The Octopus, a superyacht owned by billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has made its way Cape Town and will be docked at the Cape Town Harbour from today.

The yacht is valued at an estimated $250-million, is roughly about R3 671-billion, is 126,2-metres in length, and weighs an estimated 9 932 tonnes.

The vessel departed from Durban on Monday and made its way to Cape Town on Thursday. It can house up to 26 individuals in 41 luxury suites.

Here are some of the features of the superyacht

– The custom yacht was built in 2003 in Germany and is considered one of the largest superyachts ever built.

– The cost can be attributed to the internally built submarine dock, making it a unique vessel with two submarines included.

– The ship is capable of housing 57 crew staff to ensure that guests needs are catered to.

– According to Yacht Charter Fleet, the vessel features a helicopter pad, a swimming pool, on-deck jacuzzi, a recording studio, a dance floor and an elevator, suited for the lifestyle of a billionaire.

Marine research

– The superyacht is more than a luxurious form of transport, the owner is a well-known philanthropist who is passionate about ocean conservation and has ensured that the yacht is used as a research vessel.

– The vessel is able to gather data and further initiatives towards marine conservation with the help of the submarines.

– Submarines included in the Octopus function as tools for research allowing individuals to explore the depths of the ocean for up to eight hours.

– The Octopus has a built-in remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that is able to capture HD video footage of the ocean at depths of up to 3000-metres. It has also captured footage of the rare coelacanth.

– The coelacanth was thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 1938 by a South African museum curator on a local fishing vessel off the coast of East London.

– According to a locally produced book, The Annotated Old Four Legs, Allen was able to work with marine biologist Hans Fricke to further study and understand the coelacanth species in the deeps of the ocean waters using the ROV.

Locals can catch a glimpse of the Octopus at the Cape Town harbour over this weekend.

Picture: Super Yachts

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