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This Nuclear-Powered Superyacht Is Longer Than the Titanic and Costs $700 Million

By Dan Avery

A nuclear-powered gigayacht longer than the Titanic, with 22 state-of-the art laboratories and a 13-story “science sphere,” might sound like the floating headquarters of a criminal mastermind. But Earth 300 is actually a revolutionary exploration vessel designed to investigate climate change and other challenges that face our planet. Designed by naval architect Iván Salas Jefferson, founder of Iddes Yachts, the 300-meter vessel has a radically aerodynamic look. It’s been envisioned as an “extreme technology platform,” incorporating robotics, AI, and quantum computing to attract the best and brightest minds from a wealth of fields. A Davos on water, if you will.

Such a bold vision doesn’t come cheap—right now the price tag for the ship, being constructed by Polish naval architecture firm NED, hovers between $500 and $700 million. Designed to resemble Earth, the orb’s “science city” will house top climate scientists, who will use the ship’s state-of-the-art tech to develop innovative solutions.

The vessel is designed to house top climate scientists.

“We wanted to create a design that would inspire,” Salas Jefferson said in a statement. “When one looks at the sphere, we want them to be inspired to protect Earth. When one walks into the sphere, now housing the science city, and feels the action of all the ongoing scientific works, we want them to be inspired to become an alchemist of global solutions.”

Measuring 150 feet at its widest—almost the length of a football field—the sleek ship includes an extraordinary observation deck on the bow, a foredeck helipad to transport passengers to and from the vessel, and a selection of advanced underwater expedition vehicles for deep-sea exploration.

“The ship will introduce features found on cruise, expedition, research, and luxury yachts, but she will be none of them,” said Aaron Olivera, Earth 300 ’s chief executive. “We wanted to build the Olympic torch of global science, to expand our knowledge and understanding of the universe, both above and below the ocean’s surface.”

The orb is the most striking design element of the yacht.

The project’s list of backers is impressive and includes IBM, Triton Submarines, EYOS Expeditions, and RINA, an international leader in maritime safety. TerraPower, the nuclear innovation company founded by Bill Gates, devised the technology for the onboard molten-salt reactor, which will provide zero-emissions energy.

Expected to launch in 2025, Earth 300 will have room for a complement of 160 scientists from a variety of disciplines, as well as 165 crew members and dozens of experts-in-residences and student researchers.

There will also be spots for 40 VIP guests, who will pay $3 million each for the privilege. That’s more than 10 times the cost of a seat on Virgin Galactic. With so many looking spaceward, why develop a cutting-edge seafaring vessel?

“The oceans are dying,” Salas Jefferson told Architectural Digest . “Having been born in Palma de Mallorca, I’ve seen it firsthand in the Mediterranean. Now is the time to reboot, reconnect, and redirect our planet’s destiny. Our oceans keep us—and our planet—alive, and Earth 300 ’s mission is to protect our oceans and ensure their health for generations to come.” Space may be the future, Salas Jefferson says, but “today, Earth is our only home.”

By Nicolas Milon

By Michelle Duncan

By David Sokol

Tickets for a nuclear-powered superyacht will cost $3 million for VIPs and be free to scientists and students selected to help study climate change

• The Earth 300 ship is designed to be emission-free and powered by nuclear energy.
• Aaron Olivera, the CEO of Earth 300, wants to bring the "brightest and smartest" scientists aboard.
• The ship is scheduled to set sail in 2025 with 160 scientists and 40 VIP guests.

You can hitch a 10-day ride on a nuclear-powered, emission-free yacht for the price of $3 million, or take the trip for free if you're a lucky student or scientist selected to be on board to help study the effects of climate change .

The yacht, called the Earth 300, will be a global icon for science, according to its website . The plan is for it to set sail in 2025 with 160 scientists on board from a variety of disciplines, 20 students, 165 staff, and 40 VIP guests who can each pay $3 million for their tickets. 

Aaron Olivera, the CEO of Earth 300, told Money FM he thought of the yacht and voyage in 2015, when he went scuba diving in the Maldives and saw dead coral that was killed by the overacidification in the ocean.

He then came up with the idea to bring the "brightest and smartest" scientists aboard a new-age ship to work together to come up with solutions to climate change .

The design of the ship, which will be powered by safe and sustainable atomic energy from a molten-salt reactor, has 22 "cutting-edge" laboratories that have artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, real-time data processing, and the latest quantum computer, according to the website.

