The part-submarine, part-research vessel, called the SeaOrbiter is expected to cost around £27million ($43million) and will be 58 metres high - taller than London’s Nelson’s Column monument.

When launched, around half of the vessel will be below the water line, allowing for constant underwater study.

Captain Nemo, eat your heart out: Launch set for futuristic £27m floating laboratory that sails permanently on (and under) the sea

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 08:07 GMT, 13 June 2012 | UPDATED: 12:12 GMT, 13 June 2012

A live-aboard research laboratory that will drift permanently through the sea is poised to be launched as soon as next year.

The part-submarine, part-research vessel, called the SeaOrbiter is expected to cost around £27million ($43million) and will be 58 metres high - taller than London’s Nelson’s Column monument.

When launched, around half of the vessel will be below the water line, allowing for constant underwater study.

Fancy living in this? The SeaOrbiter, part submarine, part research vessel, will drift across the permanently across the seas

SeaOrbiter will drift with ocean currents but have power needed to avoid other ships and storms

View from the top: The SeaOrbiter will soar 58m above the surface of the seas - higher than Nelson's Column

‘It's designed to explore the ocean in a new way, mainly spending time under the sea, giving people the opportunity to live under the sea for a very long time, to observe, to undertake research missions, like marine biology, oceanography and climate issues,’ the SeaOrbiter project's education and media director Ariel Fuchs told CNN.

The designers hope to make their ambitious project close to self-sustainable.

It will drift with ocean currents, but when it needs power to avoid other ships and storms, it will draw on reserves from renewable energy, including solar, wind and wave power.

These sources will also be used to power its life-support systems.

Perhaps taking '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' as inspiration, SeaOrbiter will allow a permanent research facility in the middle of the ocean

Overseas, underseas: The £27m base will be at least half under the waterline

Glowing in the abyss of the night: SeaOrbiter was suggested 12 years ago - but now it may become a reality by next year

The developers are also working with the European defense and space systems conglomerate EADS to develop a biofuel as the ship’s main power source, and are working with the European Space Agency to develop other technology needed for its onboard systems.

Taking its inspiration from ocean explorers like Jacques Cousteau – and perhaps the fictional Captain Nemo's Nautilus from ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ - the vessel is the concept of French architect Jacques Rougerie.

It is currently the centerpiece of France's pavilion at Expo 2012 in South Korea

Originally suggested almost 12 years ago, it recently completed its industrial design phase and construction is slated for October this year.

‘All technical issues are resolved, all the modeling is done,’ says Mr Fuchs said.

Monaco is planned as the ship's first port of call -- the same place where Jacques Cousteau began his missions.

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