World first for Peters & May

Global marine logistics leader Peters & May delivered the first Anthénea eco-luxury floating suite to Doha recently for its owner, the co-founder of Triple Trend Design, Amal Ameen. Set to bring a revolutionary offering to the luxury hotel industry, the Anthénea Suite comes after five years of investment in research and development into this style of living on the sea. Made solely in France by French veteran designers, engineers and naval architects, the autonomous pod was heavily inspired by the floating capsule of Karl Stronberg’s lair in the 1977 James Bond movie ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.

Paul Elsom, Global Technical Director, commented: “The Anthénea floating suite is the first of its kind and we are proud to have been involved with such an interesting project. It is always a pleasure to ship exclusive and unusual cargo. We’ve been 50 years in the shipping industry yet this is the first time we have come across anything like it, in its unique and futuristic pod shape”.

The Anthénea Suite was designed to deliver a new form of emotional and sensory experience for its guests, providing them with a carbon-zero gateway to discover new territories and experiences through underwater vision and land exploration. With zero-footprint at the core of its design model, the Anthénea Suite is designed to be self-sufficient, energy-efficient and have minimal environmental impact, whilst providing a luxury experience that is sustainable for the future.

The entire structure, composed of fibreglass, is completely recyclable and powered 100% by clean energy. Whilst it is equipped with 1,000 W solar panels, it can also be provided with a 4,000 W installation to reach complete autonomy – using a digital tablet guests can control their environment. A self-contained saltwater desalination system, as well as an eco-friendly waste treatment system (approved by the US Coast Guard) demonstrate its low consumption and eco-friendly practices. By only consuming what it needs and releasing clean water, the suite minimises its impact on the surrounding marine environment.

There’s no doubt that one of the Anthénea Suite’s most noteworthy features is its ability to seamlessly integrate with the marine world. Its creators compare it to a ‘lotus flower’, in the sense that it has a tranquil presence atop the seas, without impacting the ecosystem; even the ‘sand-screwing’ anchoring system works in harmony with the underwater ecosystem.

Anthénea Suite’s design model was extensively researched in order to fulfil its claim of being ‘unsinkable’. Following the development of one prototype, the final light and buoyant model has a spherical shape, which was found to be the optimal shape to guarantee the suites can withstand extreme weather conditions on the water, resisting cataclysms and ocean rising.

The smart floating space offers 50 sq m of living area across the main cabin and rooftop solarium, emphasising its 360 degrees naturefilled views available through its circular dome shape and expansive glass bottom. With its impressive temperature versatility, adapting from -30 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius, combined with the fact that it can be towed anywhere, this suite opens up a range of possibilities for its guests, whether they desire a unique experience in a frozen Arctic landscape or a tropical paradise.

Targeted predominantly at the French and leisure markets for professionals in tourism and yachting, but also for individuals and investors, this floating suite could be revolutionary for the tourism industry. No permits or time-consuming construction is required for the Anthénea Pods; they are an environmentally-friendly alternative to building hotels on land, and could be considered as an easier way for resorts to expand. The pod design is also aestheticallypleasing and could be a great way to add a unique touch to any resort.

The floating suite points towards a future in which humans will spend more time living on the water as a consequence of rising sea levels and flooded cities, pioneering step towards a more sustainable future.

Powered by renewable sources, they require much less energy than traditional buildings making them even more sustainable and costeffective, both for developers and guests.

The luxury suite joined Marina Corniche promenade in Porto Arabia at the Pearl Qatar. Anthénea Suite after a three-week voyage with Peters & May. Prior to its loading on to a cargo ship in Le Havre, France, the suite had already been towed on a seven-hour crossing from Honfleur Marina, France, by the National Society for Sea Rescue (SNSM). The 13 tonne suite, valued upwards from the base price of EUR250,000 announced for an entry model, was then loaded from flat racks, using a three-sling lift attached via D-ring fasteners.

Thanks to its five-decade history of expertise and experience with complex shipments, Peters & May is proactive in identifying potential challenges before they come to pass. Applying its knowledge to the transportation of the Anthénea Suite, Peters & May delivered a faultless and smooth transition throughout the loading and discharge stages. In fact, despite its unique shape, the lift was fairly straightforward. Peters