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The top 25 largest yachts in the world

Every year, shipyards from around the world push the boundaries of superyacht design to deliver bigger and better yachts. The Samuda-built El Mahrousa may have carried the title unchallenged for a remarkable 119 years, but in the 21st century, she has descended down the pecking order to make room for even larger and longer yachts. German shipyard Lürssen currently holds a near monopoly in the construction of supersized superyachts, having delivered 13 of the world’s top 25. But the list is ever-changing with the 158 metre Blue breaking into the top five in 2022. These yachts, all measuring over 100 metres, are impressive not only for their hull length but for what they carry above and below deck. From submarines and helicopters to swimming pools , cinemas and science labs, the onboard features of these superyachts show them to be truly ground-breaking pieces of engineering. Read on to discover our official list of the largest, privately owned yachts in the world.

1. Azzam | 180.6m

In October 2013, Lürssen delivered the largest privately owned superyacht in the world in the form Azzam . Originally, she was designed to be 145 metres, but in the process of optimisation grew to 180 metres. Other stunning facts about Azzam’s impressive design include her staggering 13,000 GT and accommodation for 36 guests and as many as 80 crew members. The behemoth was reportedly built for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, for use as a dayboat to reach his favourite diving grounds. The main saloon alone encompasses nearly 522m² and has a relaxed French Empire style and mother of pearl finishes, designed by Christophe Leoni . On board features include a gym, pool and a special ‘golf training room’.

Exteriors have been penned by Nauta Yacht Design , and the technical engineering was directed by Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi for the owner. The yacht has an impressive speed for her size owing to her innovative water-jet propulsion system (two fixed jets, two directional), which catapults her along at a staggering 31.5-plus knots. At 17.5 metres longer than Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse , this boat takes the prestigious title of the world’s largest yacht. The all-white superyacht has held her title unchallenged for nearly seven years, but this reign will come to an end with the expected delivery of 183 metre REV .

• Builder: Lurssen
• Country of build: Germany
• Delivery year: 2013
• Length Overall: 180.61 m
• Gross Tonnage 13136 t

More about this yacht

More stories, 2. eclipse | 162.5m.

After five years of intensive design, development and construction, Eclipse left the Blohm + Voss yard in December 2010. She carried the title of world’s largest superyacht for just three years before being usurped by Azzam . Managed by Blue Ocean Yacht Management, Eclipse features a diesel-electric propulsion system with generators powering rotating Azipod drives, dramatic exterior styling and a stunning interior design by London-based Terence Disdale Design , which has been responsible for all aspects of aesthetic design and layout, including the superstructure design, deck layouts, interior design and construction supervision. Eclipse was voted Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards in 2011 and Motor Yacht of the Decade at the 10th World Superyacht Awards in 2015.

Her accommodation includes an owner’s deck of 56 metres in length and facilities for up to 92 crew. Her interior boasts hundreds of custom finishes exclusively developed especially for this project, while her deck areas include a 16 metre swimming pool which can be transformed into a dance floor. The yacht can also accommodate three helicopters, one on each of the two helipads and the third in a storage hangar below the fore deck.

• Builder: Blohm & Voss
• Delivery year: 2010
• Length Overall: 162.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 13564 t

3. Dubai | 162m

Dubai was originally commissioned by Prince Jefri of Brunei with exterior styling and interior design by Andrew Winch . The Blohm & Voss project was suspended in 1998 with just the bare hull and partially complete superstructure. It was eventually sold to the Dubai government, and responsibility passed to Kostis Antonopoulos of Platinum Yachts , which prepared a new in-house interior design completed in 2006.

The aptly named Dubai is the royal yacht of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai. The accommodation, styled by Nakheel Interiors , is designed for 24 guests and comprises an owner’s suite, five VIP suites and six guest suites, all with open balconies. Special features include a 21.3m-wide atrium, a swimming pool, barbecue area, cinema, disco, a landing platform for a Blackhawk helicopter, a gymnasium, and a garage for the yacht’s submarine and a vast array of water toys. Full certification was obtained from Lloyds Register of Shipping in October 2006 and she has since made several voyages. She can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots.

• Builder: Platinum
• Country of build: United Arab Emirates
• Delivery year: 2006
• Length Overall: 162 m
• Gross Tonnage 12488 t

4. Blue | 158m

Taking her place at number four in the list of the world’s longest yachts, Lürssen’s Blue is so voluminous that she beats all the longer boats in terms of gross tonnage. Built for a Middle Eastern owner, she is exceeded for internal space only by those behemoths Dilbar (15,917GT) and Al Said (15,850GT). Terence Disdale has penned classic exterior lines with a sharply raked bow and gentle curves to the deep overhangs of the decks. The main helipad is positioned on the bow, with a smaller one aft. Other exterior features include a pool under cover on the main deck aft, a bathing platform at the stern and twin balconies flanking the owner’s cabin forward. Blue ’s interior is designed to be timeless and rich in “feminine elegance”, a deliberate contrast to the exterior. 

Blue is equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system that was developed in-house. An electric Azimuth pod drive can manoeuvre the boat alone or in conjunction with the twin propeller shafts. To reduce noise, vibration and NOx levels, Blue has a state-of-the-art exhaust treatment system. The boat is also equipped with new membrane technology that means her treated waste water achieves drinking water quality.

• Delivery year: 2022
• Length Overall: 160.6 m
• Beam: 22.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 14785 t

5. Dilbar | 156m

With a total interior volume of over 15,000 GT, Dilbar is the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage, if not by length. She was built in steel and aluminium by Lürssen to a design by Espen Øino . In 2016, she was delivered in the Mediterranean for her owner, the Uzbekistani billionaire Alisher Usmanov. She replaced Usmanov’s previous yacht of the same name, which has since been renamed Ona . She is usually spotted cruising around the South of France, northern Spain and sometimes Cyprus.

Record-breaking features on board this SOLAS-class superyacht include her 180 cubic metre swimming pool and her 30,000KW electric diesel power plant. Her interiors, styled by Winch Design, can accommodate up to 24 guests served by nearly 100 crew members. She also has two helipads, 3,800 square metres of living space amd an expansive garden complete with a specially developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air, according to its creator Axel Massmann. Dilbar has a single colour for her exterior, a buttery cream shade, that makes her instantly recognisable at sea and can reach a top speed of 21 knots.

• Delivery year: 2016
• Length Overall: 156 m
• Beam: 23.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 15917 t

6. Al Said | 155m

This Lloyd’s-classed vessel, known as Project Sunflower during construction, was delivered by Lürssen’s Vegesack yard to her owner, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman, in March 2008. Measuring an impressive 155 metres, Al Said is the principle vessel of the Oman Royal Yacht Squadron. Designed by Espen Øino with the looks of a classic cruise liner, she sails under the Omani flag and her home port is Muttrah Harbour in Muscat. 

This Germanischer Lloyd-classed, 15,850GT yacht can reach a top speed of 25 knots and is reported to have a crew capacity of 150. Her panelled interiors, designed in a traditional style by Jonathan Quinn Barnett , offers huge entertaining spaces and accommodation for 65 guests. Her pièce de résistance is the on-board concert hall that can accommodate a 50-strong orchestra, but across her six decks she also has a helipad and a cinema.

• Delivery year: 2008
• Length Overall: 155 m
• Gross Tonnage 15850 t

7. El Mahrousa | 150.6m

El Mahrousa was first delivered by the Samuda Brothers shipyard in 1865. She held on to the title of longest yacht in the world for over a century before finally being usurped by the delivery of Prince Abdulaziz in the 1980s. She was originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, receive visiting dignitaries. and was present at the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1869, when she was used to receive visiting dignitaries. She was lengthened by 12.1 metres in 1872, when her paddle wheels were removed, and by a further 5.2 metres in 1905. Her last major rebuild was in 1950.

Significant moments in her lifetime include her participation in 1976 as the Egyptian representative at the Bicentennial Fleet Review in New York harbour. She slipped into disrepair after this while being used as a museum ship. In 1992, a major effort was put into making her seaworthy enough to travel to Italy for the Christopher Columbus Fleet Review. She now serves as the Egyptian Presidential Yacht but is seldom seen in public. She is usually berthed in Alexandria, where she is cared for by the Egyptian Navy, which lists her as a training ship. Powered by three Parsons steam turbines, she can achieve a top speed of 16 knots.

• Builder: Samuda
• Country of build: United Kingdom
• Delivery year: 1865
• Length Overall: 150.57 m
• Beam: 12.98 m
• Gross Tonnage 4560 t

8. A+ | 147.3m

Formerly known as Topaz , the Tim Heywood -designed A+ was launched by Lürssen in 2012 and uniquely features Heywood’s signature illuminated on her superstructure. Although she flies a Cayman flag, her owner is a member of the UAE elite – reportedly Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who also owns the UK’s Manchester City football club.

Having previously been chartered twice by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the 147.25 metre superyacht features a helicopter landing pad located at the bow and her interiors have been designed by Terence Disdale – but not much else is known about this superyacht, as many of her details are still shrouded in secrecy.

• Delivery year: 2012
• Length Overall: 147.25 m
• Beam: 21.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 12532 t

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 147m

The 5,200-tonne Prince Abdulaziz was delivered by Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft in 1984 to her first owner, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Since then, she has continued to serve the Saudi royal family and is berthed beside the king’s palace in Jeddah. She has been refitted three times; in 1987, 1996 and in 2005.

Prince Abdulaziz was built at a reported cost of $184m to a design by Maierform . Her interior, designed by the late David Hicks , blends ancient and modern. One notable feature is the large lobby, said to be designed to mimic that of the Titanic . She includes a hospital, a mosque and a cinema, and there are also rumours of surface-to-air missiles and an underwater surveillance system on board. The mega yacht can accommodate as many as 64 guests and is manned by a crew of 65.

• Builder: Helsingor Vaerft
• Country of build: Denmark
• Delivery year: 1984
• Length Overall: 147.01 m
• Beam: 18.3 m
• Gross Tonnage 8233 t

10. Opera | 146.4m

Reportedly built for a senior Emirati royal, Opera 's size and gross tonnage catapult her directly into the ranks of the world's 10 biggest private yachts. The 146.4-metre yacht certainly has some of the hallmarks of a Middle Eastern boat, with deep overhangs between decks and lots of enclosed deck space hinting at use in an aggressive climate. Pictures taken during a maiden voyage from Bremen to Portsmouth last summer showed lots of floor-to-ceiling glass across six guest decks, as well as two helicopter landing spots and a beach club whose twin staircases must climb two decks to reach a 10-metre, stone-lined pool aft of the main deck. The pool rises to form a dance floor.

Lürssen has kept the project shrouded in secrecy, but designer Terence Disdale confirmed that interior facilities include a cinema and an extensive spa and wellness centre, plus other features that are being kept under wraps. He also mentioned an upper lounge with a 110-inch television and bay windows.

• Delivery year: 2023
• Length Overall: 146.35 m
• Gross Tonnage 12518 t

11. OK | 146m

This unusual vessel spent decades plying the seas as a float-on yacht carrier for DYT Yacht Transport with the unglamorous moniker Super Servant 3 – and it is this carrying ability that caught the owner’s eye.

40 years after its original launch by Japan’s Oshima Shipbuilding , the yacht emerged from a root-and-branch refit at Karmarine in Turkey. The exterior has been smartened up, with a new matt-black paint job, gold-tinted glazing, teak decking at the bow, stern and sides and an expanse of artificial grass on the submersible aft deck – an idea of the owner’s, to enliven the guest cabins’ view. There are reports that this space doubles as a tennis court and, at 32 metres by 100 metres, there would certainly be the room for it.

With a strengthened hull, the boat’s original role as a yacht carrier has been enhanced. Pumping ballast into tanks under the aft deck allows the platform to lower so that the owner’s 46-metre ketch can be floated aboard and secured. There’s also a 40-tonne crane for positioning other toys – reportedly up to 70 of them, from launches and cars to a seaplane.

Under the direction of Bozca Design , Karmarine has stripped out and rebuilt the accommodation area at the front of the yacht. There are cabins for up to 20 guests, a glazed sundeck spa pool, a "botanical" garden and an outdoor cinema. The lift between decks runs through a glass tower outside the superstructure. 

• Builder: Oshima Shipbuilding
• Country of build: Japan
• Delivery year: 1982
• Length Overall: 146 m
• Beam: 32.01 m
• Gross Tonnage 11296 t

12. Sailing Yacht A | 142.8m

This Philippe Starck -designed vessel is the second superyacht commissioned by Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko, after his first Motor Yacht A . She was built in Germany by the Nobiskrug yard and delivered in February 2017.

A sail-assisted yacht like no other, Sailing Yacht A comprises eight decks, and her rotating curved carbon fibre masts tower to 100 metres. She is made to set 3,747 square metres of sail and is manned by crew of 54. She sports an underwater viewing pod (moulded into the keel) and balconies enclosed by the largest pieces of curved glass ever. There are 24 shell doors in her hull, and she has a diesel-electric power plant controlled by computer. Records claimed by the Starck superyacht include the world's tallest carbon masts, with the tallest standing at 100 metres above sea level.

• Builder: Nobiskrug
• Delivery year: 2017
• Length Overall: 142.81 m
• Beam: 24.88 m
• Gross Tonnage 12700 t

13. Nord | 142m

Nord started life as Project Redwood, then Opus. Everyone involved in her design and build has remained tight-lipped about the details, but build manager Rob Moran shared some exclusive insight with BOAT International .

First up, she has an Ice Class hull for real exploration. Her aluminium superstructure runs to four decks, contained within the dramatic sweep of a black-painted arch – a key part of the vision of designers Nuvolari Lenard . Not one but two helipads are in evidence, while a vast beach club and tender garage gives  "space to store a plethora of toys including 16 tenders, a submarine and an ROV", according to Moran. The largest tender reportedly measures 15 metres, and there is a watersports and dive centre on the lower deck. Nord has a generous touch-and-go helipad at its heavily flared aircraft carrier bow, but there is also a much bigger space aft up on the bridge deck that offers landing, parking and bunkering for the owner’s helicopter, as well as an entire hangar for protection during longer passages. 

Also visible to onlookers was the exceptional 25-metre-long swimming pool on the main deck aft, plus a spa pool on the upper deck. Her interior is reported to include a gym, spa, sauna and a whole deck devoted to the owner.

• Delivery year: 2021
• Length Overall: 141.6 m
• Beam: 19.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 10154 t

14. Yas | 141m

Delivered in 1978 by De Schelde as a navy frigate, Yas was rebuilt in 2013 by Abu Dhabi MAR. Previously known under the project name Swift 141, she was completely modified with new machinery and electronic systems and outfitted with a luxurious interior. It has been suggested that her owner is a member of the Emirati royal family.

She has been designed inside and out by Pierrejean Design Studio of Paris . The unique superstructure of Yas is built in advanced composites and glass and was supposedly inspired by the profile shape of a dolphin. She is reportedly able to accommodate 60 guests and 56 crew, and on-board features include a heli-pad and al fresco dining spaces aft, and a Jacuzzi on her top deck. Her beach club Jacuzzi is complemented by a waterfall feature and a spiral staircase connects her the multiple decks. Powered by twin MTU diesels, Yas has a top speed of 26 knots.

• Builder: De Schelde
• Country of build: Netherlands
• Length Overall: 141 m
• Beam: 14.6 m
• Gross Tonnage 5002 t

15. Ocean Victory | 140m

Ocean Victory was completed at Fincantieri’s Muggiano yard in Italy after launching in April 2014. This seven-deck yacht is based on a design by Espen Øino and her interior is by Alberto Pinto and Laura Sessa . She has internal seawater dockage for a 14-metre tender and six pools of up to 8 metres in length. There’s a certified helideck and a hangar to store the aircraft, while inside Ocean Victory boasts an underwater observation room and more than 300 square metres of spa facilities. She is SOLAS-classed and is the largest yacht ever built in Italy. 

In 2016, the superyacht world was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of one of Ocean Victory’ s crew members, who suffered critical leg injuries while setting the anchor off the coast of Mu Ko Similan National Park in Thailand. Little else is known about this top-secret yacht, which is kept much under wraps and away from prying eyes.

• Builder: Fincantieri
• Country of build: Italy
• Delivery year: 2014
• Length Overall: 140 m
• Gross Tonnage 8506 t

16. Scheherazade | 140m

Another titan by Lürssen , Scheherazade carries the same name as the enigmatic story-teller of the Middle Eastern epic One Thousand and One nights . She hit the water in July 2019 and offers phenomenal volumes at 10,167 GT. Her Espen Øino exterior features a four-deck aluminium superstructure with elegant tapering roofs and an eclectic range of coloured LED exterior lighting. She also has two large helipads – one at the bow and one on the upper deck – plus a prominent beach club aft. 

There is very little information regarding her interior by François Zuretti , but if the work of the French design house on 106-metre Amadea is anything to go by, it is imperious and sophisticated. With the owner known to be a Middle Eastern billionaire, this yacht is designed with warmer climates in mind. Temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius are quite normal in the region during the summer months, so Scheherazade has relatively little exterior space for a yacht of this size. There is limited covered deck space at the aft end of the main and upper decks, but it is well enclosed by glass sides for cooling. Even the sundeck is completely shaded by a hardtop, which all helps to give her an astonishing internal volume.

• Delivery year: 2020
• Beam: 23.3 m
• Gross Tonnage 10167 t

17. Solaris | 140M

The 140-metre expedition yacht Solaris was launched in the city of Bremerhaven in February 2021 as the flagship model of German shipyard Lloyd Werft . She is the debut project of Australian designer Marc Newson , who has given her a dramatic grey and white superstructure which features a unique fashion plate which wraps around the mast and connects both sides of the hull. Spanning eight decks in total, Solaris has been constructed in aluminium and steel and offers a 26-metre beam. Little information has been shared about her interiors, but her exterior is equipped with a large helipad, a sun deck and a spacious beach club aft.

Turning to the technical elements, Solaris is reportedly outfitted with a power and energy management system from ABB and features two Azipods powered by nine megawatts – the most powerful propulsion system of its kind to ever be installed on a yacht. She runs on a total of eight MTU diesel engines, providing 19,040hp. Little else is known about the superyacht, on which construction first began in 2018.

• Builder: Lloyd Werft
• Length Overall: 139.7 m
• Gross Tonnage 11247 t

18. Al Salamah | 139.3m

Built by the consortium of Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel and the Lürssen shipyard in Germany, Al Salamah is often referred to as "Mipos", the code name used during the construction of this most secret of yachts. Mipos was short for "Mission Possible" – a statement proved correct by her delivery in 1999.

She has a length of 139.3 metres, a massive beam of 23.5 metres, and is reported to have a top speed of 21.5 knots. Both the interior design and the exterior styling are by the London-based Terence Disdale Design . Al Salamah was owned by the late Sultan bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, who also owned 147 metre Prince Abdulaziz . She was refitted by Lürssen in 2007 and is rumoured to carry a hospital room with an underwater treadmill for physical therapy on board.

• Delivery year: 1999
• Length Overall: 139.29 m
• Gross Tonnage 12234 t

19. Luminance | 138.8m

Espen Øino is repsonsible for this giant yacht's crisp exterior lines. Despite a traditional raked bow, she looks bang up to date with a gleaming hull and superstructure that counterpoise dark blue and silver to create a masculine look. Øino has played with the profile of the overhangs to give the illusion of reverse sheer amidships. The effect is especially striking when viewing the yacht from beam-on. Her twin helicopter pads – one on the foredeck and another high up aft – will make her capable of ambitious explorer programmes. She also boasts a large beach club and an infinity pool, with a private spa pool area on the foredeck of what may be an owner's deck.

Luminance was expected in 2023, but delivery has fallen back a fraction. It is a mammoth project, whose true length has only just been confirmed at 138.8 metres. Her Ukranian owner, mining and financial services mogul Rinat Akhmetov, told The New York Times last year that he was mulling the boat's sale following Russia's invasion of his homeland, but it's not known whether he followed through.

• Delivery year: 2024
• Length Overall: 138.8 m
• Gross Tonnage 8999 t

20. Rising Sun | 138m

Rising Sun was built for Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle. She's the last yacht that ever came from designer Jon Bannenberg’s drawing board, with interiors styled by   Laura Seccombe . Rising Sun ’s naval architecture experimented with an extensive use of structural glass for a clean and stripped-down profile.

In 2006, Ellison sold half ownership to media mogul David Geffen, who bought the remaining half in 2010. Rising Sun is reported to have cost more than $290,000,000 and was extended by 18 metres in-build to ensure she was larger than the 126.2-metre Octopus , belonging to Microsoft’s co-founder, Paul Allen. Her 8,000 square metres of living space can accommodate 45 crew members, and includes a wine cellar and basketball court, plus accommodation for 16. One of her tenders, a catamaran, carries the yacht’s 4x4 vehicle ashore.

• Delivery year: 2004
• Length Overall: 138.01 m
• Gross Tonnage 7600 t

21. Flying Fox | 136m

Formerly Project Shu, PYC-compliant Flying Fox was built by Lürssen for a serial charter yacht owner and completed her sea trials off the coast of Germany in May 2019. The 136-metre, six-deck yacht towers 32 metres above the waterline – as tall as three London buses balanced end on end. Her elegant, well-balanced profile by Espen Øino conceals an extraordinarily voluminous interior by Mark Berryman , including a double-height atrium that forms the main deck lobby. There are 11 cabins for 36 guests, all with private sea-view terraces, and expansive outdoor living spaces, such as a 12-metre swimming pool transversing the main deck aft, swim platforms and two helipads. The 400-square-metre spa is the stand-out feature. It has heated limestone floors, a Hammam, massage and beauty treatment rooms and the first cryosauna ever installed on a yacht, with a main chamber that reaches a chilly -110C. There’s also an on-board hospital.

One of the most expensive superyachts in the world available for charter , Flying Fox is crewed by an experienced team of 54. She boasts a toybox stuffed with jet skis and other Seabobs, hoverboards, room for a submarine and and nine different tenders. Plus, she even has her own dive centre and kite surf store on board.

• Delivery year: 2019
• Length Overall: 136 m
• Beam: 20.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 9100 t

22. Savarona | 135.9m

Built by Blohm + Voss for American bridge cable heiress Emily Roebling Cadwalader in 1931, Savarona was sold in 1938 to the Turkish government and became the presidential yacht of Kemal Atatürk. In 1989, Kahraman Sadikoglu obtained a 50-year lease and, with investors, spent $35,000,000 on the refit of this classic superyacht, including a library suite dedicated to the memory of Atatürk and furnished with his personal artefacts. In 2010, after an alleged scandal, the Turkish government cancelled the lease and resumed ownership. In 2014, she was refurbished and now serves as the state yacht of Turkey. 

Savarona was, for a time, offered on the market for superyacht charters around Istanbul, although she is no longer available to the public. Key features onboard this superyacht include a marble-finished Turkish hammam bath that spans the entire 16-metre beam, a swimming pool, a gold-trimmed grand staircase and a private cinema. She is named after a type of black swan found in the Indian Ocean region.

• Delivery year: 1931
• Length Overall: 135.94 m
• Beam: 16.12 m
• Gross Tonnage 4701 t

23. Crescent | 135.5m

Crescent , formerly Project Thunder, has what the yard called a "traditionally-styled" interior by Zuretti , exterior design by Espen Øino and naval architecture by Lürssen . Øino went to great lengths to maximise what he calls the "vision lines" from the interior and the decks – especially from the centreline, which on such a beamy boat is a long way from the sides – by having full height windows and keeping the bulwarks as low as possible.

She has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure and was built to DNV GL standards. Her striking black hull is matched with a silver superstructure that has distinctive wing stations amidships. Just forward of the wing stations are three-deck windows, providing spectacular views for her 18-strong guest list.

• Delivery year: 2018
• Length Overall: 135.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 9194 t

24. Serene | 133.9m

Built for a Russian owner, Serene was the first superyacht delivered by Italian yard Fincantieri . She can accommodate up to 24 guests and 52 crew, and boasts 4,500 square metres of interior space designed by Reymond Langton .

