Your average container ship could never be described as luxurious, but the Kilkea is not your average container ship. To be built on the shell of an old Vard 1-08 platform supply vessel, instead of shipping containers, the Kilkea will be repurposed to take you and 36 of your closest friends to all corners of the globe in sumptuous comfort.
Measuring up at 81.7 meters (268 ft) long and 18 m (59 ft) wide, the Kilkea's exterior is a long-way removed from the basic container ship it started life as, but that doesn't mean it isn't practical. Fully loaded with supplies, the vessel will be capable of 30-day expeditions without land support, and its steel hull is rated to operate in light ice conditions.
The Bannenberg & Rowell interior, on the other hand, has been designed with luxury in mind.
In the Mercedes Arrow460 we covered last week, luxury design meant using lots of high-end materials and folding surfaces to maximize space. The Kilkea is in a completely different league, with enough rooms, relaxation and dining areas to comfortably entertain 36 guests. For those concerned with the practicalities of parking a helicopter, there's even a hangar on board.
The vessel's maximum speed is 15.4 knots (17.7 mph/28.5 km/h), with a cruising speed of 12 knots (13.8 mph/22.2 km/h).
Alright, this is where things get a bit ridiculous - it's time to talk price. The Vard 1-08 Kilkea will set you back a cool US$62 million. For that cash, you could buy this penthouse in New York City, with enough left over to park a Bugatti Chiron for every day of the week in your garage. Oh, and even after all of that you'd still be $5,216,000 better off.
Still, the boat will take you to places no townhouse or hypercar ever could. And who are we to judge someone with that much money for treating themselves to a toy that can show you and your friends the world?
Source: Edmiston
