SeaOrbiter: amazing breakthrough or cool-looking boondoggle? I swear, I don’t want to be a nay-saying science crankypants. I want to dream big and have my own submarine and frolic on the Deep Sea News private island hideout. I don’t want to be the lab-coated finger-shaking wench that crushes new ideas before they are even born. But sometimes a girl just needs to be skeptical, you know? Especially when that girl has spent a fair amount of time doing science on the open sea, and the idea that is giving her a serious case of the crankypants is pretty much the coolest looking vessel EVER. Behold, the SeaOrbiter. Twelve years in the making, it’s set to begin construction this year to the tune of $52.7 million dollars.
Engadget has a nice summary (h/t J.P Remember that USS Enterprise-esque ocean research vessel we first ran across back in 2005? I especially like the friendly humpback whale checking out SeaOrbiter in the rendering. Awesome! On the left side, you’ll notice that the ship’s stern is a large flattened area. Meet The Deep Sea Version Of The Starship Enterprise. Captain James T. Kirk may have called space as the final frontier, but it’s actually the ocean that stands full of mystery. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, yet more than 95 percent of the underwater world remains unexplored. Just like outer space, the world beneath the ocean presents a unique set of challenges to our oxygen-dependent bodies. Just like it has taken decades of technology to create the vessels that could take us safely into space, and similar vehicles are necessary if we are to be permitted to look upon the ocean’s most private corners without suffocating or being crushed by the pressure.
Image via SeaOrbiter/Jacques Rougerie Half submarine, half sailing ship, the SeaOrbiter is designed to facilitate continuous observation of the underwater world without disrupting underwater ecosystems or polluting the ocean. Image via Jacques Rougerie/SeaOrbiter. SeaOrbiter experimental research ship gets go ahead. The experimental research ship Sea Orbiter has been given the full go ahead with the futuristic $43 million ship set to hit the waves as early as next year. The 50m high research ship will utilise technologies from solar power to wind turbines and is completely self-sustainable. Originally the lovechild of French designer Jacques Rougerie the SeaOrbiter is unique as a vessel in that nearly 50 per cent of its mass is actually underwater allowing for constant interaction with the ocean.
Above the waterline however is the majority of the fin-like hull housing living-quarters, research labs and of course the observation deck and bridge. In total the vessel is well over the height of Nelson's Column and is designed to remain at see for incredibly long periods of time. With partners like Microsoft already on board the Sea Orbiter is likely to be more suited to a science fiction film than reality and with it's entirely unique design it's hard not to be impressed. Futuristic SeaOrbiter vessel set for October construction. Recent developments have rumored that the SeaOrbiter is set to start construction in October with possible completion in 2013. Image Gallery (19 images) What once seemed science fiction may be becoming a reality. The futuristic SeaOrbiter ocean explorer, a concept conceived by French architect Jacques Rougerie, has been trying to reach fruition for the past twelve years.
However recent developments suggest that the vessel is set to start construction this October, with possible completion in 2013. View all The SeaOrbiter, if it goes ahead, will be the world’s first vertical ship to measure 51 meters (170 ft) in height. The semi-submersible vessel will include an underwater chamber that delves 31 meters (102 ft) deep.
The SeaOrbiter project will be presenting a 1:20 scale model of the ship to the public this month during the 2012 International Expo in Yeosu, South Korea. Source: SeaOrbiter and Jacques Rougerie via CNN About the Author Post a CommentRelated Articles. SeaOrbiter by Jacques Rougerie. French architect Jacques Rougerie has designed a cross between a skyscraper and a boat for exploring the unchartered territories of the earth's oceans. Named SeaOrbiter, the vessel is meant to accommodate a team of 18-22 researchers, who will be able to spend 24 hours a day underwater. Marine scientists will use the facilities to study relationships between the seas and the earth's climate, while archaeologists will be able to further explore ancient shipwrecks and astronauts will be able to use the pressurised environments to simulate the experience of being in space.
With construction apparently set to begin next year, the 58-metre-high boat will be assembled from recycled aluminium and will weigh approximately 500 tonnes. It will travel with the ocean's currents, but will also harvest energy from the sun, wind and waves to propel itself when necessary. We recently filmed an interview with designer Thomas Heatherwick about his futuristic design for a riverboat - watch it here. Its Role: Video: This SeaOrbiter would make Captain Nemo jealous. The SeaOrbiter has yet to hit the water, but it's already being called a 21st-century version of Captain Nemo's Nautilus in honor of the classic novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" penned by Jules Verne.
The SeaOrbiter - deisgned by French architect Jacques Rougerie - is part submarine, part research vessel, and part surface ship. After nearly 12 years of being confined to a virtual dry dock as a concept vessel, the SeaOrbiter has finally completed the industrial design phase and construction on the actual ship is slated to begin in October. The vessel is expected to cost about $43 million to build and will be 58 m high when completed. However, 50% of the ship will rest below the waterline - allowing researchers to perform constant underwater study. "All technical issues are resolved, all the modeling is done," confirms Ariel Fuchs, education and media director of the SeaOrbiter project. "It meets the requirements of today's philosophy of sustainability," Fuchs adds.
Architect's 'seascraper' set for construction. Read | Futuristic Seaorbiter Marine Vessel Set for Construction. Sustainably-powered semi-submarine to be used for climate and ocean research After 12 years in development, the Seaorbiter is finally becoming a reality. With construction slated to begin in October, the futuristic marine vessel, designed by French architect Jacques Rougerie, could be exploring the seas as soon as next year. Sustainability principles thread through the entire Seaorbiter design, which is projected to cost $43 million. The vessel is designed to drift with ocean currents, and will generate the majority of its power from renewable energy, including solar, wind and wave power. A side project is underway in conjunction with EADS, the European defense and space systems conglomerate, to develop a biofuel as the ship's main power source.
"One of the first users will be the science community," said Seaorbiter's media and education director Ariel Fuchs. (via CNN) SeaOrbiter to begin construction by year's end, project price tag clocks in at $52.7 million. Meet the deep sea version of the starship Enterprise. Captain James T. Kirk may have called space the final frontier, but it's actually the ocean that stands full of mystery. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface, yet more than 95 percent of the underwater world remains unexplored. Just like outer space, the world beneath the ocean presents a unique set of challenges to our oxygen-dependent bodies. Just like it has taken decades of technology to create the vessels that could take us safely into space, and similar vehicles are necessary if we are to be permitted to look upon the ocean's most private corners without suffocating or being crushed by the pressure.
The SeaOrbiter, a futuristic marine research vessel created by French architect Jacques Rougerie could be the self-contained ocean laboratory we've been searching for. "All technical issues are resolved, all the modeling is done," says Ariel Fuchs, education and media director of the SeaOrbiter project. The SeaOrbiter | The Design Ark. Welcome to the future. The SeaOrbiter is a futuristic marine research vessel with a mission to explore the world’s oceans and the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere. The concept and design is by French architect Jacques Rougerie and is set to begin construction later this year. 50% of the vessel will be below the water line to allow for constant underwater study. The vessel is designed to drift with ocean currents and the power needed for life-support systems and for propulsion to avoid storms and other ships will mostly be generated from renewable energy, including wind, wave and solar power.
The vessel is expected to cost $43 million and will be 58-meters in height. Read much more about it here.