Serene has seven decks, two helipads and a hangar, carries a custom submarine certified to 100m depth and has underwater viewing ports in her Nemo room. A "snow room" can make up to four inches of snow, while the impressive spiral staircase rises through six decks and is lit by a large skylight. Serene won Best Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and Above at the 2012 World Superyacht Awards. Powered by a diesel engine, Serene can reach a top speed of 20 knots and has a maximum cruising range of 6000 nautical miles.

• Delivery year: 2011
• Length Overall: 133.9 m
• Beam: 18.6 m
• Gross Tonnage 8231 t

25. Al Mirqab | 133m

Al Mirqab was built by Peterswerft - Kusch for Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani – the former prime minister of Qatar. Her exterior design is by Tim Heywood and her interiors were styled by Winch Design . She is propelled by five generators that power two electric motors driving conventional shafts and a centrally positioned azimuthing electric pod drive. A grand staircase floats through four floors and surrounds suspended glass artwork by Dale Chihuly. 

Al Mirqab won Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards 2009 and Best Interior Design among motor yachts. She can accommodate 60 guests and is manned by an equal number of crew.

• Builder: Peterswerft - Kusch
• Length Overall: 133 m
• Gross Tonnage 5000 t

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As Far As You Can Sea: World’s Largest Superyachts

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts.

by Emma Treagus Published on February 2, 2024

At Luxe Digital, we independently research, review, and recommend products we love and that we think you will love, too. Learn more about how we curate the best products for you .

With onboard swimming pools, cinemas, helicopter landing pads, and spas, the world’s largest superyachts have more facilities than your ‘average’ five-star hotel.

Owned by some of the world’s wealthiest people—along with a few anonymous owners who’d prefer to keep their luxury transport a secret—these mega yachts redefine the word “boat” into something indescribably sleek, stylish, and seriously impressive. 

If superyachts are your thing, you’ll want to read on for all the facts and figures on all of the largest yachts in the world.

The 26 largest yachts in the world

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts: our ranking methodology.

A superyacht or mega yacht is typically a motor yacht or sailing yacht with a length of 30 meters (100 feet) or more. For this ranking, we looked at the superyachts and luxury expedition mega yachts that are used privately or made available for charter. We excluded so-called ‘residential superyachts’ (think Njord and The World), which are essentially luxury apartment buildings at sea where people own private residences inside the superyacht rather than the whole yacht. By researching diverse, reliable sources like Wikipedia and the Superyacht Times, we compile a list of the largest yachts in the world.

Curious about other striking superlatives? Check our round-up of the most expensive cars in the world and the most expensive private jets in the world . They are both perfectly good alternatives to owning a yacht. And if you prefer to stay home, we’ve ranked the biggest homes and the most expensive houses in the world to give you some inspiration too.

26. Y721 (aka Koru) | 417 feet—127m

Ever wonder where Jeff Bezos spends his downtime? As of today, we’re predicting it to be on his $500 million superyacht. Y721—nicknamed Koru—is 127m long. And featuring three sky-high slender masts, Koru is said to be the largest sailing yacht in the world . 

With dark exteriors and natural wooden decks, Koru is inspired by another one of Bezos’ yachts—the Black Pearl. The clean lines and classically curved bow speak to an understated elegance despite the yacht’s mammoth size. While a long line of portals indicates at least 9 guest cabins. In light of all the secrecy surrounding Koru, we doubt Bezos will ever charter her out, but we can still dream.

25. Al Mirqab | 436 feet—133m

Adorned with cascading chandeliers and gold accents, Al Mirqab is renowned for its unrivaled interiors. Surrounded by suspended glass artworks, a grand staircase floats throughout the four floors. And inspired by authentic Arabian styles, the magnificent superyacht is reminiscent of a magic carpet ride through the seas . 

Built for the former Prime Minister of Qatar, Peterswerft-Kusch spared no expense in delivering Al Mirqab to an impossibly high standard for luxury. The large swimming pool is a standout feature as it opens up into the sea, creating the ultimate playground for adults. Al Mirqab has a capacity for up to 60 guests and is manned by an equal number of crew. Although you have to be invited by the politician himself as Al Mirqab isn’t available for private charter.

24. Serene | 439 feet—134m

Adeptly named, the magnificent superyacht embodies the serenity of a life at sea. Serene was built in Italy for a Russian owner in 2011. She was leased to Bill Gates for the Summer in 2014 for $5 million per week. 

Designed by Reymond Langton, the 134m mega yacht marries elegant sophistication with state-of-the-art technologies. The seven decks leave ample space for guests to soak in scintillating views. While the underwater viewing room—nicknamed the Nemo room—is a permanent gallery of resplendent sealife. The real-life snow room makes up to four inches of snow. And whilst this may seem odd when your billionaire boss asks for snow—you make it snow.

23. Crescent | 445 feet – 136 m

Yet another Lurssen masterpiece, Crescent pays homage to classic naval designs with traditional architecture and elegant interiors. Formerly named Project Thunder, she was built in Germany and delivered to Igor Sechin in 2018. The Russian oligarch’s superyacht was seized by Spain after sanctions were placed on Russia in 2022. 

Crescent features low bulwarks and full-height windows to maximize the view from the center of the boat. Her distinctive wing station provides unrivaled views for up to 18 guests. But don’t get your hopes up—Crescent is strictly for private use only and isn’t available for charter. 

22. Savarona | 446 feet – 136m

Savarona is the second-largest yacht built by Blohm & Voss and spends most of her time in the Mediterranean. This luxury superyacht is one of the oldest in the market — a perfect fusion of traditional charm and modern facilities. 

Previously named Gunes Dil, Savarona was designed by Cox & Stevens, with interior design carefully handled by Donald Starkey. She’s available to charter on a weekly basis and has been refurbished over the years. Back in the day, her cost price was $4 million, and in 1989, she was chartered by Kahraman Sadikoglu, owner of the Turkish Sadikoglu Group, who spent an estimated $50 million on refurbishing her from top to bottom.

21. Flying Fox | 446 feet – 136m

Flying Fox is known as the most expensive charter yacht in the world , and a week aboard will set you back around $3 million. Chartered by the one and only power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z in 2021, it’s filled to the brim with all of the luxury facilities you could ever possibly want. 

The Flying Fox is rumored to be owned by Jeff Bezos, although that’s a claim that’s never been totally certified. She spends most of her time in the Mediterranean, specifically Cannes, Capri, and Sardinia, although she’s recently visited Norway, too. She can accommodate the largest helicopters on the market, and it reportedly took more than 50 meetings with her owner for interior design to be completed.

20. Rising Sun | 454 feet – 138m

The Rising Sun’s original owner, Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, sold her in 2010 as he considered her too large. Famously used by David Geffen for self-isolation, Rising Sun has also been a popular hang-out spot for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Beatrice, the Princess of York. 

She’s a Superyacht with impressive attention to detail like interiors kitted out in teak and onyx and endless features like a full gym , a large wine cellar, a sauna, and a spa. She’s got a full-size basketball court that doubles up as a helicopter landing pad and a private cinema for those long evenings spent at sea.

19. Al Salamah | 457 feet – 139m

Al Salamah is part of the Omani Royal fleet and started her very secretive life in Genoa. Known as the world’s biggest superyacht right up until 2016, she’s a sleek masterpiece of a ship, with a distinctive cream color and beach club design. 

Al Salamah does everything in multiples, from the five galleys onboard (the main galley, a bakery, a crew galley, an owner’s diet galley, and an Arab galley), three hospitals (one for the owner, one for guests, and one for the crew) and 2,000 sqm of floor space. She was put on sale briefly for $280 million USD, before being delisted and instead given as a gift to the Crown Prince of Bahrain. 

18. Solaris | 458 feet – 139m

Everything about Solaris was supposed to be kept a secret when she was being built—a secret that didn’t last long when her huge size was spotted undergoing sea trials in the North Sea. One of this Superyacht’s main attractions is her beach club on the top floor: the perfect spot for relaxation during those long days out at sea. 

That beach club comes complemented with endless other stylish amenities, like a large helipad, sun deck, and a crane to launch tenders, toys, and subs. Interior design is largely unknown, but, if it’s anything as sleek and white as its exteriors, it’s sure to be impressive.

17. Scheherazade | 459 feet – 140m

Two helicopter landing pads, two outdoor Jacuzzis, and two outdoor fire pits: Scheherazade doesn’t hold back with not only the essentials but also the luxuries. Previously named Lightning, “Scheherazade” is mostly associated with a female character in the Middle Eastern folk tales in the series One Thousand and One Nights. 

Not much is known about this superyacht, and even her birth and building process were referred to under a codename: Project Lightning. No one involved in her creation, even Lurssen, has revealed anything about her interiors or her owner. All that’s really known is that she sailed from Germany to Norway initially after completion. 

16. Ocean Victory | 460 feet – 140m

Ocean Victory has traveled all over the world, from Europe to Southeast Asia and back again. Owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, she’s the upgraded vessel to follow his purchase of the 76-meter Ebony Shine. 

She’s one designed with pure luxury in mind, from the six individual swimming pools onboard to the 300-square meter spa area. She’s beautiful both inside and out, with a unique concept designed by Espen Oeino and interior designer Alberto Pinto. The largest superyacht ever built in Italy, Ocean Victory shows some of the finest in the world when it comes to premium quality adventures at sea.

15. Yas | 463 feet – 141m

Yas is known best for its seamless and rather unusual design — one that’s a little different from most superyachts out there. The owner of Yas wanted a yacht that lived up to his own heritage; one with a backbone reminiscent of the navy and with abstract lines throughout. 

He chose an existing boat in Abu Dhabi, which was deconstructed within the region before being shipped off and renovated into the wonder that it is today. The Yas yacht was originally a Dutch navy frigate, which you’d never guess from strolling around onboard today.

14. Nord | 465 feet – 142m

Nord’s distinctive bow design has never been seen before on a yacht. That’s one of the first things you’ll notice about her. The next thing you’ll notice is her unusual design, which verges on battle-esque and has been called “ a warship wearing a tuxedo ” by Dan Lenard of the Italian design studio Nuvolari-Lenard. 

She’s one of the best superyachts out there for fun, with a sports and diving center on the lower deck, a swimming pool higher up, overlooking the ocean, and a fleet of tenders. She was designed for global exploration: a yacht that will calmly cruise her way all across the world.

13. Sailing Yacht A | 469 feet—142.8m

Challenging the status quo and pushing design boundaries, Sailing Yacht A is an enigma. The sail-assisted superyacht was built in Germany and delivered to Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko in 2017. However, she was seized by the Italian police force, Guardia di Finanza, in 2022 after sanctions were placed on Russian businessmen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Distinguished by soaring rotating carbon fiber masts, Nobiskrug’s hybrid approach to superyachts makes Sailing Yacht A more eco-conscious than other luxury yachts of her size. The u nderwater viewing pod molded into the keel speaks to her unrivaled innovation. And many balconies are enclosed by some of the largest pieces of curved glass ever made. 

12. El Mahrousa | 478 feet – 146m

El Mahrousa had a few different names in her time, ranging from the translated “The Protected” to El Horreya, which in Arabic translates to “Freedom.” It’s not surprising that she’s had more than one name when you take into account her age. As the oldest superyacht in the world, she’s undergone a lot of restoration over time, including multiple lengthenings and faster engines. 

She was renamed back to El Mahrousa in 2000 and gained even more recognition for being the first ship to cross the new Suez Canal extension in 2015. Back in her original days, she was built on the River Thames and took her first trip in 1867.

11. OK | 479 feet—146m

Delivered in Japan in 1982, OK is one of the largest and most unique superyachts in the world. Sprawling over 479 feet, the water giant is engineered to submerge almost seventy percent. This is accredited to the work done by Karmarine Shipyard. While the majority of the vessel was built by Oshima Shipping, it was privately converted to a semi-submersible yacht in Turkey. 

The superlative finishing on OK superyacht was designed by Timur Bozca, winner of the Younger Designer of the Year award in 2015. The blueprint being as many games as possible. The extraordinary vessel has the uncanny ability to hold over seventy toys, including a sailing yacht, a sea plane, tenders, buggies and even a tennis court.

10. Opera | 480 feet—146.4m 

Like many of the most majestic water titans, Opera was delivered by Lurssen in Germany and built for Abu Dhabi royalty. This time, the owner is Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, son of the founder of the United Arab Emirates. And while it may not be quite as astronomical as Lurssen’s previous builds—Azzam, Blue and Dilbar—the streamlined vessel is equally impressive onboard. 

The three-story superyacht proves large enough for a pair of helipads and two swimming pools, amongst many other toys, while simultaneously making room for up to 48 guests and 80 crew members. When it comes to the interior, details are sparse, but we do know that it was designed by Terence Disdale, a London firm renowned for creating bespoke luxury spaces. 

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 482 feet – 147m

The Prince Abdulaziz’s yacht was ordered by King Fahd, who named her after his son Prince Abdul Aziz. Now, she’s owned by his brother, Abdullah. Just one of the yachts owned by the Saudi royal family, she’s spotted frequently throughout Europe, especially in Cannes, where the royal family owns a property. 

She’s been redecorated once — in 2007 — in a project that took 15 months to complete, without even taking into account the rest of the ship’s upkeep. The Prince Abdulaziz is known for its combination of bold colors and fusion of traditional and modern design, thanks to its influence from the late David Hicks.

8. A+ | 483 feet – 147m

What do you do when the name “A” is already taken for your superyacht? Choose the next closest thing: A+. Previously named Topaz, this superyacht was the world’s fourth-largest luxury yacht when she was built, before being stripped of that particular title only a few years later. 

Nevertheless, she’s a seriously impressive superyacht, with endless facilities like a large jacuzzi, double helicopter landing pads, a swimming pool with a swimming platform and underwater lights, as well as a fitness hall, cinema, and a large conference room. She’s also well equipped with water toys, like jet skis, inflatable boats, a catamaran, and even a mini-submarine.

7. Al Said | 508 feet – 155m

Another Superyacht built, shrouded in secrecy, Al-Said was referred to as “Project Sunflower” the entire time she was being created, right up until she was delivered to her owner in 2008. Not much is known about Al Said, from her movements through to her amenities — although she is known to have a huge concert room with space for a full 50-person orchestra. 

Currently, she’s flying the flag of Oman and has spent a lot of time in its surrounding waters. Her interior was styled by British designer design house RWD, with exterior design being credited to Espen Oeino. When she was delivered to the Sultan of Oman, she replaced a previous ship of a smaller size. 

6. Dilbar | 511 feet – 156m

Dilbar, or Project Omar, as it was originally known as, is another superyacht designed with the help of exterior expert Espen Oeino, but with interiors strikingly designed by Andrew Winch. Dilbar is famously known as the world’s largest yacht by gross tonnage (interior volume) but as the fifth-longest superyacht in the world. 

She’s home to a spa pool and beach club, as well as a large private cinema, spacious cabins set high on the main deck, a spacious dining room, and a salon with its own piano. She’s just as classy and beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

5. Blue | 527 feet—160.6m

Sunday blues simply cease to exist on one of the world’s most extravagant superyachts. The elegant behemoth was built for member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and billionaire, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2022. Valued at over $600 million, Blue is one of the most expensive superyachts in the world. And with a strong emphasis on the environment, this superyacht is also one of the most sustainable. 

Blue strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible. She is equipped with a highly efficient Diesel-Electric Hybrid Propulsion Concept developed by Lürssen’s own engineering specialists. And the wastewater treatment plant allows water to be disposed of in drinking water quality.

4. Dubai | 531 feet – 162m

Dubai had multiple names in the planning stages—including Panhandle, Platinum, and Golden Star. Owned by the ruler of Dubai, it was aptly named after its home country and comes with all of the luxurious amenities you’d expect from such a name. 

The Dubai comes complete with a huge swimming pool and two jacuzzis. Further down, you’ll find a large dining room with striking blue and burgundy decor and space for up to 90 guests. Dubai usually spends her time moored at Sheikh Mohammed’s private island in front of his summer palace in Dubai. She’s basically the definition of a floating palace.

3. Eclipse | 533 feet – 162.5m

It took around five years for Eclipse to be built from start to finish. While she was always designed to be a huge, luxurious Superyacht, the focus was more on decking it out appropriately rather than breaking any records. An award-winning superyacht, she’s incredibly spacious, with endless rooms to explore and a sleek, neutral color palette running through. 

The Eclipse’s owner, Roman Abramovich, was more focused on facilities: he wanted more than one helicopter pad and a large swimming pool, too. Other than that, designer Terry Disdale had free reign for the rest of the superyacht. It’s just as much a clean piece of architectural styling as it is a stunning experience on deck.

2. Fulk Al Salamah | 538 feet – 164m

Fulk Al Salamah translates to “Ship of Peace” and that’s something that sounds like a given when you’ve taken a look at this superyacht’s incredible layout. Developed under the codename Project Saffron, Fulk Al Salamah is more of a support vessel than she is a typical superyacht. 

While she might still come complete with all of the necessities for a particularly relaxing voyage, she’s more so known for being a transport ship for the Royal Navy of Oman. She’s also used as a sort of friendship boat — pun intended — and is often sailed across the world with the intention of strengthening ties with the Sultanate. In some ports, influential people are welcomed onboard.

1. Azzam | 590 feet – 181m

Most superyachts in the top 10 category have a few mere inches between sizes, but the Azzam shoots far ahead with a large amount of extra length. The largest superyacht in the world, she was never designed to win the title — rather just to be a sleek and elegant vessel. Azzam was crafted backward, with the plans for her interior confirmed long before her exterior was fully signed off. 

Her length only came to be as such to incorporate everything required for the interiors, which added an extra 35 meters to her overall size. She’s also designed to look smaller than she actually is, with a blend of indoor and outdoor living. It took more than 4,000 people to build Azzam , clocking up six million man-hours over a period of four years.

The largest yachts in the world: Conclusion

The largest yachts in the world are:

• Azzam—590 feet
• Fulk Al Salamah—538 feet
• Eclipse—533 feet
• Dubai—531 feet
• Blue—527 feet
• Dilbar—511 feet
• Al Said —508 feet
• A+—483 feet
• Prince Abdulaziz—482 feet
• Opera—480 feet
• OK—479 feet
• El Mahrousa—478 feet
• Sailing Yacht A—469 feet
• Nord—465 feet
• Yas—463 feet
• Ocean Victory—460 feet
• Scheherazade —459 feet
• Solaris—458 feet
• Al Salamah—457 feet
• Rising Sun—454 feet
• Flying Fox—446 feet
• Savarona—446 feet
• Crescent—445 feet
• Serene —439 feet
• Al Mirqab—436 feet
• Y721 (aka Koru)—417 feet

The most expensive yacht in the world

The fact that the History Supreme, the world’s most expensive superyacht, comes coated in gold, is only part of the reason for its high cost. A superyacht with a real-life Midas touch, it was sold to an anonymous Malaysian businessman for $4.8 billion. 

Robert Kuok, the richest Malaysian businessman, is the rumored owner of History Supreme, but no one has confirmed for sure. The History Supreme also comes with plenty of other impressive touches: a master bedroom decked out in platinum, a wall feature made from meteoric stone, and a genuine T-Rex dinosaur bone, to add to the list. 

She took three years to build from scratch and comes with 10,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. Other seriously luxe features are her 68 kilograms 24-carat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall Aquarium and a liquor bottle adorned with a rare 18.5-carat diamond . The base of the vessel comes wrapped in gold, too.

Frequently asked questions about the world’s largest yachts

The largest yachts in the world are owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Roman Abramovich, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Alisher Usmanov. Our guide tells you more about all the biggest yachts in the world .

At 417 feet (127 m), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ sailing yacht, Koru (formerly Project Y721), is one of the world’s largest yachts.

The 181-m (590 ft) Azzam is the world’s longest yacht in length, but the 156-m Dilbar has a much larger internal volume (measured in Gross Tons) at 15,917 GT (Gross Tons) versus 13,136 GT for Azzam. As such, Dilbar is the world’s largest yacht in volume. Read our full guide to discover the largest yachts in the world .

The biggest yacht in the world is the Azzam , which has an estimated cost of $600 million. She’s owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is not currently for sale.

In terms of the number of megayachts, the largest superyacht-owning country is the United States. Nationality-wise, beyond American, an increasing percentage of superyacht owners are Turkish, Greek, Emirati, German, Australian and Dutch.

About the author

Emma Treagus

Women’s fashion & travel editor.

A former fashion assistant and budding entrepreneur who calls the world her home, Emma writes many of Luxe Digital’s women’s style and travel stories, drawing on her passion and experience for slow fashion alongside an appreciation for current trends. When she’s not getting her way with words, you’ll find her exploring a new city (at quite a walking pace)—locating the nearest sushi restaurant or devouring a book on the beach.

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Despite the pandemic, the superyacht world continues to welcome new entries. These are the world’s biggest yachts by length.

Even in a pandemic, the size of the global superyacht fleet keeps on growing. The top 25 largest yachts in the world now total a combined 11,849 feet, with the smallest yacht on the list,  Maryah , measuring a whopping 410 feet. Built by shipyards all over the world—from the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom, to name just a few—new launches and refits are delivered each year. The 2021 newcomers hail from Lürssen, Dream Ship Victory and Lloyd Werft. With many new gigayacht builds in the pipeline, the list will be much more competitive in the coming years. Here are the world’s top 25 yachts by size, from  Maryah  to  Azzam.

25. ‘Maryah’ (410 feet, 1 inch), Neorion

Neorion’s  Maryah  Photo: Manuel Hernández LafuenteWATCH

This former Russian research vessel was originally launched by the Szczecinska yard in Poland. In 2010, it underwent a five-year rebuild at the Elefsis yard in Greece. The stodgy research vessel that went in reappeared in 2014 as a thoroughly modern custom-built superyacht. The UK-based  H2 Yacht Design  did both the interior and exterior, incorporating all the luxuries one would expect in a yacht this size. The swimming pool, spa, contemporary decor (including custom furniture, signature joinery, and bespoke details like fixtures and lighting), and generous interior space turned the ugly duckling into a swan.  Maryah , which reaches a top speed of 18 knots powered by a twin azipods propulsion system, has accommodation for 54 guests.

24. ‘Octopus’ (414 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Octopus  Elizabeth Withe

Originally built by Lürssen for Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, eight-decked  Octopus  is the world’s largest expedition yacht. Allen kept all the luxurious features of a superyacht, but wanted  Octopus  to be able to set anchor at the ends of the earth for exploration. The Lürssen, delivered in 2003, has storage for two helicopters, seven tenders, a large SUV and an internal dock that extends through the hull holding two submersibles. A glass-bottomed observation lounge makes for spectacular viewing when cruising. The yacht has been involved in multiple exploration discoveries, aided by its onboard dive centre and hyperbaric chamber. Espen Øino drew the exterior, including a full-sized basketball court on the aft deck, while Jonathan Quinn Barnett did the interior. The yacht underwent a refit in 2019. It reaches a top end of 20 knots.

23. ‘Al Mirqab’ (436 feet, 4 inches), Kusch Yachts

Kusch Yachts’ Al Mirqab  Photo: Shutterstock / PitK

Launched in 2008,  Al Mirqab  was built for Qatar’s former prime minister under the supervision of  Kusch Yachts  in the  Peters Werft shipyard  in Wewelsfleth, Germany. The Tim Heywood exterior includes a long, navy-blue hull with a white superstructure. The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion involves an azimuth pod drive and gives the 436.4-footer a top end of 21 knots. Its interior by Andrew Winch won several awards, with images showing Arabic-influenced motifs on the marble floors of large social areas. The yacht’s centerpiece is a stunning, complicated floating staircase encircled by custom-made glass panels.  Al Mirqab  has staterooms for 36, and crew quarters for 45.

22. ‘Serene’ (439 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Serene  Photo: Nick Wells

Serene  was  Fincantieri ’s launch into the superyacht segment, and what a debut it was. The largest yacht ever launched in Italy when it was delivered in 2011 (surpassed three years later by  Ocean Victory ), the Espen Øino seven-deck design features a long, sleek blue hull, crowned by a white superstructure. The somewhat racy curves serve as a nice counterpart to the more serious-looking sections of the yacht, which include cutouts along the main and upper decks to allow strong visibility from the saloon and staterooms. The curved balconies on three levels are a nice touch that work aesthetically—and practically for better views. The open stern area has a winter garden (enclosed glass house) that allows dining in all seasons.  Serene  also has two helipads and a hangar, a big swimming pool, and a tender garage large enough for a submarine. Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design created the 43,056-square-foot interior for the Russian owner, though its details have remained closely guarded.

