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10 Things you’re Wondering about Dilbar Yacht (price, location, owner…)

Introducing Dilbar, an awe-inspiring superyacht stretching an impressive 157 meters (512 feet) from bow to stern! Crafted by the esteemed German shipbuilder Lurssen and making her grand debut in May 2016, Dilbar isn’t just about her grandeur; she boasts the title of the largest yacht by interior volume. 

Sure, Azzam may have a lengthier frame, but when it comes to sheer space and luxurious living quarters, Dilbar steals the spotlight with unmatched opulence. Step aboard and experience the pinnacle of nautical extravagance!

How much does the Dilbar superyacht cost?

Delivered in 2016, Lürssen ‘s Dilbar is the world’s largest motor yacht in terms of gross tonnage. It’s also the most expensive, with an original price tag approaching $800 million. Weighing in at 15,917 tons, this 512-foot monolith is one of the most complex and demanding vessels ever built by the German yard. Dilbar features a classic profile and a light ivory hull with bronze accents. According to the US Treasury Department, the yacht is now worth between $600 and $700 million, with annual maintenance costs of around $60 million.

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Ukraine invasion — explained

The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all.

Germany seizes the world's largest yacht (at least according to volume)

Rachel Treisman

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017.

German authorities have seized the world's largest yacht by volume after determining that a Russian oligarch had transferred its ownership to his sister — who is also facing Western sanctions.

Dilbar, the yacht in question, measures some 511 feet and 15,917 tons, which shipbuilder Lurssen says makes it the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. It has two helipads and one of the biggest indoor pools ever installed on a yacht, according to the U.S. Treasury Department , which puts its estimated worth between $600 and $735 million.

Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs

The superyacht is named after the mother of its original owner: Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires and a known close associate of the Russian president. Usmanov was sanctioned by the U.S., United Kingdom., European Union and Switzerland in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany's federal police tweeted Wednesday that it found, "through extensive investigations despite offshore concealment," that the yacht currently belongs to Usmanov's sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova. Authorities impounded the yacht, which remains at the port of Hamburg , after confirming with Brussels that its owner is under sanctions.

A Russian billionaire's superyacht has been impounded in Hamburg, Germany. Harsh sanctions in response to the invasion of #Ukraine brought the estimated $600-750 million yacht Dilbar out of 'offshore concealment', and into the hands of authorities. pic.twitter.com/GYkH6SmQk2 — German Embassy (@GermanyinUSA) April 14, 2022

Ismailova was sanctioned by the U.K. on Wednesday and the EU last week. Both entities said Usmanov had indirectly transferred assets to his sister, including leaving her as Dilbar's only beneficial owner.

"The owner of the yacht 'Dilbar' is Navis Marine Ltd. (Cayman Islands), whose shareholder is Almenor Holdings Ltd. (Cyprus). All shares in that holding company are held by PomerolCapital SA (Switzerland) in trust for the benefit of 'The Sisters Trust,' " EU officials explained, adding that Usmanov has not been a shareholder of that trust company since 2017.

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A russian oligarch's $90 million yacht is seized as part of u.s. sanctions.

Ukrainian sailors tried to block a Russian oligarch's yacht from docking in Turkey

Ismailova has also been linked to luxury real estate in Italy and Latvia associated with Usmanov, the EU said, and therefore has "actively supported materially or financially Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine."

Dilbar made headlines in early March , when Hamburg officials denied conflicting reports that they had seized the superyacht and said any such move would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

According to Boat International, Dilbar is also the fourth-longest yacht in the world. It can accommodate up to 96 crew members as well as 24 guests in a large living space, which includes fold-out balconies, an onboard garden (with "a specifically developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air") and more than 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions.

This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog .

• Russia sanctions

News | World

Massive superyacht ‘owned by sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov’ is seized in Hamburg

German authorities said they have seized a massive superyacht in Hamburg after determining that it belongs to the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov .

The Federal Criminal Police Office said that, after “extensive investigations” and despite “offshore concealment”, it had been able to determine that the owner is Gulbakhor Ismailova, Mr Usmanov’s sister.

Superyacht Dilbar was launched in 2016 at a reported cost of more than $648 million (£493 million).

The yacht features a 25m swimming pool, two helipads, and an on-ship garden and is valued between $600m (£456m) to $750m (£570m), according to the US treasury.

Germany police said authorities worked in Brussels to ensure that European Union sanctions applied to the owner.

It says the yacht can no longer be sold, rented or loaded.

