This Super Sub engineered to cruise at 10 knots underwater has supercar-inspired interiors

Imagine gliding effortlessly behind a bale of graceful sea turtles or speeding alongside a shiver of sleek sharks, while not being an observer alone but essentially a part of their world, all the while cocooned in utmost comfort. This mesmerizing scenario could be a reality for a select few when the U-Boat Worx Super Sub rolls out next year.

Described as a ticket to an underwater theatre unlike any other, the Super Sub is a submersible designed with a long tail and a wing design to flatter. But the see-through acrylic pressure hull on the front of the sub provides an unobstructed 360-degree view of the outside marine world to the occupants in the forward-facing seats.

Designer: U-Boat Worx

The U-Boat Worx Super Sub is a redefining way to explore the enigmatic depths of the ocean, not only because of the uninterrupted views it offers but also because of the power and speed it generates. This is courtesy of the subs propulsion system comprising powerful four thrusters delivering a staggering 60 kW of thrust allowing for thrilling 30-degree climbs and dives that will leave your heart racing.

The propulsion system combined with precision-engineered rudders, ensures the smoothest and most exhilarating underwater experience, all while maintaining an unhindered 360-degree view. This is accompanied by Sub’s mind-blowing speeds of 10 knots underwater.

This underwater speedster with a luxurious supercar-inspired interior designed to elevate your aquatic journey, according to U-Boat Worx, can take up to three people – two passengers and a pilot – on a journey to depths of up to 1,000 meters. The 9,000 kg Super Sub is powered by a specially designed 62 kWh lithium-ion battery, which ensures performance without compromising the environment.

The first Super Sub model is already sold and is expected to be delivered to the client by the end of 2023. U-Boat Worx is poised to roll out bigger stock in the fall of 2024. If you have deep pockets and the willingness to dive into the future of underwater exploration, get ready to embrace the Super Sub soon!

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This superyacht doubles as a submarine capable of staying underwater for four days straight

Dutch yacht builder U-Boat Worx has been surprising us repeatedly with their submersibles – this time it’s no different. The Breda-based company currently offers more than 20 submersibles including ones for personal use, and has many concepts in their kitty for a cyberpunk future.

Their latest concept ideation is a 123-foot-long luxury superyacht capable of morphing into a submarine for the freakin’ wealthy. Dubbed the Nautilus, the future-forward watercraft’s blueprint was revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show. The inspiration for the design comes from Jules Verne’s science fiction novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” which ignited the possibility of a luxury yacht 150 years ago.

Designer: U-Boat Worx

1250-ton Nautilus is powered by a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system that hurls it at a top speed of nine knots on the surface (in yacht mode) and four knots while in submerged mode. The maximum depth the vessel can dive without any problem is 656 feet, so one can expect to explore unprecedented underwater life like never seen before on a personal watercraft. According to U-Boat Worx chairman and founder Bert Houtman, Nautilus will change the complexion of “the yachting market” and it’ll “never be the same again.”

The luxury carrier comes with four staterooms for passengers, quarters for the six crew members, and the owner gets to stay in the flamboyant main suite. There’s a dining room, full galley, lounge area with panoramic windows under the water line, and a whole lot of modern amenities to make the stay rememberable. When above the water, the craft has a huge sundeck, freshwater pool, a bar and an alfresco dining table to bask in luxury for summer holidays. For underwater divers, there’s a pressure-resistant electric tender called the Aronnax. It can ferry up to five seafarers, and the all-electric tender boat is stored below the aft desk when the superyacht takes a dive underwater.

Nautilus can cruise underwater for six hours in one go, and stay put underwater for four straight days – just in case you have apprehensions of a future apocalypse on land. This makes for a perfect escape when the seas are too rough for the superyacht to float safely. We are super excited as U-Boat Worx promises deliveries for Nautilus within 30 months with a price tag of $24.5 million. Since, it doubles as two vessels in one, that exorbitant price tag is more than justified!

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This Manta Ray inspired submarine folds for easy transportation on land

The design of submarines has not seen a radical change all these years, but this one designed by UAE-based startup, Highland Systems is all set to change that. With a shape seeming inspired by the manta ray, this underwater machine boasts a futuristic hydrodynamic design. The spanning wings can fold for easier transportation on land which is a huge advantage as compared to contemporary submarines that the world knows of.

