Yachting World
- Digital Edition
The world’s biggest yachts – what’s behind the growth of the gigayacht
- Helen Fretter
- March 14, 2017
The last few years have seen launches of some of the world's largest yachts, truly gigayachts. Helen Fretter delves into the world of the gigayacht
Dwarfing not only any other yacht that happened to be on the River Eider, but even the buildings along the foreshore, the monolithic Sailing Yacht A made quite an impression when she was launched from the Nobriskrug yard in Hamburg in the autumn of 2016.
The 142m, eight-deck behemoth is the archetypal ‘gigayacht’, phenomenal not just in her dimensions but also in her radicalism.
The Philippe Starck-designed Sailing Yacht A , with her 20m freeboard, begs the question: is she even a sailing yacht? The last yacht to divide opinion, and attract the shock and awe of the non-sailing public in the same manner was Maltese Falcon , the glossy, experimental megayacht designed for Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tom Perkins.
But the Falcon was launched a decade ago, and Sailing Yacht A is just one of a crop of extraordinary gigayachts, or sailing superyachts of 80, 90 or 100m plus, to touch the water in 2016.
Besides the 142m Sailing Yacht A , another three-masted design was launched from OceanCo this autumn, the 106m Black Pearl , which looks set to become the largest sailing yacht in the world – for a while at least. Black Pearl represents a modern evolution of the rotating Dynarig pioneered by Maltese Falcon . Meanwhile in the spring, the largest Bermudan rigged yacht ever launched, the 86m ketch Aquijo , powered through sail trials in preparation for a global adventure.
There are more in the pipeline also. Royal Huisman announced this autumn that they had been commissioned to design and build the 86m Project 400 , another three masted design, this one more conventionally rigged. A proposal for the 114m Endurance has just been unveiled, an explorer concept designed to be able to cruise unassisted for three months. There is also the 86m Komorebi , an experimental wingsail-assisted hybrid trimaran design from the French multihull experts VPLP.
Rise and rise of the gigayacht
Why the sudden flurry of these stratospherically ambitious projects? In truth, it is not that sudden – initial pitches for what ultimately became Sailing Yacht A were invited back in 2008, and pre-studies began in 2011. A decade between projects seems rather shorter when design and build takes at least five years – gigayacht owners may be exacting, but they also have to be extraordinarily patient.
The 141m four-masted Dream Symphony is currently in build out of wood in Turkey, and includes vast living accommodation, and a swimming pool that converts to become a helipad platform.
What is remarkable, though, is how rapidly the yachts have grown in size – raising the upper ceiling from 88 to over 140m in a decade. Dutch naval architecture firm Dykstra has been instrumental in many of the world’s most innovative megayachts, including Sailing Yacht A , Black Pearl , and Maltese Falcon .
Managing director Thys Nikkels comments, “Ten years ago a big boat was a very different size than a big boat is now. I can still remember when I started working in ’91 a 40-metre yacht in those days was a big boat. In the mid-90s we started to design the yacht Athena , which we thought was the biggest boat we were ever going to see in our lives, as a sailing yacht she was 80 metres on the water.”
The largest single sloop rigged yacht in the world remains Mirabella V , launched back in 2003 and since renamed (and slightly lengthened during a refit) M5 at just over 77m. Rob Doyle, who worked on the project led by Ron Holland, recalls:
“We started designing her 17 years ago now. We hit a very natural sweet spot with Mirabella and that’s why it has taken so long for other boats to suddenly go over her length and over her rig height.
“ Mirabella still has the highest ‘P’ measurement [distance from boom to top of mast] and the longest boom in the world, though there are taller masts now.
“She set a bar and we didn’t realise we’d actually set it. It came down to a ratio of the rig weight to the draught and the keel weights, and everything else to be able to carry that amount of sail and that ballast to satisfy the rules.
“We pushed technology a lot – about 16 companies went bust over Mirabella because the jump was so massive. We were jumping from a 64m to a 75m [yacht] and that jump was like learning to fly, then going to the moon!”
Article continues below
Video of Sailing Yacht A, the world’s largest sail-assisted vessel, during early sea trials
This video footage of Sailing Yacht A shows her with her towering free-standing masts and illustrates the jaw-dropping scale of the world’s…
A look on board the extraordinary 86m Aquijo, the world’s largest ketch
The largest Bermudan rigged ketch ever launched, the 86m Aquijo was designed by Bill Tripp and launched last year. The build came…
Ken Freivokh, who was responsible for the radical styling of Maltese Falcon , also points out that after the much publicised launch of the Falcon many buyers did not want to be seen to be emulating Tom Perkins’s unique style, preferring to wait, or opt for a conservative design. After the Falcon , Freivokh’s next radical Dynarig yacht was Black Pearl , which he began work on six years ago. At 106m Black Pearl dwarfs Maltese Falcon , with a 2,700GT volume that puts her just under the key 3,000GT limit.
Surprisingly, Dykstra’s Thys Nikkels says that the Dynarigs being built today are not markedly different to the one developed for Maltese Falcon a decade ago. “In concept it is not very different. In detail there are a number of improvements that have been made.
But Maltese Falcon was – for her time – years far ahead and she proved to be very successful in sail handling and sailing, so there are not many improvements to be done. Nowadays you just have different materials you can use, or different electronics and software systems that you can use for control.”
Maltese Falcon, launched in 2006, pioneered the Dynarig concept utilised on many of the next generation of larger gigayachts.
Sail handling
Meanwhile a decade of development in superyacht rigs and sail systems, means that Aquijo ’s owner could opt for a conventional ketch rig, which can deploy over 3,000m2 of sails in around six minutes.
Sail handling routines are necessarily different – the jib is furled when tacking. “Vitters organised a nice system that keeps just a nice amount of tension on the jib sheets furling in and out so that they are not flailing about,” explains Aquijo ’s designer, Bill Tripp. “So it’s not a dinghy tack, but it is safe and orderly.
“The spinnaker is on a fast furler and furls up in 30 seconds, making gybes less complex. There is the ketch choreography of bringing the main and mizzen in, but the steering is precise and there is no need to put too much sail up for the conditions.”
Aquijo master cabin
The forces generated on yachts such as Aquijo may be enormous – mast compression can reach around 580 tons – but are no longer beyond the realms of riggers’ experience. “When we started building boats like Saudade [the 2009 45m Wally], 14 tonnes was a very big load. Once we understood racing these boats, and understood they were controllable, you can take another step.
“We were delighted when sailing Aquijo upwind in a lot of breeze that the load on the mainsheet was showing around 12 tonnes. It’s 2:1 so that’s 24 tonnes. I’m not saying that’s not a massive load, but it’s similar to what we have on Saudade ’s big sheet 1:1, and we have years of experience with handling that.” Custom built 40 ton carbon and alloy winches help manage the sheet loads.
Tripp notes that a Dynarig was never considered as an option. “What you’re really asking is do you want the ease of sailing or do you want to be able to access something exciting? And we wanted both of them.
“Sailors tend to like the more fundamental experiences, and when the technology allows them to access those more fundamental experiences, well that’s a great joy.”
Aquijo is the world’s largest ketch, with a mainsail that can be furled or unfurled in around four seconds
Finding the limit
Just how big can a sailing yacht go? Five years ago plans were unveiled for a 101m sloop, with a single 125m carbon mast, which raised a few eyebrows and discussions over whether it might be possible. Malcolm McKeon worked on the proposal and says that it was the cost, rather than technical limitations, which put the brakes on the project.
“It was an evolving process. The owner has a 50m-plus sailing superyacht, and he wanted a new yacht big enough that he could put a reasonably sized chase boat on board. He wanted an explorer type sailboat that he could go to the Pacific on, and carry all his toys with him, and not have to have a support boat.
“The design started at 65 or 70m and it just grew and grew and grew until it got to 100m, and then it basically just got too expensive.
Recent sail trials on Sailing Yacht A saw the 1,464m2 mainsail unfurled from the 27.5m carbon U-shaped boom. Incredibly she is designed to heel up to a maximum angle of 12 degrees under full sail.
“The big problem with the large sail boats is the mast price goes up by a bigger proportion to everything else so the rig price becomes a much bigger percentage of the overall build. Technically it can all be done, it’s just the value of that part becomes a much more significant part and sometimes more difficult for an owner to accept.
“If somebody came to me and said they wanted to build a boat with a 200m mast I would think well, is that really possible? Certainly rigs up to 100m and a bit more I think are possible today, but where we’re going to go after that I don’t know.”
Rob Doyle points out that sailing superyacht owners pay around a 30 per cent premium over opting for a motoryacht, yet the boats lose around a third of the equivalent interior volume. However, for him the biggest limitations are the humans onboard.
“I think we are coming to a stage where we need a new type of rig, to be honest, to be able to safely deploy these sails without killing people. I think we are getting very close to where the metal meets the flesh at the deck level where the people and the guests are hanging around.”
With the ever-increasing winch and line speeds needed to handle the huge loads, serious hand and limb injuries can happen in the blink of an eye. “There is a moral hazard there that keeps playing on my mind,” says Doyle. “We are building very dangerous machines and we have to be very careful of people.”
The newly announced Endurance concept design is a 114m four-masted explorer design with a 6,000 mile range under power.
More prosaically, the bigger your gigayacht, the bigger the challenge of just getting on and off it. “Once you are getting to a stage where you can’t get into anchorages you are in constant fear of drifting – even putting down an anchor you need a huge amount of space around you.
“So then you anchor further out into the slop and the big waves, so the owners find it difficult to get on and off the boat, and suddenly other problems can overwhelm the project,” Doyle points out. One increasingly popular solution to that particular problem is a luxury landing craft.