21. ‘Crescent’ (443 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Crescent  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Espen Øino’s dark hull and tiered superstructure was one of the most exciting launches of 2018. Custom-built Project Thunder, as it was called internally at Lürssen, features cut-outs along the hull sides that allow full ocean views from the saloon on the primary deck, as part of  Crescent ’s distinctive curved superstructure. Its most noteworthy feature is the jaw-dropping bank of three-deck-high windows in the center of the yacht. This architectural feature serves as the centerpiece of a very compelling design. The yacht has accommodations for 18 guests in nine staterooms. Little is known about the François Zuretti-designed interior, other than Lürssen describes it as being “traditionally styled.” If it lives up to  Crescent ’s brash exterior, the complete yacht promises to be an entirely groundbreaking design.

20. ‘Savarona’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Savarona  

Launched in 1931,  Savarona  was built for American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwallader. The yacht was eventually acquired by Turkey to be the presidential yacht of Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey.  Jane’s Fighting Ships  described the yacht in 1949 as “probably the most sumptuously fitted yacht afloat.”  Savarona  was later converted to a training ship for the Turkish Navy and, in 1978, destroyed by fire. The yacht laid in tatters for 10 years. A Turkish businessman spent around $45 million refurbishing  Savarona , commissioning Donald Starkey for the interior and replacing the original steam-turbine engines with modern Caterpillar diesels. The yacht’s interior was refitted again in 2013, once again becoming the official presidential yacht in 2014.  Savarona  features a swimming pool, Turkish bath, 280-foot grand staircase, a movie theater, and a library dedicated to Atatürk.

19: ‘Flying Fox’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Flying Fox  Photo: Courtesy of SuperYachtTimes/Youtube

Delivered jointly by Imperial and Lürssen in 2019, 446.2-foot  Flying Fox  is the largest yacht available on the charter market. Key features of the Espen Øino-designed exterior are a curvaceous dove-gray hull and a 3.7-foot swimming pool that runs athwartship on the main aft deck, the largest ever found on board a yacht. A two-decked spa also gives guests access to a cryosauna, hammam and relaxation room with a fold-down balcony at sea level. Packed to the rafters with the latest amenities, the yacht holds a diving center, decompression chamber and two helipads.  Flying Fox  is PYC compliant and can accommodate 25 guests.

18. ‘Rising Sun’ (454 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Rising Sun  Photo: Courtesy of Lürssen

Designed by the original guru of yacht designers, Jon Bannenberg,  Rising Sun  was built by Lürssen for Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and is currently owned by billionaire David Geffen. The yacht was delivered in 2004 and last refitted in 2011. Defined by banks of windows across the superstructure,  Rising Sun  has 86,000 square feet of living space in 82 rooms. It can accommodate 18 guests in nine cabins, with the capacity to carry up to 46 crew. The interior by Seccombe Design includes a gym, cinema, and wine cellar. The rear cockpit deck was designed as a basketball court. Geffen received a global media backlash in 2020 for his “tone deaf” social media posts that pictured himself on board his yacht during Covid-19 lockdown.

17. ‘Al Salamah’ (456 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Salamah  Lürssen

When Lürssen launched  Al Salamah  in 1999, it was the third-largest yacht in the world. Its ranking at number 14 shows how much has changed in the last 20 years. Code-named MIPOS, or Mission Possible, the yacht was designed by  Terence Disdale . The large imposing exterior is primarily protected space, with an upper deck exposed to the elements.  Al Salamah  has staterooms for 40 guests, including two owner suites, 11 VIP staterooms, and eight twin cabins. The yacht can carry up to 96 crew and has a top speed of 22 knots.  Al Salamah  was last refitted in 2009.

16. ‘Scheherazade’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Scheherazade  Photo: SuperYacht Times/YouTube

The owner of 459.3-feet Lürssen-built  Scheherazade  (formerly known as Project Lightning) finally took delivery of the mega yacht in June 2020 after it was pictured during sea trials in November 2019. What can so far be deciphered from available photography includes two helipads, forward and aft, and a large beach club aft, as well as a reported seven-foot beam. Very few details have yet been released of the highly private vessel, including even the names of designers or naval architects involved with the build.

15: ‘Ocean Victory’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  Photo: Trevor Coppock / TheYachtPhoto.com

The largest motoryacht ever built in Italy, Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  was delivered to its owner in 2014. The seven-deck exterior by Espen Øino includes two helideck platforms and a hangar belowdecks, as well as exceptional outdoor social areas, and a floodable tender dock.  Ocean Victory  has accommodations for 28 guests as well as quarters for 56 crew.  Ocean Victory  also has six pools, a 3,300-square-foot spa, and an underwater observation room. The interior by Alberto Pinto remains a secret.

14: ‘Solaris’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lloyd Werft

Solaris  by Lloyd-Werft Courtesy Lloyd Werft

The 476-foot  Solaris  is one of the largest yachts to deliver in 2021, and yet still little is known about it. The highly private, vast explorer is built by German shipyard Lloyd Werft and undertook sea trials in the North Sea. The eight-deck exterior is by Australian designer Marc Newson and features a displacement steel hull with bulbous bow and steel superstructure with teak decks. Reportedly owned by Roman Abramovich, it houses a large helipad, sun deck and spacious beach club aft. Lloyd Werft built the Russian billionaire’s previous explorer yacht  Luna , which he reportedly sold for $360 million to his close friend Farkhad Akhmedov in 2014.

13. ‘Yas’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Abu Dhabi Mar

Abu Dhabi Mar’s  Yas  Photo: Harvey Barrison

As a converted yacht,  Yas  is one of the most interesting vessels on this list. The dolphin-like exterior was originally a former Dutch Navy frigate that launched in 1978 and eventually sold to the navy of the United Arab Emirates, where it was renamed  Al Emirat . The yacht underwent its dramatic conversion in a facility in Abu Dhabi’s main port, emerging as a gleaming superyacht in 2011, with one of the most interesting profiles on the water. It was eventually delivered four years later. The design by the Paris-based Pierrejean Vision, defined by massive glass surfaces, can accommodate 60 guests and 58 crew members. Mated to a steel hull, the superstructure is the largest composite edifice ever built.  Yas  is capable of a 26-knot top speed and was last refitted in 2019.

12. ‘Dream Symphony’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Dream Ship Victory

Dream Symphony  by Dream Ship Victory Courtesy Dream Ship Victory

Sailing yacht  Dream Symphony  is a magnificent 462.7-foot schooner built by the Turkish shipyard Dream Ship Victory. When delivered in 2021, she will become the largest private sailing yacht in the world, knocking current largest sailing yacht,  Black Pearl , off the podium. Featuring naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects and an exterior and interior by Ken Freivokh, she reunites the same team who were behind the legendary  Maltese Falcon ’s ground-breaking Falcon dynarig.  Dream  Symphony’s hull is being built in wood – glued and laminated using the latest epoxy and composite techniques. Wood, carbon and stainless-steel run throughout the contemporary interior, while the rig includes Hoyt booms for maximum control.  Dream Symphony  boasts a fully private owner’s duplex, with master suite, salon, and office at main deck level, and a further spa, gym and treatment rooms on the lower deck. A sheltered open deck between the owner’s facilities and the guest deck house can be closed off to bad weather, creating concealed channels for full protection. And when the sun is shining, a double-height glass swimming pool features a rising floor that can doubles up as a touch-and-go helipad or dancefloor.

11. ‘Nord’ (466 feet),  Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Nord  (Project Opus) Photo: SuperYacht Times/Youtube

Nord  (Project Opus) has been a long time coming. She was announced in 2015 but didn’t hit the water until November 2020 when she conducted sea trials in the Baltic Sea. The 466-foot yacht features interior design by Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard and is Lürssen’s first yacht launched from its newly upgraded floating shed at its facility in Vegasack. Boasting many top tier amenities, the yacht includes a sports and diving center on the lower deck, multiple tenders ranging in size up to 50-feet and a large swimming pool. The two helipads support the yacht’s long-range cruising capabilities for autonomous remote exploration and a retractable hangar means the helicopter can slide neatly into the superstructure for storage when not in use. A generous 20 staterooms accommodate 36 guests across six decks, while a sleek aft-sloping superstructure gives Nord an individual profile on the water.

10. ‘A’ (468 feet, 5 inches), Nobiskrug

Nobiskrug Sailing Yacht  A  Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Delivered in 2017, the futuristic look of sailing yacht  A  includes smooth, silver-metallic surfaces and windows that look nearly invisible, three composite masts that bend slightly, and a deck hidden by high bulwarks. The Philippe Starck-design is a wild fantasy yacht of the future. The 468-foot sailing yacht is a technical victory for German yard  Nobiskrug , which developed composite fashion plates to create the unusual shapes, without any compromises in strength or fluidity. It has the tallest freestanding composite masts on any sailing vessel, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and state-of-the-art navigation systems. The boat also reportedly has an underwater viewing platform in the keel. “Sailing yacht  A  is undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects Nobiskrug has ever been involved in,” said Holger Kahl, the firm’s then managing director. Starck’s interior remains a secret. The yard reports the yacht has a top speed of 21 knots. She remains today the world’s largest sailing yacht three years after her launch.

9. ‘El Mahrousa’ (478 feet, 1 inch), Samuda Brothers

Egypt’s royal yacht,  El Mahrousa  Screengrab

El Mahrousa , which means “the protected” in Arabic, is currently Egypt’s presidential yacht, though the 478.1-footer has a separate history as that country’s royal yacht. The London-based Samuda Brothers began the build in 1863, and it was launched in 1865. It was originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, and later carried three Egyptian kings into exile. The yacht was also at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The world’s oldest superyacht features external design by the British naval architect Sir Oliver Lang, and has had multiple modifications over the years, including a lengthening by 40 feet in 1872 and another 17 feet in 1905. During the second refit, the owners replaced its paddle-wheel engines with turbine-driven propellers. The yacht, in care of the Egyptian Navy, occasionally goes to sea for a day or two. In 2015, it was used to inaugurate the new Suez Canal.

8. ‘Prince Abdulaziz’ (482 feet, 3 inches), Helsingør Værft

Helsingør Værft’s  Prince Abdulaziz  Photo: Shutterstock / Artesia Wells

This custom yacht, launched by Helsingør Værft in Denmark in 1984, was most recently refitted in 2005. The 5,200-tonne  Prince Abdulaziz  is one of the Saudi Royal family’s yachts, its first owner being King Fahd. Designed by Maierform, the yacht was the longest and tallest in the world at the time of its launch. At 482.3-feet,  Prince Abdulaziz  held the title for 22 years until  Dubai  launched in 2006. The late David Nightingale Hicks, known for his use of bright colors, was the interior designer. The lobby is said to be a replica of the  Titanic . Last refitted in 2005, it is rumored to be carrying surface-to-air missiles, though that may be an urban legend.

7. ‘A+’ (483 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  A+  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Very little is known about  A+  (formerly  Topaz) , which was launched by Lürssen in 2012, other than it is the fourth-largest yacht ever built by the German shipyard. Tim Heywood Designs did the exterior, which features helipads on the foredeck and amidships on an upper deck. A lower aft deck includes a swimming pool. The German yard has not released any images of the Terence Disdale interior. Reported to be owned by Manchester City Football Club owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahnan – Emirati royalty and deputy prime minister of the UAE –  A+  has a top speed of 22 knots, and can carry 62 guests and up to 79 crew.

6. ‘Al Saïd’ (508 feet, 5 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Saïd  Courtesy of Shutterstock

Another 500-plus-foot yacht from Lürssen, the original Project Sunflower gained its official name of  Al Saïd  following its launch in 2016. Espen Øino’s exterior is akin to a classic cruise liner, complete with the twin exhaust stacks in the center of the superstructure. Owned by the Sultan of Oman, six-decked  Al Saïd  can carry 154 crew and, according to some sources, 70 guests. Lürssen says  Al Saïd  has a top speed of 22 knots. The London-based Redman Whiteley Dixon studio designed the interior, which includes a concert hall that can hold a 50-piece orchestra.

5. ‘Dilbar’ (511 feet, 8 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Dilbar  Photo: Josep Baresic

The 2016 launch of  Dilbar  gave Lürssen the distinction of not only building the longest yacht ever ( Azzam ), but also the largest in terms of volume. Espen Øino designed the exterior, creating a full-bodied superstructure of long, flowing decks, along with two helicopter pads.  Dilbar  also has an 82-foot swimming pool that can hold an incredible 6357-cubic-feet of water, and according to Lürssen, is the world’s longest on a yacht. The interior by Winch Design is defined by its “rare and exclusive luxury materials,” says the builder, declining to go into detail. Lürssen added that the world’s largest motor yacht was one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, because of its dimensions and technology. Despite  Dilbar ’s volume, the designers did a masterful job making the yacht look relatively svelte, with no obvious bulges along the length of the light ivory and bronze-accented hull. In June 2020, Dilbar returned to Lürssen for a significant refit, the details of which are yet to be revealed.

4. ‘Dubai’ (531 feet, 5 inches), Platinum Yachts

Sheikh Al Maktoum’s yacht,  Dubai  Bigstock

This Andrew Winch design was originally commissioned for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei as a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen, before it was halted in 1998 with just a bare hull and skeletal superstructure. The hull was sold to the government of Dubai, and, under the direction of the country’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, work on the 531.5-footer began again, though this time by Platinum Yachts.  Dubai  delivered in 2006 and is now the sheikh’s royal yacht, with accommodations for 24 guests and quarters for 88 crew. The seven-decked yacht has an impressive 70-foot-wide atrium, landing pad for a Black Hawk helicopter, submarine garage, disco, and cinema. Full certification was obtained from Lloyd’s Register in October 2006, and it can reach a top speed of 26 knots.

3. ‘Eclipse’ (533 feet, 1 inch), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Eclipse  Photo: Shutterstock / R_Pilguj

Stately  Eclipse , the 533.1-foot yacht delivered to billionaire Roman Abramovich, took five years to design and build. When it left the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg in 2010, it was the world’s largest yacht. The interior has 17 staterooms and a palatial master suite, with the capacity to carry 85 crew. Both the interior and exterior are designed by Terence Disdale. A proportional profile is defined by tiered decks that sweep upward and bend ever so slightly at the aft ends.  Eclipse  has a 185-foot-long owner’s deck and, at the time of its launch, the largest swimming pool on any superyacht (the bottom raises and converts to a dance floor). Other features reflecting its stature: the capacity to hold three helicopters, including one in its belowdecks hangar, a sophisticated stabilization system, six tenders, and an enormous spa, gym, and beach club. Hybrid diesel-electric engines are connected to Azipod drives that give  Eclipse  a top-end speed of 21 knots, with a range of 6,000 nautical miles.

2. ‘Fulk Al Salamah’ (538 feet, 1 inch), Mariotti Yachts

Mariotti Yachts’  Fulk Al Salamah  Screengrab

Little information has ever been released about the world’s second-longest superyacht, custom-built  Fulk Al Salamah , and it has been shrouded in mystery since first announced in 2014. Even the overall length of 538.1 feet has been estimated from AIS data. However, built and delivered by Italian builder Mariotti Yachts in their Genoa shipyard in 2016, the imposing vessel is believed to be owned by the Omani royal family. Exterior design is by Studio de Jorio, and it is considered by some to resemble more of a support vessel than a superyacht. Nonetheless, aerial photography shows an impressively large helideck, raked masts and a bathing platform.

1: ‘Azzam’ (592 feet, 6 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Azzam  Screengrab

It’s not surprising that the world’s longest yacht hails from a shipyard with 13 out of the 25 top builds in the superyacht arena. Unfortunately,  Lürssen  could never really boast about  Azzam  after its launch in 2013 because of the owner’s penchant for privacy. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi directed a team of designers and engineers who started with the bare concept, worked through the technical challenges of what might be the most complex superyacht ever, and finished with an unusually large vessel that can top the 30-knot mark. Nauta Yacht’s exterior features a long, sleek forward area, with well-proportioned tiers moving up to the skydeck. Lürssen describes the interior by Christophe Leoni as “sophisticated, with luxurious decor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century.” Its gas turbines, connected to water jets, push  Azzam  to more than 30 knots, giving it the ability to operate at high speed in shallow waters. She also boasts an impressive build time for a yacht of her size, with construction taking only three years after one year of engineering.  Azzam  was last refit in 2020 at MB92 in Barcelona.

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• Lurssen Yachts

On the 5th April 2013 Lürssen, the leading shipyard for large luxury yacht building, launched the 180m yacht AZZAM - the largest motor yacht in the world. The sleek and elegant superyacht features exterior design by Nauta Design.

Fulk Al Salamah

• Mariotti Yachts

This 164-metre (538ft) superyacht was built in Italy by Mariotti Yachts and now sits in the Omani capital as part of the royal fleet. The Italian built superyacht is currently the second largest privately owned yacht in the world, after Lurssen's Azzam.

• Blohm + Voss

Roman Abramovich's yacht Eclipse has received a huge amount of industry attention, not just for its size but for the celebrity of its owner. Eclipse is the largest and most expensive superyacht ever built. When initially ordered she was estimated to cost approximately £330million, by the time she was delivered however, her overall costs were closer to the £1billion mark due to the extra luxury fittings and security measures required by her owner. With a crew of up to 60, Eclipse is a giant of the sea. She was the fourth superyacht comissioned by Abramovich.

• Platinum Yachts

This magnificent yacht was originally commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei. Construction was suspended in 1998 and the vessel left unfinished until HH Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum secured the rumoured $300 million project. Platinum Yachts took the mega yacht to completion and in 2006 launched Dubai to become the world’s largest private yacht. Today however, Dubai is the second largest privately owned yacht in the world.

Launched in February 2022, Project Blue is Lurssen's latest secretive yacht project. With little revealed about her specifications and designers, her expansive size was confirmed by the German shipyard following her launch: an incredible 160m. Project Blue will be Lurssen's second-largest superyacht, and is due to be delivered in 2023. She was recently spotted in Bremerhaven, Germany, making her way out to sea for her maiden sea trial. She is expected to have a beam of 21m, and a gross tonnage of 15,320 GT. Her other specifications are currently unknown.

Originally known as Project Omar, the 156 metre superyacht Dilbar was launched in 2016 after over 4 years of construction. A favourite with yachtspotters worldwide, Dilbar is considered the largest superyacht in the world by volume.

Like most royal superyachts, little is known about Al Said, a giant mega yacht formerly codenamed "Project Sunflower". She was delivered to the Sultan of Oman in 2008 as a replacement for a smaller mega yacht of the same name. At a stunning 155m, Al Said consists of six large decks and features striking exterior and interior design by Espen Oeino International, the same company that designed the stunning 127m mega yacht Octopus. According to reports, Al Said is said to accommodate as many as 70 guests and 154 professional crew, as well as featuring a concert room capable of accommodating a 50 piece orchestra.

When construction of A+ (formerly named Topaz) first began she was forecast to be the 4th largest yacht in the world and to measure approximately 147m (482’3’’ft). Having left her floating shed at the Lürssen shipyard located in Bremen, Germany, she is now ready to claim that mantle and undergo the final phases of construction.

Prince Abdulaziz

• Helsingor Vaerft

As one of the yachts of the Saudi Royal Family, Prince Abdulaziz is used to conduct official business as well as for pleasure. The largest yacht built in the 20th century, the interior alone took 15 months to complete. Originally built for the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia who named the yacht after his son, it is now owned by his brother Abddullah.

Very little is known about Lurssen's mysterious superyacht OPERA. At 146m, the superyacht will be the sixth largest yacht Lurssen has built at the time of her launch in September 2022. OPERA was first spotted in May 2021 when she transported to the yard's Bremen outfitting facilities in Germany.

El Mahrousa

• Samuda Bros.

This Egyptian presidential yacht is not only one of the world’s largest but also one of the oldest. Built in 1865 in London, the yacht was intended for the King of Egypt. Originally named Mahroussa, El Horriya was extended in 1872 and again in 1905.  Nowadays she is berthed in Alexandria and is listed as a training ship by the Egyptian Navy.

Developed by German shipyard Lürssen, construction of Project Luminance is underway at their facilities near Lemwerder. Due to enter the esteemed list of the Top 10 largest superyachts in the world, information about the 145m superyacht is limited at this moment in time. Lürssen are world-famous for their incredible innovations and their capacity to build extremely large mega yachts filled with numerous features. Photos that have been captured of the boat indicate that she will have considerable deck space with plenty of room left over indoors to be packed out with luxury.

SAILING YACHT A

Sailing Yacht A is a highly unique vessel, with an LOA of 142.81m. She is one of the world’s largest and the most advanced superyachts with a number of unique features, including an underwater observation pod, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and premium navigation systems. Her three masts are the tallest and most highly loaded freestanding composite structures in the world. Her futuristic design was created by Philippe Starck, her smooth silver-metallic surfaces challenging the expectations of conventional aesthetics.

As one of the most well-known builders of Top 100 yachts, Lurssen's NORD (formerly Opus and Redwood) has been highly anticipated as one of the largest ever to launch from the German yard. Also the largest project set to launch in 2020, at 142m, she will accommodate up to 36 guests in 20 cabins and was designed by Nuvolari Lenard.

• ADMShipyards

The 141m superyacht Swift141, now christened 'Yas', was successfully launched by ADMShipyards in November 2011; entering the record books as both the largest launch of 2011 and most significant superyacht in recent history. ADMShipyards, members of Privinvest, has proudly announced the launch of their first superyacht. At 141 meters, this stunning private yacht ranks as the sixth largest superyacht in the world.

• Lloyd Werft

Project Solaris is the revolutionary explorer yacht built by German masters of engineering Lloyd Werft. Topping off the yard's record for ultra large luxury yacht build, Project Solaris is an estimated 139m+ explorer yacht at the German giant's shed.

Scheherezade

As with most yachts in construction at Lurssen, little is known about this 140m project. We do not yet know the designer or architect, but she has been spotted moving around the build-hall. Her sightings have lead yacht spotters on the docks of the yard to aptly name her 'Project Lightning.' We hope to see her launch towards the end of 2019.

Ocean Victory

• Fincantieri Yachts

The largest yacht ever built in Italy and one of the ten largest in the world, Fincantieri has announced the successful delivery of Project Victory - a 140 metre superyacht launched in 2014 - under the official name of Ocean Victory.

Code named as Mipos (short for Mission Possible) during her construction, Al Salamah belongs to Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Kept a great secret, rumours tell that she has over 80 rooms, a helipad, and an indoor swimming pool complete with glass roof. A real working wonder, this yacht was completed in 1999 after only two years.

Owned by media bigwig David Geffen, Rising Sun is rumoured to have been commissioned by Ellison specifically to be larger than Paul Allen’s Octopus. This 2004 yacht is spread over five decks and is equipped with everything from Jacuzzi bathrooms and wine cellars to a top deck basketball court.

These Are 19 of the Largest Yachts in the World

Prepare to be amazed by these swoon-worthy boats with posh amenities galore.

SuperYachts released their predictions for the Top 100 largest superyachts in the world earlier this year, with the in-process REV currently anticipated to be the largest yacht in the world upon completion in 2021, but little yet is known about its features. We selected 19 of our favorite yachts on this list that represent leisure and opulence as its finest, many of these being considered “megayachts” (greater than 200 feet long). From helipads to palatial beach clubs, discover some of the world’s most expensive yachts and the fabulous amenities they have to offer.

This 457-foot yacht was built by Lurssen in 1999 with exterior and interior design from Terrance Disdale. Al Salamah is equipped to accommodate 40 guests and 96 crew members for the ultimate yachting experience. The boat features a gym, swimming pool and platform, beauty room, elevator, medical suite, and study spaces for both the owners and guests.

