superyacht eclipse owner

Who Owns the Superyacht Eclipse? (The Full Story)

The Superyacht Eclipse is truly a one-of-a-kind vessel.

This magnificent yacht has been in the news lately, with rumors swirling about who owns it.

But what is the true story behind this luxurious vessel? From its background and design to the amenities, cost, crew, and security features, we will explore all the details of the Superyacht Eclipse as well as the history of its owner, Roman Abramovich.

Plus, we’ll take a look at some of the other notable superyachts on the market today.

Read on to find out the full story behind the Superyacht Eclipse!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The Eclipse is a superyacht owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich.

It was the world’s largest private yacht when it was launched in 2010, measuring 533 feet long.

It is estimated to be worth around $400 million and is one of the most luxurious yachts in the world, with features such as two swimming pools, three launch boats, two helipads, a cinema, and a mini-submarine.

The Background on the Superyacht Eclipse

The superyacht Eclipse is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

It is one of the largest private yachts in the world, measuring in at an impressive 162 meters long.

The yacht was reportedly purchased for around $400 million in 2010, making it one of the most expensive vessels in the world.

The yacht is equipped with a variety of high-end amenities, including two helipads, an on-board cinema, a submarine, and a missile defense system.

This makes it a unique and luxurious vessel, perfect for entertaining guests and hosting parties.

The yacht also has a crew of up to 70 people, ensuring that it is well-maintained and serviced.

This includes a team of captains, engineers, deckhands, and other personnel that are responsible for keeping the yacht in top shape.

The Eclipse is also equipped with the latest in technological advances, such as satellite navigation and communication systems, as well as other state-of-the-art systems.

This ensures that it can travel to remote destinations without any problems.

Finally, the yacht also has a variety of security measures in place, such as cameras, motion detectors, and a missile defense system.

This ensures that the vessel is safe and secure at all times.

All in all, the Eclipse is a stunning superyacht that is sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

Owned by Roman Abramovich, it is an impressive vessel that showcases the wealth and power of its owner.

The Design and Amenities of the Superyacht Eclipse

The superyacht Eclipse is an impressive feat of engineering.

Designed by Blohm+Voss of Hamburg, Germany, the yacht is 162 meters long and features a sleek, modern design that is both eye-catching and aerodynamic.

The yacht features two helipads, one on the main deck and one on the upper deck, allowing for easy access and transport of passengers and crew.

The interior of the yacht is equally impressive.

The main salon is over 200 feet long and features a large dining room, living room, and library, as well as a fully-equipped bar and lounge.

The yacht also features an on-board cinema, a gym, and a fully-equipped spa.

The yacht also has a submarine, a missile defense system, and a fully-equipped medical center.

The crew of the Eclipse consists of up to 70 people, including a captain, engineer, and stewardesses.

All crew members are highly trained and experienced, and the yacht is equipped with the latest navigation and communication systems.

The crew is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the yacht, ensuring that it remains in top condition for years to come.

The yacht itself is powered by four diesel engines and two gas turbines, giving it a top speed of 22 knots.

It also has a range of 3,000 nautical miles, allowing it to easily travel long distances.

The Eclipse also has a fuel capacity of over 500,000 liters, allowing it to remain at sea for extended periods of time.

Overall, the Eclipse is one of the most impressive vessels in the world, and is a testament to the skill and experience of the Blohm+Voss shipbuilding company.

With its luxurious amenities, impressive range, and state-of-the-art technology, it is easy to see why the yacht is so popular among billionaires and other wealthy individuals.

The Cost of the Superyacht Eclipse

The cost of the superyacht Eclipse is one of the most talked about aspects of this luxurious vessel.

According to reports, the yacht was purchased by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for an estimated $400 million in 2010.

This makes it one of the most expensive yachts in the world, and certainly one of the most luxurious.

The yacht is 162 meters long and features a variety of luxurious amenities, including two helipads, an on-board cinema, a submarine, and a missile defense system.

It is also equipped with a crew of up to 70 people, making it one of the largest private yachts in the world.

The cost of the yacht is reflective of its features.

The yacht is equipped with the latest technology and features, and is made of the finest materials.

It also has a range of luxury amenities, including a spa, jacuzzi, gym, and an infinity pool.

The yacht also has a fully-stocked bar, a gourmet kitchen, and state-of-the-art security systems.

All of these features come together to create one of the most luxurious vessels in the world.

The cost of the yacht is also reflective of its exclusivity.

The yacht is one of the largest in the world, and is only available to its owner, Roman Abramovich.

This makes it a highly sought-after item, and the cost of the yacht is reflective of its status as a luxury item.

It is also a symbol of power and wealth, making it a highly sought-after item.

The cost of the superyacht Eclipse is a reflection of its incredible features, its exclusivity, and its status as a symbol of power and wealth.

It is one of the most luxurious and sought-after yachts in the world, and is sure to be the envy of other billionaires for years to come.

