octopus yacht interior pictures

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octopus yacht interior pictures

One of the largest and most spectacular examples of a full-fledged yachting and exploration vessel, 126-meter Octopus is equipped with highly sophisticated technology. Espen Øino International designed the striking exterior with a blue and white hull and superstructure, featuring two helipads and a hangar aft. The superyacht is capable of exploration and scientific research voyages requiring months at sea. One of her key features is an integrated dock for both the principal 20-meter guest tender and two submarines for exploring marine life, one of which is remotely controlled for reaching greater depths. Octopus also houses a professional music studio and a grandiose cinema, created by interior designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

octopus yacht interior pictures

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OCTOPUS Interior & Exterior Photos

126.2m  /  414'1   lurssen   2003 / 2024.

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Exploring the Depths of Luxury: Discovering the Lürssen 126m Octopus Superyacht

Exploring the Depths of Luxury: Discovering the Lürssen 126m Octopus Superyacht

Lurssen MY Octopus: Inspiring Adventure, Encouraging Joy

Since her 2003 launch, Lürssen’s luxury explorer yacht Octopus has quietly completed a nearly continuous calendar of itineraries while maintaining a very private profile. That is a long time for any superstar to run silent. A recent change in status has made her a hot talking point, entertaining a high level of interest as she enters the charter market for the first time.

Emerging from a 20-year cocoon of privacy, the 126-meter Octopus is now splashing her fabulous interiors across screen and page, setting a high bar for comparison with any other yacht of her size, new or old, as well as in her category as an explorer vessel. She is capable, luxurious, spacious, and fitted to supply extraordinary needs for the adventurer, researcher, scientist, and leisure traveler alike.

Lurssen Octopus sailing in the midst of stunning natural scenery.

The Marvel of the Octopus Design

Designed and built years ahead of the current trend in explorer style vessels, there were just a handful of yachts that exceeded Octopus in length. None so successfully dovetailed sumptuous interiors with serious research and exploration features. Owing to the imagination and foresight of the design team along with the yacht’s original owner, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Octopus still presents a classic yacht profile defined by style and beauty that is equaled only by her extraordinary capabilities.

How does one design a highly technical yacht that retains top status among new launches for two decades? With Octopus, age is just a number -- another statistic to add to her impressive list of accomplishments.

Paul Allen’s vision for this predecessor embraced the ability to explore remote regions where support is limited and challenges abound. Allen wanted an ice class yacht boasting endurance, range, and speed, capable of housing two helicopters, very large tenders, a submarine, and lots of equipment that would facilitate highly technical exploration of underwater life, shipwrecks, and sea floor features.

Allen’s vision was sent to Lürssen, who then forwarded it to the desk of Espen Øino, a young, designer at the time who put his skill and optimism to work in creating a yacht with brilliantly designed, unique new features. Espen cites his youth as an advantage in approaching the ambitious project.

“It takes a lot to convince me that things cannot be done,” Espen stated, advising that dividing a big problem into several smaller ones and resolving them one by one often unveils a solution. Espen found the complex requirements in the design of the stern dock on Octopus to be the most challenging and the most rewarding feature of the yacht. He described the result as “An elegant solution to a complex problem.“

The internal dry dock that began to emerge in the design would need to accommodate protected storage for a very large, powerful tender, a submarine, and several smaller tenders and watercraft. The weight of these machines alone would cause the yacht to list if launched from either side.

Espen said they decided on the central internal dry dock by playing with the rules of stability, as the longitudinal trim would prove less disruptive than that of the transverse plane for launching big machines.

Storing the vessels on the centerline and in bulkheads on the B5 line adjacent to the central marina optimized the rules, solving the puzzle with a novel, internal , floodable dry dock marina approach.

That decision still required intensive engineering work to insure structural integrity amid all of the openings required to store such a large number of big, heavy machines inside the hull, in addition to the helipads, hangars, and pools. In the end, Espen found it to be his favorite spot on the yacht. The massive, 2-story space, filled with incredible equipment and a travel lift, is an impressive visual.

“It was quite challenging structurally to keep it all together, to make it stiff enough so that everything stood upright properly, with big, moving parts, and many openings in the outboard shell sides,” Espen remarked.

Luxe Interiors Expected of a Superyacht

The posh, clean lined Interiors designed by Jonathan Quinn Barnett underwent a 2019 refit by Monk Design, executed by the Lürssen-acquired Blohm + Voss yard, ensuring everything was refreshed, stylish, comfy, and ready to go. Originally built at Lürssen shipyards, the interior details of this ultra-private yacht are at last on display through Camper & Nicholsons, a company with 240 years of marine industry knowledge.

