who owns superyacht pelorus

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A Closer Look at the $300 Million Superyacht Pelorus

Lurssen builds some of the most iconic yachts on earth. The Golden Odyssey, for example, is a beautiful superyacht they created, which is believed to belong to Prince Khaled of Saudi Arabia. The stunning light blue details make it instantly identifiable. Perhaps most well known is the Azzam. The 180-meter mega yacht is the largest in the world . Doubtless, if you want an unforgettable sailing experience, Lurssen can help make your dreams come true.

Naming Your Ship

A pelorus is the name of a piece of shipboard equipment that helps take relative bearings on distant objects. The Pelorus, built in 2003 at Lürssen’s Krogerwerft facility, gets its name from the vital tool. Not many yachts are given such practical names; in fact, most are given more fantastic or feminine names. Some ships even get punny names, but the Pelorus is downright scientific. Traditionally, ships were given feminine names. Unlike American English, in most languages, objects, like tools and boats, have gendered names. In the Mediterranean, all ships have been 'female' for centuries. This led to many ships getting female names and being called 'she' in languages where this isn't necessarily the case. Just as in English, we call boats 'she and her,' despite our gender-neutral forms.

The exact origin of this quirk is unknown, but it's believed that the association comes from early sailors. Before powered motors and even before the world was known to be a sphere, a sailor might spend months or years onboard before returning home again. Their relationships with the vessels that carried the were often more profound and more significant than their connection to their land-bound sisters, mothers, wives, or daughters. Many sailors, even now still associate ships with women. They believe each has a specific way she prefers to be handled. The 'personalities' of the vessels are often compared to female emotions, and though it's old fashioned and a bit biased, many still hold to the idea that if you don't treat your ship the way she likes, you'll suffer her wrath.

Awards & Stats

Not every yacht can be an award-winning superstar in its own right. The sleek and powerful Pelorus won two awards in 2004. She won awards for her decadent interior and one for her overall size category as well.

• International Superyacht Society Awards 2004 Best Power 43m+
• International Superyacht Society Awards 2004 Best Power Interior

Awards aren't the only thing that makes this particular yacht so sought after . She has many outstanding qualities. Her designers are internationally known and sought after for their expertise. Tim Heywood drew the working areas and superstructure of this beloved beauty.

The History of the Pelorus

Pelorus has had more owners than most yachts in her short life. We can't speculate on why any individual would sell such a beautiful ship, but she does get around a lot. The Pelorus has been seen and owned all over the world in her short life. When she was first commissioned, the Pelorus was intended as a replacement for another yacht, the Coral Island. However, the original Saudi Arabian owner didn't keep her. He decided to sell his beautiful commission, and after several bids, he soon received an offer he couldn't refuse. The yacht went to Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich who added a second helipad. He had her for three or four years before his circumstances changed. Unfortunately, in 2007, Roman divorced. We don't know if his ex-wife got the car or the house, but she certainly appears to have gotten the yacht. Pelorus received an update in 2007 and a few years later was resold again.

In May of 2011, David Geffen, the co-founder of Dreamworks, bought her. He enjoyed her very briefly, and the same year passed her on to the royal family of Abu Dhabi. The information on the sale came out as a part of the Panama Papers Leaks. The royals sailed the Pelorus for a further five years before they too sold her. In 2016 Chinese billionaire, Samuel Tak Lee purchased her. He's had her since that time, but who knows when the flighty Pelorus will move on to her next owner.

Decadence Personified

The inside was the handiwork of Terence Disdale (https://www.superyachts.com/directory-1520/terence-disdale.htm). He gave the Pelorus an owners suite that is entirely private even from the rest of the ship and has a full 180-degree panoramic view. The yacht is decked out (no pun intended) in a very apropos informal beach villa inspired style. Her fun and stylish features make this yacht the perfect vacation destination.

• Two pools, one with artificial current and the other a spa-pool grace the decks so swimmers can enjoy salt-free ocean swimming. There's also a relaxing jacuzzi and a swimming platform with underwater lights.
•  You can work out in the private Gym and then get treated at the spa.
• Helipads and Elevators mean easy access to the ship and all its areas.
•  The Beach Club is a great place to have a casual party.
•  A Dance Floor for formal balls or nightclub action depending on how you want to use them
•  Take in a show at the private cinema when you get tired of the ocean view (if that's even possible).

Cabins & Staff

The staff on the Pelorus is rotated in such a way as to keep it constantly running. With quarters for 41 staff and plenty of private cabins, this boat is ready for parties, or events whenever the owner desires. The master suite takes up the top deck, but the VIP suites are also incredible. One of the rooms has a wall that lowers to create a veranda. When you add the eight double suites as well, there are eleven cabins for the owner and guests, and it can accommodate 22 visitors comfortably.