One of the newest ships on this list, Crescent was built by Lurssen in 2018 and is just less than 445 feet long. This sleek ship's exteriors were designed by French yacht design firm Zuretti and its interiors by Monaco's Espen Oenio. It can house up to 18 guests and 24 crew and features a two-level glass atrium, a helicopter hangar, and a glass-bottomed pool.

Prince Abdulaziz

This stunning megayacht is part of the Saudi family's royal fleet of yachts. It was built in 1984 at 482 feet, making it the largest yacht built in the 20th century, and held the spot as world's largest until Dubai was launched in 2006. Its interiors took 15 months alone to craft under the direction of the one-and-only David Hicks, who designed the space to suit 64 guests and 65 crew. The yacht is used for both business and pleasure and is rumored to house missiles and an underwater surveillance system.

This 416-foot megayacht was the passion project of Microsoft's cofounder Paul Allen and is currently owned by his wife, Jody Allen. The groundbreaking exploration yacht has the ability to travel to the world's mot remote and otherwise inaccessible locations. It was built by Lurssen in 2013 with exterior design by Espen Oenio and interiors by Seattle-based yacht designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett, housing 26 guests and 63 crew. A spa, library, multiple lounges, alfresco dining spaces, and a basketball court are just the beginning of Octopus's array of amenities.

Al Mirqab was built in 2008 by Peters Schiffbau and is owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who is Qatar royalty, a businessman, and a politician. Its exteriors were designed by Kusch Yachts and its award-winning interiors by Winch Design. Al Mirqab measures 437 feet and houses up to 60 guests and crew each. The yacht features a grand staircase with sides made from hand-cut crystal panels, cinema, spa, beach club and a lower deck swimming pool that can be opened up to the sea.

Launched in 2012, the yacht formerly known as Topaz stretches 483.1 feet long and reaches speeds up to 19.5 knots. And with interiors by the renowned Terrence Disdale , you know this behemoth is as spectacular on the inside as its exterior. It’s equipped with an on-deck Jacuzzi, double helicopter landing pad, swimming pool, fitness center, cinema room, and a snazzy conference room. A+ is reportedly owned by Sheikh Mansour, deputy prime minister of the UAE, and can accommodate up to 62 guests and 79 crew members.

One of the world’s largest “gigayachts”—measuring a whopping 456 feet—is also one of the newest, as it is currently undergoing trials in the Baltic Sea. This sleek structure, formerly known as Opus and Project Redwood, technically launched in January 2019 but came back to Lurssen for more fine tuning and upscale additions. The interiors and exterior are both by Nuvolari Lenard , and the yacht will reportedly sleep up to 36 guests. Some of the ultra-fabulous amenities include a beach club, fitness center, spa and sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, elevator, two helipads, and an impressive study.

Katara was launched in 2010 and measures 408.2 feet long and reaches speeds up to 20 knots. The yacht’s interiors were reportedly done by Alberto Pinto and comfortably accommodate 34 guests and 95 crew members. Much of Katara remains a mystery, but we do know it belongs to either the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, or Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, chairman of the Katara Hospitality Group, and docks in the city of Dohu. Katara also reportedly has its own beach club with sea terraces.

Savarona is the oldest yacht on this list, as it was originally launched in 1931 and refitted in 1999. The 446-foot yacht boasts interiors by Donald Starkey, room to sleep 34 guests and 48 crew, and luxe amenities, like ample spa facilities, a spacious study, oversize media room, and plenty of fabulous deck space for lounging.

This sleek yacht belongs to Roman Abramovich, billionaire businessman, politician, and owner of the Chelsea Football Club. Some of the likely amenities on board include a three-person submarine, a 52-foot pool that can be converted into a dance floor, and an exterior fireplace. Eclipse is believed to accommodate 36 guests and 70 crew members.

Eclipse Yacht Interior

Eclipse 's interiors were designed by world-renowned Terence Disdale Design in London.

Dilbar is owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and is considered the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage and interior volume. Usmanov named this Lurssen masterpiece after his mother. Some of this boat’s amenities include a 82-foot indoor swimming pool, sauna and massage room, movie theater, and underwater lights. Dilbar accommodates 40 guests and 80 crew members.

Dilbar Yacht Interior

Andrew Winch of Winch Design Group , a London-based design group for luxury homes, yachts, and planes, designed the interiors of Dilbar .

The 590-foot Azzam is considered the longest yacht in the world and is reportedly owned by the royal family of Abu Dhabi. Built in 2013, this Larsson yacht made yachting history for not only its size, but its ability to reach top speeds of more than 30 knots.

French designer Christophe Leoni spearheaded the interior design of this boat that accommodates 36 guests and 60 crew members.

This megayacht was constructed by Platinum Yachts for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei and now belongs to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. The yacht took 10 years to perfect and is widely considered one of the most luxurious yachts in the world. Dubai boasts a mosaic-tiled swimming pool, multiple Jacuzzis, disco, and a squash court. Its dining room alone can hold up to 90 guests, and the boat has room for 88 crew members.

Dubai Yacht Interior

The interiors of Dubai were designed by Andrew Winch of Winch Design .

Fulk Al Salamah

Fulk Al Samanah was assembled by Mariotti in Genoa, Italy, and is the world's second-largest superyacht. It is believed to belong to the Omani Royal Fleet. Notable amenities include a beauty salon, beach club, and conference facilities, and it requires 130 crew members for optimal ventures. Little information about the Fulk Al Samanah is known, but the boat's exterior was designed by Studio de Jorio.

This stunner belongs to billionaire and entertainment mogul David Geffen and has likely hosted a favorite celebrity (or 10) of yours over the past few years—even the Obamas. Complete with a gym, sauna, pool, and underwater lights, what more could you ask for in a party venue? This Lurssen yacht holds 18 guests overnight and up to 45 crew.

Rising Sun Yacht Interior

There isn't much out there about the interiors of Geffen's yacht, but we do know it was designed by Bannenberg and Rowell .

Ocean Victory

Ocean Victory was built in 2014 by Fincantieri and is owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov. It holds 26 guests and 50 crew. Notable amenities include six pools, a beach club, and an underwater observation room.

Little is known about the interiors of this ship, except that it was designed by Alberto Pinto and Laura Sessa Romboli, so you know it has to be absolutely fabulous.

Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light , and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.

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These Are the 5 Biggest Superyachts in the World

By Brett Berk

Yachts, as with most other things connected to the ultrarich—apartments, shopping sprees, bank accounts—are getting bigger. And while price, nautically speaking, usually scales with size, that’s not always the case. So there’s, oddly enough, less overlap between this list and our recent list of the  World’s Most Expensive Superyachts than one might expect.

There are reasons behind this. Interestingly, some of the biggest superyachts in the world have become so stunningly large that they can no longer maintain status as belonging to a single family or dynasty. The largest ones have become condominiums or charterable research vessels—playthings for the ultrawealthy.

Still, superyachts offer a kind of privacy that it is nearly impossible to come by on land. Pencil towers have entrances on public streets and elevators with other residents. Even a castle surrounded by a moat is in view, comparatively. A superyacht, on the other hand, is essentially a private island, an oasis. So as long as the rich keep getting richer, the yachts will keep getting bigger. For now, these are the five biggest superyachts in the world.

5. Eclipse (533 ft)

In 2010, as  Eclipse sailed out of the Hamburg harbor, where it was constructed by notable German shipbuilder Blohm+Voss, it was the world’s largest ship. In the intervening decade or so, it’s slid to the fifth position. Commissioned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich—whose ties to Putin have caused him to be sanctioned—it allegedly traded hands last year, though this may be simply a dodge to avoid it being seized. Features of the $600 million Terence Disdale–designed ship include 17 staterooms, a 185-foot deck on the massive primary suite, a gym, a spa, an immense swimming pool, and a half-dozen on-board tenders for shuttling guests in and out of port and excursions. If those don’t suffice, there is also a helicopter pad with room for three choppers.

4. Fulk Al Salamah (538 ft)

Like many superyachts, ownership and much else about Fulk Al Salamah —Ship of Peace—is unclear. It is suspected that it belongs to the Omani royal family, a part of their fleet of extortionately expensive conveyances. Built by Mariotti in Genoa in 2016 and designed by local team Studio de Jorio, it contains a beach club (a swim platform, often with a pool and lounge area), beauty salon, and a sizable helicopter deck, though it’s unclear if this deck has room for more choppers than the Eclipse, despite its additional five feet of overall length.

3. Azzam (597 ft)

Azzam holds the title of largest privately owned superyacht, a position it has maintained since it was completed at a cost of $600 million by Lürssen Yachts in Lemwerder, Germany, ten years ago. Designed by Nauta of Milan with interiors by French decorator Christophe Leoni, the ship is reportedly owned by a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayah. Prominent features include Empire-style furnishings and interiors, and a pair of massive diesel engines coupled with a pair of gas turbines, allowing high-speed travel and an immense range between refuelings. The Sheikh must be somewhat paranoid—or have good reason to fear attack—because the yacht also includes a high tech security system including a missile system and bulletproof master suite.

2. REV Ocean (600 ft)

The acronym in this giant yacht’s title stands for Research and Expedition Vessel, and this $350 million ship is outfitted to do just that. Groups that charter it head out to sea and use its state of the art scientific equipment to dive into trenches in its transparent-domed submersibles, arrange whale pod viewings in its helicopters, conduct seabed mapping and coring with its sonar and drilling systems, view documentaries in its 35-person theater, and even listen in on or record the conversations of ocean mammals with its underwater hydrophone. Funded by the Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke, designed in Norway by Espen Øino, and built by Norwegian constructor Vard, it is slated to be completed in 2024. Over 100 groups applied for the maiden voyage, with preference given for scientific research and conservation missions—54 scientists can be accommodated onboard. Though it seems that private charters with the proper scientific supervision may also be allowed. Any profits made by chartering are returned to the funder’s One Healthy Ocean initiative.

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1. Somnio (728ft)

Referred to as the world’s first yacht liner, this floating giant—the name is Latin for dream—combines features of a superyacht, a cruise ship, and a condominium. Under construction by the Norwegian ship-building company Vard, with an expected completion date in the middle of 2024, the $600 million project will feature 39 private residences designed by Winch and Tilberg, both of Sweden. Each will include bespoke features including a gym, kitchen, library, and indoor and outdoor dining areas. Of course, apartments, which start in the eight-figure range, are available by invite only. Both the owners list and the planned route at sea are closely guarded secrets.

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These Are The 25 Biggest Yachts in the World!

By Vlad Craciun

Updated on August 14, 2023

Welcome to the fascinating realm of the world’s wealthiest individuals! For many of us, the luxurious lives of the rich and famous exist only in our wildest dreams.

However, there’s a select group of people who embody the opulence and prestige that we so often find ourselves daydreaming about. Get ready to step into their dazzling world, where the elite shine bright and capture our imagination.

Owning a superyacht is surely proof that you made it on a different level than the majority of the population. They are impressive, sleek vessels that make traveling by water so much more fun.

Those yachts that are some of the largest in the world offer some amenities more luxurious than your typical five-star hotel. You will find helicopter landing pads, spas, cinemas, and onboard swimming pools, just to name a few.

Most of those luxury yachts are privately owned, but there are few of them available for charter, should you be interested.

Here’s the list of the 25 biggest yachts in the world.

• 25. Octopus – 413 feet (126m)

Built in 2003 in Germany by shipyard Lurssen, Octopus was owned by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft.

Espen Oeino is the designer behind this superyacht, while the interiors were decorated by Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

It features an impressive deck that boasts a glass-bottom swimming pool, a helicopter pad, as well as an internal dock that can fit a 20 meter submarine.

• 24. Al Mirqab – 436 feet (133m)

Peterswerft is the builder of this majestic superyacht that was finished in 2008 in Germany. Al Mirqab’s owner is Hamad Bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, it accommodates 60 guests and is manned by 60 crew members.

The four floors are joined by a grand staircase that is surrounded by suspended glass artwork created by Dale Chihuly.

• 23. Serene – 439 feet (133.9m)

Owned by a Russian businessman, Serene was delivered in 2011 by the renowned Italian shipyard Fincantieri. The interior space was designed by Reymond Langton, and it accommodates a crew of 52 members plus 24 guests.

Featuring seven decks, a hangar, and two helipads, this superyacht comes with many other impressive amenities. Among them are underwater viewing ports plus its own custom submarine.

• 22. Crescent – 445 feet (135.6m)

This yacht is one of the most well-known yachts in the world, yet we don’t have any details about its owner. Most likely some Russian billionaire, but the identity of the current owner has never been revealed.

Built in 2018 in Germany by Lurssen, the sleek Crescent yacht accommodates 18 guests. The 40 person crew and all the bells and whistles make it worth $600 million.

The design was executed by Espen Oeino, while the interiors were fitted and perfectly curated by Zuretti Interior Designs.

• 21. Savarona – 446 feet (136m)

Owned by the Government of Turkey, the Savarona was built by Blohm & Voss in 1931. The German yacht builders have a few models under their belt, this one being their second largest superyacht, also their oldest one.

Designed by Cox & Stevens, the yacht accommodates 34 guests plus 48 person crew members. At $100 million, it is one of the most affordable yachts on this list.

Decades ago it was worth $4 million, but in 1989 the owner of the Turkish Sadikoglu Group refurbished it for the astounding sum of $50 million, which raised its worth considerably.

• 20. Flying Fox – 446 feet (136m)

Built by German yacht manufacturer Lurssen, the Flying Fox was finished in 2019. Although rumor has it that the owner is Jeff Bezos, there’s no concrete evidence to back up that claim.

We do know that it’s been chartered by power couple Beyonce and husband Jay-Z last year, for the cool sum of $3 million a week. You will find this yacht mostly around the islands of Capri and Sardinia, Cannes, even Norway.

It can accommodate 22 guests plus a crew of 54 people, making it one of the most expensive charter yachts in the world.

• 19. Rising Sun – 454 feet (138.4m)

Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corporation sold the Rising Sun to David Geffin, the new owner of this $400 million superyacht back in 2010.

Built in 2004 by German ship makers Lurssen, it accommodates 16 guests plus 45 crew members. The impressive attention to details of its interiors make the onyx and teak complement each other to perfection.

Among its most notable amenities you’ll find a basketball court that also serves as a helicopter landing pad, a sauna, a full gym, private cinema, among a few others.

• 18. Al Salamah – 457 feet (139.3m)

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is the official owner of this superyacht today, after he received it as a gift from the Omani Royal Fleet.

This superyacht accommodates 40 guests and 134 crew members, which makes it one of the largest on the planet.

It was built in 1999 by German shipmaker Lurssen along with the consortium of Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft, or HDW. Rumor has it that it has its own hospital, five galleys, and an underwater treadmill for physical therapy.

• 17. Scheherazade – 459 feet (140m)

Luxurious Scheherazade is not a superyacht that holds back on essentials nor glam amenities.

Although many superyachts like to keep some details secretive, even the building process and its introduction were kept under wraps with only a codename available, Project Lightning.

Its name refers to a female character from the Middle estern series One Thousand and One Nights.

Built in 2020 by the same acclaimed German yacht brand , Lurssen, this massive superyacht is worth $700 million, and it accommodates 18 guests and a crew of 40 members.

• 16. Ocean Victory – 460 feet (140.2m)

You will find this superyacht all over the world, as it traveled from Southeast Asia to Europe, among other destinations.

Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov is the owner of this upgraded vessel. Built in 2014 in Italy by Fincantieri, this luxurious yacht can fit a crew of 56 plus 28 guests.

The 300-square meter spa area and six individual swimming pools you’ll find on board are only a few amenities this beautiful vessel offers.

• 15. Solaris – 461 feet (140.5m)

While undergoing sea trials in the North Sea, the secret surrounding the build and everything else concerning this vessel came out.

Built only last year by German shipmaker Lloyd Werft, the $600 million superyacht fits a crew of 60 and 60 guests. Its most notable feature is undoubtedly its beach club that’s located on the top floor.

Among other luxurious features you will find a crane that launches tenders, several subs, and a large helipad. Owned by Roman Abramovich, the interiors must be decorated with the utmost style.

• 14. Yas – 463 feet (141m)

The rather unusual seamless design of the Yas makes this superyacht stand out from the others on our list.

Owner Hamdan bin Zayed al Nayhan requested a style that lived up to his navy background, therefore its abstract lines and design details are in sync with his lavish lifestyle.

Originally built in 1981 by Dutch shipmaker Koninklijke Schelde, Hamdan had it deconstructed and rebuilt to his own preference by ADM Shipyards. The ship fits 60 guests and a crew of 60 members.

• 13. Dream Symphony – 463 feet (141m)

The seamless presentation and stunning design of Dream Symphony will make sailing a real dream come true.

Built in Turkey this year by Dream Ship Victory, this yacht has not been completed as far as we know, but it will be ready to hit the high seas in the near future.

The interior is styled by Ken Freivokh, who used unique wood building technology in order to create one of the greenest superyachts to ever exist.

It is equipped with a teak deck and a humongous glass swimming pool in its center, and a rising floor that will be used for helicopter landings. It will fit 18 guests and 32 crew members.

• 12. Nord – 465 feet

With a never before seen bow, Nord’s design is distinctive and unique. Its overall unusual look has been referred to as ‘a warship wearing a tuxedo’, by the Italian designer Dan Lenard of Nuvolari Lenard studio.

The owner, Alexei Mordashov, wanted a ship that is designed to calmly cruise and explore the world . Built in 2020 by German shipyard Lurssen, it accommodates a crew of 40 and 24 guests.

Among some of its coolest amenities are a diving sports center on the lower deck, while on the top deck you can overlook the ocean from the swimming pool.

• 11. Sailing Yacht A – 468 feet (142.6m)

More than just a pretty face, A boasts a futuristic, sleek design. Built in Germany in 2017 by Nobiskrug , it is owned by Andrey Melinchenko.

The yacht is worth $300 million US dollars, it has a crew of 54, and can fit 24 guests. It is made for cruising and equipped with lots of the latest technology.

The elements of the sea will not bother its occupants while onboard. Smooth sailing is what guests will experience aboard the A.

• 10. El Mahrousa – 478 feet

Probably the oldest superyacht to ever exist, El Mahrousa was built in 1863 by shipyard Samuda Brothers of England. Translated from Arabic to mean The Protected, it was at one point called El Horreya, which means Freedom.

Owned by the President of Egypt, the superyacht has seen many restorations throughout the decades.

We don’t have much details about its interior, the price, or even the number of guests it can accommodate. We do know that a staff of 160 crew members are onboard while at sea.

• 9. Prince Abdulaziz – 482 feet (146.9m)

Built in 1984 by Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft , it’s worth about $100 million dollars today. The owner of this lavish vessel is none other than Prince Abdullah Aziz bin Fahd.

Originally ordered to be custom made by King Fahd, it was passed on to his sons.

The redecoration project the ship underwent in 2007 took 15 months to complete, and the design was created by the late David Hicks. It accommodates 64 guests, with a crew of 65 members.

• 8. A+ – 483 feet (148.4m)

Previously called Topaz, the A+ yacht is in the top ten of the largest superyachts in the world today. When it was built back in 2012 by Lurssen, it was the fourth largest in the world, but it lost its top spot after a few years.

Despite that, it is a very impressive ship that comes with endless luxurious amenities. The swimming pool has its own platform and underwater lights, and among some of its coolest features are the mini-submarine, a catamaran, and inflatable boats.

Owned by Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahya, he has a crew of 79 onboard, and can accommodate an additional 62 guests.

• 7. Al Said – 508 feet (154.8m)

While being created, this superyacht was referred to as Project Sunflower in order to preserve its privacy.

Delivered to the Sultan of Oman in 2008, this superyacht was also built by German shipyard Lurssen. With a 140 crew member and 65 guests, the Al Said has a concert room and an orchestra of 65 musicians on board.

Although other details are unknown to us, we can only assume the luxurious accommodations it boasts.

• 6. Dilbar – 511 feet (155.8m)

Project Omar, as it was better known while in construction, Dilbar was imagined by exterior designer Espen Oeino with Andrew Winch adding his magic for the yacht’s glamorous interiors.

Built in 2015 by Lurssen of Germany, it is the largest known superyacht by interior volume. A classy design, the Dilbar comes equipped with a large private cinema, a beach club, spa, and a salon that has its own piano, among other glamorous features.

It is owned by Alisher Usmanov, and it accommodates 40 guests and a crew of 80 members.

• 5. Blue – 524 feet (159.7m)

Also created under a codename, Project Blue was unveiled earlier last year as it was handed over to its owner, Sheik Mansour Al Nahyan.Valued at over $600 million US dollars, it fits a crew of 80 members and 48 guests.

Designed by Terence Disadle, its numerous luxurious amenities are not yet known, but we can only imagine.

The fifth largest superyacht in the world had a beam of 22.5 meters, or 73 feet, and a total tonnage of 15,320 GT.

The innovative after-treatment system and wastewater treatment plan make it one of the most eco-friendly vessels to sail the waters.

• 4. Dubai – 531 feet (161.8m)

In the planning stages, the massive Dubai yacht went through a few names before its final name.

Golden Star, Platinum, and Panhandle were among the contenders until its owner, the ruler of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum decided to name it after its home emirate.

You can imagine the numerous luxurious amenities onboard: two jacuzzis, a huge swimming pool, plus the decor fit for royalty.

Built by Blohm & Voss and Lurssen in 1998, the large ship fits 115 guests and a crew of 88 members.

• 3. Eclipse – 533 feet (162.5m)

From start to finish, it took five years for Eclipse to be complete. This award winning superyacht focused more on being decked out appropriately.

Incredibly spacious, Eclipse is decorated with a neutral color palette throughout, and it has endless rooms to fit 30 guests and a crew of 70 members.

Built in 2009 by German shipyard Blohm & Voss, it is owned by Roman Abramovich. He put an emphasis on luxurious facilities such as a humongous swimming pool and more than one helipad.

Designer Terry Disdale had free reign as far as architectural design went.

• 2. Fulk Al Salamah – 538 feet (164m)

The Ship Of Peace, or Fulk al Salamah , was developed under the codename Project Saffron back in 2016. It was built in Italy by the shipyard Mariotti, and it is better known for its use as a transport ship for the Royal Navy Of Oman.

Owned by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, it serves as a support vessel to enforce ties within the Sultanate.

Fit to accommodate a crew of 100 members, 40 of some of the most influential guests are often seen aboard. Needless to say, the luxurious superyacht boasts some of the best features available in the world.

• 1. Azzam – 592 feet (180.4m)

The shipyard that brought us 13 out of the 25 world’s largest superyachts in the world, Lurssen is the builder of the world’s largest-ever bespoke superyacht as well.

Owned by none other than one of the world’s richest men, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, it was designed under the watchful eye of Mubarak Saad al Ahabhi.

Built in 2013, the massive Azzam superyacht accommodates a crew of 60 members on top of 30 guests. The plans for its interiors were confirmed even before the exterior was completed.

With more than 4,000 people working on this beauty, the work took four years total to complete.

Final Thoughts

This sums up our list of the 25 biggest yachts in the world. Pretty impressive, right?

As other superyachts continue being built, the list might see some adjustments in the future. But for now, these are the largest superyachts in the world to sail the waters.

About Vlad Craciun

Vlad has over 7 years of experience writing content about subjects such as travel, cars, motorcycles, tech & gadgets, and his newly discovered passion, watches. He’s in love with two wheeled machines and the freedom and the thrills that motorcycle travel provides. Learn more about Luxatic's Editorial Process .

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The 10 Largest Yachts in the World

There are a couple of yachts that can actually claim the title of biggest yacht in the world because the term yacht is a bit vague. There are sailing yachts and motor yachts and it’s not really fair to judge them under the same terms which means the Sea Cloud ranks as the biggest sailing yacht in the world while the Azzam ranks as the biggest motor yacht. 

The Biggest Yacht in the World

Built back in 2013, the Azzam still holds the record as the largest motor yacht in the world with an overall length of 180.61 meters. That’s over 592 feet in total which is absolutely enormous. But there are a number of yachts that also nearly reach the same length. The title of world’s biggest yacht changes more often than you’d think as new yachts are built, so let’s take a look at the current top 10 to get an idea of just what goes into making a true superyacht. 

