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Bill Gates Yacht: Everything You Want To Know

In 2020 the yachting world was abuzz with news that Bill Gates had bought as stunning and advanced yacht known as Project Aqua. The massive, 370-foot concept yacht was revealed in 2019 at the Monaco Yacht Show and news soon followed that billionaire Bill Gates, once the richest man in the world and the founder of Microsoft, had commissioned the construction of his own hydrogen-powered Aqua. But that never actually happened and, in fact, as near as anyone can tell for real, Bill Gates doesn’t own a yacht at all. 

So where did the story come from? What’s the deal with the Aqua? And hasn’t Bill Gates been pictured on a yacht before? Let’s get some answers.

How Much Did the Aqua Yacht Cost at the Monaco Yacht Show?

According to the stories online, Bill Gates paid $600 million for the hydrogen powered yacht. But that’s not true at all. According to the yacht makers, the Dutch company Sinot, the price tag is $645 million but no one bought it after it was revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show, and that includes Bill Gates. It’s expensive but definitely not the most expensive in the world.

How Fast is the Aqua Yacht?

Aqua is a unique yacht in the yachting world which is why it garnered so much attention in the first place. It’s the first mega yacht that runs on a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features two hydrogen engines that can produce 1,341 horsepower. The top speed is 17 knots and  the Aqua has a cruising speed of 12 knots. The total range is 3,750 nautical miles. The liquid hydrogen is stored in two 28-ton vacuum sealed tanks where it can be held at -253 degrees C. The only exhaust is water.

What Does the Interior of  the Aqua Yacht Look Like?

The Aqua has 7 suites meant to house up to 14 guests at any given time. Two of those suites are larger VIP cabins. The ceilings throughout are 9 feet and stretch as high as 12.5 feet elsewhere thanks to the luxury Sinot yacht architecture. The vessel has room for a crew of 31 as well. The beach deck lounge aboard the boat alone looks like a luxury hotel space.

The Aqua features a bow observation room which is surrounded by windows to give a panoramic view of the ocean which has been described as the “ultimate superyacht owners lounge.” In addition, there’s a movie theater on the upper deck. It also includes a wellness center with a hydro massage room. You can also do some yoga in a workout space. There’s a fully equipped gym, a beauty salon, and even a hairdresser.

Up on the main deck there’s a luxury swimming pool that even includes a waterfall. One of the yacht’s defining features is the spiral staircase that covers all five decks and is covered by a skylight. On the way up it also offers a view of the interior of the hydrogen fuel tanks so you can see just what 56 tons of ultra cold liquid hydrogen looks like as you move between decks. 

The tender garage has an array of toys such as jet skis while the main deck features a beach club with a dining area designed for all 14 guests and a lounge that converts into the cinema space.

What Yacht Has Bill Gates Actually Been On?

Bill Gates does seem to like yachts, just not enough to spend his money owning one, and that’s fair. Yachts cost millions to maintain every year. No one got rich spending millions to maintain a boat.

That said, Bill Gates has not only vacationed on yachts – he spent his 66th birthday on one – he also got married on a yacht.

In 2021, Gates made the news when he celebrated his 66th on board a luxury yacht called the Lana alongside Jeff Bezos. He spent $2 million to charter the yacht for a week and flew 50 guests out to celebrate with him. 

The Lana is a 351 foot yacht with room for 12 guests and a cruising speed of 12 knots with a max speed of 18 knots. The master suite is 1,184 square feet. The room features his and hers walk-in dressing rooms and a private terrace.

Elsewhere on board you’ll find a piano in the lounge area as well as a full gym for working out. There’s both a sauna and a well-appointed spa as well. On deck you can head to the beach club or take a dip in the pool. 

There are three tenders in the garage alongside a bunch of toys including various jetskis, a seabob, wakeboards, WindSurfers, fishing equipment, scuba diving equipment and more. 

Back in 2014, Gates rented an even more expensive yacht, the $5 million per week Serene, to go on a vacation with his family. The Serene, once owned by  Russian vodka magnate Yuri Shelfer before being purchased by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, clocked in at a massive 450 feet making it one of the world’s biggest and even had its own on board submarine

The Serene features 7 decks, a saltwater pool, a climbing wall, a surprisingly large library, health spa, outdoor cinema and a nightclub. This is all spread across 48,000 square feet.

