This $500-million superyacht’s radar shields are so huge, its crew looks like insects cleaning them; Marc Newson, famous for his work on Apple Watch, designed it for Japanese billionaire
A viral video of Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa’s $500 million sailing superyacht, Nausicaä, is sweeping the internet. While mega-yachts are no rarity among the elite and tech founders, this 374-foot vessel is turning heads for an unusual reason: the staggering scale of its onboard satellite equipment. Several photos and videos across Instagram and X (previously Twitter) show crew members using long-handled brushes and hoses appear almost insect-sized as they scrub the bases of four massive gray radar domes mounted near the mast.
Superyacht designed by former Apple Watch designer
Delivered by German shipbuilder Lürssen after nearly six years of construction, the 374-foot-8-inch (114.2-meter) vessel was designed by renowned industrial designer Marc Newson, famous for his work on the Apple Watch. Instead of concealing the oversized communications equipment, Newson incorporated the four giant spheres directly into the yacht’s aesthetic, creating a futuristic silhouette. Positioned directly behind the satellite array is the yacht’s black “Skydome,” which houses Maezawa’s private office.
What are the massive domes on Nausicaä superyacht
The large structures are radomes (radar/antenna domes), radio-transparent, protective shells that shield delicate satellite receivers from harsh marine environments like salt water, heavy winds and rain. Inside each dome sits a satellite dish mounted on a gyro-stabilized platform that constantly shifts with the yacht’s movement to maintain uninterrupted connections with orbital satellites thousands of miles away.The immense size of the radomes is due to the engineering requirements. In remote marine areas , the signal is weaker so larger dishes are required . The enclosures must be large enough for the motors and wiring inside to rotate without interference.
Nausicaä superyacht is a high-tech floating resort
Supporting 18 guests and up to 36 crew across 6,593 gross tons, Nausicaä operates like a floating luxury resort requiring immense digital bandwidth. In addition to guest 4K streaming and business video calls, the yacht relies on high-speed satellite links to transmit operational data.The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art propulsion technologies, including a diesel-electric system, a 2 megawatt battery bank and a 1 megawatt methanol fuel-cell system that streams telemetry data continuously to shoreside engineers who remotely monitor vessel performance.