"It's state-of-the-art science at sea," Olivera said on Money FM on April 9. 

Related stories

Read more: Carnival and Royal Caribbean salaries revealed: From $32,000 to $383,000, here's how much the cruise industry's power players pay some of their employees

The vessel has a sleek look. It's 300 meters long, which is about three and one-third football fields, by 46 meters wide, translating to about 1 1/2 basketball courts, by 60 meters tall at its highest point, or about the height of an 18-story building.

"It's a vessel that's got the overall size of a cruise ship, but it's not a cruise ship. It's got the overall look of a superyacht, but it's not a superyacht," Olivera said on the radio show. "It's got the technology to rival an aircraft carrier, but it's not an aircraft carrier. It's going to have the endurance and the exploration skills of an explorer vessel, but it's not an explorer vessel. It's all of those put together in one package."

Before founding Earth 300, Olivera was the president of Falcon Royal Yachts, where he helped create two luxury megayachts designed by Porsche, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he worked at Corporate Grand, creating elite dining and entertainment experiences for the ultrawealthy.

The CEO has "experiences in a myriad of industries, from training and development, to publishing, hospitality, retail and yachting," according to his bio on the Earth 300 website. 

When asked why he decided to create a ship to be the vessel for studying climate change, Olivera said, "The oceans are the beating heart of the planet. Without oceans , there cannot be any life."

But the proposal still has a ways to go.

Olivera has already funneled $5 million into the design, and European and South Korean shipyards are likely to carry out the construction, according to reporting from Entrepreneur . The news site said the total cost of the ship would be about $500 million to $700 million, with some funding coming from private investors.

"The idea was to design an object that would be able to capture everybody's imaginations on a global scale," Olivera said on Money FM, adding: "There's nothing like this."

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This $700-million nuclear superyacht costs $1 million to travel on and is meant to save the planet

A Singapore-based entrepreneur wants to take scientists, students and billionaires aboard an ambitious nuclear-powered megayacht for a research tour around the world’s oceans. Thinking ship: Gibraltarian businessman Aaron Olivera has set out to build the “Earth 300,” a 984-foot (300 meters) research vessel that will bring together the world’s wealthiest people and smartest scientists to help find solutions to the most pressing environmental problems, reported CNN .

The proposed superyacht, designed by Spanish naval architecture company Iddes Yachts , would be the largest of its kind and will have a capacity of 425 people including its 165 crew members, 160 scientists and their staff.

It would come equipped with 22 state-of-the-art laboratories housed in a giant sphere, where researchers aboard could explore the oceans, gather data and collaborate.

Joining the scientists would be 20 students and a pool of 20 resident experts from different fields including economists, engineers, explorers, artists, activists and politicians.

There are also 20 VIP suites reserved for the ship’s paying passengers: the wealthy tourists who are willing to shell over $1 million per person to fund the research.

The global research community is also encouraged to participate using an open-source platform supported by a quantum computer, which is theoretically capable of performing computations at blazing speed, Science Focus reported.

"This ship will be a floating computer which will allow people from all around the world to participate in the journey,” Olivera was quoted as saying. “That means that these wealthy individuals who are coming on board will have to share the experience with the world, not just among themselves.”

Not there yet: Olivera said the ship's preliminary design and naval engineering are complete and he is now in the process of searching for shipyards in Germany and South Korea to begin construction.

The planned ship, which has a projected cost of $700 million, promises to be 100% emission-free thanks to the Molten Salt Reactor that Olivera plans to retrofit into the ship.

However, the technology doesn't exist yet and is reportedly still under development by the U.K. firm Core Power in partnership with nuclear engineering company TerraPower, a company that Bill Gates started and chairs.

The quantum computer that Olivera wants to include in his ship remains under experimental studies by tech companies.

“At present, both quantum computing and a molten salt reactor have never been installed on a ship,” Olivera admitted . “Both will need an extreme level of engineering to get to that stage.”

Still, Olivera is confident that they’ll reach their target maiden voyage of 2025, noting that, “It's just a question of the chips falling into place in the next six months or so, once we have the funding package in place."

Featured Image via Earth 300

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MIGALOO Private Submersible Superyachts cooperates with SAFE , offering ultimate and uncompromising protection for the Owners peace of mind.