The Crew of the Superyacht Eclipse

When it comes to the crew of the superyacht Eclipse, it is just as impressive as the vessel itself.

The yacht is staffed by up to 70 people, with each of them having specialized roles and responsibilities.

This includes a captain, first mate, engineers, mechanics, security guards, and chefs.

All of these crew members have to be highly experienced in their respective fields, as they are responsible for ensuring that the vessel is able to operate safely and efficiently.

In addition to the crew, the yacht also employs a team of hospitality staff, which consists of waiters, housekeepers, and bartenders.

These crew members are responsible for ensuring that the guests of the yacht are comfortable and that their needs are met.

All of these crew members are also highly trained and experienced in their respective roles, and can be relied upon to provide the highest level of service.

The Security Features of the Superyacht Eclipse

The security features aboard the Superyacht Eclipse are nothing short of extraordinary.

The yacht is equipped with an advanced missile defense system, as well as a full-time crew of up to 70 people, designed to ensure the safety and security of its owner at all times.

In addition to the crew, the yacht is also equipped with two helipads, allowing for quick and easy transport of personnel and supplies.

The yacht also features a state-of-the-art submarine, which is believed to be used for reconnaissance missions.

Perhaps the most remarkable of the yacht’s features is its missile defense system.

This system is designed to detect and intercept any missiles fired at the yacht, and is believed to be one of the most advanced of its kind in existence.

This level of sophistication is even more remarkable when one considers the fact that the yacht is not designed for military use.

This system is designed solely to protect the owner and passengers of the yacht from any potential threats.

Finally, the Superyacht Eclipse is also equipped with a variety of luxurious amenities, including an on-board cinema, a swimming pool, and a spa.

These amenities are designed to provide the owner and passengers with the ultimate in luxury and comfort.

All of these features make it clear why the yacht is one of the most sought-after vessels in the world.

Roman Abramovich’s History with the Superyacht Eclipse

Roman Abramovich’s history with the superyacht Eclipse dates back to 2010, when he purchased the vessel for an estimated $400 million.

The yacht, which measures 162 meters in length, is one of the largest private yachts in the world, and is currently the fourth-largest superyacht in the world.

Since its purchase, the Eclipse has been a source of immense pride for Abramovich, who has used the vessel for a number of impressive spectacles.

For example, the Eclipse was used to host a lavish New Years Eve celebration in 2011, and has also been used to host birthday parties and other special occasions.

The Eclipse features an impressive range of amenities, including two helipads, an on-board cinema, a submarine, and a missile defense system.

The yacht also has a crew of up to 70 people, and is capable of carrying up to 36 guests.

It is also one of the few vessels on the market to feature a missile defense system.

Overall, Abramovich’s ownership of the Eclipse is a testament to his success as a businessman.

The fact that he was able to purchase such an impressive vessel is a testament to his wealth and status as one of the world’s most influential billionaires.

The Eclipse is sure to remain a symbol of Abramovich’s success for years to come.

Other Notable Superyachts

The superyacht Eclipse may be one of the largest and most luxurious private yachts in the world, but it is certainly not the only one.

There are a few other noteworthy superyachts owned by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

The world’s largest superyacht, Azzam, is owned by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

At 180 meters long, it is 18 meters longer than the Eclipse, and is estimated to have cost over $600 million.

The Azzam features a pool, spa, helipad, and even two missile defense systems.

The world’s second-largest superyacht, owned by oil and gas tycoon David Geffen, is the Rising Sun.

At 162.5 meters long, it is just 0.5 meters shorter than the Eclipse, and is estimated to have cost over $400 million.

The Rising Sun features a basketball court, helipad, cinema, and even a wine cellar.

The world’s third-largest superyacht, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is the Octopus.

At 126 meters long, it is 36 meters shorter than the Eclipse, and is estimated to have cost over $200 million.

The Octopus features two helipads, an on-board recording studio, and a basketball court.

These are just a few of the world’s largest and most luxurious superyachts.

While the Eclipse may be the fourth-largest in the world, it certainly has the amenities and features to rival even the largest of the superyachts.

Final Thoughts

The superyacht Eclipse is a remarkable feat of engineering and luxury, and a testament to the wealth of its owner, Roman Abramovich.

With its two helipads, on-board cinema, submarine, and missile defense system, it is one of the most extravagant and secure vessels in the world.

It’s no wonder why it cost around $400 million to purchase in 2010.

Whether you’re interested in buying a superyacht of your own or just want to learn more about the impressive vessels, the story of the Eclipse is sure to fascinate and inspire.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Eclipse – The World’s Most Expensive Private Yacht

In the world of soccer, Roman Abramovich is a popular figure as he owns the leading English club, Chelsea. The Russian businessman helped the Blues become a big spender in the transfer market, bringing brilliant players like Arjen Robben, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, etc. to offer the beautiful game to club supporters across the world.

In addition to the Chelsea football team, which is a beauty on soccer fields, Abramovich owns another marvel: a private yacht named Eclipse.

