What you’re looking at could very well be one of the most unique and, quite possibly, the coolest megayacht designs, which doubles as a floating dock for a blimp. In case you don’t know what a blimp is, it is a nonrigid or semirigid airship that’s dependent on internal gas pressure to maintain its form. Called the Colossea, the jaw-dropping $1 billion megayacht comes with its own detachable airship that can take off from the middle of the ocean on its own voyage but also help propel the megayacht when docked.
The outlandish concept was introduced this week by Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini, who is known for such unconventional and futuristic designs. “The Colossea mega-yacht is an itinerant floating docking station for the detachable airship,” Lazzarini’s eponymous design studio said in a statement.
According to Lazzarini, Colossea’s detachable blimp is an homage and a modern interpretation of the iconic Norge (originally known as N1), which made history on May 12, 1926, by marking the first verified expedition to the North Pole.
The Colossea’s blimp replicates the same iconic design and measurements as its predecessor but with modern materials and propulsion. According to the Italian design house, the blimp has been conceived to be entirely built from carbon fiber, which includes everything from the internal structures to the exterior surface. The sleek-looking megayacht has a take-off and landing strip perfectly formed to the blimp’s curvature.
The airship is also named Norge after the iconic blimp it pays homage to. Eight electric engines power the blimp, which can tackle 10,000kg of payload, with enough onboard space to accommodate up to 24 passengers and ten crew members. It is made up of 22 isolated compartments that hold the batteries, liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks, and cabins. The blimp can attain a top speed of 165 km/h (about 90 knots), while the propellers can increase and support the efficiency of the megayacht’s sailing.
The luxury yacht has a total length of 204 meters (669 feet), which would make it the world’s biggest megayacht (Koru is 417 feet long). In addition to the detachable blimp, the Colossea also features a large helipad, an oversize pool at the bow, and a massive garage to fit in many more tenders and toys.
The vessel can accommodate 44 guests across 22 “dislocated” suites and 20 crew members. Propulsion comes from 4 HTS engines, which can help it attain a maximum speed of 22 knots (41km/h).
