Dutch submarine manufacturer U-Boat Worx has been developing it over the past two years, but this September at the 22nd Monaco Yacht Show, it was finally launched – the C-Explorer 5, which the company describes as “the world’s first subsea limousine.”
Intended mainly for use by yacht-owners and at resorts, the air-conditioned CE5 (as it’s known for short) can accommodate four passengers, plus a pilot. Its pressurized acrylic-and-steel hull allows it to descend to a maximum depth of 300 meters (1,000 feet), where it can manage a top speed of 3 knots.
Its high-capacity lithium-ion batteries allow it to maintain operational autonomy for a claimed eight hours, with the option of upgrading to 16 – if things go wrong below the surface, it can maintain life support for 96 hours. Horizontal and vertical propulsion are handled by two pairs of 2-kilowatt thrusters, plus buyers can opt for two more 1.2-kilowatt models to aid in lateral movement.
Some other optional extras include an external manipulator arm, imaging sonar, LED lights, an HD video camera, and even a tethered remote-operated vehicle for checking out areas that the CE5 itself can’t squeeze into.
Should you want a C-Explorer 5 of your own, however, be prepared to pay €1.9 million (about US$2.4 million). If that seems a little pricey, you can always check out the company’s existing smaller models, the C-Explorers 2 and 3, and the C-Quester subs.
Source: U-Boat Worx