We’ll divide the list in two to cover motor yachts and sailing yachts since both are out there.

The Biggest Motor Yacht in the World

These are the top ten biggest yachts that run under power rather than wind and sails. These largest yachts can usually handle dozens of passengers and feature things like a large swimming pool, dual helipads, a beach club, underwater observation room, and more.

10. El Mahrousa – 145 meters

Kicking things off is the El Mahrousa which is so much older than the rest of the boats on this list you might think the age is a typo, but it’s not. This vessel was first launched all the way back in 1865. This was commissioned as the royal yacht for Egypt and, as you can imagine, it’s had to undergo some dramatic changes over the years to keep up with the times. For instance, it actually had a paddle wheel on it back in the day but obviously that has since been replaced. In fact, it was all the way back in 1905 when it was refitted with turbine engines. By 1919 it had a diesel fuel system.

Interestingly enough, during the vessel’s long life, it was used to take three different Egyptian rulers into exile, sailing them abroad in style. 

The El Mahrousa has a beam of just 13 meters making it the narrowest of the super yachts by a wide margin. Its current length of 145 meters was not how it started life either, as it was lengthened first in the 1800s by about 12 meters and then again in 1905 by another 5 meters.

As you might expect, given its size, the El Mahrousa was the longest yacht in the world for an incredibly long time. It held the title for over 100 years and it’s doubtful that any yacht will ever pull that feat off again.  

9. A+ – 147 meters

Once upon a time this yacht was called the Topaz but the name changed to the much briefer and somewhat harder to Google “A+.” With a gross tonnage of 12,532 and a beam of 21.5 meters, it can also reach a top speed of 25.5 knots thanks to twin Pielstick diesel engines.

The yacht was launched in 2012 but despite that long history a lot of the details about the interior are still pretty private. We do know that actor Leonardo DiCaprio likes it because he’s chartered it more than once. It also features dual helicopter landing pads, deck jacuzzis, a movie theater, a swimming pool, dance floor and a gym among a handful of other features.

There is room on board for a total of 62 guests and also a crew of 79 people. 

8. Prince Abdulaziz – 147 meters

This yacht goes all the way back to 1984 so it’s quite a bit more classical and old school than most of the other entries, but it does retain its place in yachting history. For an impressive 22 years,this was both the longest and the tallest yacht in the world. It was overtaken by the Dubai in the year 2006 and, since then, several more that we’ll see shortly have surpassed even that.

The beam of the Prince Abdulaziz is a relatively narrow 18.3 meters and a grosse tonnage of an almost unbelievable 4,620. Obviously that’s still a lot of weight but when you compare it to other yachts of this length it’s barely a third in some cases. They made them light back in the 1980s.

Maximum speed is 22 knots provided by two 5,816 kW Pielstick diesel generator sets. It’s designed for a crew of at least 60 with room for 64 guests as well. To keep up with the times the vessel has gone through three significant refits in 1987, 1996 and 2005.

Word is that the vessel was designed with a lobby intended to mimic the one on the Titanic which seems maybe unlucky, but who knows? There’s also a hospital on board, a movie theater, a mosque, underwater surveillance and possibly one of those missile defense systems that yachts sometimes have since this was once the yacht of the Saudi King. 

7. Al Said – 155 meters

Once part of an entire squadron of royal yachts from the country of Oman, the Al Said has a gross tonnage of 15,850 and a beam of 24 meters, making it one of the widest of the yachts here. The crew capacity is a stunning 150 (though some reports say 174) and there is room for an additional 70 guests making this a real hotel on the water. Compared to other yachts, even some of the much larger ones, the Al Said may take the crown for the greatest number of passengers and crew it can hold. Of course that arguably just means everyone has less space than they do on the larger yachts that hold less people.

Maximum speed is 25.2 knots provided by nearly 22,000 diesel horsepower from two MTU marine engines. 

In 2022 the yacht was sold to Qatar and it’s said that the true standout of this yacht compared to its companions is that it features an actual orchestra space. There is a concert hall built for an entire 50-piece symphony on board, alongside the other amenities you’d expect from a boat of this stature like a movie theater and swimming pool and so on. 

6. Dilbar – 156 meters

The Dilbar was launched back in 2015 and boasts a 23.5 meter beam, making it somewhat wider than other yachts of a similar size, as well as a grosse tonnage of 15,917. That makes the Dilbar substantially heavier than most of these yachts as well, including the longer ones. 

Although we have ranked the Dilbar at 6 here, we’re going strictly by overall length. If you are looking at something like weight, the Dilbar was actually the biggest yacht in the world since was heavier than all the others until the Fulk Al Salamah. So where does all the weight come from?

To start with,the Dilbar has the largest swimming pool ever installed in a yacht. It’s 25 meters long. That’s half the length of an Olympic swimming pool. In terms of volume, it’s listed as 180 m cubed of water which works out to around 47,500 gallons in total. That’s adding substantial weight to any vessel.

The yacht doesn’t just have helipads, it has its own custom 7-passenger helicopter as well.The yacht is built to accommodate 40 passengers and over 80 crew. It can reach a maximum speed of 22.5 knots with its diesel-electric engines.

5. Blue – 160 meters

The newest yacht on the list, Blue was delivered in 2022 and built in Germany. With a grosse tonnage of 14,785 she’s a hefty ship but the four diesel electric engines she’s equipped with are up to the task though the top speed is just 20 knots which is less than some of the similarly sized vessels. The beam of the Blue is 22.5 meters. 

While it features many of the snazzy yacht amenities you’d expect, like a helipad for instance, it also has a cutting edge water treatment facility that is able to treat wastewater and convert it to drinking water quality, at least according to the manufacturer. 

It has been guessed but not confirmed that Blue has 24 guest cabins to accomodate 48 passengers at one time. In addition it runs with a crew of 80. This is speculation right now as the specs seem to still be under wraps.

Currently Blue sails under the Cayman Islands flag and is fairly active unlike some other large yachts which seem to do little actual sailing these days. 

4. Dubai – 162 meters

Made by Platinum Yachts, the Dubai was originally commissioned by the prince of Brunei. Part way through its development the prince backed out of the deal and the government of Dubai took over, finishing the vessel as a sort of flagship, literally, for the city.

It serves as a royal yacht for a Sheik and was the largest yacht in the world from the time it was finished in 2006 until the year 2009 when it was surpassed.

The yacht features a 10 m swimming pool, a dining room capable of seating 90, several VIP suites and accommodations for 115 including the crew and staff. It’s also manned by a crew of about 88 people. There are also a pair of 10 meter motor boats attached, a squash court, a movie theater, a disco, 24 water bikes, and a submarine.

There are two tender garages and while most yachts would store all the extra boating and fishing type gear in there, the Dubai also has two “water toy” rooms as well where they keep things like jet skis, just to keep business and pleasure separate, it seems. 

The Dubai has a beam of 22 meters and a grosse tonnage of 13,470. The top speed is 26 knots, making it one of the faster of these megayachts, and that’s thanks to the MTU-20V diesel engines. It can travel an impressive 8,500 nautical miles without fueling up, owing to a 1.2 million liter diesel fuel tank. 

3. Eclipse – 162 meters

The Eclipse is the third largest yacht in the world but it also takes the crown for being the most expensive yacht as well. You might have heard that a yacht called the History Supreme held that title but we explain why that’s not so in our article on the most expensive yachts in the world. The true honor is held by the 162 meter, $1.5 billion Eclipse, at least for now.

The registered value of the Eclipse was $438 million but it’s been rumored that extensive upgrades boosted the price up to $1.5 billion. The features of the vessel include helipads and a 16 meter swimming pool that can be covered and turned into a dance floor. It also has anti-paparazzi technology that makes it impossible to take digital photos, bullet proof glass and a missile defense system. 

In addition, the yacht has two helipads plus room to store a third in a storage hangar. There’s also room for a mini sub down there. There are 18 guest cabins and room for about 100 crew members on board as well. 

The Eclipse has a grosse tonnage of 13,000 and features a 22 meter beam. It features 4 diesel electric engines and can reach a top speed of 22 knots. 

2. Fulk al Salamah – 164 meters

Built in 2016, the Fulk al Salamah yacht is a royal support vessel for Oman. It serves in a sort of diplomatic capacity, traveling to other countries to foster relationships and, as such, it contains a lot of Omani art and photos as part of an on board museum.

The vessel runs on diesel electric engines and can reach a top speed of 16 knots with a cruising speed of 12 knots. The gross tonnage is 20,361 which is remarkably large compared to some of these similar vessels. In fact, as near as I can tell, this is the heaviest yacht in the world right now. The Dilbar is often quoted as being the heaviest, but it was made a year earlier and has a much lower GT than this vessel. 

The full length is 538’1” and the beam is 24 m or 78’9”. It can house a crew of 100 with room for up to 40 guests.  One thing worth noting is that sometimes this is not considered a proper superyacht in that it does seem to be more of a functional or support vessel than any kind of pleasure boat. For instance, if you look at photos you won’t see a lot of the cool amenities out on deck like jacuzzis and a pool or anything like that. 

1. Azzam – 180 meters

The most massive yacht in the world is the Azzam. The original plans did not have it as large as it currently is and, had it followed them, it barely would have made our list by coming in at 145 meters. However, during the design process the length was increased in order to optimize the build and everything that needed to be included. The goal, according to the designer, was never to have the largest yacht, just the best one, and the length became incidental. 

Extra space needed to be added for the engines as well as the fuel system and some other features, which tacked on nearly 40 more meters in total, or about 120 feet. That’s a considerable addition at the end of the day. 

The beam is just under 21 meters and the grosse tonnage is 13,136. It can also hit a top speed of 32-33 knots, impressive for a vessel of its size, thanks to two gas and two diesel turbines. At top speed it runs at 97,000hp and consumes 13 tonnes of fuel per hour. The vessel also has conventional diesel engines on board for long voyages. The speed drops down to 21 knots but it could cross the Atlantic without the need to refuel during the voyage. 

The cost of building the Azzam is believed to be north of $500 million. It also took four years to bring it to life with a team of over 4,000 people working on it. On the finished vessel there’s room for over 100, with as many as 80 crewmembers and 36 guests.

The Largest Sailing Yachts in the World

There are actually three yachts that can claim to be the largest sailing yacht so we’ll cover them all here as well. A sail boat this large has to be built to different standards than a motor yacht and they tend to not be pushed to the same length limits by any means. These are big boats, but they’re not up to the level of the largest motor yachts.

3. The Sea Cloud – 109.5 meters

At just shy of 110 meters the Sea Cloud could qualify as the largest sailing yacht in the world depending both on when you read this and how you define sailing yacht. Sound complicated? It is, unfortunately. 

The Sea Cloud was built in Germany back in 1931, so it’s held the title of the biggest sailing yacht for the better part of a century. It saw use during WWII and then made its way to the Dominican Republic before going back to Germany years later for a rebuild. It also underwent a handful of name changes in that time. These days it boasts a crew of 60 with room for 32 guests. 

Weirdly, this is just “technically’” the largest sailing yacht in the world because of the following two entries.

2. Project Y721 – 127 meters

At 127 meters, the Oceanco Y721 should handily beat the Sea Cloud for the title of largest sailing yacht but it can’t just yet. The project is still in development and since the yacht has yet to be finished and hit the water, we can’t technically say it’s the biggest. 

This is the yacht being built for billionaire founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos. The plans are for a 417 foot long, three-masted yacht that costs around $500 million. That will make it not just one of the biggest sailing yachts but the biggest and most expensive yachts.

Despite not even existing yet, the yacht caused controversy during its construction when plans to remove part of the Def Hef bridge in Rotterdam to allow the yacht through surfaced. As a historical landmark, many people were against the idea of taking it apart just to allow a billionaire’s yacht to pass through. The result was that the mayor of Rotterdam announced to one had even asked permission to take the bridge apart and there was no permit issued. 

Instead, the masts and the yacht traveled separately to their destination to finish the build and the bridge didn’t need to be dismantled as a result. Currently the size of the masts is unknown as much of the build is subject to confidentiality agreements. 

1. Sailing Yacht A – 142.8 meters

It doesn’t have the most creative name in the world but Sailing Yacht A is also a potential contender for the biggest sailing yacht in the world. Again, this one has an asterisk next to it because the A has caused controversy amongst sailing purists. It’s technically a sailing motor yacht, which means it also can run under engine power when needed. To some, that disqualifies it as a sailing yacht entirely, so we’ll leave it to you to decide if this is the biggest sailing yacht in the world or not.

In any event, it has 100-foot tall carbon fiber masts for when it does use the wind, which cut an impressive form on the water. In 2022 it was seized by Italian authorities since the yacht is owned by a Russian billionaire and many of their assets around the world have been taken into custody. It’s unknown when it will sail again or under whose ownership.

The Bottom Line

The Azzam is the current record holder for the largest yacht in the world in terms of length. The Sailing Yacht A is the largest sailing yacht though it does have engines that allow it to sail under engine power when necessary and that disqualifies it in some people’s minds. Finally, in terms of heaviest, the Fulk al Salamah would qualify as the largest yacht based on weight, as it is far heavier than even the Azzam.

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10 Largest Yachts In The World | 2023 Updated

In a world where constant change and innovation are needed to stay ahead of the curve, remaining static is not an option. Shipyards worldwide are pushing the limits to get an edge over their rivals and build the best yachts, each bigger and more luxurious than the last.

Each yacht on this list is a masterpiece of design and engineering. Continue reading the article to explore the ten largest yachts in the world as of 2023.

1. Sailing Yacht A

Length: 143 m Launch: 2017 Owner: Andrey Melnichenko

Sailing Boat A is the biggest private sail-assisted motor yacht in the world. She is a cutting-edge superyacht with unique features like an underwater observation pod, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, and advanced navigational equipment.

It has a top speed of 21 knots and a keel-mounted underwater observation platform. This ship has 54 crew members and can accommodate as many guests as possible. The almost invisible windows give this yacht a futuristic appearance while keeping the interior, which is still a mystery, hidden from view. Andrey Melnichenko, a millionaire from Russia, is the owner of Sailing Yacht A.

2. El Mahrousa

Length: 145.72 m Launch: 1865 Owner: Egyptian Navy

The 145-meter Samuda Brother’s yacht El Mahrousa, launched in 1865, was recently discovered in history and records. This boat was made for the Ottoman governor of Egypt. It showed up at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.

She underwent many changes, like switching from paddle-wheel motors to turbine-driven propellers in 1905. In 1912, a telegraph was additionally installed on the yacht. El Mahrousa was also extended by 40 feet in 1872 and another 17 feet in 1905. This boat can go as fast as 16 knots, and the Egyptian Navy is in charge of it now. It is sometimes used as the president’s yacht.

3. Prince Abdulaziz

Length: 147 m Launch: 1984 Owner: Royal Family Of Saudi Arabia

Helsingor Vaerft constructed the 147-meter motor yacht Prince Abdulaziz in 1984. It held the record for the largest vessel in the world for a long time in both length and height. This yacht was initially made for the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Abdullah, the brother of the late King Fahd, now owns it.

There are no photos of its interior, even though the late David Nightingale Hicks created it. We only know that it is as luxurious as the Titanic. However, this ship has a crew capacity of 60 people and is capable of 22 knots of speed. It can fit the same number of guests who can use the indoor pool and other facilities. The ship features a helipad on the deck.

4. A+ Yacht

Length: 147 m Launch: 2012 Owner: Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

A+, formerly known as TOPAZ, is the seventh-largest yacht in the world, measuring 147 meters in length. A+ is also one of the largest superyachts in the world in terms of volume, with a gross tonnage of 12,532 GT. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City Football Club and a member of Emirate royalty, is said to be the owner of this 2012 Lürssen superyacht.

The superstructure and hull of the yacht A+ are both made of aluminum. Her six Wärtsilä engines enable her to reach a top speed of 19.5 knots. It has eight decks, two helipads, a gym, two Jacuzzis, a conference room, and a theater. The A+ can carry 79 crew members and up to 62 passengers in 26 cabins.

Length: 155 m Launch: 2008 Owner: Sultan Qaboos (Sultan of Oman)

The sixth-largest superyacht in the world, Al Said, is 155 meters in length and was launched by Lürssen in 2007. The Omani royal family owns and uses this yacht. Two MTU engines power Al Said, which has a cruising speed of 20 knots and can reach a top speed of 22 knots.

Aluminum makes up the superstructure, while steel makes up the hull of the yacht Al Said. It has six decks, and the performance hall can accommodate a 50-piece orchestra. This yacht has space for up to 154 trained crew members and 70 guests.

Length: 156 m Launch: 2016 Owner: Alisher Usmanov

Lürssen created a 156-meter superyacht named DILBAR in 2016. Espen Ino gave her a traditional shape and a light ivory hull when he designed her outside. Lürssen says that DILBAR, which is 156 meters long and weighs 15,917 tons , is one of the biggest and most technologically advanced yachts ever built.

Dilbar has a speed of 22.5 knots due to technological advancements and a 30,000-kilowatt diesel-electric power plant. She has two places for helicopters to land and a 25-meter-long swimming pool, the largest one ever built on a yacht. Dilbar is owned by Russia’s richest businessman, Alisher Usmanov.

Length: 162 m Launch: 2006 Owner: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Make room for the 162-meter yacht Dubai, which had a nonlinear construction history. Blohm+Voss and Lürssen first collaborated on this superyacht in 1998. However, with only a skeletal structure, the project was halted.

The project was restarted under the supervision of the new owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the ruler of Dubai), and Platinum Yachts. In 2006, the yacht was completed. Four MTU diesel engines give her a top speed of 26.0 knots and a cruising speed of 22.0.

She can carry 48 passengers in 22 cabins. She weighs 12488.0 GT gross and has a beam length of 22.0 m. It has seven decks, a helipad, a garage for submarines, a nightclub, a movie theater, and an atrium.

Length: 162.5 m Launch: 2009 Owner: Roman Abramovich

The Eclipse was the largest yacht in the world when Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club, received it from the construction company in 2010. Terence Disdale Design was in charge of all the interior design, deck layout, and design and construction of the ship’s superstructure.

They made custom interior finishes for the Eclipse. The hull and superstructure of the Eclipse are made of steel and aluminum. She is propelled by four MTU engines, which allow her to reach a top speed of 25.0 knots and a cruising speed of 22.0 knots.

There are 24 guest cabins on board, interior swimming pools and hot tubs, a disco, a gym, a spa, and a working submarine. Eclipse has won many awards, including “Motor Yacht of the Decade” at the 2015 World Superyacht Awards.

9. Fulk Al Salamah

Length : 164 m Launch : 2016 Owner : Omani Royal Family

The mega yacht Fulk Al Salamah, also called the “Ship of Peace,” was constructed by Mariotti in 2016. The Omani royal family is thought to be the owner of this magnificent yacht. Despite not being the longest yacht, she has the most capacity at 22,000 gross tons.

It has a beam of 24.0 m and a draught of 9.3 m. Studio de Jorio created the exterior design, which is less like a private superyacht and more like a cruise ship . Steel makes up the hull, whereas steel and aluminum make up the superstructure of the yacht Fulk Al Salamah. Four Wärtsilä engines propel her.

Length : 180 Meters Owner : Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Launch : 2013

Azzam is the world’s largest private yacht. This superyacht was built by Lürssen Yachts in 2013 and is now owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. It cost more than $600 million to build.

Azzam has a beam of 20.8 meters (68 feet) and a draft of 4.3 meters, which is unusually shallow (14 feet). The outside of this ship was made by Nauta Design to look sleek and timeless while making it look smaller than it is. The 9,000 kW MTU engines give her a long-distance speed of 18 knots and a top speed of 33 knots.

It can hold up to 80 crew members and 36 guests. Most of the interior design is a mystery, but some wood furniture is said to have beautiful mother-of-pearl marquetry on the surface. A gym, pool, and golf training area are also available inside the yacht.

Many people’s top wish lists would include a yacht if they had the money to buy one. Millionaires and billionaires often own yachts to show off how much money they have. In their minds, the bigger the yacht, the better. Entertainment firms also use superyachts to attract wealthy passengers looking for a rich experience.

These features frequently increase their owners’ enjoyment and sense of luxury. But yachts, which are very valuable from an economic and social point of view, can help create jobs and boost the economies of travel destinations while giving people a unique way to spend their free time.As of 2023, the Azzam holds the record for being the longest yacht in the world.

Out of these 10 largest yachts in the world, let us know which one you find fascinating!

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Luxury on the Waves: The Largest Yachts in the World

The largest yachts in the world are more than just a testament to wealth — they represent the pinnacle of luxury marine engineering and cutting-edge design. Welcome to the world of superyachts where we’ll take a look at the world’s largest yacht and the biggest sailing yacht on the seven seas.

Vast suites, gyms, pools, discos, helipads, ballrooms and even state-of-the-art science laboratories. No, we’re not talking about the world’s biggest hotels, we’re talking about the largest yachts in the world. These water-bound wonders, furnished in the finest décor, and studded with every conceivable amenity that an ultra-luxury lifestyle demands, push the boundaries of physical possibility and encapsulate the true meaning of extravagance.

The contenders for the title of world’s largest yacht is a journey through meticulously curated interiors, awe-inspiring exteriors, and groundbreaking technology that not only breaks the waves but also the norms of luxury. So, prepare to dive into an ocean of extravagance where indulgence knows no bounds.

Read on to find out which is the biggest yacht in the world by length.

Superyacht 'Faith' arrives in Turkey's Marmaris. (Credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor via Getty Images)

Length : 96.5 metres | Tonnage : 2,991

Launched in 2016, Faith was built in the Netherlands by Feadship and is powered by twin 3,100 hp diesel engines with a top speed of 31 km/h. It’s believed the superyacht cost somewhere in the region of $200 million. It may not be the biggest yacht in the world but it’s one of the most opulent, with teak laid decks, a grand piano, beach club, underwater lights, cinema, beauty salon and a lift.

Koru Yacht is seen on June 13, 2023 in Portofino, Italy. (Credit: Robino Salvatore / Contributor via Getty Images)

Length : 127 metres | Tonnage : 3,300

Koru, the Māori word for ‘new beginnings’, is believed to be the world’s biggest sailing yacht. Costing a reported $500 million, the schooner-rigged sailing yacht was built in the Netherlands and will be followed by a 75-metre support vessel carrying relief supplies, a helicopter and crew accommodation.

The Rising Sun (Credit: AFP / Stringer via Getty Images)

Length : 138 metres | Tonnage : 7,841

Rising Sun was built at a reported cost of $290 million in 2004 by German shipyard Lürssen. It was later extended by eighteen metres to ensure it was longer than Octopus, another of the world’s largest yachts. The 8,000m2 superyacht’s 82 rooms include a beauty salon, gym, sauna, wine cellar and basketball court.

Prince Abdulaziz

Prince Abdulaziz on the Aegean sea resort of Bodrum (Credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor via Getty Images)

Length : 147 metres | Tonnage : 8,233

Built by Danish shipbuilder Helsingør Værft in 1984, the Prince Abdulaziz was, when it was launched, the longest and tallest yacht in the world. Almost four decades on, it remains one of the largest yachts in the world. The interior was designed by David Nightingale Hicks and it’s believed that the main lobby is a replica of the reception area of the Titanic. It cost a reported $184 million and includes a hospital and cinema.

The yacht "Dubai" at the Doha Sailing Club (Credit: Ross Land / Staff via Getty Images)

Length : 162 metres | Tonnage : 13,470

Costing around $400 million, the Andrew Winch-designed superyacht was once the biggest yacht in the world before being eclipsed by Eclipse. With a capacity for 115 guests and 88 crew, Dubai has 1.2 million litre diesel tanks, a range of 15,700 kilometres and is home to a disco, cinema, squash court and a lobster tank.

Private luxury yacht Eclipse (Credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor via Getty Images)

Length : 162.5 metres | Tonnage : 13,000

Designed by award-winning superyacht designer Terence Disdale, Eclipse was built in Germany by renowned shipyard Blohm + Voss. When it was delivered in 2009, it was the biggest yacht in the world. It’s believed to have seventeen staterooms and what has been described as a ‘palatial master suite’, as well as one of the largest swimming pools ever built on a private yacht. At a reported cost of $500 million, Eclipse is equipped with a submarine, three landing boats and two helipads.

