Some millionaires now want something new instead of yachts: luxury submarines

Will submarines soon replace yachts? (Image: Migaloo Submarines)

As we are told through series, films and the tabloid press, rich people like luxury yachts. But is that true? In short: Yes, the market for these luxury ships has grown significantly after the pandemic.

But this has created two significant problems. On the one hand, shipyards can hardly handle the large number of orders. On the other hand, many owners of luxury yachts can hardly find berths – and if they do, they can end up paying up to four million euros per week.

This is one of the reasons why a new trend for the super-rich has been emerging in recent years: luxury submarines.

Expensive fun in the depths

This is what the luxury submarine should look like when it floats on the surface. (Image: Migaloo Submarines)

The design studio Migaloo Submarines is planning one of the largest projects of this kind with the M5_165M. An enormous submarine, the equipment of which is more like a large yacht. However, it is important to note that this is just a concept so far.

What should the luxury submarine be able to do? When it is on the surface, various terraces, pools and other parts of the submarine should be able to be opened up to give the owners various leisure and relaxation options.

It is said to have an interior with numerous amenities, satellite television and internet, interactive touch walls and even a cinema, and could even accommodate other vehicles.

The luxury submarine would be 165.8 meters long, 23 meters wide and have a top speed of 20 knots on the surface and 12 knots underwater. It will be powered by a diesel-electric system with AIP (air independent propulsion).

Fun fact: A submarine that is faster on the surface than underwater is actually called a submersible. However, since Migaloo call their submersible a submarine, we do that too. (Image: Migaloo Submarines)

In total, the M5_165M is said to have six decks, which are significantly larger than you might know from depictions of submarines. The digitally created images of the interior give an indication of what it might look like.

However, many design aspects should be left to a potential customer if they have specific requests.

A draft of the interior. This is what it might look like if it is realized. (Image: Migaloo Submarines)

The submarine should be able to stay under water for four weeks without surfacing. It doesn’t go deeper than 250 meters.

For comparison, one of the submarines that can dive the deepest is the US Navy’s deep-sea submarine Alvin. It dives up to 6,500 meters below sea level.

This is what an entrance area of ​​the M5_165M could look like. (Image: Migaloo Submarines)

The submarine is designed to accommodate up to 40 people including crew. There will also be a helipad on the luxury submarine itself.

How did the concept come about?

CEO Christian Gumpold writes on the company website:

The goal is clear: the principle of a luxury yacht should be combined with that of a submarine. Gumpold and his colleague Christoph Gloning have reportedly been working on this project for ten years. Each new version they have changed a lot thanks to the feedback they received from potential buyers.

The M5_165M is intended to contain smaller vehicles and possibly submarines. (Image: Migaloo Submarines)

Implementing a project of this scale is likely to pose a host of economic, technical and bureaucratic challenges. Nevertheless, Gumpold believes it will be realized.

Where should the M5_165M be built? CEO Christian Gumpold says that the owners can choose which shipyard the Migaloo M5 should be built at. However, he recommends that it be in Germany.

Even if the project is developed at a shipyard of their choice, Migaloo will be the company that represents the future owners of the ship and manages the project.

Yachts and the environment

As fascinating as such huge projects can be, it is also worth taking a critical look. After all, such an enormous ship is certainly not good for the environment.

According to an article by TheConversation, a luxury yacht with a permanent crew, a helicopter pad, diving boats and pools emits around 7,020 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

For comparison: a commuter emits around 1.5 tons of CO₂ per year. This means that one luxury yacht corresponds to around 4,680 commuters. The luxury ships could therefore definitely be classified as a danger to the environment.

Unfortunately, we cannot tell you how much CO₂ the M5_165M would emit, but we assume that it would be significantly more than 7,020 tons.

Is your hunger for luxury ships not satisfied yet? There’s more here:

Would you put such a luxury piece in the shipyard if you had the necessary change to spare? How do you feel about such megalomaniac projects that are designed for pure luxury? What would you imagine in such a huge ship and how would you design the interior? Tell us your opinions and maybe also your visions of the perfect luxury submarine for you!