Known for her award-winning proportions and looks as well as her ownership history, here are the details on this lovely custom yacht.

• Length: 377.30ft /115m
• Built | Refit: 2003 | 2007
• Model: Custom
• Beam: 56.43ft /17.2m
• Gross Tonnage: 5403 Tonnes
• Draft: 15.29ft /4.66m
• Cruising Speed: 17 Knots
• Top Speed: 20 Knots
• Range: 6000 Nautical Miles
• Materials: Steel and Aluminum

Final Thoughts

If you're in the market for a truly stunning and acclaimed superyacht, this elegant yet casual ship is probably on many wealthy bucket lists. We can't say when she'll next be up for sale, though with the Pelorus' history it does seem likely that she could be available again soon enough. For now, she's off the market, but nothing is out of reach if you have the finances. Indeed, if we could dream up a perfect ocean vacation , this would be where we'd want to hang our beach hats this summer.

Written by  Dana Hanson

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Superyacht Pelorus – One of the World’s Largest Private Superyachts

Owned by American movie mogul David Geffen, the Pelorus is a superyacht that overwhelmingly lives up to its christened title. Pelorus is the anglicised version of the Greek Pelorios which refers to immenseness.

Designed according to the specifications of Tim Heywood (external designing) and Terence Disdale (internal designing) designing corporations, the superyacht was built by the German yacht building conglomerate Lurssen. Launched in the year 2003, Pelorus is rated amongst the world’s biggest privately-owned superyachts.

Built in Lurssen’s Bremen shipbuilding yard, the vessel bears the Bermudian registration flag. Prior to being owned by David Geffen, the vessel boasts of several premier ownership rights, first under a Saudi business tycoon and later on with the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

  Key Points

–          The superyacht measures 377. 3 ft lengthwise, 56.4 ft breadth wise and has a draught of almost 15.0 ft

–          Maximal transition speed of 20 metres with a navigational speed of 18 metres

–           Well-equipped to accommodate 20 patrons a crew of 41 members

–          The body of Pelorus is built of steel with an aluminium super-structuring support

–          Functionality is through two Wartsila diesel engines, each generating energy up to 5,300 Horsepower

Amenities aboard the vessel include a couple of heli-decks, Jacuzzis and spas, Jet Skis and several other assorted water activities’ equipments. This accentuates the whole experiencing of living aboard the vessel. The vessel is available for chartering for interested patrons. Pelorus navigates the western part of the Mediterranean while traversing through the waters of the Suez during the months of autumn and winter. Considering the popularity of the vessel and the navigational route it takes, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the list of potential takers for chartering would be minimal.

You may also like to read:- The Awe-Inspiring Adastra Superyacht References & Image Credits:  superyachtfan, charterworld, superyachttimes

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• Impressions

The 115-meter megayacht Pelorus, delivered in 2003, has earned a reputation for extraordinary grandeur as well as innovation. Her profile is marked by a high sheer line, giving her a powerful presence. The exterior design by Tim Heywood incorporates the four lower decks within the hull, a creative solution that allows a full-beam floor layout. Her interior has an atmosphere of beach-chic at sea, using natural materials and exotic textures. Outstanding features of Terence Disdale’s design include several terraces with doors that open out of the side of the hull for an indoor/outdoor experience that allows guests to feel truly at one with the sea.

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By SuperyachtNews 02 May 2019

An easier route to the path less trodden

We sat down with the founders of travel and yacht expedition company pelorus to discuss their new venture….

As owners continue to look further afield for the ultimate superyacht experience, SuperyachtNews sat down with the founders of Pelorus, Geordie Mackay-Lewis and Jimmy Carroll, to discuss their new venture. The pair, who first met while serving in the British Army, launched Pelorus a year and a half ago to deliver bespoke experiential expeditions to superyacht clients.

To date, Pelorus has worked with five yachts and currently has eight more in the pipeline. According to the founders, what sets Pelorus apart from their competitors is that they “start with the experience,” preferring to focus on the creative side of the expedition initially, concerning themselves with the logistical challenges once the itinerary is put in place . “We like talking about the fun stuff,” they explain.

Recently, Pelorus managed a successful recce for a 90m superyacht in Eritea. The intention was to do a diving expedition in the region, but was proving to be particularly difficult in a place that “doesn’t understand what a pleasure craft is”. In order to make the trip a reality, the Pelorus team spent two days negotiating with seven different ministries to get the requisite special permissions to engage in a whole host of activities, thereby unlocking the doors at government level.

