterated that it would not be disclosing who had originally commissioned the eco-superyacht, nor who would ultimately buy the ship.
'Feadship does not share any information about owners and prices,' the firm said, 'whether it is a 19-meter yacht from the 1960s or a 119-meter yacht from the 21st century.'
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