Mediterranean Expedition with Purpose

A French designer’s futurist vision of undersea exploration is one step closer to becoming a reality now that the SeaOrbiter is scheduled to begin construction in November of this year.

Jacques Rougerie’s high-tech floating laboratory has been designed to give scientists a mobile platform for underwater research that rides oceanic currents to new discoveries. Wet and dry laboratories, pressurized crew quarters, garages for submarines and ROVs and other fantastic features will be housed in an aluminum alloy vessel that towers nearly 90 feet above the surface, and plunges more than 100 feet below.

When deployed, its first mission will be to probe the Mediterranean for new species and sunken artifacts for a year before continuing on into the Atlantic, Pacific and beyond, all while broadcasting live video communications for educational purposes.

SeaOrbiter

Designer: Jacques Rougerie
Cost: $50 million
Size: 190 feet tall (12 decks)
Weight: 500 tons
Construction: recycled aluminum
Crew: 22 members
Info: seaorbiter.com

Construction on the SeaOrbiter will begin in November, and the vessel will be made of recycled aluminum.

Courtesy Jaques Rougerie

A French designer’s futurist vision of undersea exploration is one step closer to becoming a reality now that the SeaOrbiter is scheduled to begin construction in November of this year.

The SeaOrbiter project is aimed to discover new species underwater as well as recover sunken artifacts beginning in the Mediterranean.

Courtesy Jaques Rougerie

Jacques Rougerie’s high-tech floating laboratory has been designed to give scientists a mobile platform for underwater research that rides oceanic currents to new discoveries. Wet and dry laboratories, pressurized crew quarters, garages for submarines and ROVs and other fantastic features will be housed in an aluminum alloy vessel that towers nearly 90 feet above the surface, and plunges more than 100 feet below.

SeaOrbiter will broadcast live video communications for educational purposes while traveling the Pacific, Atlantic and beyond.

Courtesy Jaques Rougerie

When deployed, its first mission will be to probe the Mediterranean for new species and sunken artifacts for a year before continuing on into the Atlantic, Pacific and beyond, all while broadcasting live video communications for educational purposes.