"It keeps the owner happy too so it's a win win all round"

In recent years, there has been a noticeable uptick in owners wishing to get off the beaten track and, according to Pelorus, this phenomenon doesn't seem to be dependent on how long people have been in the industry. Carroll explains that Pelorus has several “new, younger clients that are approaching their early their thirties. The West Coast tech billionaires particularly want to do more with their yachts and, to a certain degree, they know what is possible.” However, they have also had a lot of interest from the more “experienced yachties” who know what they want to do but are looking for someone to help and guide them.

The responsibility for sort this kind of expedition has, traditionally, been put on the shoulders of captains, which Pelorus believes is the wrong way to approach such a voyage. “The captains are already so busy that it becomes a real headache for them to deliver these trips themselves and they don't have the background and the experience. They are very well travelled and know certain parts of the world very well because they have been in the game for years, but when you start to branch out they need someone to relieve that pressure for them. It keeps the owner happy too so it's a win win all round,” says Mackay-Lewis.

“Captains can’t afford to lose a crew member to go and do a recce, so then you find yourself relying on a third party and that can be a big chance to take. Most of the time a client won’t accept one error, let alone two. You have to be watertight - excuse the pun,” says Carroll.

Pelorus offers a turn key experience to private yacht owners, building the entire experience for them. For charter yachts its very similar to what the owner gets, except the client has to pay for the yacht as well. They are not affiliated with any particular brokerage house but have worked closely with several brokerages and can lead individuals to one that they feel would be a suitable fit.

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Motor Yacht

Pelorus is a 115m motor yacht custom built by Lurssen Yachts in 2003. The mega yacht’s elegant exterior lines are the work of Tim Heywood. She features interior design by Terence Disdale.

Motor yacht Pelorus has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. With a generous beam of 17.2m, she has a spacious interior with room for up to 22 guests and 42 crew members.

In 2007 Pelorus emerged from a refit carried out by Blohm + Voss shipyard, which saw the addition of a second helicopter pad, new paint and zero-speed stabilizers.

The mega yacht also has a large pool, Jacuzzi, and numerous toys and tender on board.

Pelorus can reach a top speed of 20 knots and cruises comfortably at 18 knots. She is equipped for long-distance cruising, with a range of 6000 nautical miles at 16 knots.

In 2018 Pelorus underwent a major refit by Kusch Yachts.

• Yacht Builder Lurssen Yachts View profile
• Naval Architect Lurssen Yachts View profile
• Exterior Designer Tim Heywood Design View profile
• Interior Designer Terence Disdale View profile

Yacht Specs

Other lurssen yachts, related news.

Jimmy Carroll on Creating out of this World Experiences with Pelorus Yacht Expeditions

Written By: Naomi Chadderton

As co-founder of Pelorus, the yacht expedition company that facilitates trips to the most remote corners of the globe, ex British Army captain Jimmy Carroll knows all about adventure, and he sure has some experiences to tell.

Alongside co-founder Geordie Mackay-Lewis, Jimmy's passion for exploration has led to the creation of some of the most exclusive experiences in the world, including ice-diving in Greenland, scuba diving in Indonesia and witchdoctor ceremonies in Papua New Guinea.

Recently in London, we caught up with Jimmy to discuss his most memorable experiences, his desire to discover new destinations for yachts around the world, and how he plans to get there.

Can you tell us about your background and what led you to start Pelorus?

My business partner Geordie and I met in the foothills of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan during our time in the British Army, and this experience really formed the basis of what we do at Pelorus – we’ve used our military knowledge to form our yacht expeditions planning model.

When we left the army, we didn’t see each other for about five years – Geordie ran an electronics company across seven different countries in Europe before moving into very high-end travel, and I was slightly more eclectic – I ran a year-long medical research expedition up Mount Everest focused on intensive care which saw us building labs and an operating theatre at base camp. 

When I came back I changed tack completely and became the global tour manager for Manchester United, taking them around the world working on everything from the commercial side of the games to the actual delivery of the tour. It was fascinating working with such a huge global brand which strives for the best in everything they do, both on and off the field.

It was my next step that saw me enter the superyacht world, when I was head-hunted for the role of Head of Marketing and Communications for Winch Design and, during that time, expedition yachting was really coming on more and more. It was when I was at the Global Superyacht Forum speaking about its rise that I ran into Geordie again – we had a catch up and started putting some ideas together for Pelorus.

What’s the scope of Pelorus’ services?

Pelorus is made up of three businesses – yacht expeditions, land-based expeditions and the B2B corporate arm. When it comes to the superyacht aspect, we offer a full turnkey service, handling everything from conception, planning, permits, logistics and provisioning, all the way through to product delivery. We work directly with owners, captains, brokers and the yards, so the service spans the whole industry.

With our land-based experiences, we work with individuals, couples and groups to help find them the best experiences in the world. That’s our mantra for everything – we’re not confined by location – we go out there to find the best locations that allow us to do what we do.

