Do you have $30 million burning a hole in your pocket? Tired of your current yacht and looking for an upgrade? We may have found the solution to your problems: the first super yacht in the world to combine top-of-the-line amenities with eco-friendly technology.
Currently under construction by Palumbo Shipyards, the 130′ Columbus Sport features Prius-inspired electrical-diesel engines that reduce emissions while simultaneously generating electricity for the ship’s vast array of on-board amenities.
In addition to complying with all rules of the International Maritime Organisation’s MARPOL convention, which regulates emissions on seagoing vessels, the electric engine also cuts down on noise. As great as this sounds, the ship can only run on electricity only up to 7.5 knots (about 8.6 miles per hour). Once the captain gives the order for full speed ahead, the dirty diesel kicks in.
But the ship’s eco-friendly features don’t stop in the engine room. The hull is made from super-light aluminum in an attempt to shed weight and thereby reduce fuel consumption. It also includes a bilge water separator which extracts oil from sea water entering the vessel’s engines before it is disposed back into the ocean: a feature Palumbo is quick to point out isn’t yet required by marine law.
Even though the Columbus Sport is using its eco-friendly technologies as a marketing tactic, its makers didn’t forget about the “super yacht” part. The vessel features four large cabins that provide luxury accommodations for as many as eight guests at a time (served by seven crew members), a ‘beach club’ deck big enough for eight people to relax and sunbathe, and interiors decorated with Emperador Dark Marble and Breccia Sarda limestone.
Itching to take your friends out for a spin on the Columbus Sport? You’ll have to wait: Palumbo says it won’t be ready until sometime next year. Oh, and keep in mind that even with all the fuel-saving features, it will still cost $384,000 per week to run.
Photo credits: Palumbo Shipyards