Semi-submersible e-boat takes passengers above and below the water
- This semi-submersible allows passengers to cruise along the water or below it
- The vessels will give tourists the opportunity to get up close to underwater marine and coral reefs
- The company behind the vessel has said they will be out on the water next year
Published on Jul 29, 2024 at 7:34 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 29, 2024 at 7:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This semi-submersible ecotourism concept allows passengers the chance to travel along the water as well as below it.
Plans for the unusual concept have been in the works for more than a decade – but Platypus Craft, the company behind the boat, has now struck a deal with electric outboard manufacturer Evoy to bring it a step closer to reality.
The five-seater vessel is designed so that it can travel out to an interesting spot on the water, where it can stop.
The midsection can be lowered so the boat’s occupants can explore without the need for oxygen masks and diving equipment.
That’s a pretty cool idea, right?
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Passengers aboard semi-submersible wouldn’t need diving training
Not only that but due to the design of the semi-submersible, those onboard wouldn’t need special diving training or any prior experience of diving to give it a go as an onboard compressor supplies air to the included facemasks.
However, the vessel does also have space to store your diving gear in case they fancied venturing out of the two-person pod and having a deep exploration.
As yet, the semi-submersible hasn’t gone into mass production, but a working prototype measures around 5.7 m (18.7 ft) in length and 2.46 m (8 ft) wide.
In a press release announcing the new partnership between Platypus Craft and Evoy, the companies said the semi-submersibles will be on the water in 2025.
Once on the water, the boats will give tourists the opportunity to get up close to underwater marine and coral reefs.
The aim is to create an ‘unforgettable’ experience
“By combining Evoy’s powerful electric motor systems and Platypus Craft’s innovative concept, it’s possible to explore nature without impacting it,” said Evoy Co-founder and CEO Leif Stavøstrand. “Together, we will create unforgettable and environmentally friendly experiences.’
The vessels will be fitted with Evoy twin Outboard Breeze 120+ electric motor systems.
The system delivers a top speed of 25 knots (46km/h or 28mph) and a cruising speed of 15 knots (27km/h or 17mph) above water.
With the basket suspended, the boat can travel at three to five knots (5.5km/h to 9km/h or 3.4 miles to 5.7 miles), which will enable passengers to observe and follow marine life for more than 30-80 nautical miles (55km – 148km or 34 miles – 92 miles).
And if underwater exploration is your thing, then check out this incredible James Bond-worthy submersible supercar.
We could make a joke about ‘Bubble-07’ here, but let’s leave it, shall we?
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.