It’s also been confirmed that Gates met his wife Melinda on a yacht owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, all the way back in 1994. 

Why Do People Think Bill Gates Owns the Aqua?

It’s easy to see why people may have thought Gates owned the Aqua when you consider a handful of factors. First, as mentioned, we have lots of evidence that Bill Gates really does enjoy luxury yachts. The extremely high price tag was something that only a few people in the world are going to be able to afford and Gates, who doesn’t own a yacht, seems like a likely candidate for those reasons. 

In addition, Gates has spent several years now as a climate activist and has supported a number of green technologies. A yacht that runs on hydrogen seems like something he would support as well. So, with no real evidence, the circumstantial evidence was enough to easily convince people. Once it’s presented as fact on the internet, and it was in many articles and videos, few people had reason to question it. 

The Bottom Line

The mega yacht known as the Aqua has a price tag of $645 million and it runs on clan burning hydrogen fuel. The only byproduct of its operation is water, making it a very environmentally friendly yacht. It made waves, so to speak, when it debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019. Rumors soon began to spread that billionaire and known climate activist Bill Gates had ordered one for $600 million. However, despite many videos and articles that refer to him as the owner, the truth is no one bought the Aqua at the yacht show and, as of 2023, Bill Gates does not own a yacht at all. He is know to charter extremely luxurious yachts for vacations and parties, such as the Lana and the Serene, but he does not own any just now.

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Legend Status: Paul Allen’s Octopus Superyacht is for Sale for $325M

Paul Allen was a business magnate and philanthropist best known as the cofounder of Microsoft alongside his childhood friend, Bill Gates. When he died in 2018 he was ranked by Forbes as the 44th wealthiest person in the world. After his death many of his iconic and extravagant belongings went up for sale, such as the world’s largest aircraft built by his aerospace company Stratolaunch to put satellites into orbit, his two-seat UB model Mig-29 jet fighter, and his beloved Octopus , a superyacht of enormous proportion.

Octopus in Numbers

Built in 2003 by the German-based shipyard Lurssen, with its 414 feet, Octopus was the largest yacht in the world. In 2021, it doesn’t make it in the top ten, but it’s still considered one of the heaviest with its almost 10,000 tons. Octopus can hold 26 guests accommodating them in 13 cabins (suites) and 63 crew members in 30 cabins. Eight diesel generators power two electric motors providing six megawatts allowing Octopus to cruise 12,500 miles at 12.5 knots on a single tank of gas.

More Than A Yacht

Fraser and Burgess, the two top yacht broker companies in charge of the sale, listed it for $325,000,000 which seems a pretty high price considering it was built in 2003, but Octopus is one of a kind. Its timeless exterior makes it more appealing than many of the new exotic yachts, and it’s a pleasure yacht and an expedition boat as well.

Burgess confirms that Octopus handled many rescue missions and research trips, for example in Antarctica and the Arctic, thanks to the Ice-class 1A, and in the Philippines where a WWII battleship’s wreck was discovered.

Where Octopus shines like no other is in the interior design and additional toys.

Interior Design

Seattle-based designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett of JQB Design realized Allen’s dream to put together “all my passions in one moveable feast.” The yacht is equipped with a large pool that can be turned into a dance floor due to a retractable glass system. Many celebrities and musicians like Mike Jagger, Bono, and Johnny Cash have recorded their music in the yacht studio. While a gym, a movie theater, a bar, a library, a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge, and a dive center with a hyperbaric chamber are available to guests, an entire deck is reserved to the owner featuring a lounge with a full bar, dining area, jacuzzi, and a private elevator.

Additional Toys

On the rear of the boat there is a large floodable well-deck with a yellow submarine called Pagoo, which can hold ten people for an eight-hour adventure diving as deep as 1,000 feet. Additionally, the superyacht houses a remotely operated vehicle that can dive thousands of feet deep, the ship’s primary boat also known as Man Of War, a landing pad, a huge helicopter hanger with two helicopters, and a basketball court.

In his 2011 biography Allen referred to Octopus as “less a Bentley than a Range Rover,” adding that it “has realized every mission I had in mind for her.” The next Octopus owner will not only buy the superyacht but also the iconic allure and history that comes with “her.”

View the renowned world-class cruiser in this video .