Too big for the Panama Canal
It might seem counter-intuitive, but it is Aquijo ’s owner’s focus on the sailing experience that has enabled the designers of the 86m ketch to push the size limits of a traditionally rigged yacht.
“ Aquijo is a sophisticated machine and brings most aspects of a 1,600GT motor yacht with her,” comments designer Bill Tripp. “But she does not aspire to helicopters or submarines, the feeling of the boat is one of use. She is for getting out there, and for going out sailing. In Greece this summer, she would go out for an afternoon of sailing in 35 knot Meltemi because it is so much fun to sail at 20 knots, as if on rails.
“We have always done sailboats that can get under the Panama Canal bridge, and the biggest we were happy to do and put under the bridge was really 46m because after that we didn’t have big enough sails for the boat.
“Then five years ago we launched A Better Place , and the owner said ‘I’ll go around, I don’t want to limit my boat because of the bridges.’ With Aquijo they said, we want to go to these places anyway, so let’s get the best sailboat we can. So suddenly, instead of having this 63m limit on the rig, that all opened up and we could start doing a sailing boat that had a gross tonnage like some of the bigger motoryachts.
“I think we’re going to see more of that. You can look at the Strait of Magellan [an alternative route to rounding Cape Horn ], as a place that’s a really long way away or a place you really want to go.”
The three-masted Black Pearl has an angular ‘Pacman’ bow with a wave-piercing reverse sheer lower section, and extended traditional foredeck above
The wish list
Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko is keeping his Sailing Yacht A tightly wrapped under non-disclosure agreements, but a few intriguing details have been released, including magnifying windows which appear larger inside than outside, and a gimballed crow’s nest, accessible by lift, 60m high in the curved mast.
An observation pod embedded in the keel with foot-thick glass gives a mesmerising – and frankly terrifying-sounding – view of the propellers, and there’s a three-man submarine.
Gigayacht designers have come up with some imaginative solutions to meet owners’ foibles and demands. Drawings for the 101m sloop incorporated an entirely retractable hardtop to the flybridge to give the owner his requested uninterrupted view of the sails and sky.
Plans for the Japanese-influenced Komorebi design feature a live tree on the aft deck. Watersports toys are old news – now tender garages are specified to house motorbikes, amphibious quad bikes, even custom-built marinised supercars.
On Aquijo , the headline feature is the ‘beach club’ on the lower deck. “For a sailing boat it is a huge area, they have a sauna, hamman [Turkish Bath], a rainfall shower, a relaxing area, this huge whirlpool in the middle, a little pantry, and enough space for gym equipment around the pool,” explains interior designer Robert Voges.
Beach club on Aquijo.
Voges says the trickiest element on the yacht was the flawless high shine steel mast claddings which run through the interior. “It is like a piece of art. The mast was going through the main saloon and guest corridor, and we didn’t want to hide it. So we decided to make a feature out of it with seamless stainless steel cladding with integrated LED strip lights from top to bottom over two decks.”
One of the most radical projects in progress is the 141m Dream Symphony , a four-masted design currently in build in Turkey. Originally slated for launch this year, the project is progressing slowly – in part due to the fact the yacht is constructed of wood. Her design includes a large aft deck swimming pool that transforms into a raised helipad area.
This is the type of concept which seemed fantastical just a few years ago, but is now reality in the motoryachts world where designs like the 81m Alfa Nero have deployed it successfully.
“It’s a good solution because you usually have to drop down all the stanchions and any elements that are higher than the helipad itself, whereas if you lift the helipad you don’t have to lower the other elements,” explains Dream Symphony designer Ken Freivokh.
The 141m four-masted Dream Symphony
“The brief did not call for a resident helicopter that would have its own hanger – it’s just a ‘touch and go’. You don’t want to set aside space for a helicopter permanently that’s almost never there, so if you have a reasonably sized swimming pool why not use the base of a pool to just receive the helicopter, and then once the helicopter flies away you can put it back to normal operations?” Why not indeed?
No matter how grandiose your ideas, however, not even the vast volumes of a gigayacht can be entirely filled with art galleries and Reiki studios. Robert Voges explains that, like any other ship, “We have to start with all the emergency exits, the corridors, staircases . . . and from there we can work with the other areas which are left over.”
Ken Freivokh estimates that at least 20 per cent of the interior space has to be allocated to the back-of-house systems required to maintain the equivalent of a small hotel – air conditioning, waste, media, and other unglamorous elements behind the touch-screen luxury.
Edge of reason
At 12,700 GT, Sailing Yacht A has the vastest volume of all. But can she be called a sailing yacht? She carries three of the world’s largest carbon rigs – curved, unstayed, capable of rotating a maximum of 70 degrees – featuring in-boom furling that can deploy 3,747 square metres of sail area (67 per cent more than Maltese Falcon ) from a finger tip command. And yet she cannot help but look implausible.
The hull has a maximum beam of 24.8m and includes 24 shell doors.
No matter how innovative the technology on board, or how vast the expense, the elements will not bend to the will of man or millionaire. Various estimates have put her cost at $400-500million, or in the region of £320 to £400 million – to put those sort of figures in context, the bill for the London Olympics Aquatics centre came in at under £300m.
Sailing Yacht A will be ‘sail-assisted’, not wind-powered. Confounding, aggressive in her styling, she’s a yacht that has attracted scathing opinions as often as wide-eyed wonder. But what is the point of creating a gigayacht that doesn’t?
“It is a creative process with the owner,” comments Aquijo ’s designer Bill Tripp, “They have this idea that they can make something that speaks to them. They don’t write symphonies, and they’re not great painters or sculptors, but on the other hand money is vital energy, and they can create these things that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
“It’s great when someone says, ‘Life’s short, I’m just going to do this.’”
672 Wine Club
- Motorcycles
- Car of the Month
- Destinations
- Men’s Fashion
- Watch Collector
- Art & Collectibles
- Vacation Homes
- Celebrity Homes
- New Construction
- Home Design
- Electronics
- Fine Dining
- Benchmark Wines
- Brian Fox Art
- Chase United
- Disneyland Resort
- Gateway Bronco
- Royal Salute
- Sports & Leisure
- Health & Wellness
- Best of the Best
- The Ultimate Gift Guide
The 25 Largest Yachts in the World
The list runs from lürssen's 592-foot 'azzam' to fincantieri 439-foot 'serene,' with a fascinating group of bespoke vessels in between..
- Share This Article
The new arrivals in 2024 knock the mighty 436.4-foot Al Mirqab and Koru , Jeff Bezos’s sailing yacht, off the list. The “smallest” yacht— Serene —measures a whopping 439.3 feet. A raft of behemoths didn’t make it, including Feadship’s 290-foot Project 821 that is launching this year, the largest build from the Dutch shipyard to date.
Two of Lürssen’s 2024 deliveries also fell short, including Project Deep Blue and Project JassJ. That said, the German yard remains top of the leader board with the immoveable 592.6-foot Azzam . It also claims 13 of the 25 world’s largest yachts, two of which are new entries.
The list is interesting because most were built in the last 15 years, but there are several historical yachts, including Savarona , launched in 1931, and El Mahrousa , launched in 1865, that withstand the test of time. Others like Yas and OK are conversions from other types of vessels. The inimitable A is a one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated sailing superyacht.
Here are the world’s top 25 yachts by length.
Azzam | 592 feet, 6 inches
Lürssen could never really boast about Azzam after its launch in 2013 because of the owner’s penchant for privacy, though it did describe the interior by Christophe Leoni, which features a 95-foot-long main salon, as “inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century.” Owner 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 when operating in “sprint mode”. Its gas turbines, connected to water jets, also give it the ability to operate at high speed in shallow waters. Nauta Yacht’s exterior features a long, sleek forward area, with well-proportioned tiers moving up to the skydeck. It took an impressive six million man-hours—or four years including engineering—to build. Azzam accommodates up to 36 guests, and a crew of 80.
Fulk Al Salamah | 538 feet, 1 inch
Little information has been released about the world’s second-longest superyacht, the custom-built Fulk Al Salamah , and it has been shrouded in mystery since it was first announced in 2014. Even the overall length of 538.1 feet has been estimated from AIS data. However, the imposing vessel, built and delivered by Italian builder Mariotti Yachts in their Genoa shipyard in 2016, is believed to be owned by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman. Last refit in 2021, the yacht has an exterior design 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.
Eclipse | 533 feet, 1 inch
The 533.1-foot stately Eclipse , one of two yachts on this list owned by sanctioned 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 primary 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, the capacity to hold three helicopters, a sophisticated stabilization system, six tenders, and an enormous spa, gym and beach club, not to mention one of the largest swimming pools on any superyacht. 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.
Dubai | 531 feet, 5 inches
Even at 531.5 feet, Dubai ’s all-white Winch-designed exterior belies the dramatic and vibrant interior within. Colorful mosaic floors, a spiraling glass staircase, 70-foot-wide atrium, and bursts of red, blue, and green create a carnival of scene. Originally commissioned for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei as a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen . Known as “Panhandle,” the project 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 SOLAS-certified seven-decked yacht has a landing pad for a Black Hawk helicopter, submarine garage, disco and cinema, and can reach a top speed of 26 knots. There’s also a waterfall that cascades from the yacht’s pool, located aft of the main deck. The yacht’s range of 8,500 nm at 25 knots gives it the potential to cruise around the world in record time.