The 162.5m-long beauty Eclipse is the world’s second-largest and one of the most expensive superyachts. Its estimated cost is 590 million (€340 million), and its current owner has owned it since December 2010.

A synonym for luxury, this superyacht is best suited for all adventure and water sports activities and provides splendid trips to cultural and historical destinations.

Built by renowned German shipbuilder Blohm + Voss, the Eclipse was launched in June 2009 after five years of design, development, and testing. Before its final delivery, several sea trials were conducted starting in May 2009 at Kristiansand, Norway.

When delivered, Eclipse won the spot for the largest superyacht in the world, beating the 162m-long M/Y Dubai of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Eclipse retained the title until the arrival of the 180m-long Azzam, UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s private yacht in 2013. Currently managed by Blue Ocean Yacht Management, Eclipse was selected as the Motor Yacht of the Year in 2011 at the World Superyacht Awards.

Specifications of Eclipse Yacht

As mentioned earlier, this tremendous superyacht measures 162.5m (533’1″ft) in length, 22.00m (72’2″ft) in width and 5.90m (19’4″ft) in the draft, offering a vast area for luxurious leisure activities. The Bermuda-flagged Lloyds Register class yacht has a Gross Tonnage of 13000 tonnes.

Eclipse is powered by a diesel-electric, dual propulsion system with four MTU 20V 1163 TB93 marine diesel engines, offering the latest propulsion technology for maximum speed performance. These engines power the rotating Azipod drives, giving the yacht a maximum speed of 25 knots and a cruise speed of 22. Featuring 1,000,000 litres of fuel tanks, Eclipse can travel up to 6,000 nautical miles at 21 knots before refuelling. The boat also can store about 150,000 litres of freshwater abroad.

Interior and Exterior Design

While Blohm + Voss provided the naval architecture, Terence Disdale Design carried out the superstructure design of the Eclipse. The UK-based award-winning firm was also responsible for interior design, deck layouts, and construction supervision.

Incidentally, the vessel’s construction was performed with great secrecy, and due to this reason, the project was named Project Luxury Yacht M 147 throughout the construction period. However, the details of the technical design and construction of the yacht have not been revealed to the public; the design and layout are available for people to marvel at.

Divided into nine decks, the top deck of Eclipse is taken up by the helicopters and garage. The swimming pool and sundeck go on level eight, while level seven features a pool, atrium and an open deck. The salon, main dining hall and a 40ft X 60ft full-beam loggia are located on the sixth level, and the fourth floor features the main entrance of the yacht. While the next level of the yacht divides the cabins and suites of the owner, guests and crew, the second deck of the vessel acts as a docking port for the submarine. Level one accommodates the engine room, machinery, and a small disco club.

The superyacht with a displacement steel hull has an aluminium superstructure, while its decks become magnificent, featuring teak woods. To offer a smooth cruising experience, the yacht features an ultra-modern stabilization system that minimises the roll motion effect and is equipped with ‘at anchor stabilisers’ to increase comfort when the boat is stationary. Featuring the Art Deco interior design, with an innovative, technology-rich environment and the use of soft metallic fabrics, Eclipse offers a splendid living experience for its owner. With diverse facilities across the decks, the yacht meets the optimum standard of offering a leisure time platform.

The entire yacht has been bejewelled with features to make it more luxurious. Spread across many decks, Eclipse facilities abroad include a gym, dance floor, underwater lights, beach club, wifi connection, beauty salon, tender, garage, deck jacuzzi, etc. Further, the Eclipse holds two helipads and a 16 m swimming pool that can be converted into a dance floor. This motor yacht can accommodate three helicopters, two on both helipads and the third one in a storage hangar below the foredeck. Moreover, Eclipse also flaunts internal lifts, six tenders and an exterior fireplace on-board. The boat also features a place for a three-person private submarine that can go up to a depth of 160ft.

Eclipse is also one of the most technologically advanced yachts around the world.  The boat boasts the latest technology safety features, including motion sensors, bulletproof glass and antiballistic missile defence.  In fact, each cabin in the yacht comes with a private 6ft home cinema screen, a Jacuzzi, a spa and specialized security systems. According to reports, Eclipse has an anti-paparazzi system that detects the use of digital cameras to click photographs of the boat. Using lasers, the system detects digital cameras and disrupts a potential picture of the yacht, as those infrared lights can make it unstable.

Accommodation

The yacht has 11 staterooms and suites, totalling 6000 square feet. With this facility, Eclipse can house 30 guests and a 92-member staff crew abroad. The master suite, located on level five of the yacht, is 5000 square feet alone. In addition, the boat also has a pilothouse on level seven.

With all these facilities incorporated, maintaining the Eclipse is not a less expensive matter. An annual expense of over $60 million is reportedly required to maintain this luxury boat. According to media reports, Abramovich charges its customers around £ 175,000 to rent the vessel for a day.

You may also like to read –

• Top 10 Books on Yacht Design
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Disclaimer:  The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight.  Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight. 