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With 50 years of success, SAFE has safeguarded high-profile clients, governments, residences, and headquarters globally. Its expert team delivers tailored security solutions, staying ahead with the latest technologies to set industry standards and surpass client expectations.

A submersible superyacht represents the pinnacle of personal expression. Offering unmatched privacy and security, it caters to those with a passion for exploration and seeking extraordinary experiences. MIGALOO stands as the future of yachting, redefining luxury and adventure for its owner and guests.

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The needs of Superyacht Owners for their vessels are more complex than ever. These wishes do not just include performance, length or design. Owners are looking for privacy , security and protection for themselves, their guests and their valuables, or for the fulfillment of unique experiences up to scientific desires as well as for the greatest possible exclusivity and limitation ."

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Why A Superyacht Designer Is Building An Amazing Nuclear-Powered Science Vessel

• GenerationAtomic
• April 28, 2021

Author: David Watson

“It had to be atomic” says designer of vessel so beautiful, it will make you weep.

I recently stumbled across something so beautiful, so ambitious, so CRAZY, that I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I’m talking about the  Earth 300  superyacht .

It’s hard to know how to describe the  Earth 300 , designed by Iddes Yachts, a naval architect company based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Is it a luxury yacht? A science vessel? A vanity project? It’s all of those, and more.

“The ship will introduce features found on cruise, expedition, research and luxury yachts…but she will be none of them.” — Aaron Olivera | Founder & CEO of Earth 300 Ventures

“The  Earth 300  is conceived as an extreme technology platform for science, exploration and innovation at sea,” says Iván Salas Jefferson, founder of Iddes Yachts. Jefferson claims the vessel will include “robotics, IOT, AI and quantum computing and [come] equipped with 22 state-of-the-art laboratories”. Much of the science capability will be housed within a beautiful glass dome towards the rear (aft) of the vessel.

Sounds impressive. But why put all that on a boat?

“Our goal is to ring the climate alarm on a global scale and inspire ethical and ecological imagination,” Jefferson says. The  Earth 300  team hope that by bringing together scientists, students, private citizens and world leaders on their super-advanced science yacht, they will raise awareness about pressing global environmental challenges: “We depend on Earth and it’s time to wake up.”

While the ‘science sphere’ will be dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, the forward part of the vessel includes private suites for high net worth individuals as well as world-renowned figures, which the  team terms  “very inspiring people” (their spin on ‘VIP’).

Earth 300 ’s designers hope their vessel will “capture the spirit of Silicon Valley, SpaceX, Davos and the Olympics”. This makes it sound like an ocean-going International Space Station (ISS) crossed with a superyacht. There’s definitely a risk the project appears less like a beacon for science and cooperation and more like a rich man’s climate change Noah’s Ark. They will have to tread carefully.https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FhPXpVbNgwmw%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhPXpVbNgwmw&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FhPXpVbNgwmw%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube

That said, the hardware behind  Earth 300  is pretty epic. The most revolutionary aspect of the design is the power train: instead of burning fossil fuels,  Earth 300  will be powered by an onboard nuclear reactor!

Earth 300  is working with  Core-Power  to explore how Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology might replace oil bunkers and gas turbines. An MSR would mean the vessel could carry out research with zero emissions and without the risk of water pollution from oil spills.

The World Economic Forum  found  that if shipping were a country, it would be the world’s sixth-biggest GHG emitter, so reducing emissions from marine vessels is vital if we’re to reach net zero. If shipping were a country, it would be the world’s sixth-biggest greenhouse gas emitterGlobal shipping by sea amounted to an average of 1 billion metric tons of CO2 per year between 2007 and 2012, according…www.weforum.org

The  Earth 300  team see the MSR as the central technology around which the rest of the vessel would be built: “The first engineering challenge was to focus in finding the correct propulsion and onboard power generation technology that could cope with the high demands of a vessel of this size and, our direction became clear, it had to be atomic,” says Jefferson. He sees the reactor as “highlighting the key role that the maritime industries can play in decarbonizing heavy industry and transport”.

“It had to be atomic.”

It wouldn’t be the world’s first nuclear-powered vessel; not by a long shot. There are already  hundreds of naval nuclear reactors  powering military ships and submarines, and even some commercial vessels like Arctic icebreakers. It would be the first MSR-powered ship though, and the first civilian nuclear vessel outside of Russia for many decades.

Some big names have lent support to the project. In early 2020, IBM and  Earth 300  signed an memorandum of understanding for the tech giant to provide data, AI and automation services.

