From 140 meters … up! What are the 10 largest yachts in the world?

No doubt about it, the Mediterranean is still the center of the world for yachts. Extra-luxury giants belonging to some of the most powerful families on Earth like to linger on the shores of Italy, Greece and Spain, not to mention France and Monaco. They may not be sailboats (not even the last for some), but all of them-some more, some less-have marked a page in boating. What are the 10 largest yachts ever?

1 – The great and powerful Azzam | 180 meters

Leading the rankings as the largest recreational yacht ever has endured for five years now, Azzam, the 180-meter giant owned by the Abu Dhabi royal family. The builder is the German shipyard Lürssen, “king of luxury” with as many as 4 boats in the world’s 10 largest. There were no particular limitations in the budget for the construction of Azzam, commissioned by the Emir of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, with a portfolio of around $21 billion. But how much horsepower does it take to move a 180-meter, 13,136-ton giant? Nearly 100,000 – one hundred thousand (!) – horsepower, 94,000 MTU to be precise, with which the large and powerful Azzam easily reaches 30 knots, with a cruising speed around 25. Construction took four years and involved 680 people for an operation with a total value of $600 million.

2 – Fulk Al Salamah, between Italy and Oman | 164 meters

From Genoa comes Fulk Al Salamah, the yacht of the Sultan of Oman, Qabus Bin Said. Given the never-ending waiting list in the Lürssen warehouses, the sultan turned to the Italian Mariotti shipyard in 2014 to have what at first glance may look like a giant ferry built. Delivered in 2016, at 164 meters, the Omani royal family’s yacht is the second largest in the world. Although it does not go unnoticed, it is shrouded in mystery regarding its actual motorization. It can reach a top speed of 19 knots with a weight of 11,000 tons. In this giant, the huge helicopter landing pad located on the penultimate aft deck certainly does not go unnoticed.

3 – Eclipse: when luxury comes through anti-missile systems | 162.50

Since it was built in 2010, Eclipse, the mega-yacht of Russian oil tycoon Roman Abramovich, dominated the ranking of the world’s largest for nearly five years before being dispatched to the bottom step of the podium by Azzam and Fulk Al Salamah. And many will recall that at the time of Azzam’s launch, the headlines focused almost more on Abramovich, ousted from the top position, than on the Abu Dhabi emir’s yacht. The Russian entrepreneur has never hidden his passion for extreme luxury, and Eclipse, from German shipyard Blohm & Voss, fully represents his owner’s style. At 162.50 long, it is decidedly less powerful than its “rival” Azzam, being able to rely “only” on a 10,000-horsepower MTU quad engine that still allows Eclipse to reach the not inconsiderable speed of 25 knots. Anti-missile systems, submersibles, bulletproof glass, and all kinds of other luxuries? Here you go, Eclipse!

4 – Dubai, the perfect mosaic | 162 meters

In fourth position is Dubai, the yacht of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, emir, needless to say, of Dubai. Just 50 centimeters shorter than Eclipse, it was started in 1996 in Germany, in the shipyards of Blohm & Voss in collaboration with Lürssen, for the prince of the Sultanate of Brunei, Jefri Bolkiah. In 2001, the hull arrived in Dubai, where Platinum Yachts, behind which is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was responsible for completing the work, in 2005. The mosaic of stories and people who worked in the 9 years leading up to the launching remains in the history of the yacht, whose interiors, curated by Andrew Winch, are the result of intensive research and refinement of detail with a peculiarity. The leitmotif of the decorations are precisely the mosaics, which are omnipresent on board. With 26 knots of top speed and 25 knots of cruising speed, Dubai is capable of up to 8,000 consecutive miles of range, thanks to four 8450-horsepower MTU engines.

5 – Dilbar, the titan of the “lord of metals” | 156 meters

For the fifth position we find the celebrated Dilbar, a mega-yacht owned by another Russian businessman Abramovich and also within a top English soccer club-Arsenal. We are talking about Alisher Usmanov, the Russian-Uzbek “lord of metals,” a top producer with his Metalloinvest. But back to the yacht: Dilbar is 156 meters long, but by tonnage it is the largest in the world at 15917 tons, and not even Azzam can compete with this titan, built by Germany’s Lürssen in 2016. The engine is a 30,000 Kw diesel electric, spinning Dilbar at 23 knots maximum speed and 18 knots cruising speed, a considerable speed considering the weight of this mega yacht.

