The world's greenest luxury yacht is being sold as an NFT and can sail in the metaverse

Innovation

The industry is taking important steps towards the goal of sustainability through dozens of projects that explore the viability of zero-emission alternative fuels

Annabelle Herrera

Maritime transport releases 1,000 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year, which represents 3% of the world total. Therefore, although it is a key sector for international development, it is also one of the most polluting options. Hence, in recent years, the industry has been taking important steps towards the goal of sustainability through dozens of projects that explore the viability of zero-emission alternative fuels.

Recently, for example, a team of scientists from Northwestern University in the United States announced that they had devised a method that could convert freighters into ships that do not emit CO2 at minimal cost, without batteries and without hydrogen. Specifically, the technology that would be used is the solid oxide fuel cell, which would process the fuel in a closed circuit to transform it into energy. The CO2 resulting from the process would be 100% liquidized in a tank for later use as fuel or for permanent storage.

Interesting visible developments are also taking place to significantly reduce emissions in global shipping through fuel cells in yacht building. In this sense, the German design and architecture studio 3deluxe is marketing what it considers to be the most ecological luxury yacht in the world.

At the moment the VY.01 is for sale as an NFT (non fungigle token, or "non-fungible asset") on the digital auction platform Superworld, in which users pay millions of dollars in art, design and digital properties. . In this case, the buyer would be the owner of the complete concept design of the yacht, and could organize virtual events on board the vessel in this metaverse or commission its construction to do so in real life.

For sale at Superworld

The buyer would own the conceptual design of the yacht, and could use it in this metaverse or build it for real life.

Apart from the peculiar method of acquisition, the exterior design of the mega yacht is one of the most striking points, since its aerodynamic shape with futuristic airs allows it to create minimal resistance to the wind and waves, which translates into greater navigation efficiency. .

The ship is covered with a system of windows that are integrated into the raised side walls and can regulate the incidence of light on the upper decks, or close completely when the ship is traveling fast or in bad weather. The glass roof allows natural light to enter the interior. And this entire structure is covered in transparent photovoltaic cells that provide electricity for air conditioning, lighting and the desalination system.

Furthermore, the helm station is unconventionally located in the bow, so the rear sundeck can be transformed into a spacious interior room. As for the aft terrace, it has a saltwater pool and a small marina with access to the sea.

The yachts of the future are already here and there are no limits to the imagination

Although the number of cabins that the yacht will have has not been specified, it is known that the master bedroom is an open space above, inside the greenhouse, with privileged views of the starry night sky.

The technology that the VY.01 would use as a zero emission propulsion system would be the fuel cell powered by hydrogen, which could be produced locally through methanol. This floating garden could cover 1,000 nautical miles at low speed. It is also intended to distribute a series of silent electric motors throughout the structure, to eliminate noise pollution and at the same time avoid noise and vibrations.

One of the great objectives of this ambitious project is to make the yacht available for educational purposes

One of the great objectives of this ambitious project by the German design studio 3deluxe is to debunk the elitist nature of these private investments, making the yacht available to a wider public for educational purposes. Thus, while it was idle, the owner could turn it over as a training ship for young students and start-ups, or as an unconventional space for conferences and expert panels to address the complex challenges of our time.

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