About Author

Raunek Kantharia is a marine engineer turned maritime writer and entrepreneur. After a brief stint at the sea, he founded Marine Insight in 2010. Apart from managing Marine Insight, he also writes for a number of maritime magazines and websites.

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ECLIPSE Yacht – Epic $600M Superyacht

The ECLIPSE yacht was once the largest yacht in the world at an impressive length of 162.5 metres (533 ft) but currently ranks in second place after AZZAM.

Though she is known as the billion-dollar yacht, it is estimated that her true value lies between US $500 – $700 million.

The vessel can host 36 guests and is even rumored to feature a state-of-the-art anti-paparazzi system to protect the privacy of those on board.

ECLIPSE yacht interior

The interior (and the exterior) was designed by Terence Disdale , who has become one of the top names in the industry despite having no formal design education.

ECLIPSE was his largest project to date, and he also worked on prominent vessels such as A+ and AL SALAMAH. The interior of ECLIPSE is classically designed in a style that is to be expected from one of the largest yachts in the world.

The upholstery and furniture follow a beige and crème color palette with wooden accents.

The yacht’s 18 cabins can welcome 36 guests as well as 70 crew members, which is an unusually large number even for a vessel of this size.

A large dance floor, several fireplaces, two swimming pools, and two helipads are also included onboard.

The ECLIPSE yacht interior is so large that there is even a cinema dedicated exclusively to crew members. In 2015 the interior of ECLIPSE was refitted by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg.

Specifications

The ECLIPSE yacht is the second-largest yacht in the world with a length of 162.5 meters (533 ft), a beam of 22 meters (72.2 ft), and a draft of 5.9 meters (19.4 ft).

She was built by the German shipyard Blohm & Voss and delivered to her owner in 2010.

Four MTU engines power ECLIPSE and allow her to reach top speeds of 25 knots, although her average cruising speed lies at 22 knots.

Her total volume lies at 13564 tons making her not only one of the longest but also the heaviest yachts in the world.

Like the interior of ECLIPSE, the interior was designed by Terence Disdale. According to rumors, Abramovich fitted her with an anti-paparazzi system that detects electronic light sensors from digital cameras.

However, there is no proof of this, although many newspapers report its existence.

On deck are several swimming pools and jacuzzis, and the aft of the vessel features a sizeable beach club. The yacht has a sleek design that attests to Terence Disdale’s classical style.

ECLIPSE came to fame as being the most expensive yacht ever built at the time for an approximate price of US $500 million.

She has seen further improvements since her purchase by Abramovich in 2010 and it is often widely reported that she is worth US $1.2 – $1.5 billion.

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As William “The Bard” Shakespeare would say, there’s something rotten in the State of Denmark. Only that, this time, there’s something rotten in Turkey, where some of Roman Abramovich’s record-breaking megayachts (in the plural) are in hiding to avoid seizure.

Roman Abramovich might not be the wealthiest Russian oligarch out there, but he is by far among the most famous. Before the invasion of Ukraine in February, he was a fixture over in his adoptive country UK and widely considered one of the savviest and most popular businessmen and investors. His personal collection of toys was of the stuff that dreams are made of, quite literally.

He still has that collection, but he’s no longer a beloved public figure. The Russian war in Ukraine landed him on sanctions lists in the UK, the U.S. and Europe, so he’s been spending his time in hiding in friendly countries like Turkey and the UAE. He also brought most of his luxury assets here – those that he could move, that is.

Abramovich’s fleet of watercraft alone is estimated at well over $1.3 billion, and that includes only the vessels we know about. Two of these, Eclipse and Solaris, are record breakers, being often listed among the world’s most expensive, the world’s most technologically advanced, and the world’s largest. And this brings us to the part about something fishy going on: Eclipse, delivered in 2010 by Blohm+Voss and valued at anything between $600 million and $1 billion, has changed hands.

Superyacht vlogger eSysman is the first to report the news, after looking at the data on Eclipse in the IMO database. In the video below, he describes the IMO database as “ ground  zero ” regarding yacht registration, where certain data remains unchanged even in case the vessel changes registration flags or ownership.

Speaking of ownership, Eclipse’s has changed. There’s a note that says Eclipse, identified as IMO 1009613, is  “reported sold undisclosed interest,”  effective February 1, 2022. The previous owner was company Dohle Private Clients LTD, but the current owner remains unknown, with an unknown address. That last part alone is sketchy, eSysman points out: to enter a ship in the IMO database, you have to provide specifics, including the shell company listed as owner and the address.

Moreover, the change was operated in the database at a more recent moment than February, eSysman believes. Abramovich was connected to Eclipse long after the February status change, with reports saying that the crew sailing it into Turkey had to be paid in crypto because he couldn’t secure liquidities.

Given all of the above and the fact that no one but a fellow Russian oligarch would buy a gigantic vessel like Eclipse from a sanctioned individual, it seems that ownership of Eclipse has changed on paper only. In the short term, this means very little because the vessel remains in Turkey, where it can’t be seized. But the change in status, which virtually adds another layer of bureaucracy to hide the identity of the real beneficiary, could indicate that Abramovich is taking the extra steps to ensure no one but himself can touch it, in the eventuality he will want to sail it outside of friendly waters.