A billionaire got Paul Allen’s 414-foot-long Octopus megayacht to the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix and paid $138,000 just to moor it near the tracks and enjoy the race from the $285 million vessel

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You can now live life like Paul Allen on Microsoft cofounder's luxury yacht for '£1m a week'

Anyone want to start a kickstarter page for a reg reader getaway.

The Microsoft founder who isn't Bill Gates, Paul Allen, died in 2018 of complications from cancer. Since then, his greatest excesses – like a MiG-29 fighter jet – have been up for grabs.

The latest statement of multibillionaire indulgence to be sold is Allen's "explorer class" superyacht – Octopus – which has gone to an anonymous Scandinavian buyer for a cool £200m, The Guardian reports .

Paul Allen's yacht, Octopus , moored at Malaga, Spain (MikhailBerkut / Shutterstock.com)

The 126-metre Octopus was the largest yacht in the world when it was built for Allen in 2003 with the additional capability of deep sea exploration. He used it to survey the wrecks of the USS Lexington off the Australian coast and HMS Hood in the Straits of Denmark, the latter sunk by the German battleship Bismarck during the Second World War.

The floating mansion has eight decks, 13 guest suites, a private owner's deck, cinema, gym, spa, basketball court, pool that turns into a dancefloor, and don't forget the pizza oven!

But the mod cons do not end there. Oh no. There are also two helicopters, two submarines, seven dinghies, and an SUV, all concealed courtesy of designer Espen Øino. Throw in "54 tonnes of AV/IT equipment," according to Øino, and that's a lot to handle – so there are also quarters for 63 crew.

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Why do we mention this? Well, the Octopus is to be made available for charter through Mayfair-based yacht broker Camper & Nicholsons. Though a rental price has not yet been set, The Graun reckons the ship could be yours for around £1m a week, going by the example of cosmetics empress Kylie Jenner, who chartered the 91.5-metre yacht Tranquility in 2019 for €1.1m to celebrate her 22nd birthday.

We're thinking that maybe this represents a golden opportunity – someone ought to crowdfund a weeklong holiday for loyal Register readers.

If we're estimating a lower-limit capacity of 77 people (surely many won't protest against sleeping in the crew quarters), add some people doubling up (those guest suites can probably house multiple families), let's conservatively say... heck, 170 people?

Nearly £6,000 per person. But those getting guest/private suites could perhaps foot much more of the bill.

Hey, it'd beat taking the family to Disney World again, right? Drinking and partying among like-minded individuals for a week until it all breaks down into the inevitable flame war over which Linux distro is the best, open source vs closed source, fandroids vs fanbois, electric cars vs conventional cars, or whatever it is you nerds get inordinately heated about.

Naturally, we won't be starting a crowdfunding project ourselves – we've seen first hand what can happen when things go wrong . We can't also rightly say at which point the Octopus would capsize under the strain.

So go forth, with caution, and work it out among yourselves. It is, we hasten to add, just an idea. ®

The Guardian's report quoted Allen saying about his maritime archaeology in 2011: "It turns out if you go 1,000 ft down in the ocean, it's really dark, and the animals are really strange. But if you put on some Pink Floyd, it's fantastic." Which means that while Allen was behind one of the most brutally successful software companies of all time, at least he was also a man of culture.

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Octopus- Paul Allen’s Luxurious Super Mega Yacht

Built by one of the international shipbuilding giants Lurssen, the Octopus is one o f the most expensive super yachts in the world. The ownership of the vessel rests with Paul Allen, one of the founding fathers of Microsoft alongside Bill Gates.

Mega yacht Octopus was put into operation in the year 2003 and boasts of being ranked as the world’s eighth biggest yacht. The vessel is customised according to the specifications of its owner and comes with features completely dissimilar to any of its other peers contemporarily.

This aspect makes the vessel, the best private vessel to be owned by an individual.

Luxury Yacht Specifications

• The yacht measures 414 feet lengthwise with a beam of almost 69 feet
• The vessel has a draught of 18.5 feet and offers a maximum speed of 20 knots with an ambit of 8000 miles nautically
• 26 patrons can be opulently accommodated within the yacht
• A crew of almost 60 members ensure that all the needs and requirements of the voyagers are more than adequately met
• Superyacht Octopus is registered with the George Town port of registry

An Espen Oeino architectural marvel, the designing of the vessel’s inner domain has been carried out by Jonathan Quinn Barnett. The core materials used to construct the vessel are steel and aluminium which add to the lustre of the vessel in terms of its utility.