The United States and the EU last month announced economic sanctions against Mr Usmanov, a metals magnate, over his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine.

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UPDATE: Fate Of Russian Billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s Mega-Yacht In Germany Uncertain

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Alisher Usmanov's Dilbar yacht.

CORRECTION (March 3): According to the Ministry for Economy and Innovation in the German state of Hamburg, the country’s authorities have not seized the Dilbar, a 512-foot yacht owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. As Forbes reported on Wednesday, work on the ship has been halted at the Hamburg shipyard where it has been stationed for refitting work since October.

Three sources had told Forbes it had been seized, but a representative for Usmanov cited the statement from the ministry in Hamburg to confirm that it had not. In its statement, the ministry elaborated that the German federal customs agency is the “responsible enforcement authority” and would have to issue an export waiver for the yacht to leave, and that “no yacht leaves port that is not allowed to do so.”

The yacht is registered in the Cayman Islands and owned through Klaret Continental Leasing Limited, a company based in Malta, according to public data from vessel tracking service VesselFinder. A spokesperson for the Malta Business Registry told Forbes that Klaret Continental Leasing Limited was a branch of a Cyprus-based company which closed in December 2018. The Cyprus company, also named Klaret Continental Leasing Limited, was dissolved in September 2019, according to corporate records in Cyprus. A spokesperson for Usmanov told the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project , which Forbes is collaborating with on assets linked to Russian oligarchs, that the yacht had “long ago been transferred into an irrevocable trust” and that Usmanov had “donated” the beneficial rights to members of his family. That makes it difficult to tie the yacht directly to Usmanov for the purpose of sanctions.

In its statement, the ministry in Hamburg added that restrictions can be imposed on a yacht owned by a sanctioned Russian individual only “if the ownership situation is clearly clarified and all these possessions are also sanctioned.” The ministry confirmed to Forbes that the yacht is still in the dock at the Hamburg shipyards of Blohm+Voss.

Forbes contacted the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Federal Customs Service but has not received an immediate response.

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was sanctioned by the European Union on Monday. Two days later, Forbes has learned from three sources in the yacht industry that work has been halted on one of his prized possessions—the 512-foot yacht Dilbar, valued at nearly $600 million—in the northern city of Hamburg, where it had been stationed for refitting at the shipyards of Blohm+Voss since October.

The ship has been in the Hamburg shipyards of German shipbuilding firm Blohm+Voss since late October for a refitting job. Sources who spoke to Forbes said that the German government froze the asset and that, likely as a result, Blohm+Voss employees who had been working on the yacht didn’t show up to work on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Lürssen, the German shipbuilder which owns Blohm+Voss, declined to comment on Thursday. “All orders and projects of the Lürssen Group and its subsidiaries are treated in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” the spokesperson said. Representatives for Usmanov didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Usmanov purchased Dilbar in 2016 for a reported $600 million from Lürssen, which custom-built it for him over 52 months. The firm calls it "one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology." At 15,917 tons, it's the world's largest motor yacht by gross tonnage, and is typically manned by a crew of 96 people. Dilbar boasts the largest swimming pool ever installed on a yacht as well as two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym. Its plush interiors have more than 1,000 sofa cushions and it can host up to 24 people in 12 suites.

The yacht is part of Usmanov’s estimated multibillion dollar fortune, which spans stakes in iron ore and steel giant Metalloinvest and consumer electronics firm Xiaomi, as well as smaller holdings in telecom, mining and media. One of the earliest investors in Facebook along with fellow billionaire Yuri Milner , Usmanov also owns extensive real estate assets in the West, ranging from two estates in the UK—Beechwood House in London and Sutton Place in Surrey, valued at a combined $280 million—to luxury homes in Munich, Germany; Lausanne, Switzerland; Monaco; and Sardinia.

Usmanov sold his 30% stake in English soccer team Arsenal F.C. in 2018 for nearly $700 million in cash, but until this week had ties to soccer through his USM Holdings and MegaFon sponsorships of Everton F.C. The Premier League team said on Wednesday that it was suspending the arrangements in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Usmanov isn’t the only Russian billionaire with a mega-yacht: Forbes and yacht valuation experts VesselsValue tracked down 32 of them.

On Tuesday, Usmanov commented on the EU sanctions imposed on him in a statement to the International Fencing Federation where he also announced he was stepping down as the organization’s president. “I believe that such decision is unfair, and the reasons employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honor, dignity, and business reputation," he wrote. "I will use all legal means to protect my honor and reputation."