The List is Long: Features and Amenities

A steel, full displacement ice class 1A hull gives Octopus free range throughout the earth’s waters, top to bottom, warm to cold. A protected interior two-level marina with concealed 36 meter floodable tender garage hosts a 16 meter tender and a 12 meter submersible, accompanied by a fleet of six additional tenders.

Two helicopter pads, a 13-meter heated freshwater swimming pool, a forward-facing observation lounge, gym and fitness area, cinema, library, two elevators, fully equipped technical and free dive center, hyperbaric chamber, and an extensive toy list just begin to scratch the surface of Octopus’s amenities. And, just for fun, a retractable glass floor covers the pool to create a stunning, flush deck dance and entertainment space.

To Sleep: Perchance, to Dream

It’s hard to put in an exhilarating day of heliskiing atop an Antarctic glacier or a deep sea dive to a remote shipwreck without a pleasant night’s sleep. Turning last night’s dreams into today’s adventures, Octopus accommodates 12 guests spread over four of the yacht’s eight decks. The deck seven full-beam king master suite, outfitted with a king bed, dual baths, a private observation lounge, a private exterior deck, and a private elevator helps to de-stress for an excellent day of adventure to come.

Deck four houses two VIP king suites, four queen suites, one double suite, and one twin cabin, along with a separate cabin with a single bed, sofa, and en suite. Deck Three offers two twin cabins and two queen cabins, with sofa/daybeds.

Crew needs sleep, too, especially when they are so carefully selected to serve on board for their individual expertise and performance. Dive specialists, submarine specialists, accomplished chefs, and experienced staff are all at the ready. Deck two has one single berth cabin, thirteen double berth shares, and three triple berth shares, all refitted with new baths in 2019. Deck three houses the chief engineer’s cabin, four single head of department cabins with beds and pullman bunks, one double berth share and four triple berth shares. Deck six finds the captain’s cabin and the chief officer’s cabin appropriately located near the wheelhouse.

Knowledge is Power: An Early Adaptor

Designed with a hybrid propulsion diesel electric system, Octopus has extensive range to travel to remote locations that most yachts can only imagine. Twin ABB Industry AG-E electric motors combined with eight MTU 16V 4000 M50 diesel engines power Octopus to a mind-blowing 12,500 nautical miles at 12 knots, able to spend months at sea. Maximum speed is 19 knots.

Where Would You Go?

Octopus is clearly capable of heading out to even the most secluded of destinations, safely, comfortably, and stylishly. She has slipped in and out of bays around the world, skipped across every ocean, and provided researchers and scientists with a fully equipped floating laboratory. Knowing that, where would you go with Octopus as your transport?

Jacqui Lockhart, European Head of Charter Management for Camper & Nicholsons, responded she would gather a group of well-traveled friends and head to “All corners of the earth but back to Antarctica where Octopus will return in December 2024.” Available for charter through Camper & Nicholsons at €2,200,000 per week, Jacqui added that during the summer of 2023, Octopus will be based in the Mediterranean.

Espen was also enthusiastic about where he would point Octopus, listing an itinerary embracing “all places you can’t reach unless you bring your own bed.” He would embark on an epic ski adventure to Antarctica, the west coast of South America, the south island of New Zealand, Japan, Norway, Greenland, and the Kamchatka Peninsula. So, should you find yourself lucky enough to book time on board Octopus, and have an extra cabin, don’t forget to invite Espen.

Lurssen Octopus L-1

Photos: Camper & Nicholsons / Dave Le Roux | Words: K.L. Turner

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Inside Octopus: Origin story of the 126m superyacht finally revealed

octopus yacht interior pictures

The barest of details have been revealed about the mysterious  Octopus  over the past 19 years. But with a new owner and on the charter market for the first time, the 126-metre  Lürssen  superyacht is finally ready to reveal her secrets past and present…

One of the best things about flying into the South of France is the view. The brilliant blue coastline is peppered with hundreds of yachts. On this flight, however, just one of the boats below us demands our attention: the 126-metre explorer  Octopus .

octopus yacht interior pictures

The following day, in the port of Marseille where her new owner’s team is wrapping up a refit before  Octopus  departs for the Galápagos, I finally see her up close. Her navy-blue hull and skyscraper decks are incredibly impressive, while on the inside she is welcoming and warm. Although she has been refitted, her history is palpable. There’s much to learn about  Octopus , and everyone involved in her story is finally ready to talk, after decades of silence.

