The SeaOrbiter – An Underwater Space…uhm, Ocean Ship?

Literally looking like something from a futuristic movie, the SeaOrbiter is a vessel unlike you’ve ever seen. Upon first glance, you will actually be forgiven for wondering how on earth this monster will manage to glide through the oceans of the world. The vessel looks totally unstable, unlike any other conventiional ship you may have ever seen.

But then again, this is no conventional ship.

The huge 167ft structure will be partly submerged, allowing what seems to be an upper deck and a lower deck – the latter being submerged under the water. Located in Norway, the testing of a smaller version of the vessel in simulated ocean conditions at Europe’s largest simulation laboratory proved the vessel to be extremely stable, even in some of the toughest simulated ocean conditions.

The vessel is currently in prototype phase but the inventor, Jacques Rougerie, has big dreams for the SeaOrbiter. It seems like the SeaOrbiter will act as a floating laboratory where researchers can remain under water almost permanently while researching the world’s oceans.

Now what would be the appropriate parting shot for this story? “Beam me up, Scotty!” No…how about “Take us down, Scotty?”