Of course a big part of the experience is being on the yacht, but that’s just part of it - the yacht is the perfect platform to go and explore with. We want to use it to penetrate deep in land, have tribal immersions and wildlife or conservation experiences. We can therefore overlay our land-based knowledge on top of yachting to really build out everything we do. There are so many places that don’t have the infrastructure that our clients might be used to [the high-end hotels], but with our expeditions we have all the assets on the yacht.

Who is your clientele?

It’s high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals with an average age of around 52. Ultimately, it’s people who have already made their money, typically those who have been working for quite a while and built their own businesses. However we’re also seeing generational wealth coming through – the mid-40s who are inheriting the baby-boomer wealth, and also more of the early 30s. This is especially noticeable among some of our west coast clients who have made very good money at a younger age – the dot com generation is really feeding through. It’s great to see the ages coming down though - a year ago we would have said our average age was around 57.

Are your expeditions solely private or do you cater for clients looking to join a group?

Traditionally in yachting, it’s all about the private experience and that accounts for 90 percent of what we can offer, be it working with an owner or charter guests to build an amazing experience for them. However we now want to introduce more people to yachting. The barrier to entrance is always the price – it’s very expensive to charter a yacht – so we’ve created a new initiative working with different yachts to build a per cabin charter. This will allow us to bring in people who are still high net worth, but perhaps don’t quite have that extremely high level of disposable income. Right now the two options are either to explore on a cruise ship with hundreds of other people, or go on your own superyacht but at a really high price – there’s nothing in between. By doing this, we open our experiences up to a lot more people.

Can you talk us through some examples of the types of experience you offer?

With expedition yachting we can go anywhere - it all depends on the desire of the client and what their dreams are. We can educate them on what to do, too. There’s far more control for those who own the yacht however; if it’s a charter, we’re a little more constrained about where we can go.

Earlier this year we delivered an amazing experience sailing around Raja Ampat – it’s a phenomenal place. It has the most immaculate diving I’ve ever seen, crystal-clear waters, an abundance of sea life, amazing corals, and the nature of the landscape is amazing. Antarctica is always going to be up there too because it’s so rare to be able to get there and it’s a big bucket-list trip.

We recently conducted a recce for a 90m superyacht that we’ll be taking to Eritrea next year, and this is the kind of example where we think bigger picture. The area is completely unknown, so the recce involved meeting with governments and ministers to ensure we have a really strong understanding of what’s going on and securing the right access and permits to be able to take a yacht. In this area, the diving off the Dahlak Islands is phenomenal, it has some of the best corals and there’s no mass tourism, but yachts just transit past it because there’s history and conflict. It’s actually incredibly safe. Being able to break into a new territory is great and ideally we’re working to create an industry within that to give back while offering our clients something very different.

We’re also working on Greenland where clients can ice-dive, dog sled and heli-ski, as well as Iceland and Papua New Guinea. This is one of those places where infrastructure is very poor, but thankfully a yacht allows us to explore so much more. We can arrange a helicopter on board so guests can punch deep into the heart of it, meet the tribes - all sorts of things.

Another example would be Oman. The Middle East is often overlooked as a superyacht destination, but it shouldn’t be. We can go into the wadis, go climbing, trekking, punch into the largest expanse of desert in the Empty Quarter – you name it. Clients don’t have to stay on a yacht every night of their trip either – we can build a mobile camp and stay out on-land underneath the stars for a night.

It’s all about this journey of taking people out of their comfort zone, about getting that sense of adventure. So much of the world has been explored now and it’s very hard to find those remote regions. The benefit of Pelorus is that we can get to these places far more easily, but in comfort and style. We can give you a taste of that true explorer.

Have you ever been asked to go anywhere you haven’t been able to?

Yes – we’ve been asked to go to conflict zones. And I wouldn’t go to Venezuela right now with a yacht – it’s just not safe. We work with security firms and government level FCOs to understand what their picture of global regions is like, and also people like Veritas who are phenomenally good at what they do. We can also bring them in to provide security on a yacht if we’re going past an area that’s slightly dangerous.

Speaking of danger, how to you ensure all your expeditions are safe?

We’re lucky that security and safety come as second nature to both Geordie and I – whatever we do, we’re thinking about the safety of our clientele. That’s the bedrock of the business – it may be technical and unglamorous, but once that is sorted we can really go about building the journey.

There are a lot of places where you don’t need lots of overt security – this will just draw attention to the yacht. It also depends on the nature of the clients – there are lots of ultras out there that people don’t know so it doesn’t make sense to draw attention. However, some clients are very high profile and in the public eye so they need more presence. Again, we know how to manage this. I often think the best form of security is also the most subtle form.

What is the most popular destination request?