Why was  Octopus  such a secret? In 1998, strict non-disclosure agreements were issued all around to protect the privacy of her original owner, the late American entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft. “It was the first time I was faced with an NDA,” says  Espen Øino , who has gone on to sign hundreds over the years. “NDAs are strict and long lasting and don’t necessarily pass when the client does,” notes  Jonathan Quinn Barnett , who created  Octopus ’s original interior. “I had deep respect and admiration for Mr Allen, so to be able to say even a few words about  Octopus  now is marvellous.”

octopus yacht interior pictures

For builder Lürssen, the story started with a bit of detective work. The German shipyard’s sales director, Michael Breman, heard about a mysterious box that was loaded onto Allen’s 60.6-metre Feadship  Méduse , which supposedly contained a scale model of a new vessel.

“I figured out that something was going on and we ought to be involved,” he says. “So I contacted Paul Allen’s broker, [ Fraser’s ] Stuart Larsen, to ask some questions.”

Some time after, during a trip to the South of France, Breman received the go-ahead to submit a bid and arranged for a fax containing the brief to be sent to Øino’s office in Monaco. “Put that into context, this is 1998!” Øino says with a laugh. “Michael was in our office as the fax came in and going through it, we just couldn’t believe the brief, we thought it was totally crazy.”

octopus yacht interior pictures

The brief called for an industrial-style yacht with the appearance and capability of the Finnish multipurpose icebreaker  Fennica , built in 1993. Luckily, Øino knew the vessel. “I had a photo of  Fennica  from a few years earlier when I visited her while cruising with another client in the fjords,” says the designer. What he went on to sketch in pencil and model for the presentation was a sturdy explorer with two interchangeable options for the bow and the wheelhouse. “What is remarkable is that the original sketches and ideas are so close to what it actually became,” Breman says.

Another key part of the brief was for all toys and tenders, including a helicopter, a submarine and a floatplane, to be carried in a concealed way. So Øino drew a methodical general arrangement that included a two-level 36-metre-long floodable garage opening at the stern. “Launching so many toys over the side of the boat wasn’t the optimum idea and would affect the stability; a lot of heeling would occur,” the designer says.

octopus yacht interior pictures

Instead, working with the rules that oversee subdivisions inside a ship’s hull – and deal with damage stability calculations – he created one very long and tall compartment on the yacht’s centreline with a floodable dock flanked by rows of smaller garages to store the entire toy inventory of what became known as Project Octopus.

“At Lürssen, we give everything a project name, and my daughter came up with  Octopus ,” says Breman. “Along with Paul’s love for diving, plus the fact that his previous yacht was  Méduse  [“jellyfish” in French], we thought  Octopus  was a perfect project name. Little did we know then that  Octopus  would be her name once completed and delivered.” Øino says. “She was our 15th project enquiry in 1998, and so in my office, she was known as 9815.”

octopus yacht interior pictures

The proposal Lürssen created with Øino was successful, but the German shipyard soon had to resolve its first quandary – it didn’t have a shed available. “We ended up having to build her with a partner in Kiel,” Breman says. It also had to solve the matter of the explorer’s floodable garage, which had to be approved by class. “After researching multiple alternatives, the first idea that Espen drew was the one that worked the best,” he adds. “Our in-house model department then built a scale model of the garage to demonstrate how it could work. We even tested it by driving a tender in and out.”

Octopus’ s interior, meanwhile, came from a young American designer who had recently relocated from London where he’d worked with  Jon Bannenberg , to Seattle. The owner’s team chose Barnett from a small pool of interior designers to embellish the complex GA of the largest and most advanced explorer yacht ever built at the time.

octopus yacht interior pictures

“Paul Allen’s team told me the safest route would be to follow the creative direction of the owner’s two previous  Feadship  designs,” the designer says. “I did the opposite!” And the result was what Barnett describes as a “floating laboratory”, a timeless design perfectly suited to a creative genius. Included in the layout were out-of-the-box features such as a fully equipped medical centre, a storm cabin made to keep those who needed it comfortable in bad weather and a professional recording studio. “Back then, no yacht was capable of non-stop circumnavigation, while cutting an album for U2,” he says. Mick Jagger, Usher and Joss Stone are also said to have spent time in the studio – a claim no other superyacht is ever likely to make.