Then again, this should probably not come as a surprise, considering we’re talking about the same Russian oligarchs who turned their superyachts “invisible” by turning off AIS (automatic identification system tracking) and fleeing, the second sanctions went into effect.

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Take a closer look at Russian oligarch's $700 million superyacht that is one of the largest in the world

• Roman Abramovich had seemingly scrambled to avoid sanctions from the UK by moving his superyachts.
• One of those is The Eclipse, which cost $700 million to build and was once the biggest in the world.
• That yacht was once in New York City and we took some photos.

Like other Russian oligarchs, Roman Abramovich had seemingly scrambled to avoid sanctions and that included quickly moving his superyachts to more friendly waters.

Many of the 55-year-old billionaire's assets — such as the Chelsea Football Club and several homes — have been sold or frozen since Russia launched an unprovoked war on Ukraine, Bloomberg reported . 

While Abramovich couldn't move the Premier League football club Chelsea FC and sold the $3 billion club , his yachts are another matter. 

Abramovich's 553-foot-long flagship is The Eclipse, estimated to have cost $700 million when built. After sanctions were initially dropped by the UK against Abramovich, his second "smaller" $600 million superyacht, Solaris, left Barcelona, Spain, and moved to friendlier waters in Turkey.

Solaris was joined in Turkey by The Eclipse, which arrived from the Caribbean .

While the superyacht Eclipse was photographed in Turkish waters in early August , it was once docked at Manhattan's Pier 90, and Robert Johnson was able to get some pictures. Take a tour of the superyacht below. 

Robert Johnson contributed to this post.

Just south of this public parking lot on the roof of the Pier 90 terminal in New York City sat Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's flagship yacht, the "Eclipse."

536-feet long and styled after military vessels.

The 2010 Eclipse cost $700 million and was the world's largest yacht when built.

The vessel has amenities to rival any ship on the sea — like its own mini submersible, perhaps similar to this— able to dive down 150-feet.

The Eclipse has two helipads.

Bulletproof glass and armor plates wrap the length of Roman's master suite and the bridge.

And a German-built missile defense system.

The ship's also supposed to have a laser defense against paparazzi trying to photograph the yacht's guests, but saw no evidence of the device when we were there.

The Eclipse has three launch boats.

That looked to be stocked with medical supplies and a variety of handheld radios.

From the cruise ship parking lot it felt like we were almost on the Eclipse itself.

But with little chance we'd be invited aboard through the ship's door here ...

... We hoped to find one of the 70 crew members required to sail the Eclipse and see if they'd tell us what ship life was like.

But we found no one interested in talking.

But we certainly didn't feel like paparazzi, or that we'd be lasered, when we were in the parking lot tourists use when they arrive to board their cruise.

From up here, the ship was simply stunning and the amount of work required to keep her that way apparent.

The Yacht Report says owning a superyacht costs about 20% of the ship's initial value every year.

But experts believe that Roman probably pays $75 million a year to run the private cruise ship with 24-guest suites.

Looking at the layout of the ship gets us talking about the two swimming pools inside, the disco, cinema, hair salon, and restaurant.

The billionaire's guests would use this door to enter any fore part of the deck.

Perhaps noting where the life rings were as they made their way about the ship.

At 13,000 gross tons, the Eclipse was, at the time, the largest vessel to use a special stabilization system to keep it calm in rough waters while anchored or moving slowly through the sea.

Roman faced a $150,000 tab for parking the Eclipse in New York City while possibly visiting his daughter and her new baby — about $2,000 a day.

A large yacht like the Eclipse can hold over 100,000 gallons of fuel.

Depending on the current price of fuel, a five-hour cruise each way could cost about $30,000.

None of those numbers are likely to concern Roman Abramovich, however, who has an estimated net worth of nearly $8 billion.

Source: Forbes

Here is some drone footage of the superyacht.

You can see interior photos of the luxury yacht at Boat International

Step on board the 162.5m Eclipse - the second largest superyacht in the world

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How This Superyacht Became an Overnight Geopolitical Mystery

By Jessica Cherner

The Russia sanctions are growing, seemingly by the hundreds, every day. And much of the world is watching with glee as oligarchs’ luxuries are being hunted down by international governments. If we’ve learned anything from movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, which is based on a true story, it’s that some of the world’s wealthiest enjoy flaunting their money. Not only do billionaires often spend their money on toys like European sports cars and diamond-encrusted watches, but they also want the world to know to whom these extremely rare possessions belong. 

After all, Jeff Bezos has been accumulating quite a bit of press as he works on dismantling a historic bridge in Rotterdam to sail his $500 million yacht onto the open sea. But some billionaires play their cards a bit closer to the chest. Case in point: the owner of a 459-foot superyacht docked in a Tuscan port. No one, not even the Italian police, can identify who the enormous vessel belongs to, which leads the world to believe it may be someone tied to one of the world’s most currently despised leaders: Vladimir Putin.

