Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, some Russians were able to amass vast fortunes putting them amongst the richest men in the world. According to Forbes, Russia currently has 77 billionaires despite the country's current economic crisis.
In the past two decades, these oligarchs have been instrumental to the development of the yachting industry, setting a new benchmark as to what could be considered to be a megayacht.
In 1990, the world of megayachts was mainly dominated by Middle Eastern Royal families and Greek magnates such as Stavros Niarchos (commissioned the Atlantis and Atlantis II). The 147m Prince Abdulaziz, owned by the Saudi Royal family, was at the time the largest superyacht in the world.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the landscape of the megayacht industry however started to change with a new influx of owners from Russia and the US tech scene. From 1992 to 2005, 20 superyachts over 80 meters in length were delivered, surpassing the 19 megayachts delivered from 1865 to 1992.
These new megayachts famously included Paul Allen's Octopus, David Geffen's Rising Sun, Berezovsky's Radiant but also the yachts that came to be known in the field as Abramovich's Navy consisting of Sussurro, Ecstasea, Le Grand Bleu, Luna, Pelorus and later Eclipse.
As the financial crisis hit the sector in 2008, the small and middle-size yachting market was severely hit but while many thought the megayacht industry would collapse, it continued its exponential growth. Between 2008 and 2016, a further 48 megayachts have been built, doubling the previous decades' amount of yachts over 80m delivered.
Not only were there suddenly more megayachts but their size also grew with the 162.5m Eclipse being delivered in 2010 for Mr. Abramovich. This growth in uncertain times was once again, in most part, brought by an expanding class of Russian oligarchs.
Serene, first yacht built by Ficantieri was ordered by Yuri Sheffler before being sold in 2015 to a Middle Eastern buyer. M/Y A was famously commissioned by Andrei Melnichenko and delivered in 2008, same year as Lurssen delivered the first 110m Dilbar to Mr Usmanov.
As many began to think that this segment would finally collapse with a weak recovery followed by recession in Russia, demand did not go away. In 2014, 104m Quantum Blue was delivered to Sergey Galitskiy and 140m Ocean Victory to Viktor Rashnikov.
In the summer of 2016, a new Dilbar, which is now speculated to be the largest yacht by gross tonnage, was delivered to Mr Usmanov. As for Abramovich's Navy, it has now been split up with Eugene Schvidler now owning Le Grand Bleu, Farkhad Akhmedov buying Luna whilst Pelorus and Ecstasea were both sold to Middle Eastern buyers.
Whether this growth of the megayacht sector will continue is questionable due to renewed turmoil in Russia's economy. Melnichenko's newest 142m S/Y A project however does seem to be a good indicator that there may be one day a 200m yacht.
Here below are some of the most advanced and industry-leading yachts that were commissioned by Russian oligarchs over the past two decades.
162.5m Eclipse - Roman Abramovich
Photo by Julien Hubert
The 162.5m yacht was built by by German shipyard Blohm & Voss in 2010 and held the title of the world's largest private yacht until 2013, when the 180 metre Azzam stole the crown. Although not all the details of the megayacht are unveiled, it is known that her interiors feature designs by the renowned London-based team at Terence Disdale Design. It is speculated that Eclipse boasts a military-grade missile defense system, armor plating and bulletproof windows, while hosting three helipads, a private theater and a fitness center.
156m Dilbar - Alisher Usmanov
Photo by @superyachts_gibraltar
World's largest yacht by a volume, the 156m Dilbar was delivered to Alisher Usmanov in May 2016. Confidentiality is upheld to the highest degree at Lurssen, which celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2015, but it is understood that Dilbar's exterior design comes from Espen Oeino with interiors by Andrew Winch. It is also know the yacht has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The Russian oligarch has another Lurssen superyacht, 110m Ona, that was previously named Dilbar as well.
140m Ocean Victory - Viktor Rashnikov
Delivered by Fincantieri in 2014, Ocean Victory is designed by Espen Oeino with interior spaces created by the late Alberto Pinto together with Sessa Romboli. Owned by Viktor Rashnikov, the vessel accommodates up to 36 guests. As with many other yachts of this size, she is packed with alluring features such as 6 pools spread out over her 7 decks, an internal floodable dock to house her 14m tender,two helipads and a vast spa area.
119m A - Andrey Melnichenko
M/Y A, owned by Andrey Melnichenko is reportedly now for sale. A was built by Blohm+Voss in 2008. Designed by Philippe Starck, the vessel remains the most talked-about yacht on the seas. She is capable of accommodating 14 guests in 7 luxurious cabins, as well as a crew of 42. Mr Melnichenko's second yacht, the 142.8m S/Y A, is being built at the Nobiskrug shipyard in Germany. According to the Daily Mail, the new project will cost close to 450 million dollars.