Updated on March 30 with more information on Klaret Continental Leasing Ltd.

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Lurssen Reveals Superyacht DILBAR to be 'One of the Most Complex' Builds Yet

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By Rebecca Bradbury   22 June 2016

Lurssen has today reported its latest delivery, the 156m/512ft superyacht DILBAR , was 'one of the most complex and challenging yachts that has ever been built, both in terms of dimension and technology.'

The German shipyard has also confirmed that DILBAR , delivered to her Owner just four weeks ago, is the world’s largest yacht in terms of volume, with a huge gross tonnage of 15,917 tons.

There has been much speculation on whether DILBAR would, in fact, take this title after the shipyard’s CEO Peter Lurssen made the claim before her launch in May.

Now it is clear she has surpassed the former record holder, the 155m/508ft superyacht ‘Al Said’ , which was delivered by Lurssen  in 2008 and has a gross tonnage of 15,850 tons.

Currently on her maiden voyage in the Mediterranean , luxury yacht DILBAR also provides spaces in the interior which have never been seen on a yacht before, according to the shipyard.

Further information on her interior, however, remains shrouded in much secrecy and many are left guessing at what the celebrated British designer, Andrew Winch, has created.

Dilbar has been a big part of my life. She is truly special, culturally unique and incredibly detailed in so many ways. Andrew Winch

Commenting on the yacht, Winch said, “Dilbar has been a big part of my life. She is truly special, culturally unique and incredibly detailed in so many ways. We are sure that her owners will enjoy every space on board.”

Despite her mysterious interior, two other record-breaking features have been unveiled, both of which point to just how much the motor yacht has pushed the boundaries of superyacht design.

She is said to be home to the largest swimming pool to ever be built on a yacht as well as the largest electric diesel-electric power plant ever installed on a yacht, which allows her to cruise at a speed of 22 knots.

What can be observed from recently released photographs is her timeless profile designed by renowned naval architects Espen Oino, her ivory-coloured hull and her bronze finishes.

If you would like to find out more on Lurssen superyachts, get in touch with your preferred charter broker .

Alternatively, compare all yachts similar to DILBAR which are available for charter .  

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156m Lurssen 2016

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Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov's $735 million superyacht, Dilbar — the largest in the world — has been impounded in Germany

• German authorities have impounded a $750 million superyacht associated with Alisher Usmanov.
• Police said an investigation into "offshore concealment" found the owner was Usmanov's sister.
• Dilbar was speculated to have been seized last month, but officials denied it at the time.

Germany's Federal Police have seized the largest megayacht in the world after determining it to be owned by the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov.

The police said they were able to find the owner after an investigation into " offshore concealment " and that the boat would remain at a shipyard in Hamburg.

—Bundeskriminalamt (@bka) April 13, 2022

The European Union's sanctions lists include Alisher Usmanov's sister Gulbakhor Ismailova and say that he "indirectly transferred assets," including Dilbar, to her.

Related stories

The 512-foot yacht was thought to be under German government control in March when it was spotted at the Blohm+Voss shipyard, where it had been undergoing a refitting since October. Officials denied those reports at the time.

Shortly afterward, the yacht's crew was fired after wages could not be paid because of sanctions, Forbes reported.

With two helipads and the largest indoor pool ever installed on a yacht, Dilbar is worth between $600 million and $735 million and costs $60 million a year to maintain, according to the US Treasury Department.

The UK government estimated Usmanov was worth $18.4 billion from interests in metals, mining, and telecoms, and the EU called him one of " Putin's favorite oligarchs ."

Dilbar is named for Usmanov's mother.

Watch: Why Coca-Cola invented Fanta in Nazi Germany

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Video: Lürssen 156m superyacht Dilbar delivered to owner

Lürssen  has released a timelapse video of 156 metre yacht Dilbar , previously known as Project Omar, to celebrate her delivery to the Mediterranean earlier this month.

The footage includes craftsmen working on the hull and superstructure prior to launch and aerial footage of the record-breaking yacht on her delivery trip.

Dilbar was the largest superyacht launch of 2015 and is the fourth largest yacht in the world  by length. Lürssen also confirmed that she is the largest by gross tonnage, with a total interior volume of 15,917 gross tonnes.

Lürssen also claims two other record-breaking features — Dilbar 's 180 cubic metre swimming pool is believed to be the largest on any yacht, while her 30,000kw diesel electric power plant is also thought to be a record for a superyacht and gives her a cruising speed of 22.5 knots.