That’s like asking who your favourite child is! Antarctica is always going to have the draw because demand far outstrips supply. It’s a long way to get to and planning needs a minimum of six months to arrange permits, so you can’t do it on a whim. These barriers mean it’s also slightly more exclusive.

Areas like Kamchatka are coming up, and the whole Japan and Indonesia are all coming online a lot more. We’re also seeing more requests for the Northwest Passage, and places like South America and Patagonia. We’re currently planning trips that look at circumnavigating the whole of south America which would be extraordinary – there are so many amazing place you can stop off at in Brazil and Columbia. I love Venezuela too, and I would definitely recommend it when the situation becomes more stable. 

And what would an expedition like this cost?

It really depends on the client and their wants - we’ve done trips closer to home which have been around $30,000-$35,000, but when its more remote and we’re bringing in lots of assets – think helicopters, support vessels, an ice-breaker etc – this is when it can just keep building and building. We can bring in a BBC Blue Planet team, scientists to curate activities, and we’ve worked with charities – we recently teamed up with the Ecuadorian government to create a hammerhead shark tagging initiative. It’s also important to bring in photography and videography to document the trip and create those lasting memories. Imagine having photos shot by famous photographers – it has a story in itself. Two of the members from BBC Blue Planet could have shot your film. That’s where our specialties lie; adding all this to create something really unique. Then the sky is the limit when it comes to price.

The yacht is the best vehicle to go and explore, and we want to build the best experience possible. When the client understands that they’re getting what we call an experiential return on investment, they tend to spend more and really build it out. After all, a lot of these places you may only visit once.

What are the biggest challenges you face?

Educating people and showing them the potential of what they can do. Yes, cruising the Mediterranean and the Caribbean is incredible, but there’s so much more out there and we want to get more people to understand that, also the fact that you don’t need to have an explorer yacht. While I’m a big fan of them, yachts in general are built to travel the seas so with clever logistics, planning and provisioning, we can take a yacht which is predominantly sat in the Mediterranean to completely new places, showing the owners brand-new destinations while making their yachts do things they never knew they could.

What sets Pelorus apart from other expedition companies?

It has to be our team and their experience. We’ve got a mixture of people who work in travel and those who have worked in the yachting industry at the highest level. It’s not easy to break into this industry and understand peoples’ expectations – you have to have lived and breathed it and then you can really add value.

You’ve also got to work at every level; work with the crew to make their life easier and to take the stress away from going to remote places.

There are two things in the world we can’t guarantee – the weather and wildlife. But we can put in place the best possible measures so that if either of these things fail, we can ensure there’s a back-up plan.

How do you ensure your expeditions are as environmentally-friendly as possible?

Inherently, with yachting, there’s a lot of manufacturing that goes into building them, creating big engines and even the cleaning products used. However we’re seeing a massive change throughout the process, from shipyards which are become greener, to the propulsion systems and hybrid engines coming through. It’s all really positive and we’re massively behind all of that.

But how do we offset things and how do we give back? We might create a program with a charity that has a positive impact on a specific area – the hammerhead shark tagging initiative for example. We have also created marine reserves and worked with the Blue Marine Foundation to promote their services and we know that clients can really make a positive impact and facilitate change. It’s not just stopping over-fishing and reducing plastic – it’s education of the local population and clients, too.

What is the most exciting adventure you’ve ever been on?

During my time in the army I served in Iraq and Afghanistan twice, which was an experience I’ll never forget; it formed who I am now and what we bring to Pelorus. Since then, it has to be the time we were trying to cross the Darien Gap between Panama and Columbia. We knew we were going into a hostile area so we were hyper vigilant, had done a lot of research and were aware of what we were doing. However we got two thirds of the way through when we encountered the FARC insurgency, so we had to turn around. We went back down the coast of Panama, dug out long boats and stayed in the Kuna Provence with the local people. We slept in their communes and the whole village would rush out to see us. This adaption to our plan gave us just as good an experience as going through the Darien Gap completely, and maybe even better.

Where’s next on your list?

I haven’t been to Antarctica yet; I definitely want to go there. Altai Republic is also high up my list – it’s a very beautiful and remote part of Russia down between Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Where do you see the company in the next five/ten years?

I want Pelorus to be the leading authority in experiential yachting expeditions with a global presence, delivering the best yacht expeditions across the globe, from cold to hot environments, jungle to desert, and not being confined by boundaries. We also want to open up new areas. There are so many places you can potentially go to – Socotra, for example, is an oasis and utopian land that not many people know about but it has amazing people, landscapes, flora and fauna. It’s definitely best visited on a yacht.

Yachting is changing, regions are changing, and how we charter is changing. There are less restrictions these days and the Far East is a big part of that. It’s all about building the infrastructure and the ports to really open the area up and, when that comes, it will allow easier access for charters. We’re at a really exciting stage with yachting!

