Before Azzam there was Eclipse. Eclipse, commissioned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at a cost of $250 million, was the biggest super motor yacht in the world at 533 feet (162.5m). It was the most expensive super motor yacht on the market, available for charters at a reported $2.6 million a week. But that was last year.
This year, superyacht Azzam, commissioned by an undisclosed Middle East billionaire and built at a cost of $605 million, became the largest motor yacht in the world at 57 feet longer than Eclipse. Azzam, all 590.5 feet (180 m), left Lurssen Yachts Germany, one of the world’s leading shipyards for large luxury yachts in June 2013. The super motor yacht has a 68.2 foot (20.8m) beam, a draft of 14.1 feet (4.30m) and a top speed of 30 kn. It is estimated the super yacht will require yearly upkeep of $60 million.
Yachts of this size and expense draw a team of specialists hand-picked by the project engineer, in this case, Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi, to build a one-of-a-kind custom yacht that meets the sophisticated, luxurious and demanding vision of its patron. The exterior was designed by Nauta Design and the interior by Christophe Leoni. The hull is made out of steel and the ship is powered by four engines: two 23,500 hp diesel and two 23,500 hp gas turbine engines for total power of 94,000 hp.
But the specs are not as important as the frills: two helipads, two swimming pools, a cinema, a disco and a mini submarine, bullet proof glass, armor plating lining the master bedroom and a missile defense system.
Following is a video of 10 superyachts.
