An eye-scratching new concept from designers Lazzarini could lead to the construction of the largest boat in the world. Shaped like a turtle, the massive vessel would be called Pangeos, and is dubbed a terayacht because it’s so large that it could house an entire city. Guests aboard would have access to hotels, apartments, shopping complexes, rooftop parks and even ports for private planes and smaller ships.
The yacht is named after the prehistoric supercontinent Pangea, which broke apart millions of years ago during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. It would be 550 meters long and 610 meters wide at its wings. Those wings would feature 19 private villas and 69 apartments on each side. Its steel hull would consist of 30,000 “cells” to keep it afloat, while nine high-temperature superconductor engines with 16,800 horsepower power the ship. Its wings also draw energy from the drag and waves that break against them, while solar panels on the roof produce more clean electricity for hotel loads and propulsion.
If constructed, it’d be the largest ship in the world, and would be accessible to anyone who can afford to make a full-time move to sea. That’s because it’s not just a yacht, but a fully functioning city, designed to be home to 60,000 people. Lazzarini explains that the ship is split into blocks, just like an actual city, and each one would offer various facilities, such as hotels, apartment buildings, shops and rooftop parks. The lower shell of the yacht would act as a port, while the upper shell would serve as a landing strip for small aircraft and helicopters.
But, in order to actually build the terayacht, it’ll first need to be crowdfunded on NFT platforms. That process is expected to start in 2033, and will take about eight years to complete. Then, a titanic shipyard will need to be built specifically for the project.
The designers reportedly want to locate the building site in Saudi Arabia, and they’ve suggested a spot at King Abdullah Port 81 miles north of Jeddah. They estimate that about one square kilometer of the sea will need to be dredged and a dam built before construction can begin.
In the meantime, the designers have created a virtual version of Pangeos, where people can purchase cabins that they can then use as collateral for a physical cabin on the terayacht when it’s built. Lazzarini also aims to create a terashipyard where the yacht will be able to dock, which could also help get the funding process started.
The concept is already creating quite a buzz, and the creators are hoping to attract the attention of big luxury shipyards such as Oceanco, Lurssen, Benetti and Heesen. As of now, they’re trying to raise about $8 billion on an NFT-related crowdfunding platform to see this mega-turtle come to life. If they succeed, the terayacht could be launched in 2033. You can learn more about the project and how to invest in it here. pangeos yacht