The near 2,000nm delivery voyage comes more than two months after Dilbar’s sea trials began off Bremen. Previous videos had shown her leaving the Bremen facility on May 14 with her new name visible on the transom and superstructure.

We revealed that a 156 metre superyacht was under construction in the 2015  Global Order Book , but the project is so secretive it wasn't entered under Lürssen’s list of new yachts in build — her entry was under a more covert “custom” billing.

Project Omar was reportedly ordered by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who also owns the 110 metre Lürssen superyacht Dilbar , which has now been renamed Ona .

Few interior details are known, but her construction materials of a steel hull and aluminium superstructure can be confirmed. It is understood that her exterior design is by  Espen Øino with interiors by Andrew Winch .

While this project is notably large, it isn’t, of course, the world’s largest yacht — or even the largest Lürssen. Those titles go equally to the 180 metre superyacht Azzam , the world’s largest private yacht.  

Last year Lürssen launched the 125 metre Golden Odyssey , and included in its impressive order book is a 120 metre project due for delivery in 2017.

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World's Top 10 Most Expensive Superyachts

Posted: July 2, 2024 | Last updated: July 2, 2024

Forget mansions and supercars; you could see any of those on a good day. The ultimate symbol of wealth is superyachts cruising on the waves. These aren’t Grandpa’s fishing boats. We’re talking floating palaces with jacuzzis, helicopter pads, and movie theaters that host celebrities and billionaires. The price tag to own one and the eye-watering cost of keeping it fueled and afloat could buy a fleet of luxury cars! In a list where the top three are worth over $2 billion combined, find ten of the most expensive yachts worldwide.

Pelorus ($200 Million)

Imagine cruising the ocean on its Owner’s Suite with a captivating horizon-to-horizon view. Besides the jacuzzi, gym, and cinema, this 377-foot beauty has a helipad, a tender garage, and several smaller boats. When Lürssen, Tim Heywood, and Terence Disdale delivered the Pelorus, it was one of the largest yachts worldwide. She can accommodate over 20 guests in 12 cabins with enough room for a crew of 46 aboard all year round. Roman Abramovich first owned the Pelorus before Chinese billionaire and property magnate Samuel Tak Lee bought the vessel years later.

Radiant ($300 million)

Lürssen Yacht originally built the Radiant for Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, with Tim Heywood Design Ltd. and Terence Disdale Design handling the exterior and interior, respectively. However, he could not complete the payments due to financial difficulties, and Emirati billionaire Abdulla Al Futtaim snatched it up in 2010. This 360-foot vessel has a sleek design with an aluminum superstructure and teak-laid decks. Befitting her status as a superyacht, Radiant has multiple decks for relaxation and entertainment, a touch-and-go helipad, a cinema, garages for storing smaller boats, and a high-power water cannon for defense.

Motor Yacht A ($440 Million)

With famed designer Philippe Starck handling the design of this 390-foot superyacht, Blohm+Voss built it before its delivery in 2008. You’d instantly recognize this masterpiece with its upside-down bow and minimalist superstructure. The Motor Yacht A has a 2,500-square-foot master bedroom, a glass-bottomed swimming pool, a disco, a 30-foot speedboat, and a helicopter hangar. The MY A is currently owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko.

A+ aka Topaz ($450 Million)

After Lürssen built the A+, they launched it as Topaz in 2012. This masterpiece can comfortably accommodate up to 52 guests in 26 extravagant staterooms, plus a crew and staff of 79 for unparalleled service during voyages. Thanks to twin Wärtsilä Diesel Electric engines, the A+ has an impressive range of up to 5,000 nautical miles with a top speed of 19 knots (22 mph). This 482-foot yacht is currently owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nayan, the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Serene ($500 million)

Built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, Serene spans a staggering 439 feet to become one of the world’s largest private superyachts. While Espen Oeino International worked on the exterior, Reymond Langton Design styled an interior design that earned it a decent reputation for luxury and unique features. Besides its outdoor movie hall, it reportedly has a snow and steam room, a submarine, and a helipad that converts into a dance floor or pool. The Serene, previously owned by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler and chartered by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is currently in the possession of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Dubai ($500 million)

The Dubai yacht is a floating masterpiece that ranks among the largest yachts in the world. It reportedly requires a crew of over 80 to maintain its smooth operation and cater to the needs of its guests. This massive 532-foot superyacht was initially a collaborative project by German shipyards Blohm+Voss and Lürssen for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei. However, Sheikh Mohammed, the Ruler of Dubai, bought the vessel after Platinum Yachts completed the project. It has several luxurious amenities, including a disco, a swimming pool with elaborate handmade tiling, two jacuzzis, and a helipad.

