Four high speed pirate boats bob quietly on the ocean 40 miles off Somalia on the east coast of Africa, occupants happily checking submachine guns, blinding flares, grenades and grappling hooks. The rich mega yacht they are targeting will hold women and treasure‌ But, suddenly, they flee. The yacht is being followed by a Shadow Boat!
By Ron Laytner Copyright 2009 Edit International FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – An armed 8 to 35 million dollar luxury cruiser known as a Shadow Boat can destroy pirates targeting mega yachts. Five are already operating in oceans around the world. The new boat is cloaked in mystery because the identities of their billionaire owners are closely guarded secrets. They are built by Shadow Marine of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Manager Gary Slatgow, has revealed some information about the company’s latest Shadow Boat sale. The 185 foot attack vessel was purchased by a head of state who has five other yachts this shadow boat will travel with. 1
It holds ten high ranking protective officers from his army and a large team of combat divers. Shadow Marine has installed about $700,000 in re-breathing dive equipment on board, and holds units that can produce various nitrox-type gases for extended underwater missions. They’ll be able to scan the bottoms of his boats to make sure nothing has been attached and will be able to check underwater at all times. Security forces will be in the sky lounge observation area of the Shadow Boat and will be tied in to world satellites for communication and observation. They will also have a 360 degree visibility camera able to watch anything around them for miles. The Middle Eastern leader will be able to bring his guests to parties on beaches and entertain them using jet skis, sailboats and racing craft along with Hummers and four-wheel all terrain vehicles, all carried by the Shadow Boat. When empty of toys, the Shadow Boat hanger holds 200 party goers. 2
There is also a shop area on board so all these vehicles will be able to be worked at any time. The Shadow Boat holds over 80,000 gallons of fuel and can help the owner’s convoy cross an ocean without refueling with a single quarter million dollar fill up. Using the Shadow boat’s helicopter pad, the owner of this new Shadow Boat can have his security force flying observation or defense missions 100 miles out on all sides and has enough fast security boats to stop any kind of attack.
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The water borne leader will be able to sleep better at night knowing he has the best security of almost anyone on any ocean. Slatgow revealed that all five Shadow Boats sold so far have gone to Middle Eastern billionaires and said the next Shadow Boat is being bought by a super rich American. The Shadow Boat was invented by Tom and Kimberly Gonzalez, billionaire Americans who wanted to sail in peace anywhere on earth. The couple owned several big yachts which became cluttered. They wanted to pack a few toys on their ocean trips – but where to put them? Tom owns 400 cars, motor buses, RV’s, airplanes, helicopters and a submarine. Big yacht owners are getting younger and younger, explains Kimberly Gonzalez. “They want to play more and be casual on board. They want their yacht interiors to be comfortable and not full of antiques. They want to relax and have their kids roam safely around. A boat like this is what we wanted and then we decided there is a market out there for such a craft.” If such a boat could also provide protection, it would be essential.
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Besides amenities mentioned, she could carry extra crew for rotation, have an on board medical operating room, a health spa, gymnasium, movie theater, swimming pool and carry many vehicles including a submarine. All sea transfers would be made on small tenders. But personal doctors and stewardesses would stay on the main yacht. It would carry all the extras a mega yacht could not. The couple formed Shadow Marine corporation and have built and sold five 125-foot Mystere or Paladin class Shadow Boats at prices of $8 million dollars and up. Now they’ve built a larger vessel, the $35 million dollar Allure class, the first Shadow boat that can replace the mega yacht itself. The Voyager, at 280 feet and a width of 60 feet, will be the flagship of shadow boats. Her owner will be on board and can anchor out in the harbor and then
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What kind of people own mega yachts? People like Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, at 53 the richest billionaire bachelor on earth. His 413 foot long, seven deck high Octopus holds two helicopters, seven boats and a ten man submarine. The Octopus cost more than $200 million, has a crew of 60 and costs $20 million a year just to operate. But even this mega yacht is running out of room. Allan is looking for a ‘Shadow Boat” to carry extra toys. “Is Allan the new American owner,” Slatgow was asked. He didn’t answer. Here’s how a Shadow Boat is constructed. Kimberly Gonzales says, “We get our steel hulls from powerful, almost indestructible retired offshore supply vessels in Louisiana. They were built tough to tie up to oil platforms in all kinds of weather.” There are many decommissioned ships clogging the canals of America’s Gulf Coast, sent there after years of servicing oil refineries and platforms that dot the horizon like tiny floating cities.
These derelict vessels, though completely seaworthy are often left for years or sunk to create artificial reefs. “We first survey and choose those in the best condition and replace all the superstructure,” said Kimberly Gonzales. The typical ‘white hulled’ yacht has always been designed for looks but not these hard work vessels. Shadow Marine has been able to take these already proven hulls that cost Shadow Marine at least half a million dollars each, and completely rebuild them.
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The Allure’s computerized bridge can almost navigate itself. The chrome wheel, suspended compass, and array of circular dials are gone. In their place are LCD monitors, keyboards and joysticks. The infrared and night vision camera feeds constantly change on one display, digital engine and power readouts monitor every fluctuation and change in the vessel’s power output, while the constant sweep from the radar and sonar provide live action information. The engine room of these once oil-covered rigs is just as high tech. The whitewashed bulkheads and polished floors look more like a high tech laboratory rather than an engine room. The Allure in particular has a total of three John Deere primary generators able to put out 99 Kilowatts each, and one secondary generator that can do the same. The Allure is equipped with 2 completely rebuilt Caterpillar D399 engines, each capable of producing 1225 horsepower. Easily moving the Allure’s 900 ton displacement; in fact the Allure as well as all the shadow boats are designed and powerful enough to tow other boats even larger than themselves. Which means in an emergency the Shadow Boat can tow the primary yacht or other large vessel into port. A work crew of up to 400 men and women from all over the world work on each Shadow Boat until it is finished, usually in less than one year. The big boats are produced in the Shadow Marine dry-dock at Jacksonville, Florida. The Super Rich are careful of whom they invite onto their palatial mega yachts. There is an unwritten yachting rule: ‘Stowaways out - valuables in’. Kimberly Gonzales explains, “On a pristine mega yacht with fancy antique furniture and marble floors you’re afraid to even sit down,” Strangers are kept off because they could roam anywhere and disappear on board.
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“But Shadow Boats are open and built to take crowds and a party beating. Our hanger area can hold more than 200 guests. This way the super rich can share their wealth with many. When the party’s over crewmen simply hose down the deck and all is new again. “It’s very cool. I’ve watched bikini-clad models around our swimming pool and realize the girls don’t have to be carried across. They can jump on and be in the pool in just a minute and can hang out in the Sky Lounge and join a dinner party. They can wear high heeled shoes. Usually at a yacht party the first thing you must do is take off your shoes. “We are pioneers changing the face of yachting. We’ve taken the ruggedness of a Shadow Boat and blended it with a great looking interior. On no other kind of yacht can you throw parties like we can.” The End By Ron Laytner With Mark Miller Copyright 2009 Edit International
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Top: Privately owned Shadow Boats often carry retired US Navy SEASLs. Here active Navy SEALs are shown at work.
Left: Each Shadow Boat is supplied with a state of the art Oregon security camera that sweeps the ocean at night for the heat of bodies or engines. Shadow Boat owners hire their own security crews.
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A Private Helicopter has easy access to and from the Shadow Boat, even out at sea.
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Copyright Š 2008 Edit International www.editinternational.com
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