Images: Supplied by Pelorus

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For sale - PELORUS seeking new direction.

Published 15 February 2023

The iconic  PELORUS is an apex superyacht of unquestionable pedigree. She is a 115m (377.3ft) motor yacht of 5,403GT, with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure custom-built to DNV-GL classification and delivered by Lurssen in 2003. She was designed by two of the world’s most celebrated yacht designers with sweeping exterior styling by Tim Heywood and beachside villa interiors by Terence Disdale.

She was refitted by Blohm+Voss in 2008, when her second helipad was added, and again in 2017 during her class survey. She is now lying at Kusch in Wewelsfleth, Germany, undergoing routine class maintenance.

Exterior features include a sun deck with a large pool with counter-current jets and a jacuzzi, bar and open-air dining.

There are no fewer than five balconies and sea terraces across main and lower decks, two of which serve the dining room and main saloon and another spectacularly opens up a lower deck guest cabin. There are helipads on the foredeck and forward on the owner’s deck where a companionway leads to a private terrace.

An elevator serves lower to sun decks for multi-generational access. The upper deck is designed for entertainment. A huge al fresco space aft has open-air dining and lounges beneath the overhang and plenty of versatile deck space aft, as well as walkaround sidedecks for promenading.

Inside is a panoramic sky lounge with a huge bar and generous lounge and huge screen. The space has nightclub lighting and sound systems and rug rolls away to reveal an illuminated dancefloor. Forward is a tiered cinema.

• The lower deck wellness centre has a gym with sea terrace... 1 of 5 photos
• massage room... 2 of 5 photos
• hair salon... 3 of 5 photos
• steam room... 4 of 5 photos
• and a hydrotherapy spa with plunge pool and relaxation area 5 of 5 photos

As well as a private terraces forward and aft, the dedicated owner’s deck has a bedroom suite with 200-degree views, a huge bathroom and dressing room, as well as a vast lounge and study aft and a butler’s cabin.

There are VIP and guest suites on the upper deck, two guest suites on the main deck and a further three guest suites complete accommodation for 24 guests in 12 cabins. She also sleeps up to 46 crew including seven engineers to ensure reliability and five personal staff for seven-star service.

Her custom tenders, including 11.2m (36.7ft) limo and 8.5m (27.9ft) sport, both by Vikal, are stowed on the main deck aft and launched on horizontal davits through shell doors. She also has storage for a huge selection of toys and scuba diving equipment. Twin 5,300hp Wartsila diesel engines give her a top speed of 20 knots, she cruises comfortably at 18 knots and has a transoceanic maximum range of 6,000nm at her passage speed of 16 knots. Two sets of Quantum zero speed stabilisers ensure comfort on arrival.

We are very excited to bring this superb, universally acclaimed yacht to market with an asking price of EUR 185,000,000. She is lying in Germany at the Kusch shipyard and inspection is highly recommended to appreciate this yacht’s quality and condition. Contact Burgess for more details and to arrange your visit.

To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter , please contact a Burgess broker . Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London , Monaco , New York , Miami , Singapore or all other locations .

- Yachts, prices and availability are correct at the time of publication.

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From Russian oligarchs to tech CEOs, here's who owns 10 of the most expensive luxury yachts in the world

Posted: April 8, 2023 | Last updated: February 7, 2024

• Rising Sun superyacht is valued at $200 million and was purchased by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison in 2004.
• Dilbar, seized by German police from a Russian oligarch, is valued at $735 million.
• These are 10 of the most expensive yachts in the world.

Rising Sun, valued at $200 million

Rising Sun superyacht is valued at $200 million and was purchased by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison in 2004, according to Robb Report .

Rising Sun was later purchased again by Geffen Records executive David Geffen in 2010, according to Club Yacht . Geffen also owns another yacht called Pelorus and his yachts have been frequented by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, according to the outlet.

Aviva, valued at $250 million

Aviva, valued at $250 million is 323 feet long and was built in 2017, according to Robb Report . The boat is so large that it has a paddle tennis court that doubles as an indoor soccer field in its interior, according to the outlet.

Andreas Hering, the project manager of the shipyard where the boat was constructed, told Boat International that "in three years" to "build a big yacht around a padel tennis court was the main brief, I guess."

Octopus, valued at $200 million

Octopus, a 414-foot superyacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is valued at $200 million, according to Robb Report.

The boat can accommodate 12 guests in 13 different cabins, according to Yacht Charter Fleet . The boat also has a dance floor and a movie theatre, according to the outlet.

Radiant, valued at $300 million

Radiant, a superyacht built for Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in 2010, is 360 feet long and worth $300 million, according to Robb Report.