Scheherazade , which costs an estimated $700 million, boasts not one but two helicopter decks. 

Few believe that the floating mansion actually belongs to the Russian president—whose recent invasion of Ukraine is earning more sanctions than he, his country, and his billionaire friends thought imaginable—but many are more certain that it belongs to someone with ties to the top of the Russian government.

Since the devastating fate of Ukraine started to unfold, the United States, along with the UK and the European Union, have come together to track down the luxuries belonging to Putin’s friends, who are part of a massively growing list of billionaires facing punishing sanctions. That’s why this boat, one of the world’s largest and costliest, is such a point of interest.

International governments have been going after the luxurious belongings of Russian oligarchs since Putin and his government started getting slapped with sanctions two weeks ago, so assuming the yacht hiding out in Italy is one of Putin’s friend’s, things aren’t looking so good. However, no one can confirm just yet. The ship’s British captain, Guy Bennett-Pearce, promised that Putin had never been on the boat and that it didn’t belong to him, but he didn’t confirm whether or not the yacht belonged to a Russian national.

Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Considering all of the amenities on the boat, dubbed Scheherazade , it’s not exactly an unfair guess to assume the owner is a Russian oligarch. Scheherazade , which costs an estimated $700 million, boasts not one but two helicopter decks, an indoor swimming pool with a retractable cover that transforms the pool into a dance floor, a fully equipped gym, and bathrooms complete with gold-plated fixtures. That’s a lot of sparkle even for the level of wealth associated with a purchase this big. However, the glamour isn’t the unusual part; the degree of intentional secrecy is.

The superyacht community does entertain a level of confidentiality—mostly for security purposes—but the Scheherazade is kept under so many wraps that it makes people believe something dubious must be going on when it comes to the owner’s identity. For instance, all of the contractors and crew members signed nondisclosure agreements, there’s a custom cover to hide the boat’s nameplate, and when Scheherazade arrived at the port, workers built a metal structure on the pier to keep passersby from seeing the yacht.

The 459-foot superyacht is currently docked in a Tuscan port.

This yacht, however, isn’t the only one catching people’s attention as of late. The world’s second-biggest yacht, called Eclipse , is owned by Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who owns the British soccer club, Chelsea. On Thursday, March 10, the UK government sanctioned Abramovich's assets.

As for Scheherazade , that mystery is still being investigated, and until the feds can figure out who the not-so-proud owner is, the behemoth on water will remain where it is, shrouded in a cloak of well-orchestrated secrecy.

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Superyachts aim to go green — but at what cost?

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Victor Mallet

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

It is hard to think of a more visible manifestation of great wealth and excessive consumption than a superyacht, as Russian oligarchs have discovered to their cost, following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

As western governments began detaining these very obvious luxury assets at harbours and shipyards around the world in successive rounds of economic sanctions aimed at Moscow, the targeted billionaires directed crews to steer the vessels to safe havens such as the Maldives in the Indian Ocean or Turkey in the Mediterranean. Roman Abramovich’s 163-metre Eclipse, one of the world’s largest superyachts and estimated to cost more than $1bn, found refuge in the Turkish port of Marmaris.

Long before the latest Ukraine war, however, the superyacht industry faced a problem unrelated to any support the ships’ wealthy owners may have provided to warmongering authoritarian regimes: their impact on the environment and the impression they gave that the rich could not care less about climate change.

Most superyachts — typically defined as a leisure vessel more than 30 metres or 100ft in length — are essentially motor vessels like small cruise liners, catering to proprietors or charterers and a few pampered guests. The biggest have helicopter pads, swimming pools and gyms as well as luxury suites. Some even have mini-submarines.

Very few are sailing yachts, and most of them consume vast quantities of diesel. Only now are manufacturers starting to develop new technologies such as hydrogen-powered electric propulsion that will cut emissions.

In the meantime, building the boats, operating them and, eventually, scrapping them all have a damaging effect on the environment. The same is true of aircraft and cars, but the very visibility of superyachts in tourist hotspots, makes their ecological footprint an increasingly sensitive topic. The global fleet has grown more than sixfold since 1985 to reach more than 5,200, according to Superyacht Times . And the fleet cruises the world’s vulnerable oceans.

“For sure, now it’s really high up the agenda — there’s been a fundamental shift,” says Monaco-based superyacht designer Espen Oeino, who reckons it is only in the past few years that most proprietors have really started to pay attention to yacht emissions. Clients ask him what can be done to reduce energy consumption onboard, both for propulsion and for the so-called “hotel load” of air-conditioning and other services, and even how to build the boat in the first place in a responsible way.

Rob Doyle, another naval architect who designs superyachts and is based in Kinsale in Ireland, agrees that more owners are beginning to take notice of the need to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, though many are still concerned about the cost. “There is still a huge amount of greenwashing,” he says. “You look at the magazines and you’ll never see a bad superyacht.”