Blue | 518 feet, 3 inches
Lürssen’s newest entry on the list, Blue , which delivered to its Middle Eastern owner in July 2022, may rank at number five out of the world’s largest yachts, but its diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system goes a long way to minimize emissions. The yacht also features an electric Azimuth pod drive that can be used independently or in conjunction with the twin propeller shafts. There is a waste-water treatment system and an advanced exhaust treatment system to help reduce NOx levels, as well as cut down on vibration and noise pollution. Interior and exterior design is by Terence Disdale, Blue is defined in profile by a raked bow with a helipad, an aft deck pool, and twin balconies forward either side of the owner’s full-beam suite. There is a second, smaller helipad aft. The British designer has reportedly penned a feminine and elegant interior, though no images have yet been released.
Dilbar | 511 feet, 8 inches
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,two helicopter pads, one of which has a hangar with an H175 helicopter always on standby. Dilbar also has an oversized garden and an 82-foot swimming pool that can hold an incredible 6,357-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. Despite Dilbar ’s volume, the designers did a masterful job making the yacht look relatively svelte. In June 2020, Dilbar returned to Lürssen for a significant refit, where the yacht remains following U.S. sanctions placed on the owner, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, in 2022. The yacht’s value is estimated to be $600 million.
Al Saïd | 508 feet, 5 inches
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, the yacht was listed for the sale for the first time in April 2022 for an undisclosed sum, but a buyer has yet to be confirmed. The six-decked Al Saïd can carry 154 crew and an estimated 70 guests across 26 suites. Lürssen reports 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, a private cinema for 50 people; you’ll also find a medical room and dental care on board.
A+ | 483 feet, 1 inch
Very little is known about A+ (formerly Topaz) , which was launched by Lürssen in 2012. 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 Nahyan—Emirati royalty and deputy prime minister of the UAE— A+ is equipped with a 40-foot Vikal catamaran beachlander and is powered by six Wärtsilä engines to reach a top speed of 22 knots. It can carry 62 guests and up to 79 crew and was last refit in 2022.
Prince Abdulaziz | 482 feet, 3 inches
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, a title the 482.3-foot Prince Abdulaziz held 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 . The yacht is also rumored to be carrying surface-to-air missiles, though that may be an urban legend. Launched by Helsingør Værft in Denmark in 1984, it was last refit in 2023.
OK | 479 feet
Originally built by Japan’s Oshima Shipbuilding in 1982, the semisubmersible heavy lift ship was used for decades by DYT Yacht Transport as float-on yacht carrier. In 2022, the vessel underwent a private conversion at Karmarine shipyard in Turkey, turning it into a luxury, though highly unusual, yacht named OK . Modifications include a matte-black paint job, gold-tinted glazing, and teak decking. The vessel’s 328-foot submersible aft deck—a feature that first attracted her new owner, who uses OK to transport their 150-foot ketch—is now covered in a carpet of artificial grass. A 40-tonne crane allows for the safe and easy launch and retrieval of a vast range of toys, including a seaplane. The interior by Bozca Design is reported to include accommodation for 20 guests, a botanical garden, and a crazy Willy Wonka–inspired glass elevator that operates outside of the yacht’s superstructure.
Opera | 479 feet
Very little is known about Lürssen’s mysterious superyacht Opera , though it’s thought to be a rebuild of Project Sassi, which was destroyed in a fire in 2018 at the German shipyard. Now four feet longer than the first iteration, the superyacht became the 11th largest yacht in the world when it delivered to its patient owner in 2023. Exterior and interior designed by Terence Disdale, Opera has a whopping 66-foot beam and an interior volume exceeding 10,000GT. No interior images have been released yet, though judging by its two swimming pools, one with a lifting floor, and two helipads—one on the bow and one on the upper aft deck—it seems no expense has been spared.
El Mahrousa | 478 feet, 1 inch
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. The world’s oldest superyacht—and formerly the world’s biggest—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. It 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.
Project Luminance | 475 feet, 7 inches
Delivered in 2024, Project Luminance (the real name is yet to be confirmed) is Lürssen’s newest entry on the list. Exterior designed by Espen Øino, the yacht has a raked bow, a contrasting paint job in a dark blue hull and silver superstructure and a whopping 8,999 gross tons of interior volume. Few details are yet known about the gigayacht owned by Ukrainian mining and financial services mogul Rinat Akhmetov, including the interior by Francois Zuretti, but aerial shots reveal twin helicopter pads—one on the foredeck and another high up aft—a large beach club, and an infinity pool, with a private spa pool area on the foredeck.
A | 468 feet, 5 inches
Undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects ever delivered by German shipyard Nobiskrug, the Philippe Starck-designed A is a wild fantasy of the future. Delivered in 2017, the futuristic look of sailing yacht A includes smooth, silver-metallic surfaces and windows that look nearly invisible, a 26-foot draft, 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 Nobiskrug , which developed composite fashion plates to create the unusual shapes without compromising any strength or fluidity. It has the tallest freestanding composite masts on any sailing vessel, a diesel-electric propulsion system, and state-of-the-art navigation systems. The boat also reportedly has an underwater viewing platform in the keel. Starck’s traditional interior features dark wood, copper accents, and cozy patterned carpets. The split-deck main salon is divided into zoned seating areas with integrated bookshelves. A remains today the world’s largest sailing yacht six years after its launch, though many argue it is better defined as a sail-assisted yacht.
Nord | 466 feet
Nord was announced in 2015 but didn’t hit the water until its 2020 sea trials in the Baltic Sea. The 466-foot yacht features interior design by Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard and was Lürssen’s first yacht launched from its floating shed at its facility in Vegasack. Boasting 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 exploration, and a retractable hangar means a 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.
Yas | 462 feet, 6 inches
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. Reportedly owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al Nahyan, half-brother of the president of the UAE, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the design by Paris-based Pierrejean Vision is defined by massive glass surfaces. Yas can accommodate 60 guests and 58 crew members. Mated to a steel hull, the superstructure is the largest composite edifice ever built.
Solaris | 459 feet, 3 inches
Owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, the 476-foot Solaris was one of the largest yachts to deliver in 2021. Last refit in 2022 at MB92 in Barcelona, the vast, highly private explorer is built by German shipyard Lloyd Werft and features a displacement steel hull with bulbous bow and steel superstructure with teak decks. The eight-deck exterior by Australian designer Marc Newson houses a large helipad, sundeck, spacious beach club aft and 21,527 square feet of glass, the largest panes to ever be built into a yacht. Lloyd Werft also built the Russian billionaire’s previous explorer yacht Luna , which he reportedly sold for $360 million to his close friend Farkhad Akhmedov in 2014.
Ocean Victory | 459 feet, 3 inches
The largest motoryacht ever built in Italy, Fincantieri’s Ocean Victory is owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, who was sanctioned in 2022. 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. The interior by Alberto Pinto remains a secret, aside from the yacht’s six pools, a 3,300-square-foot spa, and an underwater observation room.
Scheherazade | 459 feet, 3 inches
The 459.3-foot, Lürssen-built Scheherazade (formerly known as Project Lightning) was delivered in June 2020, with exterior design by Espen Øino and interior design by Francois Zuretti. Two helipads, forward and aft, and a large beach club aft are visible from aerial photographs, but aside from the yacht’s reported seven-foot beam, 40 crew and unique drone-crashing system for privacy, further details have not yet been released. The reason may lie with the yacht’s unofficial owner, believed to be Russian president Vladimir Putin. In May 2022, Italian authorities froze Scheherazade in the port of Marina di Carrara following an investigation conducted by Italian financial police who found the ship’s beneficial owner had “significant economic and business ties” to high-ranking Russian government officials, though the results of the investigation to date remain inconclusive.
Al Salamah | 456 feet
When Lürssen launched Al Salamah in 1999, it was the third-largest yacht in the world. Its number 20 ranking shows how much has changed in the last 20 years. Code-named MIPOS, or Mission Possible, the yacht was designed by Terence Disdale . Originally owned by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the yacht was put up for sale for $280 million in in 2013 before it was reportedly given to Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as a gift. 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.
Rising Sun | 454 feet, 1 inch
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, who reportedly paid $590 million for the yacht. The yacht comes with a gym, a grand piano, multiple swimming pools, a beauty salon, and a spa with a sauna. Delivered in 2004 and last refit in 2022, the yacht’s exterior is 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, and the rear cockpit deck was designed as a basketball court. Geffen received global media backlash in 2020 for his “tone deaf” social-media posts that pictured himself on board his yacht during Covid-19 lockdown.
Flying Fox | 446 feet, 2 inches
The 446.2-foot Flying Fox is arguably the most high-profile yacht on this list, primarily for being the largest yacht available on the charter market. In 2022, it was also singled out as “blocked property” by U.S. authorities in 2022 due to its previous management Imperials Yachts, which was on the US sanctions list. The yacht’s owner, however, Russian billionaire Dmitry Kamenshchik, is not sanctioned, so the yacht was turned over to him and returned to charter in 2024. 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, a decompression chamber, and two helipads. Flying Fox is PYC compliant and can accommodate 25 guests.
Savarona | 446 feet, 2 inches
Launched in 1931, and by far the largest and fastest private yacht of her day, Savarona was built for American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwalader and is easily identified by its two mustard-colored funnels. 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. Savarona became Turkey’s official presidential yacht again in 2014, accommodating up to 34 guests in 17 suites and carrying up to 48 crew. Amenities include a swimming pool, a Turkish bath, a 280-foot grand staircase, a movie theater and a library dedicated to Atatürk.