6 – Al Said, the “little sister” of Fulk Al Salamah | 155 meters

Don’t be fooled by Al Said‘s two smokestacks and superstructure: you are not looking at a ferry! The Omani family’s taste for imposing and very “ferry-like” superstructures is also reconfirmed in Fulk Al Salamah’s “little sister,” which at 155 meters is the sixth largest yacht in the world. Also here at the stern is a huge platform for helicopter landing. This yacht, delivered in 2008 by Germany’s Lürssen, at 15,850 tons almost reaches the tonnage of Dilbar, which weighs only 67 tons more. Very large interior volumes, curated by Redman Whiteley Dixon, are one of the hallmarks of Al Said, which is also equipped with two MTU engines of about 11,000 horsepower with which it can develop 22 knots of top speed.

7- Prince Abdulaziz, the “Titanic of Arabia” | 147 meters

In the year the first Mac was launched by Apple and Maradona began his career at Napoli, the royal family of Arabia was presented with one of the largest units in the history of boating. Her name is Prince Abdulaziz, and from 1984 to 2001 she held the title of the world’s largest yacht, thanks to her 147 meters in length. Owned by King Fahd of Arabia, now part of the Saudi royal fleet, it continues to be frequently used. Built by the Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft, it is capable of reaching 22 knots, traveling at an average of 18 thanks to its 2 7800-horsepower Pielstick engines. The interiors were curated by David Kicks, and the second floor features a lobby that is a faithful replica of Titanic’s interior.

8 – Topaz, Azzam’s half-brother | 147 meters

The last Lürssen in the top 10 is Topaz, and it is 147 meters long as Prince Abdulaziz. Coming out of the pen of the great designer Tim Heywood, it is owned by Mansour Ben Zayed Al Nayhan, half-brother of Azzam’s owner Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and chairman of Manchester City. The vessel has an estimated weight of more than 12 thousand tons, two MTU engines of about 8000 horsepower, and reaches a top speed of 23 knots, cruising at about 19 knots. Its value has been estimated at around 300 and 400 million pounds.

9 – El Mahroussa, the son of the Nile | 145.70

From its portholes one would have witnessed much of the modern history of Egypt, to whose government belongs El Mahroussa, also known as El Horriya – Freedom – after Egypt’s 1952 revolution. It is not just a mega yacht; it is the oldest currently in circulation, used by Egypt’s greatest statesmen from its inception to the present. At 145.70 long, it was built in England by Samuda Brothers in 1865 and has undergone several modifications, including structural changes, over the years, such as two lengthening of the overall hull length and replacement of the motorization. Returned to be in the El Mahrousa in 2000 it currently has 3 Parson 1037-horsepower engines that take it to a maximum of 16 knots, with 13 knots of cruising speed. The interior and exterior design was handled entirely by Oliver Lang.

10 – Sailing A, the VIY | 142 meters

Last but not least, here is one of the most talked about yachts of the summer. We are talking about the Sailing A, the Philippe Starck-designed sailing behemoth that wreaks havoc at every landing it passes. Aesthetically unconventional, Andrei Melnichenko’s maxi yacht is a three-masted (one of which is around 100 meters long) 142-meter long, launched in 2017 by German shipyard Nobiskrug. The owner, Melnichenko is the Russian tycoon who also boasts in his “boat fleet” A, the 119-meter motor yacht also out of Starck’s hand. Sailing A is the world’s largest sailboat and has a twin 4827-horsepower MTU engine that takes it to a maximum speed of 21 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots.

NAVIGATE INFORMED!

To stay up-to-date on all the news from the world of sailing, selected by our editorial staff, sign up for the Sailing Newspaper newsletter! It is semplicissimo, just enter your email below, accept the Privacy Policy and click the “Sign me up” button. You will then receive on your email, twice a week, the best sailing news! It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time, no obligation!