$550m mega yacht that looks like a shark

Lazzarini Design Studio is pushing the boundaries with a brand new superyacht design that's shaped like a shark.

Measuring a staggering 153 metres (502 feet), Prodigium is to be made of carbon fibre and aluminium and has an estimated market price tag of just under $550 million (c. €461 million). The mega yacht concept is equipped with its own port with enough space for a second yacht measuring up to 30 metres (98 feet), as well as three swimming pools.

Its exterior design features ancient Roman influences, with two stately columns holding up its upper structure in grandiose fashion. While an ocean predator and Roman architecture might not seem like obvious design influences to incorporate into a futuristic vessel concept, this is to represent the shark as the "emperor of the seas", according to the design team.

Consisting of six decks, Prodigium's enclosed upper level, which houses the main living area, has been devised to mimic the teeth and nose of an ocean predator. Both sides of the vessel are to be equipped with two huge extendable fins that can serve as additional terrace space.

Prodigium, which has three jet engines and twin electric centre line engines, is capable of reaching an estimated cruising speed of about 22 knots, according to Lazzarini Design Studio.

The luxury yacht can accommodate around 40 guests at a time, and with three helicopter hangars and two garages filled with water toys on board, there is plenty to keep them entertained. All the suites are based in the down hull area, along with a gym, and at least one enclosed pool.

Prodigium is the second of six new concepts inspired by nature that are currently being developed by Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini - the first being the swan-shaped Avanguardia concept. While this project is still in the early phases of the design process, Lazzarini estimates the vessel would take at least 28 months to construct if or when it is picked up by a shipyard.

This latest concept comes as demand for superyachts continues to grow. The global fleet jumped from 3,906 crafts in 2009 to 5,646 in 2019, according to The Superyacht Group.

The market is projected to reach a value of $10.2 billion (c. €8.5 billion) by 2025 as an increasing amount of yachts measuring longer than 24 metres (78 feet) are ordered, and designers are going all out to ensure their concepts are bigger and better than the competition.

Meanwhile, Red Yacht Design and Dykstra Naval Architects have teamed up to devise Ice Kite, an eco-friendly superyacht concept that can be pulled along by a 158-square-metre (1,700-square-foot) kite.

For more information, visit Lazzarini Design Studio. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the best of Yachting Pages delivered to your inbox every month.

Source: CNN Travel