There’s a problem in the superyacht market. As with supercars and giant mansions, it can be difficult to outdo the competition. Everyone’s building yachts with helipads and fourteen hot tubs these days, so it’s hard to stand out. However, one yachtery (definitely a word) might have found a unique edge all its own.
As covered by Designboom, big things are happening at Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design. The Dutch company has been working away on designs for its new halo model—the Inspire. It’s not the most inspired name by any means, but it makes up for it with one standout feature.
Head to the lower decks, and you can enter the Nemo observation room. You’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the underwater world around you.
Beneath The Waves
When it comes to the fundamentals, the Inspire is a well-equipped design. At 452 feet long, it’s a large ship, for certain—though a ways below some of the record-setting 600- and 700-foot craft currently under construction. It will host 22 guests and 52 crew across six decks. While it may not be the biggest out there, it’s got a sleek, futuristic design and some neat features you don’t see every day, even in the superyacht world.
As mentioned above, the underwater observation room is what really sets the Inspire apart. It’s a special cylindrical room with windows all around for the widest possible view. It’s accessed from the lower deck of the ship, and can be lowered beneath the keel when the ship is docked, anchored, or otherwise in a stabilized position. If you’ve ever wanted to see panoramas underwater, that’s precisely what the Inspire aims to offer.
The observation area comes complete with a round table and seating for seven. If you’ve dreamed of playing cards against a backdrop of exotic fish, or you’re dying to live out some James Bond fantasies, this is the ship you’re looking for. Incidentally, we’re also told it’s decked out with cameras and sensors “to track and record all the underwater events that are occurring,” and that it’s the ideal vantage point for observing any diving missions that may be happening in the vicinity of the ship.
If you’re traveling on the Inspire and the observation room is full, though, you needn’t fret. You can get a nice underwater view from the glass-bottomed pool, too. It gives you a great view of the sea beneath you, and it’s decorated with rock formations for an organic look. It’s 32 feet in diameter, so you’ll have plenty of room even if you invite some guests on board.
Of course, the Inspire is also kitted out with all the usual superyacht stuff. It’s a six-deck build, with the top deck dedicated to the owner’s quarters. Beneath that, the upper deck has the wheelhouse for command and a guest lounge. The main decks then host the guest cabins and an entire restaurant because that’s just how big this thing is. There’s also the beach deck for sunning yourself, and the wellness center with sauna, hammam (like a sauna but different), massage area, and gym. There’s also a 40-seat theatre, too—an “inspirational” one, according to Sinot.
There are enough cabins that you could probably invite all your friends and sort them into rooms based on how much you like them. The VIP suites are particularly swish, with hatches you can open to create a balcony space just above sea level. You can only use these in stable waters, of course, but it’s a particularly nice touch.
The Inspire’s design was revealed at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show, and is apparently ready to enter production. For now, it’s unclear how many orders have been taken or how many examples Sinot intends to produce. However, you can wager that someone is going to buy one of these things just for the novelty of it.
When it comes to superyachts, underwater features could be the new fad. While Sinot has a great idea in the Nemo observation pod, others are exploring similar concepts—even contemplating building all-out submarines for the billionaire set. All we can say is, if you’re an ultra-wealthy supervillain, or just someone that likes to impress, it’s a good time to be in the market for a giant boat. There sure are a lot to choose from.
Image credits: Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design
Asking for a friend. What’s the crush depth of that submarine?
Why on earth would you sit at a table there? Lose the table, swing the seats and voila.
I’m thinking you are going to need something like this…
https://www.theautopian.com/instead-of-just-drilling-a-hole-in-the-floor-these-guys-rigged-their-4×4-to-puke-water-out-the-side-window-which-is-quite-a-choice/
Why on earth did they put a conference table in what is obviously an underwater sex pod?