With recent activity growth in the field of explorer yachts, marked by introduction of Oceanco's 105-meter explorer concept Esquel and Heesen's 57-metre explorer yacht XVenture, Yacht Harbour looks at the sector's largest yachts. Although the 5 largest explorer yachts launched might change in the near future, today we recall the largest ones built so far.

#5 Andromeda


Length: 107m

Yard: Kleven (2016)

This superyacht built in 2015 was originally christened Ulysses, later in 2017 that name was handed over to her bigger sister. Andromeda was owned by New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart, up to her sale in 2017, which became the largest that year asking $175 million.

With her naval architecture developed by Norwegian Marin Teknikk and exterior design by Oscar Mike, Andromeda was produced by companies earlier known for building commercial offshore vessels. She features a helicopter pad with a hangar, as well as storage space for a 21-metre tender that requires a special crane.


#4 Le Grand Bleu



Length: 112.8m

Yard: Bremer Vulkan (2000)

Built by Bremer Vulkan and launched in 2000 with a Bannenberg & Rowell interior design, Le Grand Bleu was commissioned by John McCaw, US telecom magnate, but then sold to Roman Abramovich who enhanced it with a 16ft swimming platform. Le Grand Bleu was then passed to Eugene Shvidler, friend of Abramovich and business partner, in 2006.

Le Grand Bleu is featured with many options ensuring perfect exploration travelling. Her large tender capacity enables her to house two sports boats, a 22-metre Dubois sailing yacht and 21 metre Sunseeker motor yacht, not to mention a Land Rover that can be used to explore territories ashore.


#3 Luna



Length: 115m

Yard: Lloyd Werft (2010)

Refreshened through a €50 million refit that came following a change in ownership, Luna was delivered in 2010. Currently the 3rd largest explorer in the world, her open aft deck and swimming pool have set a standard for the yachting industry.

Built for Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, Luna was originally intended as a more sleek version of her owner's existing explorer, the 113-meter Le Grand Bleu. At the time of her launch, the swimming pool installed on Luna was the largest that anyone had ever seen onboard a superyacht.

Luna's current owner, which Forbes names as Farkhad Akhmedov, purchased the yacht from Abramovich in 2014. The man, valued at $1,3 billion by the magazine, later initiated a 14-month refit in Germany that gave the yacht a sleek exterior look and implemented several improvements on one of the world's most iconic yachts.


#2 Ulysses



Length: 116m

Yard: Kleven (2018)

The enhanced, larger version of the 107-meter Ulysses (now Andromeda), this yacht was also built by Kleven in Norway for New Zealand-based billionaire Graeme Hart.

Ulysses' naval architecture was developed by Norwegian design house Marin Teknikk, with her exterior concept devised by New Zealand design studio Oscar Mike Naval Architects, and interior design by British studio RWD. Her key features include a helicopter hangar at the top deck, along with a storage for Bell 429 helicopter. Ulysses is also equipped with a wide range of tenders, with a 21-metre Princess 68 yacht among others.


#1 Octopus



Length: 126m

Yard: Lurssen (2003)

This largest explorer yacht in the world built by German shipyard Lurssen in 2003, has not been surpassed in 16 years. She belonged to Paul Allen, one of Microsoft founders, who passed away in late 2018. As Allen once said: "Octopus is less a Bentley than a Range Rover".

As part of this, the yacht is fitted with two submarines, one of which can dive for up to 8 hours with 10 people on it, the second submarine can be remotely controlled. Thanks to this equipment, Allen and his crew were able to locate a WW2 era battleship at the bottom of the ocean in the Philippines. 

The billionaire had previously also made available his yacht to the Royal Navy in order to find a British battleship underwater. On a leisure side, Allen lent Mick Jagger the recording studio onboard for him to record an album in 2011, other performers have included Usher, U2 and Johnny Cash.

The largest explorer yacht in the world, Octopus can accommodate up to 26 guests thanks to her spacious staterooms and is operated by a crew of 60. Other amenities found onboard include a second helipad, a swimming pool and a music studio as well as a courtyard-like set up on the third deck of Octopus occupied by guest space.

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