Large luxury motor yacht (Credit: PaulVinten via Getty Images)

Length : 180 metres | Tonnage : 13,136

The world’s largest yacht was built by Lürssen in 2013. Costing a reported $600 million, Azzam’s luxurious interior, which includes a 29-metre long main salon, was designed by Christophe Leoni to evoke the Empire style of the nineteenth century and it can accommodate 36 guests and a crew of 80.

The Pinnacle of Luxury

Aerial view of yachts moored in the Port Vell marina of Barcelona, Spain. (Credit: Busà Photography via Getty Images)

The magic of these yachts lies not only in their extraordinary dimensions, but also in the exceptional attention to detail, bespoke design, and unparalleled luxury they offer. From private cinemas to onboard hospitals, these vessels encapsulate an almost surreal level of opulence that truly redefines the concept of marine luxury. These floating palaces have changed the landscape of wealth and grandeur, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Whether it’s the Empire style glory of Azzam, the remarkable expansiveness of the Eclipse, or the exquisite allure of Faith, each one of these yachts embodies a world of unbounded luxury that floats on the rhythm of the waves. But beyond the extravagant indulgence, these vessels are also a testament to human ingenuity and engineering prowess.

The largest yachts in the world are more than just symbols of superfluous wealth — they are epic engineering projects that encapsulate the zenith of design, technology, and nautical mechanics, all while riding the crest of the boundless ocean.

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The World’s Largest Yachts

• By Diane M. Byrne
• Updated: January 9, 2019

We humans have long been fascinated by big, bold things.

Way back in 70 AD, for example, the Romans started building the Colosseum. Still standing today, it measures 510 feet wide. Over in France, meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower opened in 1889, at a height of about 984 feet (not counting antennas). No wonder, then, that humanity’s attention soon turned toward making other big, bold things: Big planes, big trains, and yes, big boats. In fact, in terms of boats, they, like buildings, just kept getting bigger. “Boats” became “yachts,” then “megayachts.” Now we hear “megayacht,” “superyacht,” and even “gigayacht” to refer to the biggest yachts in the world.

Since each of those words is a modern term, you might assume that the 20 yachts included here are modern marvels, too. It’s interesting to note that more than half of them launched within this decade. Equally interesting, among those, two are about a year or less old. One of the two is close to delivery, in fact.

However, not all of the yachts on this list are contemporary craft.You’ll surely be surprised to learn that one particular yacht launched in (believe it or not) 1865.

These are some of the fascinating facts to keep in mind as you read through the 20 biggest yachts in the world. For starters, add the lengths of the first two yachts, and you’ll find they exceed the height of the Eiffel Tower. They do so with plenty of room to spare: by 147 feet.

In addition, the fifth-largest yacht contains 683 miles (yes, miles) of cabling. And, while one of the yachts may have masts (three of the largest masts ever manufactured, at that), she’s not technically a sailing yacht.

Hats off to these big, bold things and especially the people who dreamed of them, engineered them, and keep them floating on the world’s oceans.

Measuring just shy of 593 feet, Azzam is impressive for more than just her length. In fact, she’s capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots. She’s also one of several yachts on this list from Lürssen.

Fulk Al Salamah

While another super-size superyacht held the same name from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, this Fulk Al Salamah was delivered in 2006, by Italy’s Mariotti Yachts. She serves as a shadow boat to another superyacht (see #6). Strong secrecy surrounds her.

Abundant rumors swirl around Eclipse. A popular one is that she has anti-paparazzi lasers, rendering photography equipment useless. What’s true, however, is that this 533-footer has a private owner’s deck and volume exceeding 13,500 gross tons.

The ruler of Dubai owns this yacht, keeping her in home waters. He didn’t commission her, though. He acquired her after construction (jointly by Blohm+Voss and Lürssen, with completion later in the United Arab Emirates) stopped for Brunei royalty.

If guests aboard Dilbar don’t want to swim in the ocean, they can use her indoor pool. Said to be the largest aboard a yacht, it contains 47,551 gallons of water. The 512-footer also has a total of 107,639 square feet of faired and painted surfaces.

Kept in Oman, Al Said belongs to the Sultan of Oman, and has since delivery in 2008. That makes her the second yacht on this list under his ownership (see #2).

Currently in Germany for service work, this six-year-old has more than just the styling signature of designer Tim Heywood. Topaz measures 483 feet long and has remained confidential since delivery from (you guessed it) Lürssen.

Prince Abdulaziz

Imagine reactions back in 1984, when Prince Abdulaziz was completed in Denmark. (The builder was a commercial yard, Helsingør Vaerft.) She’s belonged to Saudi royalty ever since. The late King Fahd was her original owner, who named her for one of his sons.

El Mahrousa

Egypt’s presidential yacht holds the distinction of being the oldest yacht on this list, at 153 years and counting. Used for military training drills for a period, she entertains international heads of state these days.

Sailing Yacht A

Despite her name, this 468’5” yacht, built by Nobiskrug, is actually sail-assisted. Therefore, she runs on engines primarily. Still, she’s an engineering feat in sailing. The main mast is more than 328 feet high.

During construction at ADM Shipyards, this nearly 463-footer was code named Swift 141, the latter being her LOA in meters. Completed in 2011, she’s built upon the hull of a naval frigate dating to 1978.

Ocean Victory

Her LOA of 459’3” makes Ocean Victory the largest yacht built in Italy (by Fincantieri, to be exact). Russian-owned, she features a floodable tender garage and multiple helicopter areas, including a hangar.

Al Salamah had one of the best code names ever during construction: Mipos, for “Mission Possible.” It’s because the Saudi owner of the 457-footer wanted delivery from Lürssen within two years’ time.

Commissioned by American billionaire Larry Ellison and currently belonging to fellow American businessman David Geffen, Rising Sun is 454 feet long. Among the last designs by the late Jon Bannenberg, she entertains Geffen’s Hollywood clients and friends.

Bearing a beam of 67 feet, Shu should see delivery from Lürssen quite soon. Only a few facts are public, such as her interior design being from Mark Berryman, who used a neutral color palette.

Known as Project Thunder during construction, Crescent is just shy of 443 feet. A striking feature is the multi-deck atrium, fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass. You can’t miss it in her profile.

Serene ‘s original owner, who took delivery in 2011, requested she feature a snow room—with real snowfall. The famous Paradise Papers investigative report revealed that the 439-foot yacht sold in 2015 for $456 million.

In Qatari hands, Al Mirqab measures 436 feet. Her builder, Peters Schiffbau, is now known as Peters Werft. In the past several months, she’s been spotted in Monaco, Dubrovnik, Venice, and more recently amid the Greek isles.

Octopus remained in the hands of her original owner, American entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul Allen, from delivery by Lürssen in 2003 until he died in October. Allen threw parties aboard during the Cannes Film Festival, plus had Octopus assist in key scientific and historic expeditions.

Last but certainly not least in any sense of the word, Maryah measures 410 feet. She is a converted research vessel, which underwent a five-year transformation in Greece to become a private cruiser.

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• Top 10 World's Biggest Yachts in 2021

Biggest yachts

Biggest super yachts, the most expensive yachts, the most luxurious yachts, the widest yachts, list of the largest yachts, list of the widest yachts, list of most expensive yachts, list of the most luxurious yachts, fulk al salamah, prince abdulaziz, el mahrousa, sailing yacht a.

The World's Largest Superyachts are on display in 2021

It's fun to break records. Particularly when it comes to building the world's highest, longest, tallest, and largest superyachts. When it comes to yacht building , each of those superlatives technically has its own type. This list's number two is technically smaller than the first, which is longer. And one of the yachts on this list is both the oldest and the largest on the planet. It may be perplexing, but it matters when you're building boats for people who want to set world records.

Can you think you've seen a superyacht? Reconsider your place. The ten largest yachts in the world for 2021 are listed below. It's difficult to tell the difference between a cruise ship and a superyacht when they get this high. As you can see below, the German Lürssen shipyard has produced most of the 10 largest yachts and has dominated the list. Also, if you are wondering about the 10 World's Most Expensive Yachts 2022  list, you can follow the current list from this link.

10. SAILING YACHT A | 142 Mt. (468 Feet) Built by Nobiskrug in 2017

In the future, SAILING YACHT A will be the world's first private sail-assisted motor yacht. Nobiskrug designed it in 2017 at a height of 468 feet. She's a cutting-edge superyacht with features including an underwater observation pod, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, and cutting-edge navigation.

The three masts of the luxurious sailing yacht are the world's largest and most heavily loaded freestanding composite structures. The virtually invisible windows give this yacht a futuristic appearance while providing no glimpse of the interior, which remains a mystery. Andrey Melnichenko, a Russian billionaire, owns SAILING YACHT A.

9. EL MAHROUSA | 145 Mt. (478 feet) built by Samuda Brothers in 1865

EL MAHROUSA, a 478-foot Samuda Brothers yacht built in 1865, is fresh from history and records. This yacht was designed for Egypt's Ottoman governor and also made an appearance at the Suez Canal's opening in 1869.

Of necessity, she underwent several upgrades over the years, including the 1905 replacement of paddle wheel engines with turbine-driven propellers. In 1912, a telegraph was also built. In 1872, EL MAHROUSA was lengthened by 40 feet, and again in 1905 by 17 feet. The yacht is actually in the Egyptian Navy's care and is used as the Presidential Yacht on occasion. It is the world's oldest operating superyacht and the ninth highest.

8. PRINCE ABDULAZIZ | 147 Mt. (482 Feet) built by Helsingor Vaerft in 1984

The 147-meter motor yacht PRINCE ABDULAZIZ was designed by Helsingor Vaerft and delivered in 1984. It was the world's largest yacht in terms of length and height for several years. It is one of the Saudi royal family's royal yachts, and it was originally owned by King Fahd . There are no photos of the interior, despite the fact that it was designed by the late David Nightingale Hicks . We just know that it would be as luxurious as the TITANIC .

7. A+ | 147 Mt (482 Feet) built by Lürssen in 2012

A+ (formerly known as TOPAZ ) is the world's seventh-largest yacht, measuring 147 meters in length. A+ is one of the world's largest superyachts in terms of volume, with a gross tonnage of 12,532 GT. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan , owner of Manchester City Football Club and Emirate monarchy, is said to own this Lürssen superyacht from 2012.

Two helipads, a spa, two Jacuzzis, a movie theater, and a meeting center are among the amenities on this eight-deck yacht. Although little is known about the Terence Disdale-designed interior, the A+ can handle 62 passengers in 26 cabins, as well as 79 crew members.

6. AL SAID | 155 Mt (508 Feet) built by Lürrsen in 2007

AL SAID is the world's sixth-largest superyacht, measuring 509 feet in length. It was launched in 2007 by Lürssen and is designed to look like a classic cruise ship. The ship is about 79 feet tall at its widest point. It is operated by the Sultan of Oman and has a capacity of 70 passengers and 154 trained crew members. The ship has six decks and a concert hall that can accommodate a 50-piece orchestra.

5. DILBAR | 156 Mt (511 Feett) built by Lürrsen in 2016

Lürssen launched the 156-meter superyacht DILBAR in 2016. Espen Øino modeled her exterior, which has a classic profile with a soft ivory hull. Winch Design is said to have furnished her interior with unique and exclusive luxury fabrics, but no other specifics or photographs have been published.

DILBAR is one of the most complicated and demanding yachts ever made, according to Lürssen, with a displacement of 15,917 tons and a length of 156 meters. A 25-meter swimming pool (the largest ever built on a yacht) and two helipads are among her features. Alisher Usmanov , one of Russia's wealthiest citizens, owns it.

4. DUBAI | 162 Mt (532 Feet) built by Platinum Yachts in 2006 

Allow room for DUBAI , a 161-meter yacht with a nonlinear construction history. Blohm+Voss and Lürssen collaborated on the design of this superyacht in 1998. However, the proposal was put on hold due to a skeletal superstructure.

The hull was sold to the Dubai government, and the project was restarted under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (ruler of Dubai) and Platinum Yachts . In 2006, the yacht was completed. Seven decks, a helipad, a submarine garage, a nightclub, a theater, and a 70-foot-wide atrium are only a few of the highlights. DUBAI has a capacity of 24 people.

3. ECLIPSE | 162 Mt (531 Feet) built by Blohm+Voss in 2010

ECLIPSE was the world's biggest superyacht when it left the German shipyard Blohm+Voss in 2010. It's now 162 meters long, having been pushed down a couple pegs. Roman Abramovich , a Russian businessman, owns it. ECLIPSE has 18 staterooms and can hold a total of 36 people.

It had the biggest swimming pool (with adjustable depth to become a dance floor) onboard a yacht at the time of its arrival, measuring 16 meters long. A missile warning syste, bulletproof windows, a submarine, three helicopters, six tenders, a pool, gym, and beach club are just some of the fascinating features on this luxurious yacht. It is reportedly priced at $1.2 billion and is the most luxurious yacht in the world.

2. FULK AL SALAMAH | 164 Mt. (538 Feet) built by Mariotti in 2016

The 164-meter Mariotti super yacht FULK AL SALAMAH , which translates to "Ship of Peace," was built in 2016. The Omani royal family is thought to own this monstrosity of a yacht. She is not the longest yacht, but she is the largest in terms of length, with a gross tonnage of 22,000 tons. Studio de Jorio designed the exterior, which looks more like a cruise ship than a private superyacht. FULK AL SALAMAH is a project that has been kept under wraps since its inception, but not much is known about it.

1. AZZAM | 180 Mt. (590 Feet) buit by Lürssen in 2013

AZZAM is the world's longest private yacht, measuring 180 meters in length. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, owns this superyacht, which was launched by Lürssen Yachts in 2013. It was built at a cost of more than $600 million .

AZZAM has a beam of 20.8 meters (68 feet) and a draft of 4.3 meters, which is unusually shallow (14 feet). Nauta Design created the exterior of this vessel to be streamlined and eternal while being smaller than it is. Over long distances, the 9,000kW MTU engines propel her at 18 knots, with a top speed of 33 knots.

AZZAM, the world's longest private yacht, can hold 36 visitors and up to 80 crew members. The interior design is a closely guarded secret, but some of the wood furniture aboard is rumored to be intricately veneered with mother of pearl marquetry. A spa, pool, and golf simulator area are among the other amenities aboard.

Although the world's top ten largest yachts may seem too expensive and unreachable, let's get down to earth and look at our featured listings . You'll find yachts ranging in size from 10 to 174 feet, with a variety of builders, styles, dimensions, heights, volume, age, and so on. To find your ideal yacht, contact a Ada Yacht Broker team.

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Top 20 Largest Yachts in the World 2024

• Top 20 Largest Yachts in…

Miami is a popular destination for yacht enthusiasts and those looking for a luxurious maritime experience. Known for its elegance and extravagance, Miami is the epitome of high-end sailing. As we step into 2024, the world of yachting unveils its most colossal gems—showcasing vessels that redefine luxury and scale. If you’re in the market for the grandest statement on the high seas or merely an enthusiast yearning to get a glimpse into the world of extravagance, this list is tailored for you. Join us as we navigate the azure expanses and reveal the biggest yachts in the world in 2024.

10 Largest Yachts Around the Globe

1. azzam – 179.70 meters.

Topping the charts and reigning supreme as the longest yacht on our list is the majestic AZZAM. Stretching an astonishing 179.70 meters, this vessel is not merely a yacht. It’s a floating palace. Commissioned by the royal family of Abu Dhabi, AZZAM is a testament to the fusion of engineering marvel and opulent design. With a top speed of over 30 knots, this superyacht is not just about luxury—it’s about making a grand entrance.

2. FULK AL SALAMAH– 164.0 METERS

The second biggest yacht in the world in 2024 is FULK AL SALAMAH, a vessel that epitomizes sophistication. At 164 meters, this yacht is a private haven for its owner, offering a retreat into the lap of luxury. While only a little is known about the interiors, the exterior design is a spectacle. FULK AL SALAMAH is a beacon of refined taste for those who appreciate exclusivity and allure.

3. ECLIPSE – 162.5 METERS

ECLIPSE, the third on our list, is not just a yacht. It’s a floating fortress. Measuring an impressive 162.5 meters, this vessel boasts features that redefine extravagance. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, ECLIPSE has a missile detection system, bulletproof windows, and a stunningly lavish interior. For those who seek security without compromising on luxury, ECLIPSE stands tall as a symbol of opulent refuge.

4. DUBAI – 162 METERS

Named after its home city, the DUBAI yacht is a marvel of design and engineering. At 162 meters, it offers an array of amenities that redefine what it means to live on the water. DUBAI is a floating paradise with its lavish interiors, helipad, and swimming pool that seems to stretch into the horizon. Whether cruising through the Mediterranean or anchored off the coast of Miami, this 4th biggest yacht in the world in 2024 is a symbol of elegance and sophistication.

5. BLUE – 160 METERS

Sailing into the fifth spot is the appropriately named BLUE. At 160 meters, this yacht is a canvas of azure luxury. Owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the UAE, BLUE is a statement of refined taste and unparalleled elegance. Its sleek design and state-of-the-art features capture the essence of modern yachting at its finest.

6. DILBAR – 156 METERS

DILBAR, the sixth on our list, is a floating masterpiece that spans 156 meters. Owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, this yacht is a marvel of engineering, featuring one of the largest swimming pools ever installed on a superyacht. With its striking exterior and opulent interiors designed by Andrew Winch, DILBAR is a beacon of luxury and a testament to the limitless possibilities of maritime indulgence.

7. AL SAID – 155 METERS

AL SAID, at 155 meters, is a symphony of design and functionality. Commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman, this yacht is a floating palace that exudes regality. Its majestic exterior is complemented by a lavish interior that reflects the owner’s commitment to the finer things in life. For those seeking a yacht that seamlessly combines luxury with cultural richness, AL SAID embodies Arabian opulence.

8. A+ (FORMERLY TOPAZ) – 147.25 METERS

Formerly known as TOPAZ, A+ secures the eighth position as the biggest yacht in the world in 2024 at 147.25 meters. This vessel is a tribute to contemporary design, featuring a sleek exterior that turns heads wherever it goes. A+ offers many amenities, including a cinema, a swimming pool, and a helipad, making it an ideal choice for those who desire a perfect blend of style and substance.

9. PRINCE ABDULAZIZ – 147 METERS

PRINCE ABDULAZIZ, at 147 meters, is a testament to timeless elegance. Commissioned by the royal family of Saudi Arabia, this yacht has been a symbol of luxury since its launch in 1984. With its classic design and opulent interiors, PRINCE ABDULAZIZ is a nod to the traditional values of yachting, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate the grace of a bygone era.

10. OPERA – 146.4 METERS

Closing our list is the enchanting OPERA, measuring 146.4 meters. This yacht is a masterpiece of design, featuring an exterior that reflects a harmonious blend of modernity and classic elegance. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, OPERA offers a sanctuary at sea with its luxurious interiors and cutting-edge amenities. For those who seek a yacht that transcends trends and stands as a timeless symbol of maritime luxury, OPERA is a captivating choice.

Top 10 Biggest Yachts In The World Under Construction

1. rev ocean | 194.4m.

The colossal REV Ocean, a maritime titan stretching an impressive 194.4 meters, is topping our list. Set to be the world’s largest yacht upon completion, REV Ocean is not merely a vessel; it’s a floating testament to environmental consciousness. Designed to accommodate scientific research and exploration, this yacht is a beacon for those who appreciate luxury intertwined with a commitment to ocean preservation. The future owner of REV Ocean will command the seas and contribute to the greater good.

2. Luminance | 145m

Luminance, the second on our list, is a symphony of elegance and innovation. Anticipated to measure 145 meters upon completion, this yacht is designed by the renowned Italian studio Zuccon International Project. It is set to offer a unique blend of contemporary design and cutting-edge technology. For those seeking a yacht that seamlessly marries style with functionality, Luminance promises to be a radiant choice.

3. Project Ali Baba | 142m

With its intriguing name and awe-inspiring dimensions of 142 meters, Project Ali Baba will secure the third spot among the biggest yachts in the world in 2024. Little is known about this project’s details, adding an air of mystery and anticipation. We know that Project Ali Baba is poised to redefine luxury on the high seas, offering its owner an exclusive retreat into the lap of maritime opulence.

4. Project Deep Blue | 130m

As we delve deeper into the future of yachting, Project Deep Blue emerges as the fourth on our list, boasting an impressive length of 130 meters. This project is a collaboration between the iconic design firm Nuvolari Lenard and Oceanco, a name synonymous with superyacht excellence. With its sleek lines and expansive deck spaces, Project Deep Blue promises to be a vessel that turns heads and sets new standards for sophistication.

5. Amels 120 Full Custom | 120m

The fifth position is claimed by the Amels 120 Full Custom, a project that combines the renowned craftsmanship of Amels with the allure of a fully customized experience. Anticipated to measure 120 meters upon completion, this yacht offers potential buyers the opportunity to tailor every aspect of their maritime haven. For those seeking a yacht as unique as their aspirations, the Amels 120 Full Custom is a canvas awaiting personalization.

6. Abeking 6514 | 120m

Sailing into the sixth spot is the Abeking 6514, a vessel that exemplifies the German shipbuilding excellence of Abeking & Rasmussen. At 120 meters, this yacht is a testament to precision engineering and timeless design. With its expansive deck spaces and luxurious interiors, the Abeking 6514 promises an unparalleled yachting experience for those who appreciate the marriage of German craftsmanship and maritime splendor.

7. Feadship 821 | 118.8m

Feadship, synonymous with uncompromising quality, secures the seventh spot as the biggest yacht in the world in 2024 with the Feadship 821. Measuring 118.8 meters, this project is a collaboration between Feadship and the esteemed design firm Studio De Voogt. The Feadship 821 is set to redefine the boundaries of yachting, offering a harmonious blend of sophistication and functionality. For those who demand nothing but the best, Feadship delivers an experience that transcends the ordinary.

8. Oceanco Y722 | 111m

The eighth position on our list is claimed by Oceanco Y722, a project that encapsulates the Dutch shipyard’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of yacht design. Anticipated to measure 111 meters, this vessel is a canvas for visionary owners seeking a yacht that marries innovation with luxury. Oceanco Y722 promises an unforgettable journey into opulence and maritime excellence.

9. Freire NB729 | 105m

Freire NB729, the ninth on our list, is a project that emanates the spirit of Spanish shipbuilding prowess. At 105 meters, this yacht showcases Freire’s dedication to precision and craftsmanship. With its striking exterior and thoughtfully designed interiors, Freire NB729 promises to be a vessel that commands attention on the seas. For those seeking a yacht born of European expertise, this project embodies maritime artistry.

10. Feadship 824 | 98m

Closing our list is the Feadship 824, a project that signifies the relentless pursuit of perfection by Feadship. At 98 meters, this vessel may be the smallest on our list, but it certainly doesn’t compromise on luxury. Designed in collaboration with Redman Whiteley Dixon, Feadship 824 promises to be a testament to the Dutch shipyard’s commitment to craftsmanship and elegance. For those who appreciate a yacht that marries understated luxury with precision design, Feadship 824 is a captivating choice.

Explore Our Biggest Yachts for Sale in Miami

Explore our collection of the world’s largest yachts for sale in Miami and experience the ultimate in nautical luxury. Our selection of vessels boasts state-of-the-art technology, lavish interiors, and top-of-the-line amenities to ensure a comfortable and extravagant journey on the high seas.

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The 10 Most-Exciting Yacht Debuts at the Palm Beach International Boat Show

Besides the debut of smaller vessels, more than 60 yachts over 100 feet will be at palm beach this week. it promises to be a banner event., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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For superyacht shoppers, the Palm Beach International Boat Show, kicking off its four-day run this week, is set to break records with more than 60 yachts over 100 feet long on display. Last year was also a banner year for superyachts at the show. 