octopus yacht interior pictures

Barnett took a simple approach to the interior decor. While some walls are painted a neutral colour, others are covered in bee’s wing-figured eucalyptus, and it’s this vast amount of wood panelling that gives the hardy explorer the warm, comfortable feeling of a home. For Allen and Barnett, the walls were just another fun puzzle to solve. “The geometry of the panels is elegant mathematics, something Mr Allen really appreciated,” Barnett says. “The handmade veneer arrived on custom-made grids, which fitted within the yacht’s own uniquely built steel frame spacing.” The walls do not just provide insulation and conceal cableways, but originally held the ever-changing art gallery on each deck. What’s on the walls today are snapshots of  Octopus ’s adventures over the years: panoramas of Patagonian icebergs, portraits of local tribe members in Tahiti and landscapes of Asia’s ancient golden temples.

octopus yacht interior pictures

An original feature that remains on the yacht to this day is an unusual timekeeping device. Braided stainless-steel shrouds from a sailing vessel are strung on either side of the grand staircase from lower to upper deck, and they function as a clock. “I combined the old tradition of having a central clock on board a ship with my client’s unique passions for modern sculpture, mathematics, art and music,” Barnett explains. “I subcontracted a 102-year-old German specialist clock company to make it, and – I’ll tell you a secret – I used digital audio software from Apple for the tunes. Sorry, Microsoft!” he says with a laugh. “I thought the clock might become a helpful visual cue to help guests find some critical orientation. Every 15 minutes, the strings could play anything from  The Bells of St Mary’s  to Jimi Hendrix!”

octopus yacht interior pictures

Octopus  was also fitted with an huge amount of onboard electronics. “Of course, the co-founder of Microsoft required more than 54 tonnes of AV and IT equipment on board,” Øino says with a smile. While the bulk of the wiring went to the studio, each cabin was assigned 60 cables for computers, entertainment systems and more, including touchscreens – which in 1998, was an exciting innovation. “They were amazing,” says Øino, “so far ahead of their time.” The touchscreens are still used today by the crew, who also use iPads as infotainment control panels for elements such as lighting and music in guest areas.

When  Octopus  launched in 2003, it was clear she had broken new ground. With diesel-electric propulsion consisting of two ABB electric motors and eight MTU 16V 4000 M50 diesel engines, she was perfectly equipped to travel anywhere in the world. “ Octopus  was always on the go,” Øino says. “Diesel-electric wasn’t commonplace in the early millennium,” he observes, and “ Octopus  was the first yacht with dynamic positioning.”

octopus yacht interior pictures

The project propelled Lürssen into the large-yacht segment and her designers had a huge career boost. “ Octopus  blew everyone away,” Breman says. “The idea and the design are something unprecedented.” What the first aerial photographs of the yacht could make out were her winged wheelhouse, long swimming pool, two helidecks and hangars and a basketball court. Whereas on the inside, areas such as the dive centre with hyperbaric chamber, 12 cabins and private owner’s deck with its own lift, terrace and spa pool were out of sight.

After a decade of extensive travelling,  Octopus ’s engines had to be overhauled. However, her interior had worn well. “There was nothing that required a major redesign or change,” Barnett says. “All the original architecture, spaces, surfaces and design details still performed exceptionally well. Seeing it made me immensely proud.”

octopus yacht interior pictures

Although she was well-maintained and in full working order, in 2019 she was sent for a refit at the Lürssen-owned  Blohm+Voss  shipyard to prepare her for the market several months after Allen passed in 2018. She had spent two decades playing host to many parties, concerts, discoveries and expeditions, and the legacy needed to continue.

In 2021, a new owner came along with plans to make her available for select charters. Transforming  Octopus  into the remarkable charter yacht that he envisioned required a few more changes. The owner’s team enlisted Adriana Monk of  Monk Design  to retouch several spaces. Top of the list was replacing the recording studio.

octopus yacht interior pictures

“Unless you’re really into music, a studio is a niche thing to have,” says Alan Pike, one of two rotational captains. Now in the studio’s prime position – aft on the bridge deck – is a modern bar/ lounge. On either side of the new bar, new guitars hang from the original wall mounts and the grand piano has stayed put. In keeping with the beach bar look Monk created, new bleached oak flooring matches the original weathered teak deck outside.

