One could think that a spaceship has landed, looking at the latest innovation in state of the art collaborative science at sea. The new vessel called “Earth 300” will be the CenterPoint of a science project that will constantly monitor the environmental impact at sea, and teach us about it.

“Our ambition for Earth 300 was fearless from the start: we wanted to build the Olympic Torch of global science, to expand our knowledge and understanding of the universe, both above and below the ocean’s surface. The result is a collaborative, next-generation platform for state-of-the-art science at sea. Our radical design – iconic, intelligent, aesthetically-pleasing – is intentional. It’s a 300-metre fabrication of the future. The 13-storey Science Sphere and cantilevered Observation Deck are the most obvious and eye-catching examples.” Says the Management Team of Earth 300. “The people behind Earth 300 care about the planet because life is precious and earth must be preserved. We are a truly global team and are currently based out of Singapore, London, Barcelona, Milan and Honolulu. We have the passion, dedication and history to move and act quickly.”

Robb Report, USA wrote about the Yacht: This Insane 984-Foot Explorer Gigayacht Has a Giant ‘Science Sphere’ for Research. With enough space for 160 scientists, the vessel also features 22 state-of-the-art laboratories for oceanic research. As you would expect from vessel charged with studying the ocean, Earth 300 is designed for emissions-free sailing. The vessel will reportedly be powered by nuclear tech known as molten salt reactors (MSRs). These mini-nukes are said to provide sustainable, clean energy and may be cheaper than other types of propulsion. Research on MSRs stalled in the 1970s, though the power source has made something of a comeback in recent years. In fact, Danish startup Seaborg Technologies recently secured $24 million for maritime reactor development.

So, when can we expect Earth 300 to start actually traversing the Earth? The preliminary vessel design and naval engineering are now complete, and the project has gained a number of partners, including IBM, RINA, Triton Submarines and EYOS Expeditions. Iddes anticipates Earth 300 will launch in 2025, which gives just enough time to recruit the crew.