99m Madame Gu - Andrei Skoch
According to Forbes Russia, the 99m superyacht belongs to Andrei Skoch. Madame Gu was built by Feadship in 2013 and delivered after four years of construction. Andrew Winch styled her exterior, whilst De Voogt was responsible for the naval architecture. With perfect proportions, it's hard to imagine that her tonnage exceeds 2,900 GRT. The interior, also designed by Andrew Winch, accommodates twelve guests in six cabins. The crew quarters are composed of 18 cabins for 36 members. This twin screw superyacht is powered by quadruple 3,600kW MTU engines providing a top speed of 24 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots.
95.15m Palladium - Mikhail Prokhorov
With an original design by Michael Leach, Palladium, formerly Project Orca, is thought to be owned by Mikhail Prokhorov. Palladium is a 95.15m (312.17 ft) luxury motor yacht, built by Blohm + Voss in 2010. With a beam of 16.00m and a draft of 4.40m, she has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure.
88.5m Nirvana - Vladimir Potanin
Built by Oceanco in 2012, Nirvana was the star of the Monaco Yacht Show the following year busting an aquarium aft and a set of revolutionary features. Owned by Vladimir Potanin, the yacht features a jungle-themed interior design. Nirvana also hosts two spa pools and extensive lounging accommodations. Designed by Sam Sorgiovanni, the yacht has a transpacific range and a maximum speed of 19.5 knots. Nirvana was previously listed for sale asking 199 million euros but was supposedly taken off the market without any sale occurring.
Three days ago at age 73 died UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He was born in 1948 in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Khalifa was appointed as the second president of the UAE in 2004, succeeding his father and founder of the nation, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan. As president he headed one of the largest investment funds in the world, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, managing hundreds of billions of dollars in assets.Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (7 September 1948 – 13 May 2022)Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was one of the richest people in the world. The fortune of his family in 2009 was estimated at $150 billion. In the ranking of “The richest monarchs in the world" from 2007, Al Nahyan ranked second. In 2018 Forbes ranked him 43rd in the ranking with reported assets of $830 billion. AzzamHe was the owner of the world's largest motor yacht Azzam. She was built in 2013 at the German shipyard Lürssen. At 180.65 meters, with a top speed of over 30 knots, Azzam has outstanding characteristics, including her exceptionally short building time of less than three years from keel laying to delivery, in 2013. AzzamEngineer and principal designer Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi set out to build a large yacht with an innovative and timeless design that would be able to travel at high speed in warm and shallow waters. The bold and elegant exterior by Nauta Yachts incorporates many elements of visionary modern design. Renowned French designer Christophe Leoni conceived a sophisticated interior with luxurious décor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century.AzzamShe features a helipad, submarines on board, and 36 people can be accommodated there at the same time. Burj KhalifaThe monarch owned real estate all over the world. Hundreds of villas, palaces, castles. There are 140 properties in London alone. The tallest building in the world, Dubai's nearly 828-meter glass-and-steel spire Burj Khalifa, was named in his honor.Credits: Lurssen; Yacht Harbour archive; Unsplash; Wikipedia
May 16, 2022
The Rio superyacht has been successfully delivered to her owner and has left the marina at the Ancona Superyacht Yard, as she prepares to show off her sleek profile on her debut Mediterranean cruise. The 62m bespoke yacht is made from steel and aluminum and was designed and built by CRN in close collaboration with design and architecture studio Omega Architects, who created the exterior concept, and designers Pulina Exclusive Interiors for the interior styling. At 62 meters long and 11.2 meters in the beam, this four deck superyacht accommodates up to 12 guests in the owner’s suite and five guest suites. These include two full-beam VIPs – one on the main deck forward, the other on the lower deck – and three suites on the lower deck. The upper deck is the owner’s exclusive domain, a great oasis of intimacy and privacy that can also be enjoyed as a social zone.Rio features the taut, flowing hull lines and near-vertical bow reflect a strikingly dynamic, sporty personality. The yacht is characterized by large and luminous indoor and outdoor living areas. She reflects the character of the owner, who has a passion for being onboard. An individual who desired a shared cruising experience with family and close friends. The generous full-height windows on the main and owner decks form a visual continuum in sync with the elegant exterior architecture, offering a delightful play of light and reflected shimmer with constant direct contact with the sea. TWW Yachts is representing the buyer, while TWW Yacht Management has provided integral technical consultancy with survey and project management oversight throughout the final stages of construction and is now available for charter exclusively with TWW Yachts. Rio will be cruising in the Mediterranean this summer and from October onwards in the Caribbean.The yacht will make her world premiere at the Monaco Yacht Show, from the 28th of September to the 1st October 2022. CRN is currently building another 4 fully custom yachts: the 72-meter CRN M/Y 139, the 60-meter CRN M/Y 141, the 52-meter CRN M/Y 142 and the 67-meter CRN M/Y 143.CRN is a historic shipyard and Ferretti Group brand and company that designs and builds fully custom 45m to 95m steel and aluminum yachts. It was founded in 1963 in Ancona, Italy. The Ancona yard spans over 80,000 sq. m and boasts a large historic private marina looking out on the Adriatic, where all the CRN megayachts are made. The fleet now numbers over 400 seagoing vessels, plus several aluminum and light-alloy models built for other Ferretti Group brands. Credit: CRN