This is the Kronos Armored Submarine that can scout the depth of water for covert missions at a top speed of 50 km/h underwater and 80 km/h while on the surface. And don’t get fooled by its unrealistic-looking renders as this thing is destined for a real-life avatar. The warship is designed for rescue operations, secret military missions, or commercial use for ferrying around cargo or even people. In total, the beast can carry 6,600 pounds of load in the water. If the makers are to be believed, the thing can be equipped with six mini torpedoes for military covert missions. Now that’s crazy!

Designer: Highland Systems

The ultra-futuristic submarine measures 9 meters in length and has a dry weight of around 22,000 lbs. It gets a hybrid powertrain having a diesel generator and 1,200 horsepower, an electric motor powering the waterjet propulsion system. In the electric mode, Kronos can be operational for 36 hours to maintain vital electrical systems and most importantly air supply. The recharging time of the battery and air refueling is 1.5 hours which is good considering the size of it. The diesel engine can also kick in to add another 18 hours of autonomy if the electric battery tops out.

On the inside, the submarine gets air-conditioning and an adaptive lighting system. Overall, the inside space is spacious for passengers to not feel claustrophobic. For now, the thing is allegedly under construction with a picture of the main body under the shell in the works. There’s no more information other than this for now, but we are waiting to see the swift monster take shape and scout the waters in the coming years.

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U-Boat Worx Nexus lets nine people experience a private undersea party

Many people already imagine what it would be like to explore and even live on other planets, but some contend that we have barely scratched the surface in learning everything there is to learn about our own Earth. Underwater life, in particular, is almost just as alien to us as outer space while also teeming with unbelievable creatures and life-threatening dangers as well. Space tourism is slowly becoming a reality, especially with recent successful launches and voyages, but the barrier to entry there is still as high as the heavens. In contrast, diving deep into the seas is probably a bit more viable and possibly just as breathtaking, especially with a submarine that can take you and up to seven other people down to the depths in the safety of your own private bubble.

Designer: U-Boat Worx

OK, you probably won’t be sipping champagne in these tourist-centric submarines, even though that’s exactly the scenario that U-Boat Worx is trying to propose with its customizable submarines. The new Nexus submersible vehicle, in particular, can go down to a depth of 200 meters, which may already reach the seabed in some areas. Either way, it might not be a good idea to tempt fate with substances unless you want to be swimming with the fishes in an uncomfortable way.

Hopefully, you’ll be too busy enjoying the sights of underwater life anyway, which is the entire point of these submarines. Sitting inside what feels like a glass bowl (which would ironically put you in the fins of a goldfish), the U-Boat Worx Nexus lets you marvel at the wonders of the seas of the world with a nearly 360-degree view. You can turn your seat around to see what’s on the other side, though there will naturally be views that will be occluded by the machinery of the vehicle.

Unlike U-Boat’s more personal submarines, the Nexus is designed for group trips, accommodating up to nine people in total. That count is a bit confusing because it refers to the maximum seating occupancy inside. One seat is immediately reserved for the pilot, however, and there are two groups of six chairs for adults on either side. The eighth adult chair can be swapped out for two kid-sized seats, which is where that figures came from.

In addition to the increased capacity, the U-Boat Worx Nexus also offers improvements across the board, especially its ability to move laterally. It may sound trivial, but lateral movement can greatly improve the submersible’s maneuverability, dive efficiency, and object approach, which should translate to a better experience for passengers. And speaking of better experiences, the submarine also boasts of the largest diameter hatch of its kind, which should make it easier for untrained civilians to climb onboard. And if all else fails, there’s also an optional elevator available.

Whether submersibles are more economical ways to get to know our seas up close and personal is still up for debate. They may be cheaper than rocket launches, but it’s still a luxury that very few people can afford. It would also be nice if such vehicles could be used to make people more painfully aware of the damage that we have wrought upon our seas, but chances are, these underwater experiences are focused only on the good and beautiful sides of our waters, the parts that tourists will pay big bucks to see.

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We All Live in a Wooden Submarine

Because one can never have too much whimsy, Taiwanese carpenter and automata maker Chi-Chun Yin constructed the ‘Ark III’, a wooden submarine automata crewed by a bunch of different animals. With a turn of a crank (cleverly doubling as the sub’s propeller), the entire crew is brought to life. It’s absolutely bursting at the seams with whimsy!

Yin says it took about six months to complete the project from conception to completion, which is impressive considering the wooden birdhouse I started constructing six months ago is still in pieces, one of which is glued to my arm.

I’ve always wished I was better at carpentry and woodworking, but I’ve come to realize they require some amount of skill and patience, two things I have in very short supply. I did make a ship in a bottle once though. Okay, I bought a ship in a bottle once.


[via Laughing Squid]

This $5.5 million personal submarine’s transparent compartment seats 4 passengers for adventures under the sea!