The 160-year-old ship classification services provider, RINA, is also involved. “ Earth 300  is a game-changer,” says Paolo Moretti, CEO of RINA Services. “We will bring to it all the competencies we have from materials selection to design, new technologies for propulsion, always with the aim to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact. Together, we will bring this revolutionary project to life and grasp the opportunity to give ourselves and the planet a better chance

But will it ever be built?

The  Earth 300  is just so  out there , it will be a real challenge to make it happen. Iddes Yachts claim that the “preliminary vessel design of  Earth 300  is ready & approved, and the preliminary naval engineering is completed,” which suggests there has already been significant investment. That, coupled with the support of global players like IBM and RINA, shows this is not just a pipe dream.  Reports in the media  suggest a launch date for  Earth 300  as soon as 2025.

Getting off the drawing board and onto the water means overcoming many technological and regulatory hurdles. That, and a whole lot of money. I reached out to Iddes Yachts to ask them how they planned to fund the vessel’s construction: “Earth 300 is a privately funded venture that will count on the support of global banks too,” they replied. So no customer just yet.

Getting off the drawing board and onto the water means overcoming many technological and regulatory hurdles. That, and a whole lot of money.

But will  Earth 300  be a one-off, or just the first in a series of vessels? “At present we only have one vessel in development. Of course, as we progress we may add more and build a fleet,” was Iddes Yachts’ reply.

It’s not impossible to imagine a tech billionaire like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos being the first customer. There’s a chance this superyacht could be like the first Tesla cars: high-end supervehicles that build technological expertise and brand awareness for the more economic models that follow. It could be the first step to decarbonising shipping, one of the most polluting industries out there.

Here’s to hoping so!

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The U.S. once built a nuclear ship ... for passengers

Geoff Brumfiel

Regina G. Barber

Berly McCoy

Rebecca Ramirez

The bridge of the NS Savannah , equipped with weather and communication instruments, would send orders to the reactor control room. Meredith Rizzo for NPR hide caption

The bridge of the NS Savannah , equipped with weather and communication instruments, would send orders to the reactor control room.

In the Port of Baltimore, a ship is docked that hasn't transported passengers for more than 50 years. And although it stopped only after a few years, largely due to a lack of money, it was successful in part.

That's because the ship, the NS Savannah , was the first and only nuclear-powered passenger ship. And it was meant to show that nuclear power could be used for peaceful purposes. Science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel took a tour of the ship and talks to host Regina G. Barber about why it was built, how it worked and why it was the only one of its kind.

To see more pictures of Geoff's visit to the NS Savannah , including one from 1962 when the ship was operational, click this link .

Want to learn more about nuclear power? Email us at [email protected] .

Listen to Short Wave on Spotify , Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts .

This episode was produced by Berly McCoy with help from Geoff Brumfiel. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checked by Geoff. Patrick Murray provided audio engineering support.

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Scientists, students wanted to live aboard a crazy, nuclear-powered yacht

Earth 300 could be the best way to get your feet wet practicing cutting-edge science.

• Finalist for the Nesta Tipping Point prize and a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

An artist's rendering of Earth 300. 

Life aboard a research vessel often isn't the most luxurious experience, but a new initiative called Earth 300 aims to change that by building high-tech science facilities atop a 968-foot (295-meter), nuclear-powered mega-yacht.

It's basically a sustainable science cruise ship where certain super smarties might one day work and live for free.

Earth 300 founder and CEO Aaron Olivera says the project was inspired when he saw corals killed by ocean acidification while working on a project in the Maldives. He describes later looking out at the Mediterranean Sea and dreaming up the concept.

"I started thinking, how great would it be if we could inspire a global renaissance and bring together the smartest and the latest and greatest architects and artists and inventors and scientists of the day," Olivera said during an Earth 300 launch event shown in the video below.

Olivera was previously president of Royal Falcon Yachts, where he helped finance a mega-yacht project designed by Porsche. Now he hopes the yacht of his dreams could provide the perfect venue for his vision. The plan is to invite a diverse group of experts, researchers and regular citizens aboard to do work that advances the cause of global sustainability.

Earth 300 is designed to support more than 400 people living aboard, making it more like a cruise ship than a yacht. Olivera envisions over 160 scientists and students living and performing research on the ship for free.