And bad they often are. Research by anthropologists Beatriz Barros and Richard Wilk of Indiana University into the carbon footprints of the super-rich found that yachts contributed an outsized share of the carbon emissions of the billionaires who own them — far more than their private jets or mansions.

For former Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich, for example, of the 31,200 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent he is calculated to have emitted in 2018, no less than 22,400 tonnes came from his yachts. Yacht emissions for Bernard Arnault, owner of LVMH and France’s richest man, accounted for nearly 9,000 tonnes of his total of 10,400 tonnes.

There are other ways for the wealthy to be embarrassed by their superyachts. Dutch shipyard Oceanco is facing resistance from angry locals after asking the city of Rotterdam to temporarily dismantle the old Koningshaven Bridge so that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s new three-masted vessel — this one is a sailing yacht costing hundreds of millions of dollars — can reach the port and the open sea.

But the impact on the climate is still the environmental whale in the room for yacht owners, builders and designers: Bill Gates and Elon Musk are both big carbon emitters, but their 2018 numbers were much lower than those of their fellow billionaires because they did not have yachts, the Barros-Wilk paper showed.

The accelerating effort to green superyachts reflects similar moves in the aircraft and vehicle industries to adopt new technologies and systems that help to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions and other pollution.

For superyacht designers and builders, the process starts with the shape of the hull or hulls, because there are few things so wasteful of energy as pushing a heavy metal or composite vessel through a fluid as dense as water. For both Oeino and Doyle, this search for what Oeino calls the “geometry of an easily driven hull” means looking at multihulls (catamarans or trimarans) for the next generation of big yachts, because they are designed to skim along the surface of the sea rather than laboriously plough through it, even if there are obvious constraints on weight and what you can do with the interior space.

Next, propulsion. There are already diesel-electric boats in service, which use diesel generators running at optimum revolutions (more economical, less polluting) to power electric motors, and, in future, the idea is to run the electric motors with the output from hydrogen fuel cells.

Then there is the electricity needed for the yacht’s hotel load, principally air-conditioning and the making of fresh water from seawater, but also lights and other electrical systems. Solar panels can produce some power but rarely enough even to run a present-day superyacht at anchor, so to charge batteries and run the boat, some other form of carbon-free electricity generation is needed to replace the diesel generators widely in use today.

For Barros and Wilk, none of this can justify owning any kind of superyacht. They write: “While many billionaires have taken pro-environmental actions in their personal lives or their corporate connections or donate money to climate change organisations and purchase carbon offsets, none of these actions actually ‘cancels out’ their total emissions. A 90-metre yacht can be touted as energy efficient or environmentally friendly but, as critics of ‘eco-chic’ point out, it is still a huge waste of resources, a frivolous luxury in a warming world.”

But the industry is trying. Doyle’s answer, developed by his own firm and Van Geest Design, is Domus (“home” in Latin), a project for a 40-metre sailing trimaran described as “the first truly zero-emission yacht” over 750 gross tonnes, which would generate electricity to charge its batteries from solar panels, hydrogen fuel cells and its own propellers acting as dynamos when the boat is sailing.

“It came out of a conversation we had with a client,” says Doyle. “We proposed this project with fuel cells, and regenerative sailing. It’s silent . . . people just want to listen to the water and the wind coming across and not have the hum of generators or the whiff of diesel.”

People just want to listen to the water and the wind coming across and not have the hum of generators or the whiff of diesel Rob Doyle, yacht designer

Hydrogen propulsion is in its infancy for mass transport. The gas is difficult to store, though it can be made from methanol, and there is, as yet, no distribution network for the fuel. But the interest in hydrogen is just one sign of how the yacht industry is hunting for ways to lower emissions in the years ahead as the pressure from regulators — and public opinion — increases.

Oeino notes that in some places, including the World Heritage Site fjords such as Geirangerfjord in his native Norway, rules limiting emissions are already in place and becoming stricter, and will help to force the pace of the greening of ships and yachts.

The first systems for big yachts to be fully powered by renewables are likely to be the tenders, the smaller boats that ferry people to and from the shore, which are already starting to shift to electric propulsion, and the equipment that contributes to the hotel load when the ship is stationary. Hotel loads can, in any case, be reduced by sensible design and operation, given that indoor superyacht spaces are heavily air-conditioned all the time despite owners and guests spending a huge amount of their time outside, on deck.

Transocean travel with zero emissions is a much bigger ask, says Oeino. “A lot of stuff is already being implemented, but the full electric big yacht with zero emissions is still not a reality,” he explains, because it is impossible to store or produce enough energy onboard.

“It will be a combination of things that will bring us all to lower emissions and eventually zero emissions.” 

‘Yachts for science’ can be a breakthrough for explorers

For yacht owners who feel guilty not only about their environmental footprint but also about how little they use their expensive boats, Rosie O’Donnell has the perfect solution: Yachts for Science .