“The vocal booth is now a DJ booth,” says the captain. “We’ve kept the soundproofing, so this place is perfect for a party, or any kind of dining.” With a new sound system and outdoor lighting, “we can really go for it”. Outdoors, there’s a glass- bottom pool that, at the touch of a button, can be made into an on-water dance floor. There’s also a wood-fired pizza oven, a service bar with a beer tap and three barbecue cooking stations.

On the entertainment deck, the former formal dining room became a wine bar. On the ceiling are scenes from Allen’s 2015 shipwreck dive to the Second World War battleship  Musashi  in the Philippines. “I was granted exclusive access to the ROV footage of the  Musashi  expedition to select shipwreck stills for the backlit ceiling,” Monk says.

octopus yacht interior pictures

Nearby, the guest observation lounge was, and still is, a firm favourite. “To dine here while cruising is a joy that’s hard to describe,” says Barnett. “I like to think of this area’s design as a mid-century sunken living room.” The feeling is created by two large sofas that snake around the room looking out over the bow. The seats look low, but the view is perfect. The rest of the deck is fun and social, as there’s also a 12-seat 4D cinema, the owner’s chef ’s galley, a table-tennis table, gym, smoothie bar, hair and massage salons and a grand library, complete with an ethanol fireplace.

Soft beige and cream carpets with wave patterns have replaced patterned blue and green rugs, and in addition to the new custom-designed pieces, free-standing items of furniture selected by Monk have helped give the interior a feel that suits  Octopus ’s new charter lifestyle. But it’s nothing dramatic. “We have kept as much as possible true to the original,” the captain says. “I strove to respect the spirit of  Octopus  while capturing the new owner’s lifestyle and vision,” Monk adds. “It was an intense and challenging project.”

octopus yacht interior pictures

The yacht’s charter schedule was entrusted to  Camper & Nicholsons .  Octopus ’s range of 12,500 nautical miles and true explorer credentials offer a huge scope for charter, and as the ripples prove on the hull’s strong plating, she is more than capable of going the distance. “She can do anything!” says charter marketing manager Gayle Patterson, who has already booked the superyacht on two excursions to Antarctica. The demand has been equal to the yacht’s renown. “We’ve grown our yacht management team to give her the care she deserves,” she adds.

Since  Octopus  was delivered, many more superyachts have adopted technologically forward designs and groundbreaking engineering and have undertaken impressive expeditions. But none have achieved what  Octopus  has. As she continues to move around the world, more people will get the opportunity to step on board. And when they do, perhaps they will feel the undeniable magic that seems to linger. One thing is for sure: wherever  Octopus  carries her guests, it is a journey they will remember for the rest of their lives.

octopus yacht interior pictures

The Toy Chest

Built to explore,  Octopus  has an incredible fleet that revolves around the cavernous 36-metre internal wet dock where the two main tenders are stored and launched through a giant transom door. Today the main tender is an 18-metre Delta 54, built in carbon with an impressive range of 450nm at 30 knots; the original was  Man-of-War , an 18-metre custom Vikal, later replaced by a 13-metre Hinckley. Sharing that space was a yellow 10-person custom submarine, named  Pagoo . A new Triton 3300/6 will take that spot when it is delivered in early 2023. Most of the other tenders have dedicated garages on either side of the wet dock. They are a 9.3-metre custom Vikal limousine and two 8.7-metre custom Zodiacs, one for diving, the other for guests. Two 5.8-metre Zodiac Milpro MK-V are also available for watersports, as is an array of WaveRunners, jet skis, kayaks, surfboards, wakeboards, kitesurfers, windsurfers and electric foil Fliteboards, plus plenty of diving equipment, The icing on the cake is a remotely controlled submarine (ROV) able to dive to 2,700 metres. To conclude this impressive list,  Octopus  has two helipads and a helicopter hangar for two. Moving forward, helicopters will be chartered as needed.

octopus yacht interior pictures

The Voyages

Octopus  is one of the most active superyachts ever built. Multiple circumnavigations, the  Northwest Passage , the High Arctic,  Antarctica , Papua New Guinea and Challenger Deep were all on the menu. One of Paul Allen’s passions was naval history. A few missions that offered the opportunity for great discoveries were well publicised, like the discovery of the Japanese warship  Musashi  in the Sibuyan Sea in March 2015 after eight years of intense work. The largest battleship ever built (aside from her sistership) sank in October 1944, but the exact location was unknown.  OctoROV  took the first photos of this lost wreck in a depth of 1,000 metres. Later that year, in August, after two attempts, another expedition recovered the bell of HMS  Hood , sunk by the Germans off Greenland in 1941.

octopus yacht interior pictures

And it looks like the story will continue.  Octopus , according to BOAT Pro data, has already cruised 9,047 nautical miles since leaving Marseille after her refit in December. In less than three months, she had already crossed the Atlantic and visited Panama including Coiba, Costa Rica and Cocos Island and the Galápagos. This winter, Camper & Nicholsons has announced that she will be heading south to test her ice-class capabilities in the frozen landscapes of Antarctica once again.