Headliners will include the likes of the 295-foot Corsair Nero ,  the 278-foot Victorious by AKYacht, the 230-foot Turquoise-built Talisman C , and 213-foot Benetti Triumph among brokerage yachts, and in new yachts, the 113-foot Ocean Alexander Puro 35 is making its world debut.  

There are so many gleaming white vessels over 100 feet, in fact, that the fleet will be split between the Palm Harbor Marina at the main show site on the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront and the Safe Harbor Rybovich Marina two miles north. 

Now in its 42nd year, PBIBS will also showcase hundreds of models of dayboats, cruisers, and fishing boats, as well as marine accessories. Running from this Thursday through Sunday, the show coincides with the Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art show, a fortuitous opportunity for yacht owners wanting to add new art to their collections.

Here are 10 must-see boats at this year’s show.

Corsair Yachts ‘Nero’

The undisputed star of this year’s Palm Beach show? That would be the 295-foot, classically styled superyacht Nero , built in 2007 and inspired by American financier J.P. Morgan’s legendary 1930s steamer Corsair IV . Nero ‘s attendance at PBIBS marks its return to the charter market after an extensive refit in 2021. Now better than new, the boat is being managed by Burgess. With weekly charter rates from $497,000, the vessel offers five-star accommodations for 12 guests in six cabins, with pampering from a crew of 20. Part of the refit included a full interior refresh by Italian interior designer Laura Pomponi, plus a major focus on wellness. That meant the construction of a new, state-of-the-art gym and spa, the assistance of a certified onboard trainer, a masseuse and beautician. After PBIBS, Nero will spend the winter in the Caribbean before returning to the Med for the summer season.

Ocean Alexander Puro 35P

Ocean Alexander is debuting the first of its new Puro superyacht series at PBIBS. The 113-foot Puro 35P comes from the drawing board of Italian designer Giorgio M. Cassetta and is a step back from the polarizing lines of OA’s recent Revolution and Explorer series with their bold, vertical bow designs. Aimed at long-distance cruising, the 35P can carry over 5,000 gallons of fuel and is powered by twin 2,000 hp MAN V12s for a 24-knot top speed. Twin 55kW Kohler generators can also keep the yacht powered at anchor for long periods. Other standout features include extensive glazing in the chiseled fiberglass hull, a forward deck plunge pool, and spacious accommodations for 10 guests. 

Think of it as the “starter” Sirena. Aimed at a younger demographic, the Turkish builder’s brand-new Sirena 48 is making its U.S. debut at PBIBS after a global reveal at last fall’s Cannes boat show. Such is its appeal that 27 hulls have already been sold, with 13 of the orders coming from North America. Looking like a scaled-down version of Sirena’s popular 58, its distinctive, trawler-style lines are from Argentinian designer Germán Frers. With more interior space than a typical 48-footer, the yacht offers three staterooms—plus a crew cabin—a spacious, light-filled salon, a large cockpit, an oversized flybridge, and a vast forward social area. Take your pick from twin 550 hp Cummins QSB, or 670 hp Volvo D11 turbo diesels. Or the builder is also offering hybrid power with twin 285 hp electric motors charged up by variable-speed generators that are good for a 30-mile battery-only range.

Feadship ‘Olympus’

Picture purchasing a classic 180-foot Feadship superyacht, and then getting a $10 million bill for a major refit. That was the case with Olympus , built by the Dutch masters at Feadship in 1996 to a design by Britain’s Andrew Winch and the celebrated naval architect Frits De Voogt. Sold in 2022, the new owner sent it to the Monaco Marine refit center in La Ciotat, France for a major makeover. It included overhauling the 2,600 hp Caterpillar engines and generators, repairs to the structure, substantial upgrades to the guest areas and crew quarters, and new paint throughout. With the work completed just last year, the vessel is said to be in mint condition. Offered jointly by brokers Fraser and Edmiston, Olympus has an asking price of $28.5 million. With accommodations for 16 guests in eight cabins, the boat’s highlights include two primary suites, tropical-spec air conditioning, and Palm Beach-chic decor.

Benetti ‘Triumph’

Italian yachting powerhouse Benetti is showing off its superyacht-building skills with the 213-foot Triumph . Delivered in 2021, this Giorgio M. Cassetta-designed steel-and-aluminum world girder features six decks, a 1,400-square-foot primary suite with outdoor terrace and adjoining lounge, a 750-square-foot beach club, and a touch-and-go helipad. What sets Triumph apart, however, is its lavish interior furnishings put together by the owner along with Benetti Interior Style and Monaco-based Green & Mingarelli Design. It includes pieces by French glassmaker Lalique, marble from Marfil, Statuario and Armani, furs, silk and wool carpets, plus a collection of cool black-and-white wildlife photographs by British fine art photographer David Yarrow. The pièce de résistance? That would be the owner’s Triumph Bonneville motorcycle displayed in the salon.

Fjord 39 XP/XL

Germany’s Fjord Yachts, part of the Hanse Group, has a new 39-foot day boat that it’s unveiling at the Palm Beach show. The 39 XP and XL keep all the bold design cues of the bigger Fjord 41 XP and XL, like a big, open cockpit, walkaround center console, vertical bow, mile-high windshield and stretched hardtop. As for the differences between the XP and XL, it’s all about power. The XL comes with a choice of twin 320hp Volvo D4 diesels, or bigger 440 hp D6 versions, both with Volvo stern drives. Likely more appealing to U.S. buyers will be the XP powered by twin 400 hp Mercury Verado V10 outboards giving a 50-knot top speed. Pricing starts at around $500,000.

Turquoise ‘Talisman C’

Chandeliers don’t come more dramatic than this. Cascading down the central spiral staircase of the Turkish-built, 231-foot superyacht Talisman C , this jaw-dropping piece of art comprises an array of multi-colored glass balls threaded on stainless-steel rods and illuminated by hanging fiber-optic strands. It’s the creation of Prague-based Crystal Caviar and is one of a number of glass installations on this sleek, low-profile superyacht. Built in 2011 by the Proteksan Turquoise shipyard, Talisman C was designed inside and out by London-based studio H2 Yacht Design, with naval architecture by Italy’s Hydro Tec. With cabins for 12 guests, one of its highlights is a huge primary suite, which boasts more crystal chandeliers and a private library. Twin 2,447 hp Caterpillar diesels give a top speed of 18 knots and a transatlantic range of 7,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. It’s listed with Burgess for $59.9 million. 

Sanlorenzo 44 ‘Kamakasa’

Delivered in 2020 and sold to a new buyer just last August, the 146-foot Sanlorenzo 44 Alloy Kamakasa will be for sale at PBIBS. The asking price, through the Italian Yacht Group, is $23.75 million. Lack of use might also be the issue here; the yacht’s twin 2,600 hp MTU V16 diesels have a mere 289 hours on the clock. Built in aluminum to a design by Rome-based Zuccon International Project, Kamakasa was the second hull in the Sanlorenzo 44 Alloy series. One of the top features is a primary suite that spans three levels and almost 1,600 square feet; it also comes with a private Jacuzzi, separate bathrooms, a walk-in closet, and a private study. The yacht’s lightweight construction and MTU power combine to deliver an impressive 20-knot top speed.

Bahama 41 GT2

As ultimate, reel-’em-in, fishing center consoles go, the Bahama 41 from West Palm Beach-based Bahama Boat Works is as hard-core as they come. But when owners kept asking for a little more comfort for the family, the builder responded. The result is the brand-new flagship 41 GT debuting at PBIBS. While the proven, wave-slicing hull stays the same, the cockpit layout is new. In place of the single bench seat, there are now three-across bucket seats with a second row behind. The wider console now has space for a pair of 22-inch Garmin screens, while the new extended hardtop features sun shades and even a rain shower. Outboard choices stay the same with either twin Mercury V12 600s, or four 400 hp Mercury V10s, good for a 65-knot-plus top speed. Pricing is from around $920,000.

Heesen ‘Book Ends’

Launched in 2022, this 164-foot Heesen is part of the Book Ends collection, owned by an American couple who have had more than 18 yachts with the same name. The exterior design of this Heesen was by Omega Architects, while Dutch studio Van Oossanen did the naval architecture. The yacht is part of Heesen’s fast cruising series, which is more efficient than other vessels its size, and can reach 23 knots at full speed with its MTU 16V 4000 M65L engines. The yacht is listed through Ocean Independence for 42 million Euro, or about $45.7 million.

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The plundering of America's hospitals

When hospitals sold off their land, investors got rich. Patients paid the price.

In community after community, the hospitals keep closing. In 2018, it was Northside Regional Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio.

In 2019, it was Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, West Virginia, along with East Ohio Regional Hospital across the river in Martins Ferry, Ohio. That November, St. Luke's Medical Center, which had treated patients in Phoenix for more than a century, shut its doors.

In 2020, as the pandemic hit, it was one in Massachusetts and another in West Virginia. Followed by four more — in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas — over the next three years.

Other hospitals are teetering on the brink. In 2022, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Pennsylvania announced it was ending OB-GYN deliveries, leaving some mothers-to-be to travel almost an hour to give birth. Last year, Glenwood Regional Medical Center in Louisiana was ordered by the state to turn away patients because of inadequate supplies and staffing levels.

In addition to their financial struggles, all of the hospitals shared three things in common. They all served low-income communities that suffered from a lack of access to healthcare. They were all owned at various points by for-profit investors, including leading private-equity firms like Cerberus , Leonard Green , and Apollo . And in a move that stripped the hospitals of one of their prime assets, the owners had sold the land beneath the facilities to a little-known real-estate investor called Medical Properties Trust. MPT, which has purchased some $16 billion of hospital real estate over the past two decades, now bills itself as one of the world's largest owners of hospital beds.

For many of the hospitals, the deals proved disastrous. Once their real estate was sold to MPT, they were forced to pay rent on what had always been their own property. That added to the massive debt burdens already placed on the hospitals by their for-profit owners, deepening their financial woes. It also deprived Americans of desperately needed healthcare and put lives at risk — all while enriching some of the world's wealthiest investors.

"It's the biggest scam that almost no one knows about," says Rob Simone, a researcher at the risk-management firm Hedgeye who has spent hundreds of hours digging through MPT's financial filings and business dealings.

Writ large, MPT's hospital investments represent a breathtaking scheme that has decimated healthcare in communities across America. And while the legal universe is not the same as the moral one — despicable actions, such as getting rich by cutting off care to the poor, can be perfectly legal — MPT's deals underscore how giant private-equity firms have profited while gutting a critical piece of America's infrastructure, even on deals that turned out to be financial catastrophes for the hospitals and their communities .

All told, at least 13 hospitals have closed or gone bankrupt after their land was sold to MPT. And the damage is far from over. In January, MPT reported that its biggest tenant, a nationwide chain of 32 hospitals called Steward, could no longer pay its rent. The announcement — which has left health officials scrambling for fallback plans to provide care to the 2.2 million people served by Steward — could foreshadow more hospital closings to come.

"MPT existed to allow private equity to take money out of our hospital system through uneconomic transactions," says Justin Simon, who runs a successful healthcare-focused hedge fund called Jasper Capital. "Now they've bankrupted the hospitals. The communities are left holding the bag, and no one is going to jail."

MPT was founded in 2003 by Ed Aldag, an Alabama native who serves as the firm's president, chairman, and CEO. The core idea was simple: to buy hospital real estate, pocket the lease payments, and use the money to reward investors. (By law, real-estate investment trusts like MPT must pay 90% of their taxable income to shareholders.) Over the past few decades, plenty of private-equity firms have engaged in a similar form of financial engineering, called sale-leasebacks, with hotels and retailers. Selling the real estate was a key element, for instance, of the financier Eddie Lampert's plan to make money from a struggling Sears . But no one had done it at a massive scale with hospitals — for reasons, perhaps, that should have been obvious.

MPT came along at the perfect moment. Hospitals in rural and underserved communities have always been a tough business, for the simple reason that they serve more patients who are uninsured or who rely on Medicaid, which reimburses at a fraction of the rate of commercial insurance. But then two things happened. First, in 2006, Bain Capital and a handful of other investors bought the massive hospital chain HCA and quickly made a fortune . Second, the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 added to the gold-rush mentality by promising to dramatically expand the number of Americans with insurance, thereby improving hospital margins. By 2011, seven of the nation's top for-profit chains were owned by private-equity firms .

To say the investments didn't pan out would be an understatement. Obamacare didn't wind up providing the expected infusion of cash, and the government has continued to slash Medicaid reimbursements. As a result, hospitals in rural and underserved areas continued to be a difficult business proposition, and their private-equity investors were facing serious losses. "The hospital chains faced major challenges in meeting loan obligations," the economist Eileen Appelbaum and Rosemary Batt, a management professor at Cornell University, found.

What started out as a way to rescue failed investments wound up creating a whole new form of financial engineering for private-equity profiteers.

If capitalism worked the way it's supposed to, that would have been the end of the story. Investors make a bet, it goes sideways, and voilà , they lose their money. But in this case, private-equity firms found a new way to save their failed investments — by selling the land under the hospitals to MPT.

The company, which didn't respond to requests for comment, has insisted the deals are good for hospitals as well as investors, because they inject much-needed cash into underfunded systems. "We provide up to 100% of a hospital's real estate value to help fund facility expansions, investments in people and technology, and the execution of long-term growth strategies," MPT says on its website. "Ultimately, we help hospitals serve patients better around the world with our capital solutions."

Private-equity firms tell the same story. In statements to Business Insider, Cerberus, Apollo, and Leonard Green said none of the money from the MPT deals was distributed to shareholders. Instead, they said, the funds benefited the hospitals by enabling them to do things like improve their facilities, pay down their debts, provide benefits to their employees, and extend free care to their communities. The firms also insisted that their decisions left the hospitals in strong financial health. Leonard Green, for instance, said that when it exited its investment in a hospital system called Prospect in 2021, the company had "access to over a half billion dollars to support its operation."

But wherever the funds from the MPT transactions were placed on the books, the deals saddled the hospitals with years of rent payments, contributing to their financial struggles. And in the aftermath of the deals, private-equity firms wound up getting rich off investments that, by any rational measure, should have been failures — often by paying themselves and their investors hefty dividends. "I estimate that less than 10% of the money has actually been reinvested into the hospital systems," says Richard Mortell, the managing partner of Third Coast Real Estate Capital, who has studied MPT's deals. "The vast majority was either distributed to owners, or used to repay debt taken out to distribute money to owners."

Private-equity investors have long turned a profit by saddling the companies they buy with massive debt, even if it means running the businesses into the ground. But with MPT, what started out as a way to rescue a failed investment strategy wound up creating a whole new form of financial engineering for private-equity profiteers. Firms like Apollo, Cerberus, and Leonard Green couldn't make money by selling their debt-laden hospitals back to the public markets — but they could exploit the value of the underlying real estate. In the process, they stuck the struggling hospitals with something they'd never had before, and couldn't afford to pay: rent.

MPT's biggest deals have been with Cerberus, the secretive financial colossus run by Stephen Feinberg, a billionaire whose investments in gun companies have been the subject of much controversy. It all began in 2010, when Cerberus acquired a struggling nonprofit hospital system and rebranded it as for-profit Steward Health Care. Steward's CEO, a charismatic doctor named Ralph de la Torre, talked a big game about fixing healthcare in marginalized communities. In announcing the deal, Cerberus assured The Boston Globe that it was "a big win for the hard-working communities of Greater Boston."

State regulators were suspicious of the deal. In return for state approval, Steward promised it wouldn't add any debt to the hospitals for the purpose of paying Cerberus a dividend or distribution for three years. As it turned out, regulators weren't suspicious enough: They didn't foresee MPT.

From 2016 to 2022, according to a company report , MPT acquired a net $3.3 billion of real estate underlying 34 Steward facilities. MPT then leased the real estate back to Steward. The deal was done to "give Cerberus some liquidity" and "recover the original investment," according to an announcement at the time. Steward now has an annual rent burden of almost $400 million, according to Simone, the vast majority of which goes to MPT. In the process, Steward became MPT's largest tenant, at one point accounting for as much as 30% of its annual revenue.

After the MPT deal, Cerberus made a lot of money from its investment in Steward. According to a confidential investor document acquired by Bloomberg , one of Cerberus' funds collected a dividend of $484 million. Overall, Steward's investors quadrupled their money , even as the hospitals themselves were hemorrhaging cash.

"Cerberus generated a home-run multiple on an unsuccessful investment," says Mortell, the longtime real-estate investor. "That's not the way capitalism is supposed to work."

In a statement to BI, Cerberus said its involvement with Steward enabled the chain to invest $800 million on infrastructure, technology, and personnel, transforming its failing hospitals into "a world-class accountable care organization." But Steward didn't exactly thrive after its purchase by Cerberus. One after another, many of the chain's hospitals have either closed or been forced to cut services. During the pandemic, Easton Hospital in Pennsylvania received a last-minute bailout from the state after Steward threatened to close it. Local leaders were incensed. "It's hard to believe that Easton Hospital could have sat vacant in the coming months — shedding 700 jobs in the process — as the rest of the Lehigh Valley scurried to free up every room, ventilator, and medical staffer to try to save lives," fumed the local newspaper's editorial board.

What's more, Steward has been sued by a handful of vendors for leaving what appears to be a trail of unpaid bills. In January, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, a new mother bled to death after a device that could have saved her life had been repossessed by creditors because Steward had failed to pay the bill. Now, the hospital chain's looming collapse could endanger even more lives, most of them in poor communities. "The burden of Steward hospital closures," a letter signed by the state's entire congressional delegation warned, "would be borne primarily by the Massachusetts residents who already experience the greatest challenges accessing health care." The delegation has asked Cerberus to provide details of its investment in Steward, including how much money it extracted from the chain. "The net result of these transactions," the delegation wrote, "appears to be an unfolding tragedy."

Investors at Cerberus, meanwhile, aren't the only ones who scored a home run by inflicting financial pain on Steward. In 2021, MPT loaned the hospital chain's operating team, including de la Torre, $335 million to buy out Cerberus. Steward then turned around and paid its new owners, including de la Torre, a dividend of about $100 million. A few months later, de la Torre bought a $40 million yacht named the Amaral, which features a library, a gym, and a whirlpool on the top deck. Just after that, Steward filed with the government to delay paying back pandemic-era loans, citing "extreme financial hardship." (Steward did not respond to requests for comment.)

The pattern of using MPT to profit from the pain of impoverished patients was repeated by other leading investors. Prospect, a chain of hospitals in underserved communities, was bought by Leonard Green in 2010. It turned out to be a bad investment. According to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a research and advocacy group, Prospect lost over $600 million between 2015 and 2020.

Then, in 2019, Leonard Green sold $1.55 billion of Prospect's real estate to MPT. In a statement to Business Insider, Leonard Green said its ownership of the hospital chain "enabled Prospect to invest approximately $750 million in its hospitals, provide $900 million in free care, contribute $170 million to local taxes, and fund $300 million into employee pensions and 401(k) plans."

But after Leonard Green sold off Prospect's real estate, the hospitals continued to struggle . Ambulances were unable to fuel up because their credit cards had been cut off. Elevators stopped working. Six elderly psychiatric patients with COVID-19 died due to poor infection control. Yet the ownership group led by Leonard Green, the Stakeholder Project found, was somehow able to extract $658 million in dividends and other fees from the struggling hospital chain. Prospect is now attempting to sell three of its hospitals in Connecticut to Yale New Haven Health System, but the deal may fall through because of Prospect's mounting debt and unpaid bills. If Yale doesn't acquire the hospitals, they will likely go bankrupt .

Then there are the deals that MPT has done with Apollo. In 2015, the private-equity giant bought its first hospital system and embarked on what's known as a " roll-up strategy " — a popular play in which investors make a company bigger, though not necessarily better, by continuing to acquire businesses. The Apollo-backed business purchased several more healthcare companies and sold some of the underlying real estate — $700 million — to MPT. In a statement to BI, Apollo referred all questions about the deal to its hospital company, as if it had nothing to do with the deals. But Aldag, the MPT founder and CEO, has boasted that the transactions were brokered directly with Apollo. "They pretty much gave us their entire portfolio and said, 'Here, pick what you'd like to have for this particular price,'" Aldag told investors in a conference call explaining the deal. Today, Apollo owns some 220 hospitals across 36 states.

If Congress does its job and follows the money, it may find itself confronting one of the biggest financial heists in American history.

After Apollo sold off their real estate, the hospitals continued to suffer. According to their financial statements, capital expenditures were less than depreciation in the years after the sale-leaseback deals with MPT, which means the asset base was being eroded, not increased. "Apollo's hospital profiteering has resulted in dangerous conditions, closures and reduced access to services, and declining quality," concluded Eileen O'Grady, a senior researcher at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. Hospitals in one Apollo hospital chain, LifePoint Health, rank among the worst in their states , and Moody's has downgraded the company's debt to reflect the company's "elevated financial leverage." Patients and communities, once again, paid the price for private equity's investment model.

While the real-estate deals with MPT have provided private-equity firms with a huge financial windfall, they've posed a problem for MPT itself. The more hospital real estate that MPT buys, the more money it makes in rent payments from the hospitals. But because its deals place huge financial stress on the hospitals, MPT is essentially operating as a landlord that is driving its own tenants out of business. Now, as hospital chains across the country find themselves unable to pay their rent, MPT is facing financial problems of its own. In 2020, its stock price hit $24. Today, it's under $4.

But that doesn't mean that MPT's leaders didn't get rich off its hospital deals. Top executives, including Aldag, received hefty bonuses based in part on the dollar volume of transactions they did — meaning the more hospitals they drove into debt, the better. Never mind that, as Simone found, MPT apparently used accounting assumptions that overinflated the lease payments it could realistically expect to receive from troubled hospital systems. From 2019 to 2022, according to SEC filings , MPT's top three executives were paid some $125 million in cash and equity grants. They got rich, in short, by making hospitals poor.

In December, Congress announced a bipartisan investigation into private equity's influence in healthcare. MPT was included on the list of companies that received subpoenas. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, has asked Apollo and Leonard Green to submit details about its deals with MPT, among other things; the Massachusetts congressional delegation is asking Cerberus to account for what happened at Steward . The fundamental question is: Where did all the money go? If Congress does its job and follows the money, it may find itself confronting one of the biggest financial heists in American history — one that transferred billions of dollars from needy patients to greedy investors. Lawmakers aren't empowered to get any of that money back. But they can at least make MPT and its private-equity partners account for what they got away with.

Bethany McLean is a special correspondent at Business Insider.

Correction: March 11, 2024 — An earlier version of the story misstated the committee on which Sen. Chuck Grassley serves as the ranking Republican. It's the Senate Budget Committee, not the Senate Finance Committee.

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

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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].

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Golf | PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan describes…

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Golf | PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan describes ‘constructive’ meeting with Saudi leader of LIV Golf

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during the second round of The Players Championship golf tournament Friday, March 15, 2024, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

FILE -Tiger Woods, left, watches his son Charlie, right, putt ball during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. Charlie Woods, 15, will be playing a pre-qualifier on Thursday in Hobe Sound, Fla., the first step before a full qualifier for the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski, File)

Viktor Hovland, of Norway, left, and Jordan Spieth wait to putt on the 14th green during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Adam Scott, of Australia, hits from the rough on the fifth hole during a practice round at The Players Championship golf tournament, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — The PGA Tour took a first step in sparking negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund with a meeting in the Bahamas that Commissioner Jay Monahan described as “constructive” without offering many more details.

In a memo late Monday night to players, Monahan said the player directors on the PGA Tour Enterprises board met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund that provides the money behind rival LIV Golf.

It was the first time player directors, including Tiger Woods, met with Al-Rumayyan. Woods played nine holes with him at Albany Golf Club, according to a person informed of the meeting who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the day.

The other player directors are Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson and Peter Malnati. Golfweek first reported the meeting was likely to take place Monday in Ponte Vedra Beach. It shifted to the Bahamas, where Woods often keeps his yacht.

“The conversation throughout was constructive and represents an important part of our due diligence process in selecting potential investors for PGA Tour Enterprises,” Monahan said in the memo. “This mirrors the approach we employed earlier this year as we evaluated an investment offer from the Strategic Sports Group.”

