Visitors to the Brooklyn Heights waterfront have been snapping photos of an eye-popping superyacht docked at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The 240-foot motor vessel takes up almost the entire rear D Dock of the marina, with its top deck towering up to the Promenade’s height.
If this vessel looks familiar, it’s because it is the Planet Nine, featured in Christopher Nolan’s action film Tenet. In the film, Planet Nine served as the floating lair of supervillain Andrei Sator (played by Kenneth Branagh).
It’s easy to see why this boat was chosen for the film. With an almost military appearance, the angular, gray-hulled Planet Nine is an “expedition” yacht, meaning she can go to the most remote regions of the world, through the roughest seas, harshest weather and ice. She can travel 6,000 nautical miles (roughly the distance from New York City to the Democratic Republic of the Congo) without refueling.
Her top deck functions as a helicopter pad, complete with an MD 600 Explorer helicopter and a lift system that lowers the helicopter to a hangar below deck. She doesn’t actually have a rocket launcher installed, however — that was a touch added by the film’s producers.
The marina was mum on who owns Planet Nine. But a lawsuit during its construction revealed that the ship is owned by billionaire financier Nat Rothschild, heir apparent to the title of Baron Rothschild (held by his father).
According to Burgess Yachts, which handles charters, Planet Nine can accommodate about a dozen guests in nine cabins. The owner gets an entire deck to himself, “with a full suite, dressing rooms, saloon, study and terrace.” There’s a VIP suite and lounge on the bridge deck, a Jacuzzi on the sun deck and a cinema, steam room and numerous “toys.”
There’s also a beach club, with a door in the hull that folds down to reveal an indoor-outdoor steam room and sauna. A masseuse, two head chefs and helicopter pilot are part of the crew. (https://www.burgessyachts.com/en/charter-a-yacht/yachts-for-charter/planet-nine-00008706?)
We reached out to the marina for more details about Planet Nine.
“It’s a magnificent vessel,” said ONE°15’s Harbormaster Sam Barrett-Cotter. “It required two tug-assist vessels along with the marina’s inflatable RHIB [rigid-hulled inflatable boat] directing traffic to safely enter the marina.” The vessel arrived in Brooklyn straight from Gibraltar on Oct. 30.
Barrett-Cotter said the purpose of Planet Nine’s visit is both business and pleasure. “The guests are here to enjoy New York while the crew is here to utilize the conveniences of the city and the robust maritime industry that it offers. They are working with various contractors to do repairs and maintenance on the engine, water tanks, electronics, as well as inspections on fire protection equipment and life-saving equipment.”
The marina is not aware of the ship’s next destination, he said. “Generally, yachts make a fall season migration to Florida and the Caribbean, where they spend the winter before returning to the Northeast or Mediterranean for the summer.”
Explorer or Expedition yachts are “an increasingly popular concept for owners who want the sleek style of a luxury yacht but also the ability to travel around to remote parts of the world,” Barrett-Cotter said. “Planet Nine features an ‘ice-class’ hull so that it can access places like Antarctica and Alaska.”
Barrett-Cotter said owners of world-class vessels have started to discover ONE°15. “With brand new floating docks and the calmest water in the city we offer the best-in-class dockage for superyachts,” he said.
“It’s not just a question of tying up the boat and letting it sit there – we’re helping source materials, provisioning for the chef, coordinating pilotage and tug services, and basically doing whatever we can to make the stay as easy as possible for the captain and crew,” he said. “Captains know that when they need Hypalon repairs for their inflatable tender, or foreign garbage safely disposed of according to FDA guidelines, or the right contractor for an inspection of their water tanks, that we’re going to know how best to advise them.
“And the view isn’t too bad either!” he added. “We’re always proud when we see these yacht crew members — who have each been to more places around the world than we can imagine — taking photos and gasping at the stunning view of the city.”
Planet Nine will remain docked at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina through the month of November.