Crescent | 443 feet
Last refit in 2021, Espen Øino’s dark hull and tiered superstructure was one of the most exciting launches of 2018. Called Project Thunder internally at Lürssen, the custom-built yacht features cutouts 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 describing it as being “traditionally styled.” If it lives up to Crescent ’s brash exterior, the complete yacht promises to be an entirely groundbreaking design. In March 2022, Crescent was detained by Spain as property of Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, who is sanctioned in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Serene | 439 feet, 3 inches
Serene is the yacht that launched Fincantieri 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. Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design created the 43,056-square-foot interior for a Russian owner, which includes a double height atrium with a piano lounge at the top and a vast open-plan main salon below. Sunken LEDs and bright pink and purple neon lights create a modern party vibe in the social areas, which contrast with the elaborate yet more traditional guest suites. A spiral staircase with intricate metal banisters soars through the heart of the yacht. The open stern area has a winter garden (enclosed glasshouse) 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.
Read More On:
- Blohm + Voss
- Dream Machines 2020
More Marine
This Speedy 70-Foot Power Catamaran Is Designed to Cut Through Rough Waters
New Zealand’s Thrilling Win Gets the America’s Cup Off to a Rip-Roaring Start
This Revamped 161-Foot Trinity Superyacht Could Be Yours for $16 Million
Rescuers Find Remaining Missing Aboard the Sunken ‘Bayesian’ Superyacht
Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.
Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.
Give the Gift of Luxury
Latest Galleries in Marine
10 Must-Haves That Will Make Your Yacht Trip Even Better
6 Electric Surfboards That’ll Help You Ride the New E-Foil Wave
More from our brands, victoria’s secret fashion show 2024 models casting announcements, live updates: tyra banks, gigi hadid and more, headset insurance: aflac can duck out of cu deal if deion departs, kamala harris talks up vision for ‘opportunity economy’ in first campaign interview, says trump is ‘dividing our nation’, a long night out during art basel yields run-ins with collectors, celebs, and art world power brokers, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.
Luxe Digital
Conscious, elevated living.
- Men's style
- Women's style
- Buying guides
- Stricking superlatives
- Publishing principles
- In the press
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Receive our finest finds, exclusive deals, and luxury news to stay in the know.
As Far As You Can Sea: World’s Largest Superyachts
Multimillion-dollar mega yachts.
by Emma Treagus Updated on May 22, 2024
At Luxe Digital, we test and recommend products that we think you will love. If you buy something, we might earn a commission . This supports our team at no extra cost 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
26 | 417 feet | |
25 | 436 feet | |
24 | 439 feet | |
23 | 445 feet | |
22 | 446 feet | |
21 | 446 feet | |
20 | 454 feet | |
19 | 457 feet | |
18 | 458 feet | |
17 | 459 feet | |
16 | 460 feet | |
15 | 463 feet | |
14 | 465 feet | |
13 | 469 feet | |
12 | 478 feet | |
11 | 479 feet | |
10 | 480 feet | |
9 | 482 feet | |
8 | 483 feet | |
7 | 508 feet | |
6 | 511 feet | |
5 | 527 feet | |
4 | 531 feet | |
3 | 533 feet | |
2 | 538 feet | |
1 | 590 feet |
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.
LOA: | 417 ft (127 m) |
Builder: | Oceanco |
Country of build: | Netherlands |
Year of build: | 2023 |
Yacht owner: | Jeff Bezos |
Yacht price: | $500 million |
Number of guests: | 18 |
Number of crew: | 40 |
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.
LOA: | 436 ft (133m) |
Builder: | Peterswerft – Kusch |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2008 |
Yacht owner: | Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Than |
Yacht price: | $300 million |
Number of guests: | 60 |
Number of crew: | 60 |
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.
LOA: | 439 ft (134 m) |
Builder: | Fincantieri |
Country of build: | Italy |
Year of build: | 2011 |
Yacht owner: | Kheir Eddine El Jisir |
Yacht price: | $330 million |
Number of guests: | 24 |
Number of crew: | 52 |
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.
LOA: | 445 feet (135.6 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2018 |
Yacht owner: | Igor Sechin |
Yacht price: | $600 million |
Number of guests: | 18 |
Number of crew: | 40 |
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.
LOA: | 446 feet (135.94 meters) |
Builder: | Blohm & Voss |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 1931 |
Yacht owner: | Government of Turkey |
Yacht price: | $100 million |
Number of guests: | 34 |
Number of crew: | 48 |
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.
LOA: | 446 feet (136 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2019 |
Yacht owner: | Unknown |
Yacht price: | $300 million |
Number of guests: | 22 |
Number of crew: | 54 |
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.
LOA: | 454 feet (138 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2004 |
Yacht owner: | David Geffen |
Yacht price: | $400 million |
Number of guests: | 16 |
Number of crew: | 45 |
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.
LOA: | 457 feet (139 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 1999 |
Yacht owner: | Crown Prince of Bahrain |
Yacht price: | $280 million |
Number of guests: | 40 |
Number of crew: | 134 |
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.
LOA: | 461 feet (140 meters) |
Builder: | Lloyd Werft |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2021 |
Yacht owner: | Roman Abramovich |
Yacht price: | $600 million |
Number of guests: | 36 |
Number of crew: | 60 |
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.
LOA: | 459 feet (140 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2020 |
Yacht owner: | Unknown |
Yacht price: | $700 million |
Number of guests: | 18 |
Number of crew: | 40 |
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.
LOA: | 460 feet (140 meters) |
Builder: | Fincantieri |
Country of build: | Italy |
Year of build: | 2014 |
Yacht owner: | Viktor Rashnikov |
Yacht price: | $300 million |
Number of guests: | 28 |
Number of crew: | 56 |
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.
LOA: | 463 feet (141 meters) |
Builder: | Koninklijke Schelde |
Country of build: | The Netherlands |
Year of build: | 1981 |
Yacht owner: | Hamdan bin Zayed al Nahyan |
Yacht price: | $180 million |
Number of guests: | 60 |
Number of crew: | 56 |
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.
LOA: | 465 feet (142 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2020 |
Yacht owner: | Alexei Mordashov |
Yacht price: | $500 million |
Number of guests: | 24 |
Number of crew: | 40 |
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.
LOA: | 469 ft (142.8m) |
Builder: | Nobiskrug |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2017 |
Yacht owner: | Andrey Melnichenko |
Yacht price: | $600 million |
Number of guests: | 20 |
Number of crew: | 54 |
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.
LOA: | 478 feet (146 meters) |
Builder: | Samuda Brothers |
Country of build: | England |
Year of build: | 1863 |
Yacht owner: | Egypt’s presidential yacht |
Yacht price: | Unknown |
Number of guests: | Unknown |
Number of crew: | 160 |
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.
LOA: | 479 ft (146 m) |
Builder: | Oshima Shipbuilding |
Country of build: | Japan |
Year of build: | 1982 |
Yacht owner: | Unknown |
Yacht price: | $40 million |
Number of guests: | 20 |
Number of crew: | 24 |
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.
LOA: | 480 ft (146.4 m) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2023 |
Yacht owner: | Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Yacht price: | $450 million |
Number of guests: | 48 |
Number of crew: | 80 |
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.
LOA: | 482 feet (147.01 meters) |
Builder: | Helsingor Vaerft |
Country of build: | Denmark |
Year of build: | 1984 |
Yacht owner: | Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd |
Yacht price: | $100 million |
Number of guests: | 64 |
Number of crew: | 65 |
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.
LOA: | 483.1 feet (147.25 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2012 |
Yacht owner: | Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahya |
Yacht price: | $527 million |
Number of guests: | 62 |
Number of crew: | 79 |
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.
LOA: | 508 feet (155 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2008 |
Yacht owner: | Sultan of Oman |
Yacht price: | $600 million |
Number of guests: | 65 |
Number of crew: | 140 |
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.
LOA: | 511 feet (156 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2015 |
Yacht owner: | Alisher Usmanov |
Yacht price: | $256 million |
Number of guests: | 40 |
Number of crew: | 80 |
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.
LOA: | 527 ft (160.6m) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2022 |
Yacht owner: | Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Yacht price: | $600 million |
Number of guests: | 48 |
Number of crew: | 80 |
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.
LOA: | 531 feet (162 meters) |
Builder: | Blohm + Voss and Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 1998 |
Yacht owner: | Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
Yacht price: | $400 million |
Number of guests: | 115 |
Number of crew: | 88 |
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.
LOA: | 533 feet (162.5 meters) |
Builder: | Blohm + Voss |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2009 |
Yacht owner: | Roman Abramovich |
Yacht price: | $500 million |
Number of guests: | 30 |
Number of crew: | 70 |
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.
LOA: | 538 feet (164 meters) |
Builder: | Mariotti |
Country of build: | Italy |
Year of build: | 2016 |
Yacht owner: | Sultan Haitham bin Tariq |
Yacht price: | $500 million |
Number of guests: | 40 |
Number of crew: | 100 |
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.
LOA: | 590 feet (180.6 meters) |
Builder: | Lurssen |
Country of build: | Germany |
Year of build: | 2013 |
Yacht owner: | Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Yacht price: | $600 million |
Number of guests: | 36 |
Number of crew: | 60 |
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.
Learn more about Emma Treagus
Standing Tall: Oakywood Adjustable Desk Doesn’t Sit Still
More like out-standing desk.
The 7 Best Sneakers For Men: Master The Casual Look
The 15 Most Popular Luxury Brands Online
Best Italian Car Brands: Power, Passion And Perfection
Randolph Sunglasses Review: From Fighter Jets to Fashion-Forward
Mejuri Jewelry Review: Stylish, Stackable, Sustainable
Hot Off The Grill: Three Cuts Steakhouse Dubai Review
Sun, Sand, and Splendor: The Most Exclusive Private Members’ Clubs In Miami
Amberjack Slip-On Review: All-Day Comfort In Every Step
Homes Of The Rich: The Most Expensive Houses In The World
Proudly inspiring millions of readers like you .