The PGA Tour, European tour and PIF reached an agreement announced June 6 to form a commercial partnership. The deal was to be finalized by the end of 2023. But amid government inquiries, and interest from private equity groups, the deal wasn’t done.

The PGA Tour selected SSG, a consortium of U.S. sports owners, in December. A month later, SSG pledged an initial $1.5 billion investment, which could increase to $3 billion. The next step is getting PIF as a minority investor or risk more players defecting to LIV Golf.

As the tour was negotiating with U.S. private equity, LIV Golf lured Masters champion Jon Rahm, along with Tyrrell Hatton, in a move that took more big names away from the PGA Tour and further splintered the golf landscape.

“During the session, Yasir had the chance to introduce himself to our player directors and talk through his vision, priorities and motivations for investing in professional golf,” Monahan said.

He told players he would keep them updated as much as possible, “but please understand that we need to maintain our position of not conducting negotiations in public.”

Malnati had said over the weekend there was “massive resistance” to Saudi involvement because of the surprise June 6 announcement — Monahan, board members Ed Herlihy and Jimmy Dunne were the only ones involved.

“As I’ve learned more, I think I understand better and I’m very open-minded to learning what involvement they want, what they want out of this and how they think they can help,” Malnati said. “On the surface, I think there are players who have resistance to that relationship, for sure. So that’s why I do think it’s important that maybe our next step is to meet at some point.”

Cantlay said without PIF investing in PGA Tour Enterprises, he could see golf going down a path of two rival leagues whose top players meet only four times a year at the majors.

Rory McIlroy is no longer on the board, giving up his seat in November and since being replaced by Spieth. He is among those who have met with Al-Rumayyan. McIlroy had said on a British soccer podcast at the start of the year that he returned from his visit and encouraged the tour to meet with the Saudi leader behind LIV Golf.

“I don’t think this is an overnight solution,” McIlroy said. “But if we can get the investment in, then at least we can start working towards a compromise where we’re not going to make everyone happy, but at least make everyone understand why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

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The greatest Yacht Rock songs of all time

Posted: March 16, 2024 | Last updated: March 16, 2024

How does one describe yacht rock? The folks at MasterClass did a pretty good job. Essentially, it's a component of soft rock, adult contemporary, and Album-oriented rock (AOR) all rolled into one. Popular in the late 1970s and into the '80s, there are some notable tunes of the ilk (smooth rhythms, light or "breezy" vocals, well-polished and produced) from earlier in the '70s that fall into this category.

In the spirit of easy listening fare, here is our ranking of 22 great yacht rock tunes.

20. "Lonely Boy" (1977), Andrew Gold

The Southern Californian's biggest hit, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Yacht rock tracks often tell stories, and "Lonely Boy" is one of the great story songs. Whether it's autobiographical in nature has always been ripe for a casual argument. Though Gold, who passed away in 2011 at age 59, repeatedly claimed this song about a boy who felt left out following the birth of his sister was not depicting his life. The 1970s were ripe for one-hit wonders in the United States, and Gold is not still forgotten. 

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19. "I Love You" (1981), Climax Blues Band

"I Love You"  is a sweet, endearing ballad. The kind of song that probably sounded great via that portable 8-track cassette player on a catamaran during an early '80s' summer. From England, Climax Blues Band scored a top-15 hit with "I Love You." Love was a dependable and generally successful topic for artists within the soft/yacht rock genre. In fact, the song is still quite popular on lite rock and adult contemporary radio stations on your FM dial for those who still like to hear their music that way. 

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18. "Rosanna" (1982), Toto

Toto rightfully has a place in the yacht rock world, but the band also broke into the top-40, FM radio, and MTV mainstream with the release of 1982's Toto IV . "Rosanna" was a big reason for the album's success, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard 's Hot 100 and winning the Record of the Year Grammy Award. Sure, it's not typical yacht rock fare, per se. It's certainly heavier than other popular tracks on this list, but it's certainly a product of AOR and still routinely played in dentist offices throughout America. 

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17. "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975), Captain & Tennille

There are those historians who believe the first true example of yacht rock came with this popular '70s staple from the "Captain" Daryl Dragon  and his wife Toni Tennille. Now, Neil Sedaka  wrote "Love Will Keep Us Together" and originally recorded the song two years earlier. Still, the duo's version was  more poppy, with a carefree vibe  that's ideal for FM radio. While Captain & Tennille's cover won a Record of the Year Grammy Award, Sedaka has noted that the Beach Boys were one of the inspirations for the tune. This makes sense since many music critics, professionals, historians, etc.. have credited the yacht rock genre as somewhat of an offshoot from the Beach Boys' collective sound. 

16. "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" (1979), Rupert Holmes

This No.1 Billboard Hot 100 hit for England's Rupert Holmes has achieved a steady cult following over the years. Perhaps, because of the unique title and conjured images of some warm, beach-laden paradise. Yacht rock's association with summer, water, and care-free living, as a backdrop to a romantic story, is one of its appealing aspects. This song is about a couple who ultimately patch up a rough relationship through personal ads . Any time somebody of a certain age sips one of these drinks, ideally at some Caribbean resort with the warm winds off the ocean blowing, "The Pina Colada Song" should come to mind.

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15. "Reminiscing" (1978), Little River Band

Formed in Australia, the soft/pop rock and often yacht rock stylings of LRB were a hit in the United States. " Reminiscing " was the band's biggest hit in America, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Like many songs of this genre, "Reminiscing" is paced by the electric piano. Which also happened to be a staple of the Little River Band. Sure, it's not "breezy" like other yacht rock tunes, but Will Ferrell's Det. Allen Gamble is a big fan in The Other Guys (2010).

14. "Africa" (1982), Toto

Yes, more from Toto. If there's one popular Toto hit that whole-heartedly falls under the yacht rock moniker, it's " Africa ." The group's only song to top the Billboard Hot 100, and made a resurgence with Weezer's popular cover in recent years , "Africa," is the proper combination of mellow and poppy. It continues the Toto tradition of shared vocals, while the consistent synthesizer and keyboard presence, though more pronounced than the typical soft rock/adult contemporary vibe. 

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13. "How Much I Feel" (1978), Ambrosia

L.A.'s Ambrosia, co-founded by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter David Pack and bassist Joe Puerta was all about the soft rock sound that surfaced in Southern California during the early 1970s. "How Much I Feel," from the group's third album Life Beyond L.A. , might have more of an adult contemporary vibe but certainly falls into the yacht rock category. It was one of the band's biggest hits, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's remained popular over the years, even being sampled by Kanye West.

12. "Peg" (1977), Steely Dan

Steely Dan was, in its prime, under the direction of celebrated songwriters Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, many things regarding a collective sound. Rock, pop, jazz, blues. Usually melodic, well within the soft-rock category. Songs like "Peg," from the 1977 masterpiece Aja , certainly has a yacht rock vibe, too. Perhaps most notably is that the great Michael McDonald, longtime frontman of the Doobie Brothers and driving singer-songwriter in the soft/yacht rock circles, provides backing vocals on the track. 

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11. "Biggest Part of Me" (1980), Ambrosia

It really does get more yacht rock than this—smooth , with a flowing rhythm, precise, but not overbearing, harmonies . Not to mention the subtly stellar keyboard work from David C. Lewis. Throw in sessionist Ernie Watts' sax solo, and we have one great soft/yacht offering. It was the second of Ambrosia's two top-5 hits, reaching No. 3 on Billboard 's Hot 100. The version from the 1980s One Eighty  album runs about 5 1/2 minutes long. Talk about pure easy-listening joy.

10. "Summer Breeze" (1972), Seals & Crofts"

Long considered one of the great "summer songs" ever recorded. And summer-themed tunes from the 1970s tend to lend themselves to the yacht rock moniker. That said, Seals & Crofts were definitely a soft rock outfit, but with elements of folk and pop. "Summer Breeze" peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 1970s and, again, is notable for being one of the earliest yacht rock offerings. Several other prominent artists, such as Ray Conniff, the Isley Brothers, and a stellar metal version from Type O Negative. 

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9. "Ride Like the Wind" (1979), Christopher Cross

It's safe to say that Christopher Cross is the king of yacht rock. A brilliant songwriter and above-average guitar player, Cross could rock, but it's his definitive soft rock numbers that made him a star with lite-FM, adult contemporary and yacht rock fans. "Ride Like the Wind"  is the first single from Cross' stellar five-time Grammy-Award-winning self-titled debut from 1979. A more upbeat number about an outlaw running from the authorities, the track is less uplifting than other yacht rock tunes, but the vibe is the same. Of note, Michael McDonald provided backing vocals.

8. "Baby Come Back" (1977), Player

From John Friesen's steady drum intro to that durably underlaid bass line via Ron Moss to J.C. Crowley's keyboard presence begins the soft-rock brilliance of "Baby Come Back." With lyrics describing the yearning to reacquire a lost love and full-band harmonies, "Baby Come Back" just might be the quintessential offering of the yacht rock genre. It was the biggest hit for Player , the L.A.-based group that featured vocalist and song co-writer Peter Beckett, who was born in England. The tune topped the Billboard Hot 100 and still has a presence with its inclusion in films such as Transformers and  Black Adam.  Plus, various versions in popular TV shows like The Simpsons. American Dad  and King of the Hill.

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7. "What a Fool Believes" (1979), The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers were a rather hard-rocking outfit before Michael McDonald joined up in the mid-1970s. The band was in need of an established songwriter, and McDonald delivered. However, with a more mellow, synthesizer/electric piano-driven sound that produced soft-rock gems like this one. Co-written by Kenny Loggins, who put out a version for himself, "What a Fool Believes" hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in April 1979. Several critics have cited this as the best song in the vast Doobie Brothers catalog. 

6. "Steal Away" (1980), Robbie Dupree

If you're going to be a one-hit wonder, why not make it count? More than 30 years since its release, " Steal Away " can still be heard in elevators and office buildings throughout the United States -- or in the third season of Better Call Saul . Undeniably yacht rock, Dupree, born in Brooklyn, enjoyed success with the song during the summer of 1980 -- always a perfect time to enjoy the smooth, soothing sounds of a piece within this genre that peaked at No. 6 on Billboar d's Hot 100.

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5. "Moonlight Feels Right" (1975), Starbuck

Here's a case where middle-aged and baby-boomer music fans probably remember the song but perhaps not the group who performed the track. That's OK. Atlanta's Starbuck is essentially a one-hit wonder thanks to "Moonlight Feels Right," which topped out at No. 3 on Billboard 's Hot 100. For those who remember this track for its lite-flowing beat, with lyrical references to the ocean, "Baltimore," and 'Ole Miss," and band member Bo Wagner marimba solo, it might take them back to a simpler, more laidback time in their lives.

4. "Heart to Heart" (1982), Kenny Loggins

Perhaps more so than the previously mentioned "This Is It," "Heart to Heart" truly has all the requirements of a great yacht rock/soft rock tune. It was co-written by Michael McDonald, who also played the electric piano and provided backing vocals. David Foster, of Chicago songwriting and '80s ballad fame, also helped compose the tune, which features David Sanborn on saxophone. The track is one of Loggins' best-known hits, cracking the top 20 of the Hot 100.

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3. "Lowdown" (1976), Boz Scaggs

Co-written by David Paich and featuring Jeff Porcaro on drums -- both of whom who go on to form the aforementioned Toto. One of Scaggs most well-known hits, "Lowdown"  has a bluesy and almost disco vibe. And a number we can imagine being played at some swanky yacht club party where the dance floor is filled, and more than a few people are sporting captain's hats. The song reached No. 3 on Billboard 's Hot 100 and also topped the Billboard Cash Box chart in the United States.

2. "Key Largo" (1981), Bertie Higgins

Yacht rock and one-hit wonders seem to go hand-in-hand. Higgins scored one in the early 1980s with this number that reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Florida native was inspired to write this song about trying to avoid a romantic breakup by the 1948 movie of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, who are referenced in the tune. Though Higgins never enjoyed the same individual success as a musician, the song has had a solid shelf life and remains a definitive moment in the yacht rock genre.

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1. "Sailing" (1979), Christopher Cross

Sure, "Ride Like the Wind" is a gem, but the undisputed star of Cross' aforementioned debut album is the Hot 100-chart-topper "Sailing." It might be the definitive yacht rock song, capturing what Cross described, at the time, the "West Coast sound," which was long being composed, produced and performed, but maybe didn't have an appropriate moniker. The song won Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year, and was a big reason Cross earned the same award for Best New Artist.

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What we learned: Tuesday 19 March

And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of what we learned today:

Australian borrowers have been granted some additional breathing space today with the RBA holding interest rates steady for the third month in a row.

The Albanese government has threatened to shelve two draft bills on changes to religious discrimination laws , citing concerns about divisive debate amid heightened Islamophobia and anti-semitism, unless the opposition agrees to its “balanced” approach.

Mega donations of more than $1.5m would be banned under a crossbench plan to get big money out of politics.

The government has quietly removed from the notice paper for this week a controversial offshore gas bill introduced by resources minister, Madeleine King .

The communications minister, Michelle Rowland , has emphasised the ABC’s editorial independence , in response to complaints from the Ukrainian ambassador about last night’s Four Corners program spotlighting the perspective of Russian troops on the frontline.

New laws are set to be introduced to Victorian parliament to force career criminals to repay any wealth that they cannot prove was lawfully acquired.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong , says she expects “a frank exchange of views” when she welcomes China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi , to Canberra tomorrow.

Energy minister Chris Bowen says today’s default market offer on electricity - with the energy regulator saying consumers can expect price cuts of up to 7.1% - is “encouraging” but that there is “a long way to go”.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have urged the Victorian government to follow coronial recommendations and introduce a pill-testing trial at fixed and mobile sites.

Cricket Australia postpones T20 series against Afghanistan over human rights record

A second Australian men’s cricket series against Afghanistan in as many years has been postponed due to the country’s poor record on human rights for women and girls.

Australia had already cancelled a one-day international series last year due to “a marked deterioration” in the treatment of women and girls.

An improvement in the situation was anticipated since then and it was hoped a three-match T20 series would be given the green light to take place in August this year. But Cricket Australia on Tuesday said the conditions were getting worse rather than better and decided to again call off the series.

CA made its decision after consulting with the Australian government.

A statement read:

The government’s advice is that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse. For this reason, we have maintained our previous position and will postpone the bilateral series against Afghanistan. CA continues its strong commitment to supporting participation by women and girls in cricket around the world and will continue to actively engage the International Cricket Council and work closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to determine what actions could be taken to support the resumption of bilateral matches in the future.

Public Interest Advocacy Centre calls on Labor to keep promise to protect LGTBQ+ students and teachers

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre has called on the Albanese government to keep its promise to protect LGBTQI+ students and teachers and not shelve two draft bills on changes to religious discrimination laws .

Earlier today, the prime minister threatened to shelve the two draft bills , citing concerns about divisive debate amid heightened Islamophobia and anti-semitism unless the opposition agrees to its “balanced” approach.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton , has refused to offer any commitment before seeing the proposed legislation, describing the move on Tuesday as a “set-up” to allow Labor to dump its election commitment.

The director of policy and advocacy at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre , Alastair Lawrie , said:

Labor went to the May 2022 federal election with clear commitments to remove the special legal privileges that allow religious schools to discriminate against students and teachers on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The Albanese government must fulfil their promise to protect LGBTQ students and teachers in religious schools against discrimination, rather than give a veto to Mr Dutton. LGBTQ teachers, and especially students, have waited far too long already to enjoy their rights to teach and learn free from the fear of mistreatment on the basis of who they are.

Government quietly removes offshore gas approvals bill after warnings from environmental groups

The government has quietly removed from the notice paper for this week a controversial offshore gas bill introduced by the resources minister, Madeleine King . The bill seeks to preserve approvals for offshore gas projects, exempting them from reassessment if environmental laws are tightened.

First Nations advocates including Mardudhunera activist Raelene Cooper , environmental groups, the Greens and Senator David Pocock have all warned the bill will effectively allow the resources minister, not the environment minister, to set the rule of offshore gas approvals and water down consultation requirements.

The Greens have called on Labor to withdraw the controversial amendment in return for their support for vehicle emissions standards. A spokesperson for King said:

The government is continuing to engage on the bill across the parliament. We look forward to passing this important reform which will bring much needed clarity to offshore regulations.

At an inquiry hearing on Thursday, departmental officials said the government was open to clarifying the intent of the bill. Asked if this was the reason the bill had been withdrawn, King’s spokesperson said:

As we have said, we are open to further strengthening to give everyone confidence about the intent of the bill.

If you’re just catching up on today’s news, Mike Hohnen has our top stories here in our afternoon update:

Cyclone Megan downgraded to tropical low, but severe weather warning in place

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan has been downgraded to a tropical low after crossing onto the Northern Territory, although a severe weather warning is now in place for rain and wind.

Some 700 residents in the town of Borroloola faced the worst of the cyclone on Monday evening when it crossed the coast on the south-western side of the Gulf of Carpentaria as a category 1 storm.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the NT had seen rainfall totals in areas in the path of the cyclone of up to 289mm in the last 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.

In the next 24 to 48 hours, a BoM spokesperson said some parts of the territory could see rainfalls of up to 300mm:

While Megan has been downgraded from a tropical cyclone to a tropical low, she’s still a significant weather system that is expected to bring heavy rainfall, flooding and damaging wind gusts to the Northern Territory over the coming days.

Earlier we brought you news on the Albanese government’s threat to shelve two draft bills on changes to religious discrimination laws , citing concerns about divisive debate amid heightened Islamophobia and antisemitism.

If you missed it, Sarah Basford Canales has the story here:

Good afternoon, everyone. I’ll now be with you until this evening.

The parliament is beginning to wind down, so I will hand the blog over to Jordyn Beazley to take you through the evening.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined along with us for the second day of the sitting. We will be back early Wednesday, where we will be hearing the same arguments we have been hearing for the past 10 years. Can’t wait! In the mean time, take care, A x

Guiding principle on religious freedom should be whether any proposal protects people of faith, Cash says

Michealia Cash has released an official statement on the religious discrimination kerfuffle:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being unrealistic if he expects a commitment to bipartisan support for religious discrimination laws the Coalition has not even seen yet.

The briefing released following the government’s caucus meeting indicates they will not proceed with changes to the laws without bipartisan support.

Senator Cash:

We have not seen Labor’s draft Religious Discrimination bill and we have not seen their changes to the Sex Discrimination law. It is impossible to provide bipartisan support for bills we have not seen. The Attorney-General hasn’t even released the Australian Law Reform Commission report this legislation is guided by. Stakeholders have been telling me there are some very concerning aspects to the proposed legislation. From what we are hearing, Labor’s laws will severely weaken protections for religious schools and how they operate. We are also very concerned with reports of a vilification clause, with a test set so low, it will threaten freedom of speech. This legislation must be put through a rigorous parliamentary inquiry so all Australians can understand all the issues involved. The guiding principle here should be whether any proposal the government puts forward actually protects people of faith, or whether it takes religious people and institutions backwards.”

Major donor cap would apply equally to all donors, says independent Kate Chaney

The independent MP, Kate Chaney , has rejected Labor’s claim the crossbench is being hypocritical on donation reform.

Chaney says:

Under the bill I will be introducing, a major donor cap would apply equally to all donors, no matter who they donate to or how they donate, whether directly or through an aggregator. This simple cap model would take more than half the private money out of the system and stand up to constitutional challenge. People should be able to support their candidate by donating their time or money. A spending cap would stop people from being able to participate by donating. It’s hard to structure a spending cap that is actually fair to new challengers, because of the significant incumbency and party advantages. I’m open to considering a cap proposal from the government that is fair, but I haven’t seen one yet.”

Queensland deputy premier says byelection results show opposition leader could lead the state

The Queensland deputy premier, Cameron Dick , has pilloried the Liberal National Party for refusing to reveal its position on the government’s plan to upgrade Suncorp Stadium for the Olympic Games ceremonies. Labor MPs ditched their ministerial statements in parliament on Tuesday morning with only the premier addressing the house to defend the government’s decision to reject a proposal to build a $3.4bn stadium at Victoria Park.

The government will instead go with the cheaper option of upgrading Suncorp Stadium and the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.

Dick told reporters on Tuesday the government’s strategy was to force the opposition leader, David Crisafulli , to reveal his party’s position.

This weekend, the by-elections demonstrated that David Crisafulli could truly become the premier of Queensland. The question for David Crisafulli, it really is simple. Does he support the plan for good value games or does he support a new $3.4bn stadium at Victoria Park?

The Labor government came to parliament today to fight ... We came to ensure that David Crisafulli could no longer run away from the most important question of today.”

His comments came after LNP deputy leader, Jarrod Bleijie , said on Monday that if elected the party would go back to the drawing board and ask a planned independent infrastructure authority to make a plan.

Labor’s Farrell says some teal MPs hypocrites on political funding

The special minister of state, Don Farrell , has accused some teal independents of hypocrisy for proposing a cap of $1.5m on political donations but no cap on spending on election campaigns.

Farrell said:

Labor is committed to this reform. We need to stop billionaires throwing their money around and trying to buy our elections. Some of the teals are saying to us that they agree with banning big money, just not theirs.”

Earlier today, teal MPs including Kate Chaney , Allegra Spender , Zali Steggall and Zoe Daniel rejected any suggestion of hypocrisy, noting that many of their donations were from smaller donations.

We’ll bring you a full news story shortly.

ABC to meet Ukrainian ambassador to discuss Russia-Ukraine documentary

A spokesperson from the ABC has responded to criticism from the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia (which Daniel Hurst reported on earlier), saying the ABC will be meeting with the ambassador to discuss his concerns.

The ABC on Monday broadcast a documentary from film maker Sean Langan on its Four Corners program, which presented the Russian side of the experience at the frontlines in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The spokesperson says:

Ukraine’s War: The Other Side is a challenging but legitimate documentary made by reputable journalist Sean Langan and first aired last month on the UK’s ITV, that offers a rare insight into the lives of Russian soldiers during the war. It adds to our understanding of this tragic conflict and shows the full, horrific impact of the war. The reporter challenges the Russian soldiers and civilians featured in the film about their beliefs and opinions. The documentary is being seen internationally and is considered an important contribution to the reporting of the war. We believe Australian audiences also have the right to watch it and make up their own minds. Four Corners has broadcast several programs exploring aspects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, such as:

Despair & Defiance: The Battle for Ukraine

Inside Russia: Traitors and Heroes

The People’s Fight: The Battle for Kherson

The ABC will be meeting with the Ukrainian Ambassador to discuss his concerns.

Australia, UK to discuss defence, climate, clean energy, cyber, and economic security

The Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi , isn’t the only international visitor to Australia, this week.

The Australian government has confirmed it will welcome the UK’s foreign secretary (and former prime minister) David Cameron and the UK’s defence secretary, Grant Shapps . The pair will be in Canberra on Thursday for one-on-one talks with their direct counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles . The four will then fly to Adelaide for annual all-in talks on Friday known as Aukmin. That’s not Aukus; it’s stands for the Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations.

They will discuss ways to deepen cooperation between Australia and the UK “across defence, climate action and clean energy, cyber, and economic security”, a statement issued by the Australian government says.

Marles says it is “an increasingly complex strategic environment” and he looks forward to “working with our United Kingdom counterparts this week to progress ambitious new initiatives to deepen our defence partnership”.

Wong says Australia and the UK are “working together, including in the Indo-Pacific, for a world that is peaceful, stable, prosperous and respectful of sovereignty”.

Dutton says Labor election promise of religious freedom bill now ‘a lie’

Peter Dutton is now saying the government “went to the election with a promise that has now turned into a lie” which is an interesting line to take, given that the voice was also an election promise, but Dutton and the Coalition called on the government to scrap the referendum because there was no bipartisan support.

One of the reasons the government is shelving religious freedoms is because it does not want to have a debate on religion in the current climate of heightened Islamophobia and antisemitism when there is no bipartisan support for the bill.

The government has learnt, through what happened in the voice referendum, what can happen when there is no bipartisan support in areas of great community sensitivity.

But Dutton is saying the government should press on, regardless, because it was an election commitment.

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