The yacht functions on eight diesel engines. Each engine generates a power of about 2,400 horse power, which comes to 19,200 horse power in totality. Recreational equipments aboard the luxury yacht include Jet Skis and submarines .

The latter is used for observation and analyses of the underwater intrigue of the sea. Superyacht Octopus underwent a major re-equipping in the year 2008, following which its allure has further accentuated.

There are vessels that take the word ‘luxury’ to an altogether different level. Octopus is one such vessel: a crown jewel amongst the possessions of Paul Allen while enriching the lives of other individuals as well.

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Bill Gates and Paul Allen Cruise in Super Yacht

February 7, 2007

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Bill Gates and Paul Allen cruise Antarctica in super yacht

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and the world's richest man is currently on an Antarctica cruise in one of the largest and most luxurious private super-yachts belonging to his associate Paul Allen.

The 250 million US dollars "Octopus" with Gates and 17 relatives and friends called in Ushuaia over the weekend to wait for Allen who arrived in a private Boeing 757 and was flown on board in one of the two super yacht's helicopters. For security reasons the "Octopus" had to wait for the helicopters in Ushuaia bay. The Gates and Allen group are scheduled to cruise the Antarctic peninsula during ten days before returning to Ushuaia, revealed Sunday Gustavo de Robles, head of Ushuaia port authority. The 126 meters long "Octopus" launched in 2003 has a crew of 60 including a team of security experts, former members of the US Navy Seals Special Forces. She was designed by Espen ÃËÅ"ino Naval Architects and built by the German shipbuilder Lürssen in Bremen and HDW in Kiel. Her hull is made of steel. Besides the two helicopters she has seven boats, a 10 man submarine and a remote controlled vehicle for crawling on the Ocean floor. The submarine has the capacity to sleep eight for up to two weeks underwater. The annual maintenance cost of the vessel is estimated in 20 million US dollars. "Octopus" is believed to be the fourth largest yacht in the world only behind the Platinum/Golden Star/Dubai, 160 meters long belonging to the Sheik of Dubai; Al Salamah, 139 meters from the Saudi royal family and Rising Sun from US computer tycoon Larry Ellsion, head of Oracle. Russian millionaire Roman Abromavich also belongs to this exclusive club with M/Y Pelorus and M/Y Le Grand Bleu. Paul Allen who is rated the third richest US citizen and seventh at world level according to Forbes has two other super yachts, the "Tatoosh" and "Meduse". Before Ushuaia the "Octopus" called in Punta Arenas for some minor maintenance work at the local Asmar ship yard plus repairs to a deck crane.

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Partner Of Yacht OCTOPUS Owner To Become World’s First Trillionaire

Reports have been coming out in the mainstream news today that Bill Gates, the often wrongly assumed owner of 126m Lurssen yacht OCTOPUS, is set to become the world’s first trillionaire within the next 25 years (the yacht is owned by his partner Paul Allen). This mind-blowing news comes from a report recently released by Oxfam, which cites ‘exponential growth of his existing wealth’.

Becoming A Trillionaire: The Logistics

Gates, the 61-year-old Microsoft co-owner, will be 86 by the time he surpasses the Trillion-net worth mark. Oxfam noted that there were 793 billionaires in the world in 2009. Total net worth of these crazy-rich individuals added up to an eye-watering $2.4 trillion. In 2016, the richest 793 individuals achieved a collective net worth of $5 trillion – that’s an annual growth of 11%.

The report states:

“If these returns continue, it is quite possible that we could see the world’s first trillionaire within 25 years”.

To Summarise

To sum up, the report concludes that if the current trend continues, Bill Gates – who is top of Forbes’ billionaires ranking – may become the only occupant of the world’s trillionaire list. Madness.

For the record, Bill and Melinda Gates are some of the world’s most charitable individuals. A massive portion of their wealth is put back into philanthropy, meaning it’s unlikely that it will be Mr G who commissions that first highly-anticipated 200m+ yacht. Best leave that to the billionaires, eh.

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Iceland Mag

The superyacht of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is in Reykjavík harbour

By Staff | Jul 23 2015

The Octopus Paul Allen's superyacht is ranked the ninth largest privately owned yacht in the world. No word whether Paul Allen is on-board or not. Photo/Anton Brink.

