The ‘world’s biggest yacht’ will be home to floating ultra-luxyry apartments designed to satisfy the super rich who can unwind on an on-board beach.
Somnio – Latin for ‘Dream’ – was supposed to launch last year but the £480million yacht was delayed from setting sail.
And it recently suffered a further setback after the entrepreneur behind it was ordered to settle a costly bill.
The Times reported how London company Winch Design accused project bosses of failing to pay for initial designs. A High Court judge ruled that the £733,750 unpaid debt must be settled.
And with that suing dispute now concluded, below we look inside the monster yacht that is being built for only the wealthiest people in mind.
Inside Somnio
Information about the gigantic vessel was released to the public five years ago – and the details are as extravagant as you can imagine.
The length of Somnio is 728 feet and the 39 “customisable” apartments are priced at an eye-watering £8.1million each.
Some condos are more than 6,5000 square feet and have their own private balconies with the largest even spanning almost the entire top deck.
And in a bid to lure in buyers, a statement on the website reads: “The Beach Club area will open up to the outside deck with a large lap pool and two large spas as well as bars and sumptuous outdoor lounges and seating features. At the stern, the Marina area will house a wide range of watersports equipment and boats to facilitate beach landings, excursions, fishing, diving and snorkelling.”
As well as that, cash-happy owners will also have access to a 10,000 bottle wine cellar and tasting room.
The pricey apartments are spread over six decks and members can access “world-class medical facilities” with the website boasting about buyers being sheltered from “pandemics and global risks”.
Somnio is being built in Norway and is “designed to offer the right balance between generous spaces for the community to enjoy and private residences to call home”.
It is anticipated that the services including various restaurants would be similar to a “6-star resort” while condos are made up of personal gyms and libraries.
Concierge services will also be on hand 24 hours a day with the focus of the yacht being on “slow-paced travel”.
As well as being a playground for the rich to relax, the ship will also be home to eco-missions where scientists will research ocean environments using advanced equipment.
Who is behind the project?
One of the co-founders is Captain Erik Bredhe who was once Master of M/V The World – the only residential vessel at sea.
And ambitious plans for Somnio were first announced by Australian entrepreneur Carl Le Souef who has just been ordered to settle the £730,000 bill for Winch Designs.
Le Souef was inspired to launch his own superyacht way back in 2007 while boarding Bredhe’s The World residential ship where condos cost up to £12 million.
According to The Times, the pair joined forces before starting Somnio where they asked for £100,000 non-refundable deposits for apartments.
Co-founder Bredhe once said in a statement: “Beauty may be found as much on the inside of Somnio as it is on the outside. Our owners will experience only the best, as is befitting of a yacht of this nature.”
He also added that the identity of apartment buyers would be a “tightly guarded secret”.