YFS, which its co-ordinator O’Donnell describes as “a dating agency, almost like a Tinder for the sea”, is a platform to match idle yachts and their crews with scientists in search of a vessel that can reach remote areas and allow them to research everything from coral reefs and manta rays to great white sharks. In some cases, the owners and their families like to be on board for the ride.

“It’s for people who want to be a bit philanthropic so they have got something more to talk about than sitting on the back of their boat in St Tropez drinking cocktails,” says O’Donnell. “It’s about making the ownership more worthwhile.”

The idea of YFS fits with the trend among yachtowners to commission robust so-called expedition or explorer yachts that can travel long distances, to the Antarctic for example, rather than being satisfied with something that will buzz at high speeds around the resorts of the Mediterranean or the Caribbean.

“The yachting industry is always looking for ways to reinvent itself,” says Dominic Byrne of Arksen Marine , a builder that backs YFS and is building a new range of high-tech motor yachts. “People are looking to go further afield, and they are looking to do it in an eco-friendly way as much as possible.”

This article is part of FT Wealth , a section providing in-depth coverage of philanthropy, entrepreneurs, family offices, as well as alternative and impact investment

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Eclipse crowned the winner of the first World Cup of Superyachts

After a gruelling week of competition and over 47,000 votes cast, the 162 metre Blohm+Voss superyacht Eclipse has been crowned the winner of the inaugural World Cup of Superyachts.

The competition began with 16 of the greatest yachts drawn from a hat and the number was swiftly whittled down to a face-off in the grand final between Eclipse and Octopus - two of the most impressive yachts ever built.

• Step on board the 162.5m Eclipse - the second largest superyacht in the world

At 162 metres in length, Eclipse had size on her side as one of the largest yachts in the world (second only to Azzam who she knocked out in the semi-finals). With nine decks and the design talents of the legendary Terence Disdale touching every curve and corner, she is a truly remarkable vessel. But what Octopus may lack in size at a comparably modest 126 metres, she more than makes up for in her pandora's box of toys, from the two helicopters sitting side by side in the hangar to the 10-person Pagoo submarine (not to mention her globetrotting 12,500 nautical mile range.)

The competition was tough and the battle well fought, but it was Eclipse that came out on top after a week of voting across social media and boatinternational.com.

You can listen to the draw as it happened on our BOAT Briefing podcast .

Images by Klaus Jordan; Peter Seyfferth; A&B Photodesign; Guillaume Plisson; Berge Myrene; Tom Van Oossanen; Stef Bravin; Giovanni Romero; SuperYachtsMonaco; Feadship; Jeff Brown

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The superyacht world is speculating that Mark Zuckerberg just bought this 118-meter boat

• The 118-meter superyacht Launchpad made her maiden voyage last week.
• The yacht world is speculating that her owner is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
• Here's what we know about the luxury vessel.

In the world of superyachts , privacy is the most valuable asset. It can be next to impossible to discern the details of a superyacht transaction — and that's particularly true if the vessel in question is worth nine figures.

Yet some in the boat blogging world are speculating that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the new owner of Launchpad, a megayacht currently moored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after she made her maiden voyage from Gibraltar to St Maarten last week. Launchpad clocks in at 118 meters long, about nine meters shorter than Jeff Bezos' superyacht Koru .

The transaction could not be confirmed, with yacht world insiders declining to share what they know and representatives for Zuckerberg not responding to a request for comment from Business Insider. In the past, reports about Zuckerberg owning superyacht Ulysses have proven false.

"It is Feadship's standard policy to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs, or delivery, etc," Feadship, the ship's builder, wrote to BI. "Whether it is an 18-meter Feadship from the 1960s or a 118-meter Feadship from the 21st century, we do not share private information."

But Zuckerberg's name has been connected to Launchpad for a few months now, beginning in December when reports swirled that he visited Feadship's shipyard in the Netherlands.

Then, earlier in March, yachting bloggers like eSysman SuperYachts and Autoevolution started speculating that he officially snagged the boat, originally built for a sanctioned Russian businessman, at a $300 million price tag. (While that's a seemingly huge amount, it's still less than 0.2% of Zuckerberg's $177 billion net worth.)

Another clue that might point to US ownership is that the yacht bears the flag of the Marshall Islands, a US territory and commonplace for American buyers to register their ships, according to public marine tracking.

If Zuckerberg were to have bought Launchpad, he would join a cohort of superyacht-owning tech billionaires . Along with Bezos, the likes of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have purchased impressive boats with even more impressive amenities.

SuperYacht Times , an industry publication and intelligence platform, has some of the best images of the yacht. Photos show a swimming pool on her main deck and a large helipad.

While less is known of the interior, a vessel of her size can likely sleep dozens of guests and crew and may have amenities like an expansive gym where Zuckerberg could practice his jiu-jitsu or a spa with a massage area. We suspect there's also space for plenty of toys — which could include his viral hydrofoil foil .

Do you have any details about Launchpad or any other superyachts? Email reporter Madeline Berg at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

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