The Eclipse superyacht
DUBAI
Cost: US$350 million
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Taking its name from the emirate over which its owner rules, the Dubai was commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei more than ten years before the ship’s launch in 2006.
The vessel, which was initially a joint project between Blohm + Voss and Lürssen shipyards, was acquired by Dubai-based Platinum Yachts for His Highness Sheik Mohammed Rashid al-Maktoum – ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.
Between its launch and 2009, the ship was the largest yacht in the world at a length of 162 metres but was later supplanted by Eclipse and Azzam (which feature later in this list).
This yacht’s most noticeable attribute is the spacious helipad, which can accommodate a helicopter of up to 9.5 tons, flanked by sunbathing areas, several jacuzzis and a swimming pool with an ornate tile design.
The interior décor is lined with bold handmade mosaics and a glitzy circular staircase with glass steps that change colour by the light that enters from the top deck.
The large deck of the Dubai includes a split-level owner’s deck, a social area, lounge and numerous VIP and guest suites. It can accommodate 88 crew and 115 guests.
Yacht A+ (formerly Topaz)
Cost: US$527 million
Owner: Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
This superyacht was built especially for the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and owner of Manchester City Football Club, often referred to as Sheikh Mansour.
The German-built vessel measures 147 metres and includes a jacuzzi, swimming pool, gym, theatre, conference room and double helipads. It is lined with underwater lighting and appears to gleam at night, hence its former name, Topaz.
It is the fourth largest superyacht in the world and has two diesel generators that provide power to the stabilisers for all onboard systems in case of an emergency.
The luxury motor yacht was constructed by Lürssen in Bremen, Germany.
Azzam
Cost: US$600 million
Owner: Family of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Having held the title of the world’s longest private yacht since its launch in 2013, this 180.64 metre-long vessel also boasted a top speed of over 30 knots.
This Lurssen-built vessel was commissioned by the former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and completed in less than three years – a milestone in construction. The ship features a helipad and submarines and has enough resources to support 36 people simultaneously.
The ship was owned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan until he died in 2022.
Azzam means ‘determined’ in Arabic, which was undoubtedly the intention of the designer of this vessel. This inside plan of the yacht is kept tightly secret, but photographs indicate at least six decks with an interior style that supposedly mirrors the design of the Sheikh’s castles.
The yacht has a gross weight of around 14,000 tons and can hold 1 million litres of fuel. The salon on board has an open space, 29 metres long and a bar of approximately 18 metres. In addition, it has about 50 suites, a swimming pool and an expansive restaurant fit for royalty.
Eclipse
Cost: US$1.5 billion
Owner: Roman Abramovich
The Eclipse is where the line between a private yacht and a military vessel begins to blur. This 165-metre ship is decked out with a state-of-the-art missile defence system and bulletproof glass.
It’s not just pirates that would be well-advised to stay clear of this fully-armed floating fortress. Eclipse also has an anti-paparazzi shield involving a laser sphere that sweeps the surroundings. Upon detecting a camera, a bolt of light is shot towards it and removes photographs.
It’s one of the most technologically advanced ships in the world. It has motion sensors strategically installed around the entire vessel, as well as a $50 million German-made anti-ballistic missile defence system.
The former Chelsea owner’s private vessel is also a den of luxury. It has a 5-meter pool that transforms into a dance floor and its own mini-submarine for underwater exploration, which doubles up as an escape pod. The yacht is filled to the brim with luxurious features, two helipads and a helicopter garage on the top deck. There are 17 luxury guest cabins on the ship to host up to 36 guests. The vessel includes a home cinema, jacuzzi, two swimming pools, gym, dining hall, beach club and private spa.
Production of the vessel by Hamburg-based shipbuilder Blohm+Voss took five years to finish. In 2010, it was once the longest private vessel in the world until the Azzam was completed.
Chartering the vessel just for a week costs US$2 million, with operation costs reaching US$75 million.
History Supreme
Cost: US$4.8 billion
Owner: Robert Kuok
The History Supreme reportedly encapsulates opulence. By far, this yacht blows every other private vessel out of the water in terms of luxury. The 30-metre ship is encrusted almost completely in gold and platinum, according to the website of Stuart Hughes, who specialises in adding gold coverings to iPhones and other objects.
All features, including a deck, dining area, rails, and anchor, are apparently made from precious metals. The sleeping quarters have a feature wall made up of meteorite stone with genuine dinosaur bone shaved in from a T-rex, Hughes’ website says. Its owner has been alleged to be Robert Kuok, Malaysia’s richest man and the owner of Shangri-La Hotels and resorts.
This description would make the History Supreme the most decadent piece of naval architecture ever created. However, despite being widely reported by several interviews with news outlets saying it was real, there is no evidence such a vessel exists.
Aside from photos on Hughes’s website, the ship has never been spotted, nor is it likely such a yacht would be functionally possible.
In the words of Mario from Baia Yachts: “I can’t believe people would believe someone would be so stupid to commission this boat.”
This is where the magic of MarineTraffic shines. Almost every civilian vessel in existence has registered and has its information uploaded onto the Live Map. So one can debunk unverified reports, in this instance, by simply plugging in a vessel’s name into the Marine Traffic search bar.
