The world might feel like a terrible place, but not if you're rich enough to afford to build yourself a floating fortress you can escape on. That probably comes across as a reductive perspective on life, but it's actually the lure behind every multi-million, self-sufficient, tech-packed superyacht.
Nowhere is this more obvious than with the proposal for the world's first luxury super submarine, the Migaloo M5 we discussed a short while back. The M5 has been around in some form or another (but always as a concept) for several years now, and the latest iteration is the most outrageous, luxurious, and future-proof. It's also the most expensive, but since we're talking about a concept, simply looking at it doesn't cost anything.
Migaloo is an Austrian-based startup slash design studio that promises to deliver the future of yachting in a new and unexpected form factor, that of a submersible megayacht. The M5 is just that: an enormous vessel that qualifies as a megayacht when sailing on the surface of the water and a submarine when it dives, offering complete protection, privacy, and megayacht-like amenities to its wealthy guests.
The latest iteration comes at a moment in time when fears of a global war are again at their highest, which probably explains the attention it got. For the record, Migaloo is no closer to building such a vessel today than it was when it first introduced the concept, even saying that such a project needs a wealthy patron and a lot more time to even get off the ground properly.
Photo: Migaloo
But that's not to say that Migaloo isn't doing everything it can to explore this avenue further. After all, a generous multi-billionaire with at least $2 billion to spare might be around the corner as we speak, scrolling online for his dream "boat." It's best if Migaloo has everything planned out for when he does.
The M5 we discussed is a 165.8-meter (544-foot) megayacht that becomes a submarine with an operational dive depth of 250 meters (820 feet), hybrid propulsion, and the most insane amenities we've seen, including on the megayachts we've covered. Among luxury features, toys, and exploration gear, it comes with at least two matching tenders that, we believe, are worthy of attention on their own.
That's because they're technically submarines themselves.
Photo: Migaloo
The Migaloo LST, where the initials stand for Limo Sub Tender, is the smallest and most recent entry in Migaloo's portfolio, yet it plays an essential part in whatever they imagine the future will hold. Since they're in the business of designing submarines, they couldn't put regular dinghies onboard, so that's how the LST came to be.
The LST is a submarine and a tender at the same time, offering space for guests and cargo but also features and interior styling worthy of the mothership. Total length is 17.0 meters (55.7 feet), with a beam of 3.9 meters (12.7 feet) and a draft of 3.3 meters (10.8 feet), which is just enough to accommodate 10 to 12 people and a small crew of 3.
Like the M5, the LST can also go down to a maximum depth of 250 meters (820 feet), which is to be expected given that its number one function is to allow for underwater transfer of guests and goods. This way, those traveling on the M5 will be able to come and go without anyone on land knowing their whereabouts. How's that for maximum privacy?
Photo: Migaloo
Built of steel and with a double hull design, the LST would be packed with features with dual functionality, rendering it usable both at the surface and underwater. Highlights include a retractable sunroof that turns the main lounge into the main deck, a mini bar, a command center at the stern, and the possibility of remote steering.
Submerged, the LST would offer breathtaking views thanks to its large acrylic bow window, so all 12 guests could just chill in the 12-person lounge, get drunk, and take in the beauty of their surroundings. As a sub, the LST would get two side hatches for underwater docking and an elevator-to-surface hatch.
Imagined with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion, the LST would be just as zippy as its mothership, traveling at 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph) on the water surface and 12 knots (14 mph/22 kph) submerged. Migaloo mentions several safety elements that would be implemented on the LST, including maximum depth protection and life support, but these and proper certification would be dependent on the sub actually being built.
Photo: Migaloo
And for the time being, there are exactly zero plans for building this. But hey, if we're passing the time and having some fun at the idea of a $2 billion submarine decked in marble and gold, we might as well imagine for it a tender to match. The LST is just that: its mother's proud baby, with OTT styling and statement furniture, gold finishes, and glossy metal accents.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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