The boat can accommodate up to 20 guests and 44 crew and sports a beauty salon, gym, pool, and jacuzzi, according to the outlet.

Dubai, valued at $400 million

The "Dubai" megayacht, owned by United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is 532 feet long and is worth around $400 million, according to Architectural Digest .

Topaz, valued at $527 million

Topaz was built in Germany for the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Dubai realtor LuxuryProperty.  

The nearly 500-foot yacht has a helicopter pad, gym, pool, and cinema hall, according to the realtor. Mansour owns Abu Dhabi United Group, which acquired Manchester United FC in 2008. 

Eclipse, valued at $600 million

The 533-foot Eclipse superyacht is valued at $600 million, according to the luxury magazine Robb Report .

The Eclipse is owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, one of 16 yachts and vessels that he owns, according to Forbes .

Azzam, valued at $600 million

Azzam is the largest and one of the fastest yachts in the world, according to Architectural Digest.

The boat took around three years to build and sits at 590 feet long and can travel at a speed of 35 miles per hour, according to the outlet.

Azzam is owned by the family of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the Second President of the United Arab Emirates before his death in May 2022.

Al Said, valued at $600 million

The 508-foot Al Said sits in the Lürssen shipyard in Germany and was purchased by the former Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 2008 for $600 million, according to Robb Report.

The yacht can travel up to 25 miles per hour and has a concert hall that can accommodate a 50-person orchestra, according to the outlet.

Dilbar, valued at $735 million

Dilbar, owned by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, is the largest superyacht in the world and it's valued at $735 million.

In April 2022, the yacht was impounded in Germany . German federal police said they seized the yacht after an investigation into "offshore concealment" and determined that Usmanov's sister is the owner of the yacht. The boat remains at a shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.

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Exclusive pelorus private island opens on the great barrier reef.

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The setting of Pelorus Private Island in Australia's North Queensland

In order to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, you only have to step off the sandy, coral beach. Arrival is only by helicopter or private yacht. And once there, you’re the only residents on this 988 acre island. Pelorus Private Island is the most secluded and exclusive island in Australia’s North Queensland; it opened for bookings last month.

The project began when Australian billionaire Chris Morris , founder of the financial technology company Computershare and founder/Executive Chairman of the $272 million hospitality company Morris Group, saw that there was a growing market of guests booking out the group’s Orpheus Island Lodge for private use with their friends and family. That was in line with a trend he’d seen for high net worth travelers seeking ultra luxury experiences. He acquired Pelorus in 2017 and started the development process two years ago.

The deck of the infinity pool

“Pelorus Private Island caters to guests very similar to those that enjoy the group’s superyachts on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and the Mediterranean,” explains Morris. “They are seeking the ultimate in privacy and seclusion, as well as an experience uniquely designed to their bespoke needs, very similar to the guests of the group’s superyacht business. Up until now, this was the missing gap in Morris Group’s portfolio, which also includes Morris Aviation, offering helicopter transfer and tours to the group’s guests and a recently added private jet.”

One of the five suites within the residence.

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The four main suites (a fifth suite is designed for accompanying staff) are designed in contemporary lines with natural materials-whitewashed hardwood timber, limestone, quartzite-and decorated with handmade furniture and linen fabrics. They measure 560 square feet with 258 square foot terraces all facing the Coral Sea. Elsewhere in the residence are open, light filled lounges, a dining area and an open kitchen to observe what chef Grant Logan, a veteran of high level Cape Town restaurants and superyachts, is creating from seafood brought in by local fisherman and other native ingredients. Key presentations include an Australian barbeque of local reef-caught fish such as Coral Trout, Red Emperor or Giant Trevally or freshly caught Northern Bluefin Tuna prepared sashimi-style. But given his superyacht experience, Logan is used to providing whatever guests request.

Cruising the Palm Island archipelago and the coral underneath.

Central to the appeal of Pelorus, though, according to Morris, is the range of experiences available to guests, which can be coordinated by an activities manager. They can start the day with sunrise beach yoga and a swim in the solar heated pool. Invariably, they then snorkel or dive the diverse Palm Island archipelago including a visit to the Museum of Underwater Art in which art installations have been placed on the sea floor alongside the coral,. Other activities include fishing the reef, cruising the archipelago on guided tours of the sandy cays and pristine wilderness or exploring the sea with jet skis, kayaks or paddleboards. Guests can also cruise over to Hinchinbrook Island, Australia’s largest island National Park, for hiking through dense rainforest, home to an array of flora and wildlife, to cascading waterfalls.

Mulligan Falls on Hinchinbrook Island, Queensland, Australia.

