For the past 25 years, Power & Motoryacht has scoured the globe for information on the world’s 100 largest yachts. And in that time, a lot has changed. In August 1985, when the list began, we wrote, “There are only about 300 private yachts over 100 feet in length in the world.” Today a 100-foot vessel not only wouldn’t make the list, she’d be smaller than the smallest listing by more than 100 feet.
Over the years, we’ve watched a lot of yachts debut and then fall off the list as they were replaced by ever-larger launches. On the list have been the yacht of a dictator—Libya’s Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi—and the yacht of a rather infamous mogul—Donald Trump. This year the new yacht of another mogul—Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich—debuts at the top of the list, although as of this writing England’s Daily Mail is reporting that her delivery is several months overdue because of structural problems and trouble finding “ethically sourced” exotic animal skins for the interior. Still this 557-foot megayacht is too big to ignore. (Seriously, the yacht is literally unavoidable.)
Though Savarona may have topped “The PMY 100” as the largest privately owned yacht for 12 years, she herself has been topped six times since 2003. In an increasingly competitive megayacht world, who can predict how long Eclipse will hold the title?
1) ECLIPSE | 557’0″
Year Launched: 2010; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: Terence Disdale; Hull material: steel; Engines: unknown
2) Dubai | 531’5″ (1)
Year Launched: 2006; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany (w/ Lrssen, Germany) & Platinum Yachts, UAE;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 4/9,625-hp MTUs
3) Al Salamah | 456’10” (2)
Year Launched: 1999; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: Terence Disdale; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/8,832-hp MTUs
4) Rising Sun | 454’1″ (3)
Year Launched: 2004; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: Jon Bannenberg; Hull material: steel; Engines: 4/12,237-hp MTUs
5) Al Mirqab | 436’4″
Year Launched: 2008; Builder: Peters Schiffbau, Germany;
Naval Architect: Tim Heywood; Hull material: steel; Engines: unknown
6) Octopus | 414’0″ (4)
Year Launched: 2003; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: Espen ino; Hull material: steel; Engines: 8/2,400-hp NO Mercedes-Benzes and 2/6-kw ABB electric motors
7) Savarona | 408’0″ (5)
Year Launched: 1931/1992; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: Cox & Stevens; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/3,500-hp CATs
8) Crystal | 406’10”
Year Launched: 2010; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/8,432-hp MTUs
9) Alexander | 400’2″ (6)
Year Launched: 1965/1985; Builder: Luebecker Flender-Werke, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/4,025-hp MANs
10) A | 390’4″ (7)
Year Launched: 2008; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: Martin Francis/Philippe Starck; Hull material: Steel; Engines: 2/6,035-hp MANs
11) Turama | 381’11” (8)
Year Launched: 1990/2004; Builder: Rauma, Finland/Sete Yachts;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/4,023-hp Wrtsil Vasas
12) Atlantis II | 379’7″ (9)
Year Launched: 1981; Builder: Hellenic Shipyards, Greece;
Naval Architect: Maierform GmbH; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/4,800-hp S.E.M.T. Pielsticks
13) Luna | 377’3″
Year Launched: 2010; Builder: Lloyd Werft, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: unknown
14) Pelorus | 377’3″ (10)
Year Launched: 2003/2008; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: Tim Heywood Design; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/5,299-hp Wartsilas
15) Le Grand Bleu | 370’0″ (11)
Year Launched: 2000/2008; Builder: Vulkan, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/4,570-hp Deutz-MWMs
16 [Tie]) Dilbar | 360’9″ (12)
Year Launched: 2008; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: Tim Heywood Design; Hull material: steel; Engines: unknown
16 [Tie]) Radiant | 360’9″ (12)
Year Launched: 2009; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/6,793-hp MTUs
18) Lady Moura | 344’0″ (14)
Year Launched: 1990; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: Luigi Sturchio/Diana Yacht Design; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/6,868-hp Deutz-MWMs
19) Attessa IV | 328’0″
Year Launched: 1999/2007; Builder: Evergreen, Japan;
Naval Architect: Diana Yacht Design; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/6,600-hp Wrtsils
20) Christina O | 325’3″ (15)
Year Launched: 1943/2001; Builder: Canadian Vickers, Canada/Howaldtswerke (original conversion)/Viktor Lenac, Croatia (refit);
Naval Architect: Prof. Pinnau (original conversion)/Costas Carabelas (refit); Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/2,750-hp MANs
21) Carinthia VII | 318’9″ (16)
Year Launched: 2002; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder/Tim Heywood; Hull material: steel; Engines: 4/10,061-hp MTUs
22) Limitless | 315’8″ (17)
Year Launched: 1997; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/7,364-hp CATs
23) Project Orca | 314’11”
Year Launched: 2010; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: Michael Leach Design; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/4,680-hp MTUs
24) Indian Empress | 311’7″ (18)
Year Launched: 2000; Builder: Oceanco, Holland;
Naval Architect: Richard Hein/The “A” Group; Hull material: steel; Engines: unknown
25) Tatoosh | 303’0″ (20)
Year Launched: 2000; Builder: Nobiskrug, Germany;
Naval Architect: Studio Acht/Kusch Yachtagentur; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/4,448-hp Deutz-MWMs
26) Attessa | 302’4″ (19)
Year Launched: 1997/2003; Builder: Feadship/Royal Van Lent, Holland;
Naval Architect: De Voogt; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/2,000-hp CATs
27) Mayan Queen IV | 301’8″ (20)
Year Launched: 2008; Builder: Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: Tim Heywood; Hull material: steel; Engines: unknown
28) Nahlin | 300’0″ (22)
Year Launched: 1930/2010; Builder: John Brown & Co., Scotland/Blohm & Voss, Germany;
Naval Architect: G.L. Watson; Hull material: Steel; Engines: 4/Brown-Curtis steam turbines/unknown after refit
29) Dubawi | 297’2″ (23)
Year Launched: 1989/2009; Builder: Cantiere Navale Ferrari, Italy;
Naval Architect: Platinum Yachts (conversion); Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/3,430-hp MANs
30) Nero | 295’6″ (24)
Year Launched: 2007; Builder: Yantai Raffles Shipyard, China;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 2/2,333-hp CATs
31 [tie]) Ice | 295’3″ (25)
Year Launched: 2005; Builder: Lrssen, Germany;
Naval Architect:builder/Tim Heywood; Hull material: steel; Engines:2/2,500-kW ABB diesel-electric motors
31 [tie]) Lauren L | 295’3″ (25)
Year Launched: 2002/2004; Builder: Cassens Werft, Germany;
Naval Architect: builder; Hull material: steel; Engines: 1/2,500-hp MAK
33) Asean Lady | 289’0″ (27)
Year Launched: 2003; Builder: Yantai Raffles Shipyard, China;
Naval Architect: Ian Mitchell; Hull material: steel; Engines: 1/2,000-hp CAT
This article originally appeared in the August 2010 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