For more information please visit: www.boatinternational.com

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Awesome New Images From Inside Superyacht M/Y ‘Octopus’

Awesome New Images From Inside Superyacht M/Y ‘Octopus’

John McMahon

As with many luxury superyachts, glimpses of their interiors are reserved only for the eyes of those lucky enough to step aboard.

We’re almost  never privy to any footage or images snapped through a phone camera from the inside. So when a professional photographer gains access to one of the biggest and grandest explorer yachts in the world, it’s worth a flick through at the least.

octopus yacht interior pictures

After being listed for sale last September for a sail-away price of AU$477 million, central sales agents Fraser and Burgess have now shared a closer look inside Octopus for prospective buyers.

The eight-deck yacht can accommodate 26 guests across 13 cabins, comprising of a master suite, two VIP suites, seven doubles and three twins. The master suite features a king-size bed, two ensuite bathrooms and a private observation deck. There’s also an additional 28 cabins for the 60 staff that Allen employed.

octopus yacht interior pictures

This is a Bond villain setup if we’ve ever seen one.

RELATED:  Paul Allen’s 126m Lürssen Superyacht ‘Octopus’ Up For Sale

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octopus yacht interior pictures

Motor Yacht

Octopus is a 126.20m (414.04ft) motor yacht, custom built in 2003 and last refitted in 2008.

One of the largest and most spectacular examples of a full-fledged yachting and exploration vessel, 126-meter Octopus is equipped with highly sophisticated technology.

Espen Øino International designed the striking exterior with a blue and white hull and superstructure, featuring two helipads and a hangar aft.

The superyacht is capable of exploration and scientific research voyages requiring months at sea. One of her key features is an integrated dock for both the principal 20-meter guest tender and two submarines for exploring marine life, one of which is remotely controlled for reaching greater depths.

Octopus also houses a professional music studio and a grandiose cinema, created by interior designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

With a permanent berth in the International Yacht Club Marina in Antibes, this giant is owned by Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen. With a full-time crew of 60 including former Navy Seals, maintenance and salaries on the ship cost a rumoured $200 million. Octopus is well-known for hosting famous faces onboard its well-equipped decks, serviced only by world leaders in their fields.

  • Yacht Builder Lurssen Yachts View profile
  • Naval Architect Lurssen Yachts View profile
  • Exterior Designer Espen Oeino View profile
  • Interior Designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett No profile available

Yacht Specs

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octopus yacht interior pictures

In pictures: 126m Octopus explores Antarctica

Camper & Nicholsons has shared the first images of 126.2 metre Octopus exploring the icy waters of the White Continent as part of a cross-planet charter expedition. According to BOATPro , the superyacht arrived in Antarctica in late December and has since visited as far as James Ross island in the southeast and Anvers island in the west. 

The yacht, which is widely considered the first ‘true’ explorer, was famously commissioned for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and comes packed with adventure-enhancing amenities including helipads, pools and a fully-equipped dive centre.

The superyacht was sold in August 2021 and joined the charter fleet later that same month. Since then she has cruised the coasts of Mexico, passed through the Panama Canal and explored the cities of Brazil.  

Antarctica marks the final leg of her ambitious charter tour. She is currently crossing the Drake Passage on her route back to Ushuaia, Argentina. 

Octopus is equipped with an ice-class 1A steel hull and is fitted with two-hybrid ABB Industry AG E-Motors that can help her limit her environmental footprint in the delicate cruising grounds of Antarctica. She has a flotilla of tenders for getting up close to the region's soaring glaciers and penguin population. 

Additionally, she carries an ROV. Antarctica is home to a number of shipwrecks, and Octopus is no stranger to uncovering important underwater artefacts .

Octopus was delivered in 2003 by Lürssen to an exterior design by Espen Øino , with US designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett creating her interiors.

"She's the perfect yacht to undertake such a voyage," said Jacqui Lockhart, head of charter marketing for Camper & Nicholsons. 

