Hitting the Big Time
For this year’s list, eight new builds join the World’s 100 Largest Yachts and showcase how megayacht builders press the combined resources of groundbreaking design, boatbuilding tradition, and radical innovation into service to change our collective understanding of what it means to spend time on the water. Join the power & Motoryacht staff as we explore how megayachts alter the world of boating from the top down.
The PMY 100: 2014
(from superyachts.com)
New launches designated in red.
1. AZZAM—Length: 590’5″
Builder: Lürssen
2. ECLIPSE—Length: 534’8″
Builder: Blohm + Voss Shipyard
3. DUBAI—Length: 531’5″
Builder: Platinum Yachts
4. AL SAID—Length: 508’5″
Builder: Lürssen
5. PRINCE ABDULAZIZ—Length: 482’3″ Builder: Helsingor Vaerft
5. TOPAZ—Length: 482’3″
Builder: Lürssen
7. EL HORRIYA—Length: 478’1″
Builder: Samuda Bros
8. YAS—Length: 462’6″
Builder: ADMShipyards
9. Length: 459’3″
Builder: Fincantieri Yachts
10. AL SALAMAH—Length: 456’1′
Builder: Lürssen
11. RISING SUN—Length: 454’1″
Builder: Lürssen
12. SERENE—Length: 439’6″
Builder: Fincantieri Yachts
13. AL MIRQAB—Length: 436’4″
Builder: Peters Schiffbau
14. OCTOPUS—Length: 414’0″
Builder: Lürssen
15. KATARA—Length: 408’1″
Builder: Lürssen
16. ALEXANDER—Length: 400’0″
Builder: Lebecker Flender Werke
17. A—Length: 390’4″
Builder: Blohm + Voss
18. TURAMA—Length: 381’9″
Builder: Rauma
19. ATLANTIS II—Length: 379’10”
Builder: Hellenic Shipyards
20. ISSHAM AL BAHER—Length: 379’8″ Builder: Hellenic Shipyards
21. PELORUS—Length: 377’3″
Builder: Lürssen
21. LUNA—Length: 377’3″
Builder: Lloyd Werft
23. LE GRAND BLEU—Length: 370’0″
Builder: Bremer Vulkan
24. DILBAR—Length: 360’10”
Builder: Lürssen
24. RADIANT—Length: 360’10”
Builder: Lürssen
26. LADY MOURA —Length: 343’10”
Builder: Blohm + Voss
27. LOALOAT AL BEHAR —Length: 340’7″Builder: Picchiotti
28. Length: 336’7″
Builder: Lurssen Yachts
*Due to launch in 2014
29. Length: 331’4″
Builder: Kusch Yachts
*Due to launch in 2014
30. ATTESSA IV —Length: 328’1″
Builder: Evergreen Shipyard
31. CHRISTINA O —Length: 325’0″
Builder: Canadian Vickers
32. MADAME GU —Length: 324’8″
Builder: Feadship
33. CARINTHIA VII —Length: 318’10”
Builder: Lürssen
34. LIMITLESS —Length: 315’9″
Builder: Lürssen
35. PALLADIUM —Length: 314’10”
Builder: Blohm + Voss
35. VAVA II — Length: 314’10”
Builder: Devonport Yachts
37. INDIAN EMPRESS —Length: 311’7″
Builder: Oceanco
38. TATOOSH —Length: 303’2″
Builder: Nobiskrug
39. MAYAN QUEEN IV —Length: 301’8″
Builder: Blohm + Voss
40. Length: 300’2″
Builder: Oceanco
41. NAHLIN —Length: 300’0″
Builder: John Brown & Company
42. DUBAWI —Length: 297’2″
Builder: Cantiere Navale Ferrari
43. NERO —Length: 295’7″
Builder: Yantai Raffles Shipyard
43. ICE —Length: 295’7″
Builder: Yantai Raffles Shipyard
45. LAUREN L —Length: 295’3″
Builder: Cassens-Werft
45. GLOBAL—Length: 259’3″
Builder: Lurssen Yachts
*Due to launch in 2014
47. Length: 291’4″
Builder: Yantai Raffles
*Due to launch in 2014
48. NIRVANA —Length: 290’4″
Builder: Oceanco
48. Y710—Length: 290’4″
Builder: Oceanco
*Due to launch in 2014
50. ASEAN LADY —Length: 289’2″
Builder: Yantai Raffles Shipyard
51. QUATTROELLE —Length: 288’7″
Builder: Lürssen
52. MUSASHI —Length: 287’10”
Builder: Feadship
53. FOUNTAINHEAD —Length: 287’10”
Builder: Feadship
54. ARCTIC P —Length: 287’3″
Builder: Schichau Unterwesser
55. PHOENIX 2 —Length: 286’1″
Builder: Lürssen
56. ACE —Length: 285’4″
Builder: Lürssen
57. ECSTASEA —Length: 282’1″
Builder: Feadship
58. KINGDOM 5KR —Length: 282’1″
Builder: Benetti
59. SEVEN SEAS —Length: 281’10”
Builder: Oceanco
60. CAKEWALK —Length: 280’8″
Builder: Derecktor
61. ST. PRINCESS OLGA — Length: 280’8″ Builder: Oceanco
62. SUNRAYS —Length: 280’5″
Builder: Oceanco