Alongside scientists working in disciplines that include marine, earth, space, climate and atmospheric sciences, Olivera hopes to add "experts such as entrepreneurs, economists, engineers, artists, filmmakers and journalists" to the mix, creating a truly interdisciplinary floating research institution.

Scientific facilities aboard will include 22 labs equipped for everything from robotics to weather visualization to 3D printing.

Olivera worked with a designer to create a vessel that could be immediately recognizable in the hope it will become an international symbol of sustainability that helps draw more attention to the cause.

The design includes 20 VIP suites, half of which will be reserved for inspiring or unsung people who will cruise for free, and the other half will be leased out to wealthy tourists. Bloomberg reports the suites will be available for $3 million (£ 2.2 million, AU$3.9 million) for a ten day cruise, helping to fund the whole venture.

Olivera promised that research done aboard Earth 300 will be open source and available in real time for collaboration around the globe.

In keeping with the sustainability theme, the plan is for the vessel to be emissions-free and powered by an advanced type of small nuclear reactor that's under development by Terrapower, a company founded by Bill Gates.

But all this is pretty far off. Right now all we have is some artist's renderings and a vague plan. Olivera hopes to raise financing for the project in preparation for a maiden voyage currently scheduled for 2025.

No word yet on how to put your name in for consideration for that first voyage. Stay tuned, sailors.

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This Nuclear Powered Mega-Yacht Aims At Improving The Climate

The Earth Research 300 will be one of a kind research vessel. A luxurious scientific escape. One spot on this megayatch will cost 3 million dollars.

According to a report by the BBC’s Science Focus, the launch of this yacht is slated for 2025, and the experience would be the best of both worlds, scientific and high-end luxury. It will house 450 passengers and 22 laboratories. The passengers will be scientists, environmentalists, and a few billionaires to stay on the safe side.

The vessel will have 13 stories, all dedicated to science, creating a science haven. Aaron Olivera, the mastermind behind the project, has her eyes set on getting on-board scientists to collaborate and come together with viable solutions to counter the climate threat.

The earnings made by selling the tickets to the billionaires will be utilized in funding science projects and ideas. In addition, luxury apartments aboard the vessel will allow the billionaires to see up close and personal about what endeavors are being pursued at their behest.

“It is really an opportunity for the wealthy to contribute to science and participate in science. This is not having a billionaire in a bathtub, sipping a glass of champagne,” Aaron Olivera the brain behind the project told in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.

Robotics, artificial intelligence software, built-in sensors, and the world’s first commercial, a seafaring quantum computer, will be on board and provide everyone with a lifetime experience.

Running on nuclear energy, the Earth 300 vessel will be zero-emission, an onboard molten salt reactor will be the power source on the likes of the technology that is built the Bill Gates-backed TerraPower.

The project will cost around 500 – 700 million dollars to come to reality. Although private companies and investors fund it, a huge chunk of the same is expected to come out of the revenue generated by selling the dollar 3 million tickets for the 10 days out of this world experience.

The design of the superyacht was prepared by Barcelona-based Iddes Yachts. At the concept launch, Olivera termed the Earth 300 project not only as a state-of-the-art science laboratory on water but also as a source to bring increased awareness to reverse climate change.

The whole concept of Earth 300 may sound a little absurd that is because it is mind-boggling. However, the entrepreneur behind the project, Olivera, claims that the project has the potential to work against climate downfall. The vessel has the capacity to unearth concepts with its research which will help humanity in the coming years.

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Earth to CNN: No, a nuclear-powered superyacht won’t save the world

By Dawn Stover | September 28, 2021

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Who knew that a sexy nuclear superyacht could save us from climate catastrophe? That was the awesome news from CNN’s travel desk yesterday.

CNN wasn’t alone. Forbes , BBC Science Focus Magazine , and a host of other media outlets have previously hailed the world-rescuing potential of what CNN described as “an emissions-free megaship that will pit together climate scientists and the wealthy in a daring quest to save the planet.”

“Pit together” sounds like an apt description of a would-be merger between luxury tourism and climate action. You can put those two things together in a sentence, but in the real world they mix about as easily as oil and water.

And there’s another big problem with the plan for this overhyped 300-meter-long vessel and its global research: Earth 300 , as the $700 million superyacht is called, will be powered by a molten salt nuclear reactor that doesn’t exist yet and won’t be certified for at least five years. The company’s website illustrates the reactor with a scale model of an experiment done in the 1960s at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The website also says the scientists onboard Earth 300 will have the world’s first ocean-going quantum computer. But that, too, has yet to be built.