"She's well-equipped to host intrepid charterers off the beaten track with a fully equipped medical suite and dive centre on board - complete with hyperbaric chamber - as well as a submarine and two helipads. Octopus was truly built for explorer expeditions."

Beneath her tough exterior, Octopus offers a range of features designed for rest and recreation across her eight decks, including a spa, cinema, library and observation lounge. Accommodation is offered for a total of 12 guests, including a private owner’s deck complete with its own elevator.

She can reach a top speed of 19 knots and is equipped with an impressive range of 12,500 nautical miles when cruising at 12 knots.

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IMAGES

  1. Onboard yacht Octopus interior pictures

    octopus yacht interior pictures

  2. OCTOPUS Yacht • Roger Samuelsson $285M SuperYacht

    octopus yacht interior pictures

  3. Take a look inside the 126m superyacht Octopus

    octopus yacht interior pictures

  4. Onboard yacht Octopus interior pictures

    octopus yacht interior pictures

  5. Take a look inside the 126m superyacht Octopus

    octopus yacht interior pictures

  6. OCTOPUS Yacht • Roger Samuelsson $285M SuperYacht

    octopus yacht interior pictures

VIDEO

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COMMENTS

  1. OCTOPUS Yacht • Roger Samuelsson $285M SuperYacht

    The yacht houses a host of luxurious features including a helicopter hangar, a 10-person submarine, and multiple leisure and wellness facilities. Octopus can accommodate 12 guests along with a crew of 42, providing unmatched hospitality. The yacht is estimated to be worth $285 million, with annual running costs of around $29 million.

  2. Inside the Octopus Superyacht

    Built bigger, better, and dripping with luxury, superyachts can often feel like their own private hotel drifting through the ocean. But one, in particular, i...

  3. Onboard Octopus: Interior of Paul Allen's legendary 126m superyacht

    Onboard the 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus, interiors unveiled for the first time. ... Onboard Octopus: Interior of Paul Allen's legendary 126m superyacht unveiled. Written by Francesca Webster. Sat, 23 Apr 2022 | 09:00.

  4. Bespoke exploration superyacht Octopus, custom-built for scientific

    126-meter luxury megayacht. Interior by Jonathan Quinn Barnett and exterior by Espen Øino International. Innovative bespoke construction by Lürssen, master German shipbuilder since 1875. Custom-built for exploration and scientific research, complete with two submarines and a professional music studio. Delivered in 2003.

  5. Octopus: New pictures of Lürssen's 126m explorer

    Commissioned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Octopus was built in steel by German yard Lürssen and delivered in 2003. At the time of her launch, she was easily the largest explorer yacht ever built and heralded a new era of superyachts built to travel to the ends of the earth, equipped with scientific and research equipment and all the little (and not-so-little) luxuries expected of a ...

  6. OCTOPUS Yacht Photos

    SIMILAR LUXURY CHARTER YACHTS. Interior & exterior photos of OCTOPUS, the 126m Lurssen Yachts mega yacht, designed by Espen Oeino with an interior by Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

  7. Inside The $325 Million Octopus Yacht

    Inside The $325 Million Octopus YachtToday, we will be taking a look at the top-of-the-line luxury octopus yacht. The octopus yacht is a blend of luxury and ...

  8. Lurssen Octopus Superyacht: Features, Photos & Specifications

    Explore the features of the amazing superyacht Lurssen Octopus! Interior and exterior photos, performance specs and more on itBoat. Explore. Powerboats. All / 13771 Cabin Cruisers ... Characteristics of the superyacht Octopus. Main Features. Length, m. 126.2. Beam, m. 21. Draft, m. 5.8. Tonnage and capacity. Gross register tonnage. 9932. Fuel ...

  9. Inside $285 Million World's Largest Explorer Yacht

    Inside $285 Million World's Largest Explorer Yacht | OCTOPUS SUPERYACHTOctopus is a 126-metre megayacht built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. She is one...

  10. Exploring the Depths of Luxury: Discovering the Lürssen 126m Octopus

    Discover the inspiring and adventurous Lurssen MY Octopus, a luxury explorer yacht that's making waves in the charter market. With a 20-year history of successful research and exploration, this vessel boasts incredible capabilities, sumptuous interiors, and a unique design that sets it apart from other explorer-style yachts.

