Launched by the prestigious German builder Lurssen Yachts in 2003, the 126m motor yacht Octopus, owned by Paul Allen, will assist with recovery of H.M.S. Hood’s Bell. Taking place in late August, this amazing expedition, approved by the Secretary of State for Defence, is sponsored by the HMS HOOD Association as well as the National Museum of the Royal Navy. It will be led by David Mearns from Blue Water Recoveries.
126m superyacht Octopus - Photo Credit: Lurssen Yachts
The main focus of this expedition is to return the bell to the Royal Navy, to be conserved and then gifted to the Museum in Portsmouth to commemorate the 1,415 members of HOOD’s ship’s company lost in action against the Bismarck on 24 May 1941.
The other important sponsor of the project is Vulcan Incorporated, which represents the business and philanthropic interests of Paul G. Allen. As he did with the filming of the wreck of HMS ARK ROYAL in 2002 for a BBC documentary, Paul Allen is prepared to donate the use of his private yacht Octopus for this project at no cost to HM Government.
Lurssen’s luxury yacht Octopus will be crossing the Atlantic in late August after the Olympics so this is a rare opportunity to take advantage of having such a well-equipped expedition ship available in the region for this project.