Meanwhile, the climate crisis needs immediate attention. “We really are out of time,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned this month.

While they wait for a modular nuclear reactor that might never come, the developers of Earth 300 say they will use green synthetic fuels. These are liquid fuels derived from coal or natural gas in a process that captures carbon. However, they are much more expensive than fossil fuels. Aaron Olivera, the entrepreneur behind Earth 300 , told CNN he plans to “eventually” retrofit the yacht with a reactor being developed by the UK company Core Power in collaboration with TerraPower, a US nuclear engineering firm chaired by Bill Gates.

Globally, there are at least 171 motorized megayachts that are 75 meters (246 feet) or more in length. Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, is rumored to be buying a superyacht so big that it will have a dock for its own “support yacht.” Eclipse , an even bigger superyacht owned by Russian-Israeli billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich, has its own missile defense system. The largest yacht currently operating, Azzam , is 180 meters (590 feet) long and consumes 13 metric tons of fuel per hour at its top speed of 33 knots. That’s about 0.01 miles (or a little over 50 feet) per gallon.

Earth 300 would be much bigger.

And the customers Olivera would like to attract—the wealthiest people in the world—also tend to have the world’s largest carbon footprints, thanks in no small part to their habit of traveling aboard superyachts and private airplanes. According to calculations by two researchers at Indiana University , a superyacht with a permanent crew and helicopter pad is “by far the worst asset to own from an environmental standpoint.”

Earth 300 ’s luxury suites will each rent for $300,000 a day, which presumably will cover the personnel and expenses needed to operate the ship and its 22 scientific laboratories. But construction won’t begin until 2025 at the earliest, and any groundbreaking scientific discoveries or billionaire epiphanies that could help stabilize the climate are even further into the future.

Construction is already delayed on another 600-foot-long yacht that will combine climate research with charters for paying customers. Financed by Kjell Inge Røkke, a Norwegian billionaire who made his fortune in fishing and oil drilling, REV Ocean will investigate climate change and ocean acidification, plastic pollution, and overfishing, but the nonprofit project is at least three years behind schedule.

Who will be aboard these superyachts? CNN asked Olivera which famous people he’d like to host on his future ship, and he named Elon Musk, Michelle Obama, Greta Thunberg, Naomi Klein and Yvon Chouinard. Like the superyacht itself, some of those potential guests seem more aspirational than realistic.

Wealthiest 1% produce double the combined CO2 emissions of poorest 50%. "We have got to cut over-consumption and the best place to start is over-consumption among the polluting elites who contribute by far more than their share of carbon emissions." https://t.co/0bEwESnE9O — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) April 13, 2021

Greta Thunberg doesn’t take airplanes or motor yachts. Elon Musk doesn’t take vacations. And Bill Gates may be hurt that he’s not on the A-list.

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Keywords: CNN , Earth 300 , superyachts Topics: Climate Change , Columnists , Nuclear Energy , Nuclear Risk , Opinion

An absurd idea, the money much better spent on more prosaic but proven solutions like promoting regen Agriculture. If they start to ask for shares, we know it is something else … PS Don’t knock LFTRs.

think “Snowpiercer”!

(But rather than a train running on and on thru a frozen wasteland, we get yachts sailing on and on upon oceans of warmed-up water.)

I think the true purpose of such a super yacht is as a literal show boat for promoting the so-called ‘green’ liquid biofuel(s). For such a project to be taken seriously, its entire construction should not consume any drop, gram or Pascal of any carbon based fuel. The recycling, mining, smelting, casting, any materials processing, transportation of raw materials and components, then systems integration, final assembly and super yacht launching should be done with completely renewable energy sources. Initially the propulsion system should be powered with Perovskite Solar Cell based Photo-Voltaic panels and Icelandic design wind power generators with high …  Read more »

As a follow up to my previous comment (which I couldn’t add because my editing time window expired) was: One prominent type of salt under investigation (also potentially for use in LFTR) is FLiBe, which was the subject of a March 1999 research paper by Lockeed Martin sponsored researchers L. C. Cadwallader and G. R. Longhurst as a potential plasma facing coolant for Thermonuclear Fusion Reactors. This paper explores to a good level of detail, the Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety issues to be addressed when working with FLiBe salt. This is one area of investigation that may benefit …  Read more »

We have carbon free ships. They are powered by sail.

