The world’s most expensive superyachts
Alex Smith abandons all discernment in search of ten powerboats that cost truly vulgar amounts of cash.
There was a story circulating five years ago about a $3 billion superyacht built from (among other things) 100,000kg of gold. Happily, it seems to have been a joke, but since then, the race among the world’s billionaires to outdo their peers means massive prices are becoming relatively commonplace – and the vessel itself is just the start. With everything from throne rooms to original oil paintings, integrated weapons systems and arsenals of toys for air, sea and subsurface fun, the potential for building the next most expensive superyacht has never been greater. Here then, in ascending vulgarity (sorry, price), are ten of the most outrageous monuments to small man syndrome the world has ever seen...
(1) Octopus (£130 million)
We’ll start with quite a modest superyacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. At 414 feet in length and £130 million, M/Y Octopus comes with a pair of helicopters, a ten-man submarine, a remotely operated sub for seabed exploration, a recording studio, a glass-bottomed swimming pool, a cinema and seven tenders.
Owned by Paul Allen, Octopus was built in 2003.
Built in 2003 by famous German superyacht specialist Lurssen, it has been loaned out on several occasions for survey and search and rescue operations.
(2) Al Mirqab (£160 million)
M/Y Al Mirqab (owned by the former Prime Minister of Qatar) is powered by a diesel-electric plant that uses five 2,800kW generators, a pair of electric motors and conventional shafts.
Al Mirqab is owned by the former Prime Minister of Qatar.
But while a top speed of 20 knots and accommodation for 36 guests and 45 crew is fairly standard, her Andrew Winch internal arrangement is uncommonly dramatic. It revolves around a central staircase that intersects four floors, with lots of crystal detailing and suspended glasswork from sculptor, Dale Chihuly. In fact, such is the spectacle of the fit-out that she won not just ‘Motor Yacht of the Year’ in 2009, but also ‘Best Interior Design’.
(3) Dilbar (£163 million)
Designed by Tom Heywood and Alberto Pinto and owned by Russian steel magnate, Alisher Usmanov, Dilbar is described by Lürssen as an exponent of the ‘green engine concept’.
Dilbar is designed to keep engine emissions as low as possible.
The aim is to reduce emissions with an efficient propulsion system based around four generating sets supplying power both for the domestic load and for the four azimuthing thrusters. It also has a diesel propulsion system hooked up to exhausts which (as on the gensets) are fitted with ultra-green particle filters. Details are limited but it is thought that this 361-foot steel and aluminium yacht is good for a top end of 21 knots.
(4) Al Said (£192 million)
Owned by the Sultan of Oman, this six-deck, 16,000-tonne, 509-foot superyacht is again the work of Lürssen Yachts. Launched in 2008 and now berthed in Muscat, Oman, Al Saïd has a top speed of around 25 knots and is reported to have a massive crew complement of 150 and space for 65 guests.
The super-spacious Al Said has space aboard for a 50-piece orchestra.
Internally, she uses large, classically panelled entertaining spaces, including a concert hall big enough to house a 50-piece orchestra.
(5) Superyacht A (£206 million)
Designed by Philippe Starck with naval architecture from Francis Design and build from Blohm + Voss, Superyacht A is the property of Russian billionaire, Andrei Melnichenko.
Unusual wave-piercing design of Superyacht A.
Accommodation for 14 guests and 42 crew is quite limited and those narrow, raked lines also mean fairly minimal deck space. The name is also quite silly and the idea that it could cut through ice (as commonly suggested) is complete nonsense. However, with a far more striking and freehand style than most vessels in the superyacht category, Melnichenko’s plaything is a dead cert for our top ten.
(6) Dubai (£225 million)
If David Cameron owned a £225 million megayacht, we might have reason to request greater transparency over the nation’s budget deficit. But in the UAE, the PM’s ownership of a sparkly 531-footer appears to raise no eyebrows at all.
Megayacht Dubai has 12 suites all with private balconies.
With design from Andrew Winch, M/Y Dubai can accommodate 24 guests in 12 suites, all of which come with private balconies and panoramic sea views. In addition to the usual features (swimming pool, cinema, helipad, gym, disco, barbecue deck and submarine), there is also a vast central atrium more than 70 feet wide.
(7) Eclipse (£300 million plus fixtures)
At 534 feet, this superyacht was designed by Abramovich to ‘eclipse’ SY Dubai by a matter of inches – and on its release from the Blohm & Voss yard in 2010, it duly became the biggest superyacht in the world.
Launched in 2010, Eclipse was designed just inches longer than M/Y Dubai to become the world’s largest private yacht at the time.
In addition to a 180-foot owner’s deck, three helicopters and berths for up to 92 crew, it also boasts an anti-missile defence system and a 50-foot swimming pool, the base of which can be raised to generate a dance floor. It went on to scoop the coveted title of ‘Motor Yacht of the Year’ at the World Superyacht Awards in 2011.
(8) Azzam (£390 million)
At more than 590 feet in length, M/Y Azzam is currently the largest superyacht in the world. Owned by the President of the United Arab Emirates, not much is known about Azzam other than the fact that she was built by Lurssen at a cost of around £390 million.
Azzam is currently the largest megayacht in the world at 590ft in length.
Her exterior styling comes from Nauta Yacht Design, her French-style interior is from Christophe Leoni and her propulsion uses two fixed and two directional water jets for a top end approaching 32 knots.
(9) Topaz (£400 million)
It might only be 483 feet in length (50 feet shorter than Abramovich’s Eclipse) but with its steel hull, aluminium superstructure and 70-foot beam, this Lurssen-built monster is one of the most expensive craft ever built.
Topaz is not the longest, but cost a reputed £400 million to build.
Launched in 2012 and costing around £400 million, this 12,000-tonne vessel was designed by Rutland-based British designer, Tim Heywood. Details have remained scarce since its launch but it is now thought to be owned by the Saudi Royal Family.
(10) Triple Deuce (£640 million)
At 728 feet in length, Triple Deuce is set to become the biggest and most expensive private yacht in history. With triple gas turbine engines generating more than 100,000hp, she is expected to carry 36 guests and 100 crew at speeds in excess of 30 knots.
Once completed, Triple Deuce will be the largest private yacht in the world at 728 feet in length.
The vast owner’s suite will comprise 3,000 square feet over two decks, with private access both up to the helipad and down to the drive-in dock. For now, the identity of that owner is unknown, but if the intention is to blow the rest of the billionaire fraternity out of the water, Triple Deuce might be the perfect solution. For more mega-vessels on boats.com, see: 5 extraordinary boats: inspired or absurd? or Sexiest boats: six of the best.
