Pink Shadow: The Superyacht Explorer With a Wild, Artsy Interior Inspired by a Cult Movie

Pink Shadow is a new build, and as of February this year, it's accessible to more explorers than just its owner, German billionaire Professor Hans Georg Nader, since it's being offered for charter. The going rate is very high, both for the winter and summer seasons, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. Pink Shadow promises to make up for every last penny with a truly unforgettable experience.

Pink Shadow, despite whatever expectations the name might have created in your mind upon reading, is not pink, or girlie, or glitzy. It presents a military-like silhouette, aggressive and bulky but still beautiful, with a deep green hull and matching superstructure, with copper accents and a giant grill at the bow that bespeaks its "superpower:" this is an ice-class hull capable of reaching the remotest locations on Earth.

The open aft betrays its other "superpower:" Pink Shadow can carry more toys and gear than regular superyachts. Built and delivered by Damen Yachting in 2023, Pink Shadow is a superyacht explorer, a relatively new breed of superyacht that lives at the intersection between explorer vessels and proper superyachts, combining the best attributes of both.

If the name Damen Yachting rings a bell, it must be because they're virtually the go-to shipyard for custom superyachts with a utilitarian functionality, exploration vessels, and anything in between. They also did the famous Dapple, which now sails as Wingman after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbeg bought it and the equally famous Abeona that shadows Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos' Koru sailing yacht.

Pink Shadow is the second vessel to bear this name but the first Damen build. It's a SeaXplorer model that Nader saw and liked, and then decided it would be a suitable replacement for his previous, smaller Pink Shadow – and the right shadow vessel for his world-famous Pink Gin VI, the world's largest composite sloop.

Based on a naval architecture by Azure Yacht Design, Pink Shadow boasts interiors by Design Unlimited in collaboration with the owner. Most of the artwork from the original Pink Shadow is now found on this one, and the Amazonian theme from Pink Gin is also apparent here. It makes sense for that to happen: the Pink Gin draws on the 1982 cult classic film Fitzcarraldo for inspiration, so it only makes sense for its shadow vessel to match it in style.

In reality, this translates to the wildest, most surprising interior under that masculine, imposing exterior.

Verging on kitsch, it's packed with eclectic art and jungle motifs, from handwoven rugs and hand-painted wallpaper to custom furniture and unexpected features. Louis Vuitton travel trunks are turned into centerpieces, secret brass cabinets pop open to reveal true treasures inside for the connoisseurs, while large crocodiles lurk from behind couches or seem ready to jump out of wallpapers.

Admittedly, the interiors of Pink Shadow aren't to the tastes of all, but they make sense once you understand they're both an expression of personality and self-deprecating humor. Every room tells a story and is, as such, thematic. Once you get past the overwhelming amount of details to be able to study them individually, you will (probably) learn to appreciate the styling.

Or you can simply enjoy the unique features and ignore the visual noise. Pink Shadow has plenty of those, too, starting from no less than two cigar lounges, three themed bars, two jacuzzis that allow both warm and Arctic cold soaks, and the most lavish lounging and socializing areas, both indoors and outside.

The beach club opens up to the outside on three sides, and two oversize sunpads hang on the cranes used otherwise to lower tenders to water. There's a sky lounge on the bridge deck and the most incredible "snug" on the exterior of the top deck, which is the owner's private sanctuary.

Accommodation onboard is for 12 guests across six suites, including the owner's suite, and a staff of 17, including the captain. The tender garage spreads beyond the customarily-sized garage you'd find on a standard superyacht to a large chunk of the aft deck, which also houses a large helipad. Shown in the materials included with this article are the owner's three private rides, a Land Rover and two bikes, as well as a massive container for additional gear.

With a total length on water of 190 feet (58 meters), Pink Shadow has a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km) at a cruising speed of 11.5 knots (13 mph/21 kph) and 30-day at-sea autonomy. Beyond a wild interior and lavish amenities, it's a very competent beast on water, as its exterior hints.

For this combination of features, amenities, and capabilities, Pink Shadow is asking €510,000 (approximately $545,000 at the current exchange rates) per week, not including expenses. The best things in life might be free, as the old saying goes, but an experience onboard this superyacht explorer isn't among them.