Dawn Stover

Dawn Stover is a contributing editor at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. She began her career at Harper's magazine and worked... Read More

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kayanathera New Member

is it posible to build a cruise liner bigger then qm 2 with nuclear propulsion?aircarrier type of vessel

YachtForums Administrator

Is it possible? Yes. But why? And why ask this question on YachtForums??? Here's an idea... make a hard left turn and head for shipspotting dot com.

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Carrier cornering.jpg.

Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

Yacht relativity Boat: that which will fit on the deck of a yacht Yacht: that which will fit on the deck of a US aircraft carrier

sailronin Senior Member

Look up the US merchant vessel "Savannah". I believe she was built in the early '60's, maiden voyage in 1962, the worlds first nuclear merchant ship. She was not in service very long and then decomissioned as not viable. Babbcock and Wilcox built the boilers, an elderly friend of mine was an engineer with B&W and told me about the seatrials. With improved technology there is no reason (other than cost and countries that don't allow nuc vessels into ports and tourists that are afraid of "glowing") that a cruise ship couldn't be built with reactor power Dave

C4ENG Senior Member

Why not nuclear? Did you even think before asking that question?

its logical sailronin said: Look up the US merchant vessel "Savannah". I believe she was built in the early '60's, maiden voyage in 1962, the worlds first nuclear merchant ship. She was not in service very long and then decomissioned as not viable. Babbcock and Wilcox built the boilers, an elderly friend of mine was an engineer with B&W and told me about the seatrials. With improved technology there is no reason (other than cost and countries that don't allow nuc vessels into ports and tourists that are afraid of "glowing") that a cruise ship couldn't be built with reactor power Dave Click to expand...

Have you ever seen or met the people that these large private ship companies hire to run these vessels below decks? Now imagine putting them in charge of Nuclear power plants. The UN or any goverement body who is important would go ballistic. Not to mention who is going to sell you that P-38 Urainum that the terrorist are praying to Alla for everyday.

sniggol New Member

Actually, deuterium is used in FUSION reactions, not fission. As far as I know, there has not ever been a controlled fusion reaction on this planet. All nuclear power plants typically use isotopes of Uranium and Plutonium for fuel, depending on reactor type. On the issue of placing reactors in private and commercial ships, why not? I think Kim Jong Il and few of Osama's buddies would like to buy one. I wouldn't be a bit worried that a few nutjob crazies would have more than enough nuclear fuel to lob a few bombs our way. They could cruise the Med, have fun in the Carribbean, all while brewing some bomb fuel in the engine room. Lot's of other reasons come to mind too, on why nukes have no business in private hands. Do you think the Aussies would be happy to have a reactor meltdown right in the middle of Sydney harbor, or the Great Barrier Reef? Think before you speak next time.

Antonio Torres Member

Besides the terrorism and political issues, there are other issues about private nuclear yachts. Who gets in charge of the nuclear yacht if the owner gets in bankruptcy, or finds it too expensive for proper maintnance, or any other scenario of improper care. How to assure that skilled people would be permanently checking and keeping the plant. A nuclear power plant is too dangerous to be used in toys, even if they are multimilion toys. Even for commercial use its a high risk of catastrophe. Remember Exxon Valdez. I'm shure that better and safer alternatives can be found.

techmati Senior Member

if we talk about cruise ships and large charter yachts together to stay on topic, one of the reasons why nuclear would be not recommended is that people are afraid of it. in the competitive market of cruise ships and charter yachts, why limit your potential market by excluding people who are afraid of nuclear. regarding the technical aspects of running a nuclear power plant well i am sure it would be possible to find suitable ex navy personnel to technically manage and crew the vessel. we are already seeing unconventional power plants in yachts like diesel electric or combined diesel and gas turbine. therefore those yachts had to source and train suitable crew. as mentioned earlier, the vessel would definitely be restricted from entering certain ports and certainly it would require huge effort to convince the authorities at each port the vessel wished to call that the vessel is safe. Certainly even if the vessel was permitted to arrive, it would get big publicity and of course the nuclear protesters would attend. but one major aspect would be that it would be prohibitively expensive to insure the vessel. This is not for the hull insurance which is of course limited to the value of the vessel but for the P&I insurance which would cover the costs of compensating third parties in the case of a casualty, antipollution works, wreck removal etc. nevertheless it is important to look at alternative sources of power for the yachts as we are faced with constantly increasing fuel cost which at some point will damage the motor yacht charter industry. Perhaps LNG will power the yachts of the future or perhaps did we already discover the perfect power many years ago.......of course....Sail

