First NUCLEAR megayacht ‘Thor’ is 500ft mothership that can charge other vessels…& has smaller superyacht for day trips

A NUCLEAR megayacht, aptly named Thor, is set to revolutionise the industry with its massive 500ft length and massive on board nuclear core. The mothership from the Ulstein Group aims to harness nuclear energy to become the first superyacht of its kind. The Norwegian shipbuilders are in the race to make yachting more sustainable and they believe that Thor is the answer. In 2021, the team came up with their solution: a 149ft vessel that could base itself in remote areas such as the Antarctic.

There, it would serve as a mobile power and charging station for vessels visiting the area, a maximum of four per day. Øyvind Gjerde Kamsvåg, chief designer of the Ulstei Group, said: “We started talking about it as far back as 2006. “And although we could see some positives and negatives, we also recognised that the nuclear option would be an extremely tough sell!”. Øyvind posed his pros and cons for using such a volatile energy source.

He continued: “How can you ensure that hydrogen is manufactured in an eco-friendly way? Where do you find green ammonia?. “How much energy do you need to produce the amount of hydrogen and ammonia necessary to power a marine fleet?. “When it comes to hydrogen, you will currently need a tank almost the size of the ship to be able to have a certain range. “Alternative fuels currently available all have their limitations, but I believe the benefits of nuclear power would far surpass those of the alternatives.

“Thor will not only be an enabler for power, but it will have a research, replenishment and rescue capability and be able to travel around the world.”. Amazing pictures of the ship show its imposing length and sleek design. Unlike some other similar designs, the nuclear reactor doesn't appear to be visible from the outside. But there are plenty of vehicles on board, including a helicopter and even some rescue boats for good measure.

The plan would be to equip Thor with a nuclear reactor to generate 20 MW of clean electricity. The main issue is scaling a nuclear reactor down enough to fit onto Thor, given how dangerous they can be. But Ulstein has the answer to that too, with their Sif technology. Sif is a fully electric expedition cruise ship that can be recharged by Thor. Øyvind added: “By doing this, we have introduced a different type of infrastructure when it comes to energy availability in these remote areas.”.

It also makes Thor more adaptable to situations where it would be relied upon to be the first responder. THE seas are graced by dozens of luxurious superyachts - but these are the biggest five in the world:. Size - 728ft. Cost - £425m. Top speed - 20 knots. Bedrooms - 39. Size - 600ft. Cost - £253m. Top speed - 17 knots. Bedrooms - 18. Size - 597ft. Cost - £447m. Top speed - 30 knots. Size - 538ft. Cost - £394m. Top speed - 22 knots.

Bedrooms - Unclear. Size - 534ft. Cost - £552m. Top speed - 21 knots. Bedrooms - 17. There are lots of questions as to whether this is feasible, as some have raised concerns that the design would be too complex. Another issue will be finding a crew with the right technical expertise to handle a nuclear yacht. Despite this, Øyvind is confident that Thor could be a game changer in the yachting industry. Øyvind continued: “After all, while alternative fuels will be an intermediate solution, in the long term, I think nuclear power is the viable option for the future, either for power charging, to produce green fuel or to install as a source of energy.”.

One design from Iddes Yacths with a "floating sphere" on top, could hold 160 scientists from across the globe for sustainable exploration of our seas. Plans for the Earth 300 vessel - which has 13 floors and 22 labs - will have everything scientists will need to study and address problems such as climate change and pollution. The ship will be fitted with Molten Salt Reactors, a kind of nuclear reactor that uses liquid salt as fuel.