May 16, 2022
Turkish builder Alia Yachts has completed a major step forward in the build of its latest 60-meter project: the keel laying of the superyacht, which took place at its Antalya facility in March. The 60m project was commissioned for an experienced yachtsman who has owned numerous vessels of varying sizes over the past decade. The yacht was made by Alia Yachts with Vripack and the GCC-based SF Yachts. That team is also responsible for the 55-meter superyacht Al Waab which was delivered by Alia in 2021.The yacht can accommodate 12 guests across six generous guest suites – two twins and four VIPs complete with double beds. The master stateroom can be found on the upper deck forward, offering phenomenal views from high above the water, as well as its own large walk-in wardrobe and a dedicated owner’s lounge overlooking a private foredeck. Standout areas on board the 60-meter project include her sprawling lower-deck beach club which boasts a massage room, dive store, steam shower, gym and relaxation zone. In addition, for ease of movement on board, the yacht also comes equipped with an elevator connecting all levels from the lower to the upper deck. “Following the footsteps of Al Waab, we are happy to mark the ceremonial keel laying for this bigger project of over 1.000 gross tons and huge exterior spaces. With a reputation for bespoke, custom yachts and not being a mass builder, every custom yacht we deliver represents the unique vision of the owner and this project is another source of pride for us. The owner and his family have some incredible travel plans on the horizon and we feel honored to be trusted to make this into a reality for him,” comments Gökhan Çelik, President of Alia Yachts.Alia Yachts was founded in 2008 by Gokhan Çelik and Omer Koray. Located in the port of Antalya on the beautiful Turkish Riviera, Alia Yachts shipyard currently occupies approximately 8,000 sq. m, including three construction halls with their suites of specialist workshops and a dedicated interiors facility. With an additional 16,000 sq. m under development for 2019, Alia Yachts will rank among the top facilities in the region.Credits: Andrea Porrà - NWH/Alia Yachts
May 16, 2022
The 42.40m yacht Idefix (formerly known as Blacksheep) was successfully sold by IYC. Michel Chryssicopoulos was introducing the buyer and Tassos Papantoniou of Torrance Yachts was representing the seller. Idefix was built in 1998 by Oceanco, she had a refit in 2010 and benefited from a full paint job in 2015. The yacht has been immaculately maintained and operated to extremely high standards by her experienced owners.She can accommodate 12 guests across six cabins, including a spacious master suite with the equivalent space typically found on a 50m boat. The yacht key features include an expansive sun deck with hot-tub, a high-volume interior and a spacious al fresco dining area by the sky lounge and also features a more formal dining area on the main deck.The yacht’s interior was designed by The A Group, while her naval architecture was made by Oceanco. Thanks to two MTU engines, she can reach a top speed of 18 knots. Idefix’s last known asking price was EUR9,600,000. Credits: IYC; Yacht Harbour archive
May 13, 2022
Turkish shipbuilder Mazu Yachts completes the first hull of the 28m Mazu 92DS series with the second hull in-build under spec. Mazu 92DS is the first of a new semi-displacement series, the first of a new semi-displacement series that will be followed by a 112 DS and 132 DS model. The yacht exterior and interior was made by Red Yacht Design. It features a raised pilothouse positioned forward in order to maximize the interior volumes. The vertical bow increases the waterline length. The yacht’s carbon composite for the superstructure is keeping the weight down and the center of gravity low. The yacht can accommodate eight guests across four cabins, including a full-beam owner’s suite located on the main deck forward, a full-beam VIP and two single cabins.There is more lounging space, as well as dining facilities and the exterior helm station shaded by the hardtop on the fly deck. She features a large swim platform, and a beach club with a bar. The yacht will be powered by triple Volvo Penta IPS 1050 drives for a top speed of 22 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots. This is the first time IPS propulsion has been installed on a steel-hulled yacht, requiring close collaboration with Volvo Penta and Profjord in Sweden for the engineering and naval architecture.The first Mazu 92 is expected to be launched in 2023. Turkish Mazu Yachts has been designing and producing Open and Hard-Top Motor Yachts and Superyacht Tenders since 2011. The state of the art facility of 3000 sq. m indoor and 1000 sq. m outdoor space also accommodates carpentry shops and paint booths for creating an anti-dust environment.Credits: Mazu Yachts
May 13, 2022