'Mine's bigger' - the Ten biggest superyachts for 2012

by Nancy Knudsen on 20 Jan 2013 Every year, details on the largest superyachts in the world are announced by Superyachts.com. Sponsored by the luxury yacht charter company Y.CO, the unveiling of the latest list reveals the 100 biggest yachts in existence has just occurred again. Here we count down merely the top ten biggest. Seven of the ten are owned by Arab interests, one by the Sultan of Brunei, one by a Russian Oligarch and one by an American film producer, and there's not a sailing boat in sight:

1: Project Azzam. Project Azaam is currently being built by Lurssen Yachts and is due to be launched in 2013, but is already floating. She is believed to be a 180m motor yacht and therefore is expected to take over the mantle as the world's largest superyacht. Azzam is being built by a Middle-Eastern billionaire, and is estimated to have a rather steep price of $622 million (which means, according to estimates, that it will coast around $62million a year in maintenance.

2: Eclipse. Motoryacht Eclipse, completed at the end of 2010 at the Blohm + Voss Hamburg shipyard, features interiors by Terence Disdale Design and is the world’s largest completed superyacht - for the timebeing. At 164m Eclipse’s unprecedented size had ensured her construction had been shrouded in secrecy and, as such, the vessel was subject to much rumour and speculation from both the international press and superyacht enthusiasts. It emerged that Eclipse was commissioned by Roman Abramovich and his celebrity amplifies the impact it makes on its voyages around the world. It is available for charter.
Picture: Peter Seyfferth TheYachtPhoto.com

3: Dubai. Launched in 2006 by Platinum Yachts, Dubai is the world’s second largest private yacht, measuring 162 metres. Dubai’s incredible size is disguised by the elegant lines of her steel hull and aluminium superstructure – the work of renowned designer Andrew Winch. Her interior was designed by Platinum Yachts. The construction of this megayacht began for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei more than 10 years before the yacht’s launch. The construction, then a joint project between Blohm + Voss and Lurssen shipyards, was halted until 2001 when the hull was acquired by Platinum Yachts for His Highness Sheik Mohammed Rashid al-Maktoum. The project, previously named Platinum, Panhandle and Golden Star, was re-named Dubai.
Picture: Ralf Grabbert TheYachtPhoto.com

4: Al-Said. Al-Said is a 155m motor yacht which was custom built in 2008 by Lurssen Yachts in Bremen. This magnificent yacht features exterior styling by Espen Oeino, with interior design by Redman Whitely Dixon. Al Said is owned by the Sultan Qaboos of Oman. The yacht was ordered to be made in 2006, code named Project Sunflower during its construction. It is currently the world's highest displacement super-yacht (15,850 tons), the most powerful (16,500kW) and third longest super-yacht (155m).[2] Al Said was launched by the Lürssen shipyard in September 2007 and delivered to her owners in 2008. At the time of her launch she was the world's second longest yacht, now merely the fourth

5: Topaz. Topaz is a 147m (482'3ft) motor yacht, custom built in 2012 by Lurssen Yachts in Bremen (Germany). The yacht's interior has been designed by Terence Disdale and has exterior styling by Tim Heywood Design. The yacht was built for Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirate and launched in May 2012. Topaz ties with Prince Abdulazizis for the title of world's fifth largest private yacht, both holding a length of 147 metres (482 ft). The vessel beats the world's sixth largest private yacht, El Horria, in length by 1.28 metres

5: Prince Abdulaziz. Joint fifth on the list, Prince Abdulaziz (formerly Abdulaziz) is a 147m (482'3ft) motor yacht, custom built in 1984 by Helsingor Vaerft in Helsingor (Denmark). This luxury vessel's sophisticated exterior design and engineering are the work of Maierform Maritime Technology. The yacht's interior has been designed by David Hicks and has exterior styling by Maierform Maritime Technology. She was last refitted in 2005. She was at delivery the longest and tallest motor yacht in the world and retained this status for 22 years, so that she is regarded today as the largest luxury yacht of the 20th century. The first owner was the King of Saudi Arabia Fahd of Saudi Arabia. After his death in 2005 ownership passed to his half brother Abdullah ibn Abd al-Aziz

7: El Horriya (formerly Mahroussa) is a 145.72m (478'1ft) motor yacht, custom built in 1865 by Samuda Bros. in London. This luxury vessel's sophisticated exterior design and engineering are the work of Sir Oliver Lang. Her exterior is styled by the Sir Oliver Lang team who are also responsible for the entire engineering package. She was last refitted in 1987. El Horria was a Royal Yacht built for Isma'il Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt in 1865.

It was designed along the same lines as HMY Victoria and Albert II, and remained in service with the Egyptian royal family until 1951.

In 1869, as the Mahroussa, she gained fame as the first ship to pass through the newly completed Suez Canal as part of the opening ceremony.

After the abdication of King Farouk, it was taken over by the Egyptian government for use as a naval training ship, and was given her current name. It spent most of its career in the eastern Mediterranean, but did participate in the International Naval Review held to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States of America.

Presently, the ship is cared for by the Egyptian Navy, and is occasionally used as a Presidential Yacht. The ship goes to sea about three times a year, usually for just a day.

8: Yas. Yas was successfully launched by ADM Shipyards in Adu Dhabi in November 2011; entering the record books as both the largest launch of 2011 and most significant superyacht in recent history. Previously called Swift 141, she is an ex-naval frigate

It is said that the vessel was ordered by a member of the Arabic royal family. The boat, called 'Yas', is one of the most luxurious vessels today. The hull of the yacht is built in such a way that it offers great hydrodynamics and speeds, while the boat’s highest velocity is thought to be around 26 knots.

9: Al Salamah. Al Salamah is a 139.3m (457.02ft) motor yacht, custom built in 1999. Terence Disdale is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior design. She was last refitted in 2009. She is owned by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Defence Minister and son of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia

10: Rising Sun. Rising Sun is a 138.4m (454'1'ft) motor yacht, custom built in 2004 by Lurssen Yachts. The yacht's interior has been designed by Seccombe Design. She was last refitted in 2007. It was originally purchased by Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, and is currently owned by David Geffen, American film producer and billionaire. It reportedly cost over US$200 million to build. It might only be the tenth largest, but it is equipped with Four MTU 20V 8000 M90 diesel engines giving an output of 36,000 kW (50,000 hp), Four propellers that enable it to reach a cruising speed of 28 knots (52 km/h), Chromium-plated hawser-holes, 82 rooms on five storeys with a total living area said to be in excess of 8,000 square metres, onyx countertops, jacuzzi bathrooms, a gymnasium/spa and sauna, an extensive wine cellar, a private cinema with a giant plasma screen, 3,300 m² of teak-layered deck space, a basketball court on the main deck (can be used as a helicopter pad if necessary)

You can see the rest of the entries in this year's list at www.Superyachts.com!Superyachts.com, an excellent resource for all Superyacht News.