Travellers in Reykjavík might have noticed a giant yacht parked in the sound outside the old harbour. The superyacht, named The Octopus, is one of the largest privately owned yachts in the world and belongs to Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen. It is not known whether Allen is visiting Iceland along with his yacht. Allen, and his yacht, have previously visited Iceland on several occasions.

The first visit by the Octopus to Iceland was in 2010. Allen and his girlfriend flew to Iceland in a private jet and stayed on-board the yacht to celebrate her 30th birthday. The ship will remain in Iceland until mid-August.

Two helicopters, two submersibles The Octopus ranks as the ninth largest privately owned super-yacht. It is 126 meters (414 feet) long, making it 50-60 meters (164-197 feet) longer than the largest trawlers in the Icelandic fleet. It is equipped with a helipad and two helicopters as well as two submersibles. Allen has used the yacht as a base to pursue his passions, which are the study of marine archaeology and shipwrecks, but especially underwater volcanism and geothermal activity on the seabed.

“The yacht is a dream come true for scientists. It is the best equipped ocean research vessel in the world,“ argues Icelandic volcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson who has worked closely with Allen in the past. Haraldur has travelled with Paul Allen around the world to study volcanoes, both above ground and those on the seabed. Recently he accompanied Allen to Papua New Guinea and the Salomon Islands to study underwater geothermal vents.

In an interview with the local news service Visir.is Haraldur refuses to say whether or not Allen is on-board the yacht. He also stresses that none of the studies which will be undertaken from aboard the yacht require permits, since the submersibles will not touch or disturb the seabed.

Marine archaeology and the Battle of the Atlantic Haraldur tells Visir.is that the Octopus has not only studied geothermal activity or underwater volcanoes:

“The Octopus has also studied the Battleship Hood, which was the largest battleship of the British Navy in the Second World War. It sank between Iceland and Greenland in the second half of the war, after being attacked by the German Battleship Bismarck. The wreck of Hood has now been found, and the Octopus has participated in studies of the wreck which lies at a depth of 3 km (1.9 miles).“ 

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Is this 376-foot-long, hydrogen-powered concept the ultimate sustainable superyacht.

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The 367-foot-long hydrogen-powered sustainable superyacht from Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design.

With multiple media outlets reporting that Microsoft Co-Founder  Bill Gates pledged well over $600 million to build a 376-foot-long, hydrogen-powered superyacht concept designed by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design and Lateral Naval Architects superyacht design and construction may never be quite the same again. (Even if Bill Gates is not connected to the project at all, as representatives of Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design have reported this morning.)

It's easy to see a guy like Bill Gates owning a yacht like this 376-foot-long hydrogen powered ... [+] design from Sinot Yacht Design and Architecture

Of course, Sinot’s 376-foot-long liquid hydrogen-powered superyacht concept  AQUA  received  lots of attention when it was unveiled at the most recent Monaco Yacht Show . But the requirements (boundless imagination and serious computing power) for designing a “ skies-the-limit-concept-superyacht ” are actually quite small compared to finding a pioneering mega-billionaire who has the vision, passion, experience, courage and oh yeah, over a hundred BILLION dollars to build a hydrogen-powered superyacht that has never been built before. 

This is the innovative 367-foot-long hydrogen-powered superyacht of the future.

However, it looks like designer Sander Sinot may have caught lightning in a bottle. "With every project, I challenge my team and myself to surpass ourselves,” he explains. “For development of AQUA we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology to combine this in a 376-foot) superyacht with a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features groundbreaking in technology, as well as design and esthetics.”

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Evereything about the 376-foot-long sustainable yacht is out of this world.

That sounds like Bill Gates, right? 

According to advanced reports, AQUA’s power is fueled by liquefied hydrogen, stored at extremely low temperatures, in vacuum isolated tanks. The liquefied hydrogen is converted into electrical energy by Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, with water being the only by-product. 

Here's a rendering of the owners BATHROOM aboard the 376-foot long sustainalbe superyacht from Sinot ... [+] Yacht Architecture and Design.

The generated electrical energy is transmitted to AQUA’s switchboards, where it’s distributed to provide power for propulsion, auxiliary systems and hotel services. Large batteries buffer the generated electricity to ensure power demands are always met. And thanks to the electric propulsion, AQUA is designed to be extremely quiet underway.

