(c) Business Insider, Philip Kaleta
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Hans-Georg Näder, the billionaire prosthetics magnate, is an enthusiastic sailor and owner of the “Baltic Yachts” shipyard.
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A few years ago, Näder publicly announced his intention to change course in shipbuilding. He told the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung at the time that he wanted it to become “green and sustainable.”
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For many years, Näder sailed a 54-meter long sailing yacht called “Pink Gin IV,” which was primarily constructed with carbon fiber. This boat, which was indeed environmentally friendly, is said to have been sold by Näder, who is now reportedly opting for a fully motorized ship, the SeaXplorer Pink Shadow, with a ship diesel tank of 188,000 liters and an estimated consumption of 38 liters per nautical mile.
Hans-Georg Näder, the prosthetics billionaire and avid sailor, has long been a prominent figure in the world of luxury yachting. As the owner of Baltic Yachts, a renowned shipyard, Näder publicly announced his intention to steer the company towards a greener and more sustainable future several years ago, as reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung.
For many years, Näder sailed the 54-meter long “Pink Gin IV,” a yacht constructed primarily with carbon fiber, which was considered environmentally friendly. However, recent reports suggest that Näder has since sold this vessel and has now opted for a fully motorized ship, the SeaXplorer Pink Shadow, equipped with a ship diesel tank holding 188,000 liters and an estimated consumption of 38 liters per nautical mile.
This apparent shift in Näder’s maritime preferences has raised questions about his commitment to the green and sustainable course he had previously championed. The shipping industry is notoriously far from green, with ships emitting approximately one billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, accounting for around three percent of total human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
The SeaXplorer Pink Shadow, measuring 58 meters in length, boasts a helicopter landing pad, a pool, and a top speed of up to 14.5 knots. The interior of the boat is said to be inspired by Werner Herzog’s film Fitzcarraldo, in which Klaus Kinsky portrays an eccentric character who leads a steamship on an impossible mission and ultimately transforms the ship’s deck into an opera house in the Amazon.
However, this motorized vessel seems to be at odds with Näder’s narrative of green shipping. According to the brochure, the SeaXplorer Pink Shadow can hold up to 188,000 liters of fuel and consumes more than 38 liters per nautical mile. At 11.5 knots, the ship would burn more than 400 liters per hour, all for the pleasure of a billionaire and his entourage. Compared to his long, lightweight, and genuinely sustainable sailing yacht Pink Gin, the billionaire’s new diesel tanker appears to be a green step backward.
When contacted for comment on this matter, a spokesperson for Näder left a lengthy list of questions unanswered.