Your Conscious,
Elevated Life
Starts Here.
- Striking superlatives
- Today's news
- Reviews and deals
- Climate change
- 2024 election
- Newsletters
- Fall allergies
- Health news
- Mental health
- Sexual health
- Family health
- So mini ways
- Unapologetically
- Buying guides
- Labor Day sales
Entertainment
- How to Watch
- My watchlist
- Stock market
- Biden economy
- Personal finance
- Stocks: most active
- Stocks: gainers
- Stocks: losers
- Trending tickers
- World indices
- US Treasury bonds
- Top mutual funds
- Highest open interest
- Highest implied volatility
- Currency converter
- Basic materials
- Communication services
- Consumer cyclical
- Consumer defensive
- Financial services
- Industrials
- Real estate
- Mutual funds
- Credit cards
- Balance transfer cards
- Cash back cards
- Rewards cards
- Travel cards
- Online checking
- High-yield savings
- Money market
- Home equity loan
- Personal loans
- Student loans
- Options pit
- Fantasy football
- Pro Pick 'Em
- College Pick 'Em
- Fantasy baseball
- Fantasy hockey
- Fantasy basketball
- Download the app
- Daily fantasy
- Scores and schedules
- GameChannel
- World Baseball Classic
- Premier League
- CONCACAF League
- Champions League
- Motorsports
- Horse racing
New on Yahoo
- Privacy Dashboard
The 25 Largest Yachts in the World, From Merely Enormous to Humongous
From the exceedingly large to the downright gargantuan, the top 25 largest yachts in the world continue to impress. Built by shipyards all over the world—from the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, the United States, Greece, and the United Kingdom, to name just a few—new launches and refits are delivered each year, at the request of owners around the globe. Some yards, such as Germany-based Lürssen, complete more than their share of the largest yachts. Of the top 25 featured here, the company has built 13, and that’s not even including the two built by Blohm+Voss, which it acquired. The below list changes a little every year, but some of these vessels have remained on the list for years. Here are the top 25 largest yachts in the world to date.
25. ‘Katara’ (408 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen
Launched in 2010, Katara has an exterior by Espen Øino and features a large helipad on the stern area and an open foredeck area. She carries two tenders and a SOLAS rescue boat. The other decks offer some exposure to the sun, but most are protected. There are few details about the interior by the late Alberto Pinto. The yacht’s owner is reported to be the Emir of Qatar.
More from Robb Report
With a Sleek and Slender Profile, CRN's New 203-Foot Custom Superyacht Nods to the Future
Airbus's Latest VIP Helicopter Is Lighter, Faster and Quieter Than Any in Its Class
This New 328-Foot Gigayacht Concept Has an Interior Straight Out of a Sci-Fi Flick
24. ‘Maryah’ (410 feet, 1 inch), Neorion
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.
23. ‘Octopus’ (414 feet), Lürssen
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.
22. ‘Al Mirqab’ (436 feet, 4 inches), Kusch Yachts
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.
21. ‘Serene’ (439 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri
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.
20. ‘Crescent’ (443 feet), Lürssen
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.
19. ‘Savarona’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Blohm+Voss
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.
18: ‘Flying Fox’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Lürssen
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.
17. ‘Rising Sun’ (454 feet, 1 inch), 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.
16. ‘Al Salamah’ (456 feet), 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.
15. ‘Scheherazade’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lürssen
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.
14: ‘Ocean Victory’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri
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.
13. ‘Yas’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Abu Dhabi Mar
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. ‘Opus’ (466 feet) Lürssen
Superyacht Opus has been a long time coming, after first being announced in 2015 but not hitting the water until July 2020. Scheduled for delivery later this year, the 466-foot yacht features interior design by Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard and will be the shipyard’s first yacht launched from its newly upgraded floating shed at its facility in Vegasack. Rumored to be equipped with many top-tier amenities, the yacht includes a sports and diving center on the lower deck, multiple tenders ranging in size up to 15m and a large swimming pool. The two helipads support the yacht’s long-range cruising capabilities, suggesting the owner has plenty of autonomous remote exploration in mind, 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, while a sleek aft-sloping superstructure gives Opus an individual profile on the water.
11. ‘A’ (468 feet, 5 inches), 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.
10. Project Solaris (476 feet) Lloyd Werft
Little has yet been revealed about 476-foot Project Solaris, scheduled for delivery in 2020. The vast explorer yacht currently in build at German shipyard Lloyd Werft features a displacement steel hull with bulbous bow and steel superstructure with teak decks. Rumored to be owned by Roman Abramovich, 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.
9. ‘El Mahrousa’ (478 feet, 1 inch), Samuda Brothers
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
This story was originally published on January 15, 2019. It has been updated to reflect the largest vessels in production as of the current date.
Dream Machines For a more desirable form of cabin fever, register to get inside the top performance SUVs and test-drive them outside the Las Vegas Strip. Or, for more information, visit RR1 .
Best of Robb Report
The World’s Best Superyacht Shipyards
The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht
9 Famous Collectible Airplanes You Should Have Bid On At Auction
Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
Recommended Stories
Cardinals placing of tommy pham on waivers: report.
Approximately one month after acquiring him at the MLB trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals are placing Tommy Pham on waivers.
Mortgage and refinance rates today, August 29, 2024: 30-year and 15-year rates drop 11 points
These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates continue to fall ahead of the September Federal Reserve meeting. Lock in your rate today.
Final predictions for every NFC team: Vikings, Cowboys, Eagles & more | Football 301
Nate Tice and Matt Harmon join forces to preview every team in the NFC. For each team they discuss win totals, give a player to watch and try to predict why each team could under- or over-perform expectations this season.
Shohei Ohtani bobblehead night: Dodgers star makes MLB history after catching first pitch from his dog
Dodger fans love Shohei Ohtani — and his dog. They got plenty of both on Wednesday.
Nvidia investors should've sold the stock a month ago, strategist says
Nvidia's valuation is getting hard to justify, and it's time to sell, one investment manager says.
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers agree to 4-year, $120 million extension that ends holdout and trade drama
The 49ers will retain their leading receiver from last season, after all.
Why Kamala Harris's approach to capital gains is generating so much controversy
A top business world critique of Kamala Harris since becoming the Democratic nominee is her endorsement of plans from the Biden administration that would reshape how the assets of America's richest citizens are taxed.
Anthony Edwards angers NBA legends, WNBA year-end awards & Luka to the Lakers? | Good Word with Goodwill
Vincent Goodwill and Isis “Ice” Young talk about Anthony Edwards riling up NBA legends with his comments, favorites for the WNBA year-end awards and an offseason rumor about the Lakers and Luka Doncic.
Little League World Series: Florida wins extra-innings championship thriller over Taiwan on chaotic walk-off bunt
The championship is the first for a team from Florida in nine trips to the LLWS final.
The spirit of Burning Man lives on as the desert gathering changes. How festivalgoers weighed returning to the playa in 2024.
"In 2008, you could buy a ticket at will call," one Burner told Yahoo Entertainment. Things are much different now.
The Best Yacht Concepts From Around The World
The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht
Gliding Across Tokyo’s Sumida River: The Mesmerizing Zipper Boat
CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral
- Zuretti Interior Design
- Zuretti Interior
- Zuccon International Project
- Ziyad al Manaseer
- Zaniz Interiors. Kutayba Alghanim
- Yuriy Kosiuk
- Yuri Milner
- Yersin Yacht
Top 49 Largest Yachts in the World – 2023
These are the biggest yachts in the world with a combined length of 20,343 feet.
The largest yacht in the world measures an incredible 590 feet!
Built by world-renowned shipyards Lürssen , Blohm+Voss , Oceanco and Lloyd Werft , to name just a few – new yachts are built every year with increasing magnitude.
With the likes of Amadea coming in at #49 and working down to Azzam at #1, these yachts are a sight to behold.
Length : 106.10 m (348.1 ft) | Year : 2017
Measuring in at a length of 348.1 ft Amadea was built by Lurssen Shipyard and launched in 2016.
Her modern exterior was by Espen Oeinio while Zuretti Interior was responsible for her gorgeous interior.
Amenities that are of note include a double-height atrium, a 10-metre infinite pool, a 12-metre D-value helipad, a cinema and a spa area.
She also has a winter garden, coupled with the owner’s deck.
Length : 106.50 m (349.41 ft) | Year : 2017
As the name suggests, this magnificent superyacht truly is a Dream .
Launched in 1997 this rare gem belongs to Greek billionaire, George Prokopiou.
Some of her most noteworthy features include a sundeck, a swimming pool, a spa and a comprehensive gym.
Her exterior was designed in a way to accommodate large groups of guests and to equally provide spacious outdoor lounges on the main deck aft.
47. Black Pearl
Length : 106.7 m (350 ft) | Year : 2017
Black Pearl is one of two ‘sailing’ yachts on the world’s biggest yachts list.
She measures a length of 350 ft and was built in 2017 by well-known Oceanco.
She features a 3-mast Dynarig system (masts free stand with the yards rigidly attached to the masts).
When the sails are adjusted the whole mast rotates in place and there aren’t any gaps between the sail resulting in twice the efficiency of a square rig.
Length : 107 m (351 ft) | Year : 2020
Lana is without a doubt one of the most luxurious yachts in the world.
Built by Benetti Shipyard and delivered in 2020 this 107-metre-long beauty was also designed by the Benetti Design Team.
Some of her most notable features include a cinema room, a large pool, impressive outdoor salons, a plethora of water toys and tenders, a beach club with folding terraces and a massage room.
She also boasts a centralized audio-video system catering to all areas onboard.