There’s rich and then there is Richie Rich like being rich! If you have millions of dollars to spare, there are no limits to the oceanic vistas you can explore. However, how you traverse the world underwater is what makes or breaks the overall experience. Opening up the oceans for a new take on personal exploration, Triton 3300/6 is an acrylic-hulled submersible that employs exceptional seating arrangement to accommodate six passengers on an uninterrupted journey of the deep ends of the ocean. In a way, it is similar to the U-Boat Worx submersible which is also tailored for comfortable underwater escapades.

Conceived and supplied by Florida-based Triton Submarines – that projects its $5.5million submarine as “a salon under the sea”- the Triton 3300/6 has the world’s largest capacity transparent acrylic compartment, which offers the occupants the most spectacular panoramic underwater views of the enigmatic underwater life. Certified to reach a depth of 1,000 meters (3,280 ft), the sub is delivered in Tiffany blue exterior and has spacious and luxurious ‘club-class’ seating arrangement that can be effortlessly re-arranged from six to four-seat configuration or vice versa, when required. Triton 3300/6 extraordinary interior space measures five cubic meters in total and provides ample leg, head, and elbow room for all onboard passengers, equipment, and other essentials for extended deep water explorations.

Underwater vessels including submarines don’t generally appear in the personal collectibles, but the Triton 3300/6 presents itself as a noteworthy exception that has the potential to redefine and reshape the boundaries of submersibles. It offers large families and a group of friends to share the incredible experience of deep-sea diving together, piloting their own underwater exploration mission!

Designer: Triton Submarines

A personalized submarine that makes easy ocean exploration a reality for millionaires!

When it comes to underwater explorers, U-Boat Worx are the pros as they’ve been working in developing submersibles since 2005. After the success of the C-Researcher Series and Super Yacht Sub series, the Dutch company is going even stronger with the two-person NEMO Submersible which has claimed to be the lightest manned submarine on the planet. The design that’s capable of being towed behind a trailer or transported on a yacht is so intriguing that it has won the acclaimed Red Dot Concept Design Award 2020.

NEMO is lightweight too (for its category) at just 2,500 kg keeping in mind that it has to counter the pressure underwater to a maximum depth of 100 meters. Hydrodynamic form with 155 cm height of the submersible, along with the power to weight ratio, gives it an operational advantage – also making it highly practical for commercial applications. Having an operational time of up to eight hours makes it the perfect vessel for exploration or deep-sea missions to learn more about the underwater ecology. On the inside, it’s as comfortable as you would expect a deep dive vessel to be. The transparent hatch of NEMO gives access to the fully air-conditioned interiors that are embellished in modern-looking aesthetics. It comes with all the latest technology needed underwater including SONAR, manipulator arm, aircon, and wireless underwater communications.

The driving is done by the trained NEMO pilots who get a 12-day training before taking the submersible for a solo spin. And it comes with auto-heading and auto-depth features too. They can hand over the supervised control of the vessel to the fellow passenger who can drive it with the MANTA controller. If required the submersible can also be remotely actuated from a yacht or the shoreline with the Marlin controller. All this luxury and judicious use of technology comes at a steep price tag of USD 1.06 million, and once the market demand is met, NEMO will explore the depths of unknown waters with nature lovers aboard.

Designer: UBoat Worx

 

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The FedEx of the Future is Underwater

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As the climate shifts and sea levels rise, so does the need for transportation that’s been adapted for changing landscape and seascapes. Designed with this in mind, the Berliner Logistics submarine concept aims to assist in last-mile deliveries of cargo. After intercepting packages or shipping containers at sea, the automated system of submarines would then travel through rivers to destination cities everywhere. With specialized docking stations and loading ports, the entire system can work autonomously and in tandem with ships and other carrier services to streamline the delivery of goods.

Designer: Srijith Mohan

“The concept was for Opel Innovations team as a university project to visualize transport for 2055. Germany will have a new coastline in the north, as well as new and thicker existing rivers. The cities on the coast line will vanish under water requiring the residents to move out into other big cities, like Berlin. These Megacities, or so we would call them, will see new areas of development with such large populations to support, as well as open up opportunities and gaps requiring to be filled. For instance, the increase in water level can be used to assist the logistics within the city of Berlin through an automated system of submarines traversing their primary river Spree. This will be further empowered by their vast UBahn network, which could then be converted purely for logistics, thus requiring a minimum change of infrastructure. The only further areas of development would be the supplementing docking and loading stations, which must be built around it, to create a seamless transportation system,” Mohan explained.

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