Marmot Senior Member

C4ENG wrote: "Have you ever met the people that these large private ship companies hire to run these vessels below decks? Now imagine putting them in charge of Nuclear power plants. The UN or any goverement body who is important would go ballistic. Not to mention who is going to sell you that P-38 Urainum that the terrorist are praying to Alla for everyday." While cruising the forum and reading mostly informative and well written information and advice I was brought to a halt by this one. I realize this might be bordering on inappropriate but I just couldn’t let the sentiments expressed in this post stand so long without comment. It is a shame to see something like this posted by a "senior member" claiming knowledge of marine engineering subjects. “Have you ever seen or met the people that these large private ship companies hire to run these vessels below decks?” Yes, I have met and worked with hundreds of them over the years. I am one of them. One of my associates, a friend and fellow chief engineer, really was put in charge of a nuclear power plant. He was chief engineer on N.S. Savannah for many years. We taught marine engineering together at one this country’s major maritime schools and I have a great deal of respect for his degrees, qualifications, and certifications in addition to his long and highly esteemed career in the maritime industry. That ship was operated by people like us for 10 years without anyone “who is important” going ballistic. I don’t know what experience you have with “the people” who run “these vessels below decks” (whatever that means) but I suspect it is minimal at best. Your profile claims “yacht engineer” as your occupation and “reading and learning” as interests. I don’t know what qualifications you have to support your occupation, if any, but it is obvious you haven’t read or learned much about marine engineering or marine engineers., and even less about nuclear propulsion. If you are going to look down your nose at the people who “run these vessels below decks” I suspect you will need to stand on your head. And by the way, Savannah was powered by enriched uranium (U-235), not by fighter planes, pistols, military can openers, or the obscure proteins you believe terrorists are praying to obtain.

"If you are going to look down your nose at the people who “run these vessels below decks” I suspect you will need to stand on your head." That's very good, Marmot. By the way, when I was kid in grade school in the early '60s, the class was taken on a field trip from FLL down to MIA to tour the NS (Nuclear Ship) Savannah. It was a real treat for somebody into "boats" at that age. I'm sure we were shown the 'engine' room and so I am pleased to tell you that I have suffered no apparent ill affects from the stewardship the belowdecks crew bestowed on this vessel.

Sean H New Member

You would see more shipyards in interesting places if they were allowed to be nuclear.

After reading something I written almost two years ago now, I do have to say, that was a rather prejudice statement I had made there. Written maybe a little better, There are many of large shipping and cruise companies out there that seem to exploit the labor of some very poor third world nations and possibly other political bodies may feel slightly uncomfortable in seeing these individuals in charge of nuclear machinery.

“Written maybe a little better, …” Digging maybe a little deeper, I would say. Regardless of their national origin or ethnic background “these individuals” in charge of the propulsion machinery on vessels operated by large shipping and cruise companies generally hold a degree in marine engineering and have met the international standards required to perform the duties of an officer holding an unlimited certificate of competence in marine engineering. Do you? Is there some reason a “very poor third world nation” cannot produce an individual capable of being trained to the standards required to operate a nuclear propulsion plant? I have filled out a ton of documents related to training and licensing, and muddled through a wretchedly large volume of maritime regulations in the course of my career but have yet to find one that requires a specific genetic heritage. As a matter of fact, the IMO addresses the dangers of cultural bias, prejudice, and intolerance as among the factors which reduce crew safety and operational efficiency. Part of the training of a ship’s officer includes making him or her aware of the dangers of such thinking. Knowing better is what separates the professionals from those who really do make the “political bodies feel slightly uncomfortable …”

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Israel-Hamas war latest: Hamas number three killed, US says - as video shows anguish after Israel's raid on hospital

The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
• Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
• IDF soldiers raid al Shifa hospital in Gaza City
• Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
• Several killed as hospital on fire, say Palestinian health officials
• Journalist 'beaten and detained' in raid
• Michael Clarke : Israel under pressure as evidence grows it is committing systematic war crimes
• Watch: Israel films storming of hospital by drone | What video tells us about the raid
• Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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