  11. Octopus: Behind the build of Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen explorer

    Behind the build of Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen explorer Octopus. The barest of details have been revealed about the mysterious Octopus over the past 19 years. But with a new owner and on the charter market for the first time, the 126-metre Lürssen is finally ready to reveal her secrets past and present, says Laura Nicholls.

  12. Octopus (yacht)

    Octopus in Barbados, December 2, 2006 Octopus in Antibes Port Vauban, in 2009 Octopus in Hamburg, August 1, 2019. Octopus's exterior was designed by Espen Øino Naval Architects and built by the German shipbuilders Lürssen in Bremen and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel. [3] The interior was by designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.. Consisting of eight decks, including a private owners' deck ...

  13. The story of Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen superyacht Octopus

    Among the notable missions undertaken by Octopus was the recovery of the ship's bell of HMS Hood, sunk by the Bismarck in 2,700m off Greenland, and the discovery of the Japanese warship Musashi 1,000m down in the Sibuyan Sea.. For all that, Octopus is a true superyacht, fitted out in luxurious style by Jonathan Barnett.The interior finish includes an antique bronze door from the 1930s, and ...

  14. Inside Octopus: Origin story of the 126m superyacht finally revealed

    The barest of details have been revealed about the mysterious Octopus over the past 19 years. But with a new owner and on the charter market for the first time, the 126-metre Lürssen superyacht is finally ready to reveal her secrets past and present…. One of the best things about flying into the South of France is the view.

  15. Pictures Inside the Octopus Superyacht Don't Do it Justice

    The Octopus yacht was built by Lurssen, with Espen Oeino handling the exterior design and Jonathan Quinn Barnett completing the design for the interior. Capable of a cruising speed of 17 knots, the Octopus has a top speed of 20 knots. She can sleep 26 guests and a crew of 57. What makes the Octopus yacht such a spectacle, aside from its massive ...

  16. Awesome New Images From Inside Superyacht M/Y 'Octopus'

    After being listed for sale last September for a sail-away price of AU$477 million, central sales agents Fraser and Burgess have now shared a closer look inside Octopus for prospective buyers. The eight-deck yacht can accommodate 26 guests across 13 cabins, comprising of a master suite, two VIP suites, seven doubles and three twins.

  17. Inside the Octopus, the Luxury 414-Foot Superyacht With a Submarine

    Lana from Imperial Yachts, 107 meters (351 feet) Lockhart told Newsweek that Octopus has only recently become available for charter. It was built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who died in ...

  18. 126.2m Octopus Superyacht

    Octopus is a 126.20m (414.04ft) motor yacht, custom built in 2003 and last refitted in 2008. One of the largest and most spectacular examples of a full-fledged yachting and exploration vessel, 126-meter Octopus is equipped with highly sophisticated technology. Espen Øino International designed the striking exterior with a blue and white hull ...

  19. Yacht Octopus • Lurssen • 2003 • Photos & Video

    Yacht Octopus Photos & Video. &. Yacht Owner Photos Location For Sale & Charter News. Name: Octopus. Length: 126 m (414 ft) Builder: Lurssen.

  20. Octopus Yacht Photos

    Octopus Yacht Photos Octopus is a motor yacht with a length of 126.2 m.The yacht's builder is Lürssen Yachts from Germany who delivered superyacht Octopus in 2003. The superyacht has a beam of 21.82 m, a draft of 5.76 m and a volume of 9932 GT.

  21. New images on board the 126m world explorer Octopus

    Central sales agents Fraser and Burgess have shared more imagery showing what's onboard the eight decks of the 126.2m explorer yacht Octopus. New images on board the 126m world explorer Octopus See more

  22. In pictures: 126m Octopus explores Antarctica

    In pictures: 126m Octopus explores Antarctica. 17 January 2023 • Written by Katia Damborsky. Camper & Nicholsons has shared the first images of 126.2 metre Octopus exploring the icy waters of the White Continent as part of a cross-planet charter expedition. According to BOATPro, the superyacht arrived in Antarctica in late December and has ...

  23. Luxury Motor Yacht for Charter OCTOPUS

    8 X MTU 4000 HP. Generators: Engines: 8 x MTU 4000 HP. Generators: 8 x ABB AMG 500L4L prime mover MTU diesel engines. Dynamic positioning systems (DPS) to automatically maintain the yacht's position. Stabilizers: 1 x set of SKF Type Z, Z600-595-13, S-mode/S-mode operational, Surface area 16.5 m2 x 2. Main HPU power 90kW x 2 per fin Gyro ...