Billionaire Bill Gates has not purchased the world's first liquid hydrogen-powered luxury superyacht, according to the Dutch company that created it. The Microsoft co-founder was reported to have commissioned the first Aqua vessel from Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design. The company has issued a statement rebuking these reports. "The hydrogen concept Aqua is not linked to Mr Gates (or his representatives) in any form," said Sinot in an official statement released Monday, February 10, 2020. It also clarified that Sinot has no business relationship with Gates and that Aqua is "a concept under development and has not been sold to Mr Gates." The Dutch company first revealed the concept at the Monaco boat show last year. The 112-metre super yacht is an environmentally friendly concept thanks to its hydrogen-electric system which is capable of meeting all its on-board energy needs. The yacht will be able to reach speeds of up to 17 knots with a range of 3,750 nautical miles — about the same distance as travelling from Dubai to London and back again. On board there's planned space for up to 14 guests and 31 crew members. The yacht's design was inspired by the shape of the ocean's swells and it will be created to ensure that whoever is on board can feel as close to the water as possible. It's below the deck that the Aqua will really shine. There, two vacuum-sealed tanks filled with liquid hydrogen are capable of powering the vessel via on-board fuel cells that combine hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity. With water as a byproduct, the vessel would be environmentally-friendly. A watery theme flows through Aqua's design with a statement circular staircase connecting the top deck to the lower deck. It has an open skylight and backlit stairs that create a sense of water flowing down the steps and into an ocean-themed piece of artwork at the bottom of the stairs. The owner's pavilion is a residential area created from a series of intricately linked spaces interspersed with handcrafted wooden privacy panels. There's also an elegant living and dining area, a huge master bedroom and a bathroom with his-and-hers vanity and a sunken bathtub. On the bridge deck, a bubble hood-shaped roof and 360 degree views are planned for the cockpit-style space. An on-board observatory at the yacht's bow offers a place where guests can sit atop a stainless-steel floating airbed surrounded by endless ocean views. Elsewhere, there's a circular shaped spa that leads to a state of the art gym which is designed with a huge viewing hatch that can be opened up to reveal unfiltered ocean vistas. A hydro massage room delivers pressurised water-jet wellness treatments and there's also a beauty salon for looking good at sea. The Aqua's eventual owner and his or her guests will bed-down in VIP cabins and rooms designed in a minimalist Japanese style. Located around the yacht's beach deck area, they will have access to a huge dining area and a circular seating space with gel-fueled fire bowls that can also be transformed into a private cinema. Up on the top deck, water from the yacht's infinity pool cascades down the vessel towards sea level, creating a waterfall effect. Sinot explained that the vessel is "meant to build a better future and inspire clients and the industry." "We invite any visionary client to show their interest," concluded Sinot in the statement.
