This weird semi-submersible ship is how superyachts cross the Atlantic for summer

This is a yacht express, a 685-foot semi-submersible ship that carries yachts and superyachts across the Atlantic.

It’s absolutely massive, but then it needs to be considering it can carry 200-foot yachts.

The system it uses is quite clever.

And the cost of a ‘ticket’ will surprise you.

How this semi-submersible ship works

The yacht express is a 685-foot (208-meter) semi-submersible ship where superyachts can be docked and transported across the Atlantic.

The system it uses is quite clever.

The ship submerges its main deck below the water level so that the yacht can’t beach, and it also allows yachts to float on and off.

It can carry smaller yachts – around 40 feet or less – all the way up to 200+ foot yachts.

The price might surprise you

If you need to transport your yacht across the Atlantic, you’re going to have to fork out around $30,000 for smaller yachts, or up to $200,000 for bigger yachts.

In the absurd world of yachting, that’s not too bad, but there’s some bittersweet irony here.

For example, Okto – the 217-foot superyacht that Joe Rogan charters – costs $50 million, and it would realistically cost $200,000 or more to transport it aboard the yacht express.

For reference, that’d be the same as paying $200 to transport a $500,000 supercar like the McLaren 750S on a cargo ship across the Atlantic, and that’s quite cheap.

It’s actually cheaper than a plane ticket.

However, the relative cost for smaller yachts is a lot higher.

Smaller yachts are comparatively a lot less expensive than superyachts, and you can easily find one for half a million or less, but you’ll still have to pay at least $30,000 for a ride aboard the yacht express.

Obviously that’s a simplified comparison.

But, apples to apples, it’s kind of like charging $200 to transport a McLaren 750S – 0.04 percent of its value – but then charging $3,000 – 5 percent of its value – to transport a Tesla Model Y Juniper.

Odd.