63. VIBRANT CURIOSITY —Length: 280’4″ Builder: Oceanco
64. MOONLIGHT II —Length: 279’8″
Builder: Nerion Syros Shipyards
64. DELMA —Length: 279’8″
Builder: Nerion Syros Shipyards
66. PACIFIC —Length: 279’5″
Builder: Lürssen
67. SOLANDGE —Length: 279’2″
Builder: Lürssen
68. VALERIE —Length: 275’6″
Builder: Lürssen
69. O ’MEGA—Length: 271’1′
Builder: Mistubishi Heavy Industries
70. SECRET —Length: 270’0″
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
71. KIBO—Length: 269’0″
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
71. SARAFSA —Length: 269’0″
Builder: Devonport Yachts
71. OCEAN BREEZE —Length: 269’0″
Builder: Helsingor Vaerft
71. GRACEFUL —Length: 269’0″
Builder: Blohm + Voss
71. ALFA NERO — Length: 269’0″
Builder: Oceanco
76. AIR— Length: 265’7″
Builder: Feadship
77. BART ROBERTS —Length: 264’10”
Builder: Canadian Vickers
78. NORGE —Length: 263’3″
Builder: Camper & Nicholsons
79. GOLDEN ODYSSEY —Length: 262’10” Builder: Blohm + Voss
80. CONSTELLATION —Length: 262’5″
Builder: Oceanco
80. STARGATE —Length: 262’5″
Builder: Oceanco
80. CHOPI CHOPI —Length: 262’5″
Builder: CRN
80. AMEVI —Length: 262’5″
Builder: Oceanco
84. TALITHA G —Length: 261’10”
Builder: Krupp Germaniawerft
85. DUBAI SHADOW—Length: 259’2″
Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
86. AL DIRIYAH —Length: 258’0″
Builder: National Bulk Carriers
87. PEGASUS V —Length: 257’9″
Builder: Royal Denship
88. DELPHINE —Length: 257’5″
Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works
88. HAMPSHIRE II —Length: 257’5″
Builder: Feadship
88. TV —Length: 257’5″
Builder: Lürssen
91. TUEQ —Length: 257’4″
Builder: GNS Shipyard
92. EMINENCE —Length: 257’3″
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
92. AMARYLLIS —Length: 257’3″
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
92. DANNEBROG —Length: 257’3″
Builder: Danish Royal Dockyard
92. TITAN —Length: 257’3″
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
92. C2 —Length: 257’3″
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
97. VENUS —Length: 256’6″
Builder: Feadship
98. MONTKAJ —Length: 256’0″
Builder: Amels
99. LONE RANGER —Length: 255’0″
Builder: Schichau-Unterwesser
100. TANGO —Length: 254’11”
Builder: Feadship
5. Prince Abdulaziz—Length: 482’3″ Builder: Helsingor Vaerft
Prince Abdulaziz was the largest megayacht in the world for a full 22 years, and is considered the largest megayacht of the 20th century (she was built in 1984). She can hold up to 65 crew members—the same amount of people as the full roster of your favorite pro basketball team combined with the full roster of your favorite pro football team—even the kicker.
FANCY A CRUISE TO NEW GUINEA?
OR THE SOUTH POLE?
For adventurous owners of megayachts and megamegayachts, EYOS (www.eyos-expeditions.com) offers very special services that facilitate cruises to super-exotic places. “For example,” says Rob McCallum, a founding partner of EYOS and an expedition leader, “we put ice pilots aboard, as well as other highly experienced personnel, for voyages into the Arctic and Antarctic. As a matter of fact, we presently hold the record for getting to the most southerly location ever achieved by a yacht. And not too long ago, we received the first permit to visit the Russian high Arctic.” EYOS puts together expeditions for private yachts as well as charter yachts. Not into commercial cruises? “Cruise on your own boat,” says McCallum. “We handle everything—permits, specialized crew, extra equipment, whatever suits.”
17. A—Length: 390’4″ Builder: Blohm + Voss
It’s alleged that Philippe Starck designed this 390-foot, reverse-bowed showstopper in a mere 3.5 hours—about the same amount of time it takes to watch The Godfather: Part II.