45. Andromeda
Length : 107.40 m (351 ft) | Year : 2016
Andromeda is a stunning yacht that was launched in 2016 and measures a length of 107.4 metres making her 43rd on this list.
The exterior of this vessel was designed by Oscar Mike, with her interior designed by well-known H2 Yacht Design.
Andromeda includes a swimming pool, a helicopter deck with a garage, a spa and a large selection of tenders.
Andromeda has an amazing sea-keeping ability and her combination of ultimate luxury and expedition-style cruising makes her a sight to behold.
44. Luminosity
Length : 107.60 m (353 ft ) | Year : 2020
Luminosity was built by Benetti Shipyard in 2020 and measures a length of 108 metres.
Her stunning exterior was designed by Reymond Langton Design Ltd, whereas her interior was the responsibility of Zaniz Interiors.
Luminosity boasts many luxurious facilities.
Those worthy of note are: a beach club with a counter-flowing swimming pool, a gym, a plunge pool, a massage room, a bar, as well as several lounging and dining areas.
She was designed to allow unmatched natural lights through her windows and in addition to this she has a glass elevator that offers access to all her decks.
Length : 108 m (354 ft) | Year : 2019
Belonging to James Packer, Ije is a 108-meter yacht that was built by Benetti Shipyard and delivered in 2019.
She is a rare beauty when it comes to yachts of this size with her exterior designed by RWD.
Ije has many wonderful features including a main desk aft swimming pool, an indoor cinema, an observation deck, several dining and sunbathing spots as well as an extensive collection of water toys.
42. Bravo Eugenia
Length : 109 m (358 ft) | Year : 2018
Coming in at 40th on this list is Bravo Eugenia . The sleek exterior of this 109-meter vessel was beautifully designed by the well-known Nuvolari Lenard.
Bravo Eugenia is able to comfortably accommodate up to 44 passengers, 14 of which are guests and the other 30 crew.
She has many great guest facilities such as a beach club, a spa massage room with a sauna, a steam room, a plunge pool and a rain shower.
41. Radiant
Length : 110 m (361 ft) | Year : 2009
Launched in 2009 by German shipyard Lurssen, Radiant is a 110-meter-long superyacht.
Radiant is owned by Emirati billionaire, Abdulla al Futtaim.
Radiant was designed by Tim Heywood and her slender interior was designed by well renowned Terence Disdale.
She comes equipped with a helipad, a gymnasium, a cinema and a spa.
The security specifications of Radiant are known to be the highest ever conceived for a superyacht.
40. Al Raya
Length : 110 m (361 ft) | Year : 2008
Launched in 2008 in Germany, Al Raya was carefully built by Lurssen Shipyard.
Her exterior design was the work of Tim Heywood and the interior was designed by Alberto Pinto .
Al Raya was built with steel and aluminium and its major features include a large pool, a cinema, a sauna/steam room, a massage room and even a hospital.
Length : 110 m (361 ft) | Year : 2018
Anna is a 110-meter long superyacht with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure that was designed by Michael Leach Design.
She was launched in 2018 and she is the largest yacht ever built by Feadship.
This magnificent vessel belongs to Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian businessman who is renowned for becoming the president of Monaco’s football club AS Monaco.
Length : 110 m (361 ft) | Year : 2017
Kaos is a 110-meter yacht that has the capacity to accommodate up to 31 guests and a crew of 45.
She is powered by MTU engines which gives her the power needed to reach speeds up to 18.5 knots.
She comes equipped with a large swimming pool, a helicopter deck and fuel facilities, a large elevator, a steam room, a gym and a large beach club.
Length : 111.50 m (366 ft) | Year : 2019
Formerly known as Lady Gulya, Alaiya is a stunning yacht that was launched in 2019.
She measures a length of 111.5 meters and was specially built by Lurssen Shipyard.
Lady Gulya has 29 cabins which give her the capacity to comfortably accommodate 18 guests and 38 crew members.
The interior and exterior of this massive yacht were designed by the reputable Winch Design.
Some of the most notable features include Two helicopter pads, a resort-inspired spa, a massive swimming pool as well as palatial staircases that are only seen in palaces.
36. Le Grand Bleu
Length : 113 m (371 ft) | Year : 2000
Le Grand Bleu was built by Bremer Bulkan Shipyard in 2000 and she measures a length of 112 metres.
It is estimated that she has a worth of approximately US $150,000,000.
Built with a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure she can reach speeds up to 17 knots.
Le Grand Bleu has the space to comfortably accommodate up to 55 people at a time (35 of which are crew, 20 of which are guests).
35. Pelorus
Length : 115 m (377 ft) | Year : 2003
Pelorus measures a length of 114.5 metres and was launched in 2003 by well known Lurssen shipyard.
Her unique design was the work of Tim Heywood and the interior was the work of Terence Disdale.
This gorgeous vessel has the space to accommodate 18 people and a crew of 41 spread across 20 cabins.
Pelorus can reach speeds up to 20 knots.
Length : 115 m (377 ft) | Year : 2010
Built in 2010 by Lloyd Werft, Luna is well known as the world’s biggest expedition yacht.
With a length of 115 metres and a top speed of 22.5 knots, Luna can comfortably accommodate 18 guests spread across 9 rooms.
Previously owned by Russian billionaire Abramovich, she was sold for approximately $300,000,000 in 2014 to Akhmedov (an Azerbaijani born billionaire).
Length : 115.1 m (377 ft) | Year : 2021
The AHPO yacht is a spectacular new superyacht built by Lurssen and delivered in 2021.
The popular Italian designer Nuvolari Lenard styles the exterior and interior of this beauty.
Accommodating up to 16 guests in 8 cabins the superyacht includes a variety of facilities including a dancefloor, movie theatre, beach club, gym and spa.
Owned by the Jamaican billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, the yacht can be chartered for approximately $2,720,000 per week, when available.
32. Navtilvs
Length : 115.76 m (380 ft) | Year : 1973 | ShipSpotting.com © Nektarios Papadakis Navtilvs is a motor yacht measuring a length of 115.7 metres.
She was built by Hellenic Shipyards in Greece back in 1973 making her one of the oldest yachts on this list. She has a beam of 14.4 metres, a draft of 4.29 metres and a whopping volume of 3,156 GT.
31. Atlantis II
Length : 115.82 m (381 ft) | Year : 1980
Atlantis II is a 116-meter-long yacht launched in 1981 by the Hellenic shipyard.
It is estimated that she is worth approximately US $100,000,000.
Designed by Caeser Pinnau she has the space to accommodate 26 guests across 13 cabins as well as a crew of 17 in 8 cabins.
Atlantis II is powered by Pielstick engines, resulting in the power to reach speeds up to 14 knots.
30. Ulysses
Length : 116 m (381 ft) | Year : 2008
Ulysses is a 116.1-meter long yacht that was built in Norway in 2018 and is the flagship of Kleven.
She is powered by Caterpillar engines which gives her the ability to reach speeds of 12 knots.
She has a total of 39 cabins which can accommodate 30 guests and 48 crew members.
Her gross tonnage is a whopping 6862 GT and she has a beam length of 18 metres.
Length : 116.41 m (382 ft) | Year : 2008
Turama is a powerful welded steel vessel with a length of just under 117 metres.
She was built by Finnish shipyard Rauma and features an extensive teak decking which offers ample space to accommodate her guests.
Originally built as a cruise ship she was converted into the luxury megayacht she is today.
28. Motor Yacht A
Length : 119 m (390 ft) | Year : 2008
Coming in this list in 27th position, Motor Yacht A is a glamorous yacht designed by Philippe Starck and launched in 2008.
Built by the world-renowned Blohm + Voss shipyard, she measures a length of 119 metres.
Russian entrepreneur Andrey Melnichenko is the owner of this vessel and it is believed the name “A” was used in order to make the vessel appear first on shipping registers.
27. Alexander
Length : 122 m (400 ft) | Year :1966| ShipSpotting.com © fabianv Alexander is a luxury yacht with an elegant design that was built back in 1966 by Lubecker Flender Werke in Germany.
She features a steel hull and measures just under 122 metres with the ability to accommodate 80 guests. She was previously known as Regina Maris – a passenger vessel that was then converted into a megayacht between the years 1985 and 1987.
26. Al-Lusail
Length : 123 m (404 ft) | Year : 2017
Al Lusail is a gorgeous 123-meter long vessel that was built by Lurssen in 2017 and her unique design makes her stand out from afar.
Owned by the Emir of Qatar – Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani she can accommodate 36 guests and a crew of 56 at a time.
She features her very own gym, an elevator to service all the decks, a swimming pool, a tender garage and a movie theatre.
25. Golden Odyssey
Length : 123.20 m (404 ft) | Year : 2015
Golden Odyssey is a 123 m (404 ft) long superyacht which means it is one of the top 49 longest superyachts in the world.
She was launched in 2015 and was built by the famous ‘Lurssen shipyard’.
The lucky owner of this magnificent vessel is Prince Khaled Bin Sultan.
Golden Odyssey can accommodate 32 guests in 16 cabins as well as a crew of 60 in 30 cabins.
She was designed by Martin Francis Design with Alberto Pinto designing her interior.
Length : 124.40 m (408 ft) | Year : 2010
Katara , also known as Project Crystal is a 124-metre yacht that was built by Lurssen Shipyard in Bremen, Germany.
She is one of the world’s largest yachts with a helipad and a plethora of tenders.
She flies a Qatari flag and her home port is Doha which gives support to the belief that her name is an interpretation of the word ‘festivity’.
It was planned by Espen Oeino International which is also responsible for the planning of over 50 other well-known super yachts.