Al Said ($600 million)

This majestic vessel, initially commissioned by Qaboos bin Said Al-Said, the then Sultan of Oman, reflects the grandeur of Omani palaces. At 508 feet, this floating palace can accommodate about 70 guests in luxurious suites with a crew of over 150 to ensure smooth running. It also has a concert hall large enough to accommodate a 50-piece orchestra. Lürssen crafted the Al Said with Espen Oeino International, handling the exterior design, and British design house RWD styling the interior. 

Azzam ($600 Million)

Although Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, commissioned the Azzam before passing in 2022, his successor, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, now owns the vessel. Its construction involved a team of 4,000 people, working for over four years and clocking up about six million person-hours. The engineers installed a missile defense system and bullet-proof master suite for top-notch security. They also added an unusually shallow draft of 4.3 meters (14 feet 1 inch), allowing it to cruise in shallower waters compared to other superyachts. Thanks to its twin gas turbine General Electric (LM2500 +G4) 40,200hp engines, the 590-feet yacht can reach 25 knots (28 mph).

Eclipse ($700 Million)

We’ve seen some magnificent yachts, but this 533-foot beauty designed by Blohm+Voss takes the gold-encrusted cake. When Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Israeli businessman and politician, owner of Millhouse Capital LLC, and former owner of Chelsea Football Club, bought this yacht, it was the most expensive worldwide. Besides the two swimming pools and helipads, it reportedly has extensive security features such as an intruder system, missile detection, armor plating, bullet-proof windows, and an anti-paparazzi shield with laser beams. 

Dilbar ($750 Million)

Imagine enjoying the ocean view when a 512-foot yacht, the length of two football fields, appears. This stunning vessel, named after the owner’s mother, Dilbar Usmanova, features one of the largest indoor pools (82 feet) ever seen on a yacht. With two helipads, a lavish interior, and top-notch amenities designed by Winch Design, its high price tag is justified. The yacht, owned by a company held in a trust settled by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, who amassed his wealth in metal and mining, was seized by German authorities in 2022 as part of sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. As of now, it remains in German custody.

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For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean. 

The  Archimedes , a 222-foot (68-meter) “adventure” yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat’s Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off of the water. A senior lecturer at the UK’s University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton — microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain — by studying the ocean’s color. The Sea-Bird’s readouts helped them verify satellite imagery. 

Brewin’s was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht — also known as expedition or explorer yachts — to conduct research on the ocean. In a  paper  published in January, Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of “harnessing superyachts” for science, concluding that “reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps.” 

It’s a view shared — and being pushed — by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science (of which, full disclosure, I am a member). In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an  awards ceremony  for yacht owners who “stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment.” The  Archimedes  won a “Science & Discovery” award. 

“If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it’d be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation,” says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of US-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages. 

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a four-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. (Other members include yacht builder Arksen, media firm BOAT International, and nonprofits Nekton Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation.) Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029. 

“There’s a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us,” says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a “mini superyacht.” Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 24-meter  Valkyrie  to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore. 

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. “The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run,” he says. 

When “superyacht” and “the environment” appear in the same sentence, it’s usually in a different context. In 2019,  one study estimated  that a single 71-meter superyacht has the same annual carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another  paper  found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world’s most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

“If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf,” says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and author of the book  Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide . Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it’s contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places. “They’re not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean,” he says. “Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the Subantarctic islands… that’s where you’re going to find us delivering our services.”

Explorer yachts aren’t the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), arguably the world’s greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of  15 research and survey vessels  for the use of its scientists. Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call “ existentially important ,” producing more than  half of the oxygen we breathe  and serving as the world’s  largest carbon sink . They also absorb  30% of our carbon emissions  and  90% of the excess heat generated by them .

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency’s research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says; “why don’t we build a hundred $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?” 

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it’s close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to — particularly in under-served regions like the Asia-Pacific — without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in “muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot.” He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as “better than nothing,” and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration. 

Christopher Walsh, captain of the  Archimedes , says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there’s an educational component. “I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms — you can’t imagine the enthusiasm the kids display,” Walsh says. “That gives me a lot of hope for the future.”

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