SUPER SUPPORT VESSEL
Remember when the first shadow-type vessels appeared? You know—older oil-field vessels converted into yacht support vessels. So, going one step further, Amels, the Dutch builder of Montkaj (number 98 on our list) is now selling yacht support vessels that are large (up to 67 meters long) and, unlike the shadow vessels, purpose-built using up-to-the-minute naval architecture and engineering. The latest and greatest development is the Sea Axe hullform (shown here) which Amels claims is exceptionally seaworthy and fast. “We feel a support vessel needs to precede the yacht under some circumstances, rather than simply accompany her,” says Victor Caminada, marketing director for Amels. “So the support vessel needs to be very, very quick. And she must also exhibit a very high level of finish—so she blends into the yachting world.”
92. Amaryllis—Length: 257’3″ Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
With a range of 5,000 nautical miles, Amaryllis could cruise from Alaska to Costa Rica without stopping.
Where Technology and Design Meet
We asked Francesco Paszkowski, founder of Florence, Italy-based Francesco Paszkowski Design and designer of superyachts built by Baglietto, Heesen, Proteksan-Turquoise, CRN, Sanlorenzo, and others, to share his thoughts on how the design of superyachts has evolved due to technology. Here is some of what he had to say:
Technology is a starting point for innovative solutions and designers are always hungry to take new opportunities provided by technology development.
Designers have to take into account that yachts must be designed to be seaworthy and this remains the case even when designers are under pressure to make bold aesthetic statements.
Designers also must not forget the emotional—often irrational—motivation that makes people buy a yacht. Owners themselves are invariably up-to-date and demand cutting-edge design to produce a high-quality yacht built by refined manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of materials and their potential features is essential to create new forms.
Materials have played an important role and have enabled significant development in the marine field by looking outside of the yacht industry for inspiration.
Just think of the way glass has been employed to build oversized windows onboard that were once considered unfeasible, or the way composites are used for lighter and more resistant structures, or the advanced folding terraces or balconies or the aft platforms transformed into beach clubs.
Ongoing developments in lighting systems, high-tech fabrics, and alternative materials that can be used to creative effect in replacing traditional wood veneers or teak decking, or also think of special treatment to make materials lighter yet looking the same, like honeycomb treatment to reduce marble weight.
Technology also helps when you consider other essential aspects—safety features, structural and functional restrictions, legislative norms, energy consumption—designers have to consider while designing.
To respect the environment, the market is looking for new yacht types, and engineers are looking for new proposals. Speed is no longer a critical factor or essential criterion, while efficiency and fuel economy are getting more and more important.
I believe technology and creativity develop side by side to create a balanced combination in the search for innovative design.
IS YOUR NEXT MEGAYACHT GOING TO BE A SUBMARINE?
If you haven’t seen them yet, you’ve got to check out our photo galleries of these “Mega-Subs”. We’ve got one here and here.
You Gotta Pay to Play
Think your last stay in a transient slip was a little on the pricey side? And good grief! That graspy dockmaster had the nerve to charge you for electricity and water? As this issue was going to press, we caught up with Pegasus V (the 257-foot 9-inch Royal Denship-built beauty shown above) in Ft. Lauderdale, the megayacht capital of North America, if not the world. She was tied alongside at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, up-river from the 17th Street Causeway Bridge. We called the dockmaster to see how much the marina was charging for a berth, megayacht-style. “Five dollars per foot per day—that’s summertime rates,” came the reply. So let’s see. So yeah, Pegasus V had to be paying about $1,300 a night to sleep at the Hilton. Now that’s pricey!
48. Nirvana—Length: 290’4″ Builder: Oceanco
The asking price for Nirvana was recently listed as $305 million, which would fully tap out even Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, who has a listed net worth of $260 million.
QUOTE
“One of the most useful technological developments is a system known as ‘dynamic positioning,’ this is a computer-controlled system with satellite links controlling onboard thrusters enabling the vessel to maintain a stationary position without dropping the anchor. This allows the yacht to enjoy many more locations where anchoring is banned due to coral reef protection rules or where the depth of water is too great.”
— Terence Disdale, Terence Disdale Design Ltd.
This list of the World’s 100 Largest Yachts includes eight new boats, five of which have not at press time been delivered to their owners. This esteemed category includes Global (shown, no. 45 on the list), and this year, we decided the standard would be: If it floats, it’s a boat. ENJOY!
80. Chopi Chopi—Length: 262’5″ Builder: CRN
Owing to a fuel capacity of 66,043 gallons, with her tanks full Chopi Chopi is about 250 tons heavier than when they’re empty. That’s like having one full-grown blue whale and five full-grown killer whales onboard.
This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