Length : 125 m (410 ft) | Year : 1991
Initially intended for use as a Russian research vessel, Maryah was built in Poland in the 1990s before later being acquired by Sheikh Tahnoon.
She was sent to Greece and rebuilt in 2014 by Elefsis Shipyard.
She measures in at a length of 125 metres and can reach a top speed of 18 knots.
Maryah’s large interior can accommodate up to 54 guests.
22. Octopus
Length : 126 m (413 ft) | Year : 2003
Built-in 2003 this 126m long beauty belongs to American business magnate, Paul Allen.
Powered by Mercedes Diesel engines she can reach a speed of 20 knots while hosting 26 guests.
Octopus is home to a large helicopter hangar on the main deck which are home to two helicopters.
She also has a glass-bottom pool and a 10-person submarine which floats into Octopus through a large hatch.
She also has a music recording studio, a cinema, a gym and a medical centre.
21. Al Mirqab
Length : 133 m (436 ft) | Year : 2008
Al Mirqab , the 133m Super Yacht wonder can be seen in the footage arriving in Gibraltar.
Built in 2008 she is comprised of a whopping 38 cabins. 25 of which are for the crew, and the remaining 13 for guests.
With a volume of 9,604, she is one of the largest superyachts in the world and is owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.
With a net worth of over $1 Billion, he was the Prime Minister of Qatar from 2007 to 2013.
Length : 134 m (440 ft) | Year : 2011
Serene was launched in 2011 and measures an impressive 134 metres.
She was built by Fincantieri – one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups.
She was designed by Espen Oeino with the interior designed by Raymond Langton Design.
She has the capacity to accommodate 24 people and a crew of 52.
Powered by MTU engines she can reach speeds of up to 18 knots.
19. Crescent
Length : 135.50 m (445 ft) | Year : 2018
Crescent is a Super Yacht built in 2019 by famous shipyard Lurssen.
She is the 17th longest superyacht measuring a length of 135 metres.
Powered by MTU engines it is estimated her top speed is 20 knots with a cruise speed of 12 knots.
Her large size has the room to accommodate 18 guests with a crew of up to 40.
Crescent features a retractable helicopter hangar and a large pool which is rumoured to have a glass bottom.
18. Savarona
Length : 136 m (446 ft) | Year : 1931
Savarona was built by Blohm + Voss in 1931 for Emily Roebling Cadwalader, the granddaughter of the Brooklyn Bridge engineer.
At the time she cost around $4 million which is over $80 million in today’s value.
She was the largest superyacht in the world when she was first launched and now she sits in 17th position.
17. Flying Fox
Length : 136 m (446 ft) | Year : 2019
The breathtaking and unprecedented outside plan praised by her pigeon dark frame planned by winning designer Espen Øino makes Flying Fox an astounding vessel.
At 136-meter length, her 22.5m wide shaft guarantees an open living space along with an extraordinary plan on both outside and inside.
Her rich, contemporary inside plan from Mark Berryman offers 11 lodges for 25 visitors all with private ocean see patios.
16. Rising Sun
Length : 138 m (453 ft) | Year : 2004
The Rising sun yacht is a 138-meter-long superyacht built by famous shipyard Lurssen in 2004.
It has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure.
Powered by 4 MTU engines she can reach a top speed of 28 knots.
She is currently the 6th largest yacht in the world and was holidayed on by Oprah Winfrey in the summer of 2013.
15. Al Salamah
Length : 139 m (456 ft) | Year : 1999 Al Salamah is a motor yacht which belonged to the former Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and was put for sale for $280,000 in 2013. It was later given to Bahraini Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as a gift.
Construction began by HDW in Kiel, Germany and was finished by Lurssen.
14. Solaris
Length : 139.7 m (458.4 ft) | Year : 2021
Solaris was newly launched in 2021 by Werft and belongs to Roman Abramovich who also owns the second-largest yacht in the world, Eclipse.
She has a volume of just over eleven thousand tonnes and it is estimated that she can accommodate up to 36 guests and a crew of 60.
13. Ocean Victory
Length : 140 m (459 ft) | Year : 2014
Ocean Victory is a 140-metre super yacht that was built by Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri in 2014.
As of 2021, she is the 13th longest superyacht.
Ocean Victory was designed by Espen Oeino with the interior designed by Alberto Pinto.
She has the capacity to accommodate 84 people with 28 being guests and a crew of 56.
Powered by Wärtsila MTU engines she can reach speeds of up to 19 knots.
Length : 141 m (463 ft) | Year : 2012
Measuring in at a length of 141m Yas was originally a Dutch navy frigate.
The original steel superstructure was replaced with a new superstructure of composite materials in 2013.
She is one of the largest superyachts in the world.
Due to the size of the structure, the interior decks, support and shell were built in sections in order to facilitate shipping and assembly.
She can accommodate up to 60 guests with a crew of up to 56 at disposal.
Length : 142 m (466 ft) | Year : 2021
Nord was launched in 2019 and strikes an imposing 142m in length.
She was built by Lurssen shipyard which is at the top of the game when it comes to Yachts of this magnitude.
Lurssen was responsible for the naval architecture while the styling for both the exterior and interior design came from Nuvolari Lenard, a multi-award-winning studio.
Nord can accommodate up to 36 people over the 20-suite layout.
10. Sailing Yacht A
Length : 142.95 m (469 ft) | Year : 2017
Sailing Yacht A was built in 2017 and measures a length of 143 metres long.
She has a beam of 25m and 8 decks.
She is the world’s largest sailing-assisted motor yacht in the world.
Powered by MTU engines and with the sails as assistance, she can reach a top speed of 21 knots.
She features a 1-foot thick glass underwater observation area.
9. El Mahroussa
Length : 145.72 m (478 ft) | Year :1965 | ShipSpotting.com © Walter Maifarth El Mahroussa currently serves as Egypt’s presidential yacht previously being the country’s royal yacht.
She was built by the British shipbuilding firm Samuda Brothers. She is the oldest active superyacht having undergone a number of alterations during its years of service.
8. Prince Abdulaziz
Length : 147 m (482 ft) | Year : 1984
Measuring an empowering 147 metres, Prince Abdulaziz was built in 1984 and was once the biggest yacht in the world.
Due to many new yacht builds she now is the 7th biggest yacht.
Her large size allows her to accommodate 64 guests and 65 crew members at any given time.
Prince Abdulaziz yacht was built in Denmark by Helsingor Vaerft after being ordered by King Fahd who named her after his son Prince Abdul Aziz.
Length : 147 m (482 ft) | Year : 2012
Launched in 2012 A+ measures in at a whopping 147 metres making her the 6th largest yacht in the world.
She was built by the famous boat yard Lurssen in Bremen, Germany.
She has twin Pielstick diesel engines with enough power to reach a cruising speed of 22.9 knots and a top speed in excess of 25.5 knots.
Among her features, she has zero-speed stabilisers, a helicopter landing pad, a swimming pool, a gym, a cinema and a tender garage.
Her lighting system pictured above also lights underwater.
Length : 155 m (509 ft) | Year : 2007 | ShipSpotting.com © Vincent Thépaut Al Said is a 155-meter superyacht owned by the Sultan of Oman.
Construction was ordered in 2006 through the Lurssen shipyard and was launched in September 2007. At the time of her launch, she was the world’s second-biggest yacht but since then she has been pushed back into the fifth position.
Length : 156 m (512 ft) | Year : 2016
Dilbar is a 156-meter-long super yacht that was launched in 2016.
She was built by Lurssen shipyard which is at the top of the game when it comes to Yachts of this magnitude.
She was designed by Espen Oeino with the interior designed by Andrew Winch Design.
She has the capacity to accommodate 36 people and a crew of 84.
Powered by Wärtsila diesel-electric engines she can reach speeds up to 22.5 knots.
Length : 160 m (524 ft) | Year : 2022
The Blue superyacht , a breathtaking 160-meter vessel designed by Terence Disdale and built by Lürssen, redefines luxury yachting by combining unparalleled opulence with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
As the fourth-largest yacht in the world, Blue boasts state-of-the-art diesel-electric hybrid propulsion, advanced wastewater treatment technology, and an array of lavish amenities, setting a new benchmark for innovation, elegance, and eco-friendly practices within the luxury yachting industry.
Length : 162 m (531 ft) | Year : 2006
Measuring a length of 162m Dubai is the world’s third-biggest yacht, built by Platinum Yachts.
She is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – the ruler of Dubai who has a Net Worth of $5 billion.
It was the biggest yacht in the world from 2006 to 2009 however it was replaced by Eclipse and Azzam.
Dubai has four MTU diesel engines which can accelerate it up to a speed of 26 knots.
Length : 162.50 m (533 ft) | Year : 2010
Measuring a whopping length of 162 metres, Eclipse is the second biggest yacht in the world.
Built-in 2010 by Blohm and Voss she was the largest until April 2013 when Azzam was launched.
Although she is known as the $1.5 billion yacht, Eclipse’s actual cost price was around $700 million.
She is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich who is known to be one of the world’s wealthiest people having sold his oil company for $13 billion.
He also owns a second superyacht, Solaris.
1. Biggest Yacht In The World – Azzam
Length : 179.7 m (590 ft) | Year : 2013
Azzam is the largest yacht in the world measuring a whopping 180 metres.
Built by Lurssen she is estimated to have cost $600 Million.
Powered by MTU engines she can reach a speed of 31 knots which is achievable by her shallow draft relative to her size.
Due to her large size, Azzam can comfortably accommodate 36 guests and has a crew of 60.
Find anything, super fast.