“Imagine AQUA at open sea, moving water with water,” says Sander Sinot “At 17 knots with a range of 3,750 nautical miles, AQUA could be solidly in the forefront of its superyacht peers."

It’s pretty easy to imagine Bill Gates being pretty excited by something like that, right? 

And as you can see in these detailed renderings, the design innovations don’t stop in the engine room. The owner’s pavilion that occupies the front half of the upper deck, is arranged in an open-plan area of interlinked spaces, divided by finely crafted wooden screens providing intimacy and subdued lighting.

The ultimate superyacht owners lounge for the ultimate superyacht owner.

Floor-to-ceiling windows supply amazing views and ample natural light. The owners bedroom section is located at the yacht’s axis and offers an endless sightline all the way up to the AQUA room at the bow. The owner’s pavilion is completed with a large bathroom, dressing room and an intimate private spa section. 

The AQUA room, located at the bow, at the far end of the owner’s pavilion, offers a top-of-the-world feeling and endless views from the best position on board.

Located on AQUA’s beach deck, close to the waterline, the expansive VIP state rooms stand out by virtue of their spacious design and highly elaborate furniture. All the guest cabins are designed for openness, luxury and comfort, providing a maximum sense of freedom in a highly detailed minimalist Japanese beach-style setting.

The beach deck lounge aboard the 376-foot-long sustainable suoeryacht from Sinot Yacht Architecture ... [+] & Design.

The indoor health & wellness center is designed with a hydro massage room, a yoga space and workout floor and a massive, gym-wide door in the hull which opens to reveal the ocean’s surface at water level.

Situated at AQUA’s core, the circular staircase is one of the yacht’s defining features, winding down from the top deck to the lower deck where two large liquefied hydrogen tanks reveal their industrial-strength structure behind a giant façade of strengthened glass.

The spiral staircase aboard hydrogen-powered Aqua designed by Sinot Yacht Design & Architecture

Meanwhile, the distinctive exterior look of the yacht was inspired by ocean swells. The hull is a sculpted, curved and intersected by the glass windows.

AQUA is configured with a five-deck set up while being able to provide those on board with the closest possible proximity to the water. The aft deck features a series of platforms all leading down towards the sea, while a large swim platform allows all AQUA passengers to enjoy the ocean.

Could this ultra-green hydrogen-powered superyacht represent the future of ultra-stylish superyachts?

Ahhhh. Bill Gates may be building the ultimate superyacht.

And can you think of a more appropriate guy to push innovative superyacht design and construction into the stratosphere than Bill Gates?

Stay tuned for much more. 

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Billionaire Bill Gates buys hydrogen-fuelled superyacht for $500 million

By Rebecca Cope

Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates is currently celebrating the engagement of his daughter, Jennifer, to Egyptian showjumper Nayel Nassar, but he's also got another reason to be happy - a brand new superyacht.

The 112-metre luxury vessel is the world's first hydrogen-powered super yacht, and will feature all the usual billionaire mod-cons, including an infinity pool, helipad, spa and gym. There are five decks, with accommodation for 14 guests and 31 crew members - more than two per person.

By Harriet Johnston

By Isaac Bickerstaff

As well as being powered by liquid hydrogen, another eco-feature are the fire pits, which are actually gel-fuelled fire bowls, designed to keep guests warm outdoors without burning wood or coal.

Costing in the region of $500 million, the Aqua ship was first publicised at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019 by Dutch design firm Sinot. Speaking then, the company's eponymous designer said, 'For the development of Aqua we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology, to combine this in a superyacht with truly innovative features.'

He went on to explain how the hydrogen fuel works, saying: 'AQUA is fuelled by hydrogen, a unique concept which represents a significant progression towards achieving a new balance between nature and technology. The system is based on the use of liquified hydrogen, stored at -253°C in two 28-ton vacuum isolated tanks. The liquified hydrogen is converted into electrical energy by proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, with water being the only by-product.'

The Daily Telegraph reports that the ship will be in service from 2024, and will reach speeds of 17 knots. It will be able to travel for 3,750 miles before refuelling but will also have a diesel back-up due to the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations available.

This will be the world's second richest man's first yacht. He has previously rented them for holidays, most recently including the $330m yacht Serene, which he borrowed from Stolichnaya vodka magnate, Yuri Scheffler, to sail around the coast of Sardinia.

By Isaac Zamet