Protecting the surroundings and minimizing environmental impact is a major element of this project, from the all-solar operation of the residence providing a self-sustainable energy supply to a fund to help preserve the reef. The Reef Keepers Fund, created by Morris Group, supports organizations working to safeguard the reef including the Forever Reef Project , an initiative to collect living specimens of the world's coral species and preserve them in a living ‘coral ark’. The area near Pelorus Private Island was selected due to the diversity in species of coral. The same coral which guests of the island can freely observe.

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Insiders still have no idea what's going to happen to Russian oligarchs' seized superyachts

• It's been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to sanctions against Russian oligarchs.
• Many of their superyachts were seized or frozen , leading industry insiders to question their fate.
• The yachts, some of which are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, remain in a state of limbo.

More than two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the boating world still doesn't have many answers about what's going on with the very large, expensive elephants in the sea: oligarchs' superyachts .

The war prompted many governments to enact sanctions against Russia's richest , including seizing their superyachts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But it's unclear whether they can be sold or who'd buy them, leaving ports peppered with massive boats stuck in a floating limbo.

"The Russian problem, it's becoming a bigger and bigger and bigger problem," one luxury yacht broker told Business Insider at the Palm Beach International Boat Show last week. Like many others, he requested not to be named, given the sensitive nature of the matter at hand and the generally discreet nature of the industry.

Russia has been a massive player in the massive boat market for a long time. In August 2021 — about six months before Russia's Ukraine invasion — Russians owned the second-largest share of yachts over 40 meters in length, according to a report from the industry publication SuperYacht Times.

They were responsible for 16% of new build superyacht purchases in the decade preceding the report and are known for splashing out on extravagant interiors and unique features. (One builder BI spoke to recalled a mandate from an oligarch for a large safe in the owner's cabin in which he could keep his rifles. The builder later learned he'd use them to skeet shoot on deck.)

But those sales have now screeched to a halt as oligarchs get hit by international sanctions. At least a dozen superyachts — worth well over $1 billion combined — have been affected.

And no one is quite sure what will happen to them.

Russia's sanctioned superyachts are hard to buy and sell

The first problem is that many of the yachts are "frozen" — not seized. That means that although the Russian owners can't operate or collect them, they don't technically belong to an overseas government, so they can't be sold without special permission.

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors petitioned a judge asking for consent to sell the Amadea, the 106-meter superyacht that has been docked in San Diego and costs the US as much as $922,000 a month to maintain.

"I've had some inquiries, but all you can tell them is we don't know the outcome yet" of the case, another superyacht broker told BI at the yacht show.

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And despite the broker's claim of interest in yachts like Amadea , most ultrarich — or at least their brokers — don't want to go near the vessels with a ten-foot pole, even if the government does get legal permission to sell them.

"How does it look if you bought a Russian boat?" Julia Simpson, a broker at Thompson of Monaco, said. "Even if it's completely legal and normal, there are too many things on the line," she said, like how the original owner got their money and whether that could make the new buyer look bad.

There are also possible legal implications, as it's hard for the government to prove who actually owns the yachts.

"Oligarchs typically structure their ownership of these high-value assets through a web of offshore shell companies and trusts that is designed to conceal the true owner," Joshua Naftalis, a former federal prosecutor who now works for Pallas Partners, told BI.

And if the government does assume ownership, it's highly dependent on court orders. For example, a Russian whose yacht had been seized by the French government regained access to his boat after winning a legal battle in 2022.

"It's a very difficult process to buy them," Ralph Dazert, the head of intelligence at SuperYacht Times, told BI. "There is a high risk of the former (Russian) owner suing you to get the boat back."

He pointed to the Alfa Nero, the 82-meter yacht that Eric Schmidt planned to purchase for $67 million last year in an auction put on by Antigua and Barbuda. He backed out after various parties tried to block the sale, likely deeming it not worth the legal headache.

"When the reason for sanctioning goes away, which it may do," the Russian owners will try to get their boats back , Simpson said. After all, "the government's not going to pay them."'

That said, if sanctions are dropped, the yachts will be worth much less than when they were seized, as a boat not in use deteriorates much faster than one sailing the seas.

"Those yachts need to be used to be kept in shape, kept in condition," the second broker said. "​​Just having them sit at the dock with a temporary crew on board is not good for the boats."

And the sanctioned Russians who have managed to maintain control of their superyachts won't have an easy time offloading them in the future.

Americans who try to do business with sanctioned oligarchs would have a number of hoops to jump through — like finding a bank to process the purchase, which would be next to impossible. If somehow they did and the government caught wind, they'd face hefty penalties and the transaction would be void.

So Russia's richest have found themselves "stuck" sailing in a select few countries that will let them, like the Maldives, Montenegro, and Dubai.

Watch: Video of Russian naval ship explosion shows a much-needed win for Ukraine

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