- Destinations
- Documentaries
Superyacht Luna - World's Largest Expedition Yacht
By B. Roberts
Luna, the world’s largest exploration yacht has been undergoing sea-trials, outfitting and major paint works in preparation for delivery to her owner, rumoured to be a prolific superyacht owner. Luna has been kept so top secret, there is even less information about her than the Eclipse.
The 115m long range expedition yacht Luna was built in Germany by Lloyd Werft and Stahlbau Nord Shipyards. The superyacht was launched last October, becoming the second largest yacht to be launched in 2009, after Eclipse. Luna was recently painted to give her hull a stylish navy blue finish with waterline stripes instead of her initial white, giving the awe-inspiring sea-giant a new look.
Number 19 in our Top 100 forecast, Luna's interior was designed by celebrated designer Donald Starkey with the exterior designer still being kept under wraps. The design of the second largest yacht in 2009 somewhat resembles the exterior styling of the groundbreaking Eclipse , featuring similar forward designs on the above decks. Even the names can be said to be of a similar origin.
Superyachts.com have captured images and footage of the stunning expedition superyacht Luna as she undergoes trials and sports her new paint job at the shipyard where she is currently undergoing outfitting.
Video of the Superyacht Luna For exclusive footage of the luxury expedition yacht Luna undergoing sea trials click here >>
Video of the Superyacht Eclipse Footage of the largest superyacht in the world has rarely been captured, however, for the new video click here >>
More news About…
Companies linked to this story, yachts in this story, more news from ..., industry news.
- Yacht Charter
- Eclipse, the third biggest superyacht in the world
Eclipse Yacht
Eclipse yacht features, eclipse yacht price, eclipse yacht owner, eclipse yacht length, eclipse yacht details, eclipse yacht history, who owns the yacht eclipse, how much does the yacht eclipse cost, can you charter eclipse yacht, who is roman abramovich, what yachts does roman abramovich own, about m/y eclipse, how many meters is the eclipse yacht, abramovich yachts, le grand blue.
Designer Terry Disdale tells us about four and a half years of the world's third largest superyacht with a length of 162.5 meters and nine decks.
- Nautic Shows
- America’s Cup
- Classic Yachts
- Motor Yachts
- Sailing Yachts
- Superyachts
- Yachts News
- Destinations
- Yacht Clubs
- Boat Racing
- Meta Yachts
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.
- superyachts
RELATED ARTICLES
Antonini navi presents the sport utility yacht – suy 135, nauta xp75: explore. dream. discover.
Subscribe to our newsletter
To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.
LATEST ARTICLES
Artemis returns to the america’s cup: the swedish team eyes a comeback amid millionaire penalties, editor picks, nautic magazine and duward watches announce prestigious collaboration: introducing the aquastar summer sailing 2024 bcn edition, canadian beau lake introduces the tahoe ’14 and lugano ’14 electric runabouts, underwater adventure and exploration with deepflight’s super falcon 3s, popular posts, mirabaud sailing video of the century: celebrating 2 decades of passion, young designer of the year 2022: ioana valentina corcodel reveals 65m ophelia concept, the nacra15 world championships open in la grande motte, france, popular category.
- Regatta 837
- America's Cup 483
- Motor Yachts 264
- Boating 220
- Superyachts 190
- Sailing 183
- Yachts News 174
- Sailing Yachts 167
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
There's no denying that, economically speaking, this has been a turbulent year all over the world. And yet flipping through the 2009 edition of "The Power & Motoryacht 100" you'd hardly know it. That's because this year's lineup of the world's 100 largest yachts features more than ten humungous newcomers—some conversions, some new-builds, all of them
This list of motor yachts by length, is a table of the world's longest active superyachts, with an overall length of at least 75 metres (246 ft) and up.. These boats are also known as "megayachts", "gigayachts" and even "terayachts", usually depending on length. [1] [2] It has been generally accepted by naval architects and industry executives that superyachts range from 37 m (≈120 ft) to 60 ...
100 Largest Yachts 2009 #23: Dubawi. World's 100 Largest Yachts 2009Dubawi | 297'2"A lot of effort goes into any refit, but converting a 20-year-old passenger ship that's six decks tall and just one yard short of a football field into a private yacht is one serious undertaking. That's exactly
Jul 28, 2009. World's 100 Largest Yachts 2009. Dubawi | 297'2". A lot of effort goes into any refit, but converting a 20-year-old passenger ship that's six decks tall and just one yard short of a football field into a private yacht is one serious undertaking. That's exactly what Platinum Yachts pulled off with Dubawi earlier this year.
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.
Anna (No. 1007) is the largest yacht Feadship has built, topping the 333-foot (101.5-meter) Symphony in 2015. Feadship Anna is also the second-largest yacht built in the Netherlands, after the 361-foot (110-meter) Oceanco Jubilee.Naval architecture for Anna is by Feadship De Voogt, and interior and exterior styling are by Michael Leach Design. With a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, she ...
The last few years have seen launches of some of the world's largest yachts, truly gigayachts. Helen Fretter delves into the world of the gigayacht ... [the 2009 45m Wally], 14 tonnes was a very ...
The 25 Largest Yachts in the World. The list runs from Lürssen's 592-foot 'Azzam' to Fincantieri 439-foot 'Serene,' with a fascinating group of bespoke vessels in between. The new arrivals in ...
The biggest of the Microsoft co-founder's three yachts has two helicopter pads, a submarine and a remote-operated unmanned vehicle. The other two, Tatoosh and Meduse , measure 303.15 feet and 196. ...
Year: 2009 Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen Another Reymond Langton entry, B2 remains the second-largest launch by the German shipyard (beaten out by the 118.2-metre Livao).Her recent four-million-euro refit saw the hull extended by seven metres - allowing room for a spacious beach club, with a glass-bottom infinity pool acting as its rippling, refracted ceiling.
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.
Here are the top 25 largest yachts in the world to date. 25. 'Katara' (408 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen. Launched in 2010, Katara has an exterior by Espen Øino and features a large helipad on the ...
100 Largest Yachts 2009 #12: Dilbar. Author: Capt. Grant Rafter. Updated: Sep 19, 2017. Original: Jul 27, 2009. DEBUT: Dilbar -- 360'9" ( tie ) Known as project Opal during her construction, Dilbar launched in 2008. Since then she's often been mistaken for other yachts by amateur yachtspotters, most often the same-named number 94 on our list ...
Rank06. Dilbar. Lurssen Yachts. 2016. 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. LENGTH. 156.0m. TYPE.
Measuring a length of 162m Dubai is the world's third-biggest yacht, built by Platinum Yachts. She is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - the ruler of Dubai who has a Net Worth of $5 billion. It was the biggest yacht in the world from 2006 to 2009 however it was replaced by Eclipse and Azzam.
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.
Largest Wooden hulled sailing yacht. [1] Lamima: 65.20 m (214 ft) Italthai Industrial Group: Marcelo Penna: 2014: Auxiliary gaff wooden pinisi, hull built in Indonesia Adix: ... Ada Yacht Works: 2009: Wooden gulet Perseverance II: 39.60 m (130 ft) Baltic Yachts: Dykstra Naval Architects: 2021: Aramid foam core/epoxy sandwich sloop
The Top 100. A comprehensive and accurate list of the largest luxury yachts set to launch in 2024. A live list of the Top 100 largest superyachts in the world as it currently stands. The Top 100 luxury yachts launched in 2023 who defined the last year in large yachting. Has your yacht ever been in the Top 100? Search any yacht to view its ranking.
Dilbar. The 156-meter long Dilbar is the largest yacht in the world by volume, with a gross tonnage of about 16,000. Klaus Jordan. Dilbar may not be the longest yacht in the world, but it's ...
Built for a prince and sold to a Dubai-based monarch, the world's largest yacht has certainly had some dazzling owners. Her build heritage is nothing to sneeze at either: The work on this Andrew Winch-designed behemoth began at Blohm & Voss (working in conjunction with Lrssen) and was completed at the United Arab Emirates yard, Platinum Yachts.
The 115m long range expedition yacht Luna was built in Germany by Lloyd Werft and Stahlbau Nord Shipyards. The superyacht was launched last October, becoming the second largest yacht to be launched in 2009, after Eclipse. Luna was recently painted to give her hull a stylish navy blue finish with waterline stripes instead of her initial white ...
When launched, the 162.5-metre mega yacht Eclipse was the largest yacht in the world. ... From this initial design phase to the launch of the boat at Blohm+Voss' Hamburg shipyard in 2009, the project took four and a half years - a remarkable feat given the yacht's scale, but the 180-metre superyacht Azzam', which in 2013 became the world's ...
Al Salamah was last refitted in 2009. 16. 'Scheherazade' (459 feet, 3 inches), Lürssen. Lürssen's Scheherazade Photo: SuperYacht Times/YouTube. ... 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 ...
21 Turmoil — 209'0". Designed to be a world explorer, Turmoil—which is owned by the family of Gary Comer, the late founder of Lands' End—is Royal Denship's largest expedition yacht. She's also science-ready, thanks to a wet lab that supports visiting scientists from places like Columbia University and Penn State.
Launched in 2009, SuperYacht Fan transitioned from a gallery of yacht imagery to a pivotal resource, culminating in the Super Yacht Owners Register —a meticulously compiled database featuring over 1,500 yacht owners. The allure of luxury yachts and their affluent proprietors has captured global interest, making our compilation a valued asset ...
The big sister to the Dufour 41, a SAIL Top 10 Best Boats winner for 2024, this boat adopts the same design philosophy of bringing the beam far forward for maximum interior space yet keeping the hull relatively narrow below the waterline for improved performance.Sailing the 41 last year, we were impressed with how it would heel to a certain angle—in this case, about 18 degrees—and park ...