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A Closer Look at the $320 Million Superyacht "Radiant"

In the world of superyachts, one of the most expensive and lavish ships in the world is the Radiant. As of 2018, it was the sixth most expensive yacht in the world and it's one that is boardable by invitation only. If you're as intrigued as we are about this floating luxury vessel, here are the details about what makes the Radiant so highly valued .

The history of the Radiant

The Radiant was originally built as a commissioned vessel ordered by Boris Berezovsky, who is a Russian media magnate. His intention was to have a superyacht built that would outshine the yacht owned by his enemy Roman Abramovich, who was the owner of the Pelorus. This gives us the back story that inspired the specifications of the luxury yacht that was intended to be one of the most glorious yachts to float the seas. The construction code name for the yacht was Darius with the first name to replace the code name as Radiant. The naval architect and builder of the ship is the German shipbuilder Lurssen, and she was launched in 2009 under the Cayman Islands flag . The Radiant was sold by Berezovsky to its current owner, Abdulla Al Futtaim. He hails from the United Arab Emirates and made billions of dollars in the car dealership industry.

Specifications of the Radiant

The Radiant was built with an aluminum superstructure and a strong steel hull. The total length is 360 feet and 10 inches which qualifies it as a superyacht. the beam is 53 ft and 5 inches and the draft is 14 ft 9 inches. The deck material is teak wood. The exterior of the Radiant was designed by Tim Heywood with the intention of making the beam large to provide for an ultra spacious luxury interior. The interior design is provided by Glen pushelberg of Terence Disdale Design. The ship launched in April of 2009 and was delivered to its Russian owner in 2010.

Power of this motor yacht

The tonnage of the Radiant is 5027 tonnes. She is powered by an 8715 horsepower MTU, 16 V 1163 TB73L diesel engine. The maximum speed of the ship is 21 knots. She is also equipped with zero speed stabilizers for the ultimate in guest comfort when the ship is docked, even in rough seas.

The amenities and equipment of the Radiant

We attempted to discover how many cabins were built into the Radiant, but this information is not readily available. It is our assumption that the configuration of the interior may have changed from one owner to another as it is standard practice to make changes to suit the personal tastes and preferences when it changes hands. When it comes to passenger capacity, the Radiant has accepted between 16 to 20 guests aboard. We also assume that there is a crew size of approximately 44 hands for the daily maintenance and operational needs of a craft this size. What we do know is that there are some sweet amenities on board. The Radiant features a helipad so guests and VIPs can easily gain access or leave the vessel, and this also comes in handy in the event of a medical emergency. There is also a cinema for the entertainment of guests, a gymnasium, a spa and jacuzzi for relaxation and a garage to store the tenders. There is also a swimming platform, swimming pools, a beach club, air conditioning and a massage room on board.

Safety equipment

The Radiant is equipped with a state of the art personal protection and security system that is unlike most other defense systems. The comprehensive system includes a barrage of sonic guns that have the capacity to burst the eardrums of any unwelcomed guests such as hijackers or other types of attackers. The yacht is also armed with a series of water cannons that can hurl jets of water that could sink a smaller boat form up to 100 yards from the vessel. A special escape pod has been designed with a speedboat to carry the occupants of the boat to safety if all other measures of protection and security fail. (www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-yachts-2014-9#6-radiant-is-worth-320-million-5). These safety and protection measures were instituted at the insistence of Berezovsky and the speedboat can reach 75 knots or better. The man who commissioned the building of the Radiant was taking no chances when it came to his personal safety and that of his guests.

Final thoughts

The Radiant remains one of the most expensive and lavish luxury yachts in the world today. It's the sister of the Dilbar, another highly ranking vessel in the collection and the ship was initially built to go one better and deliver a yacht which was superior to the yacht of the commissioning owner's rival, which was the Pelorus. One-upmanship was the passion that was behind the design and ultimate building of this $320 million dollar superyacht, which commands the attention of onlookers at whatever port it is docked. If you're fortunate enough to be one of the invited guests out of the 16 or 20 the ship is intended to accommodate, you will be aboard one of the safest and most secure yacht on the seas and there are a couple of different ways for you to escape if an emergency takes place. From the teak decks to the lavish design features of the interior of this seaworthy paradise, the Radiant is among the most expensive and admired vessels in the world today. Of course, both owners just happen to be billionaires several times over, but it's nice, sometimes, to see how the other half lives.

Written by  Allen Lee

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RADIANT Yacht – Masterful $300M Superyacht

Delivered to her owner, businessman from the United Arab Emirates, in 2009, RADIANT yacht is a 110-metre (260.1 ft) luxury yacht.

She is currently the 38th largest yacht in the world, closely followed by KAOS, AL RAYA and ANNA, who have the same lengths.

RADIANT yacht interior

The interior of the RADIANT yacht was designed by Glen Pushelberg, who co-founded the high-profile studio Yabu Pushelberg.

Their portfolio mainly consists of boutiques and expensive hotels, although they have worked on several luxury yachts in recent years.

The interior layout and design of RADIANT have been kept a secret from the public although it is rumored to be very modern and tasteful with contemporary design choices rather than traditional.

The yacht can welcome twenty guests in ten cabins as well as 44 crew members. She has a cinema, an indoor pool, elevators, and a spa onboard.

Specifications

RADIANT was built by Luerssen at their Lemwerder shipyard in Germany. She was delivered in late 2009 and conducted her maiden voyage in February 2010.

RADIANT has a total length of 110 meters (260.1 ft), a beam of 16.3 meters (53.6 ft), and a draft of 4.68 meters (15.4 ft).

Her weight lies at 5,082 tons, making her a relatively heavy yacht. Her average cruising speed is 16 knots, although she can accelerate to a top speed of 22 knots if required using her twin diesel MTU engines .

Her water tanks can carry up to 100,000 liters of freshwater allowing her to take guests on longer trips. 

Tim Heywood and his renowned design studio worked on the exterior of RADIANT in collaboration with Luerssen.

The British designer specializes in large vessels and has worked on yachts like DILBAR and PELROUS in the past. RADIANT is one of his most notable design projects.

She has a somewhat unconventional exterior which isn’t all-white like most superyachts but features a light grey lower half. She has a helipad on the top deck, although it can only support smaller aircraft.

The bow, which is usually where a helipad would be placed on a large yacht, is instead a spacious sun deck with storage facilities for smaller tenders and water toys such as jet skis. The aft of the vessel has several decks with comfortable seating areas.

The RADIANT yacht was sold to the owner for an estimated price of US $300 million. She generates an additional US $20 to $30 million in annual running costs.

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RADIANT yacht NOT for charter*

110m  /  360'11 | lurssen | 2009 / 2023.

Owner & Guests

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Elevator for easy access between floors
• Recent refit in 2023
• State-of-the-art cinema
• Inviting pool
• Germanischer Lloyd ✠ 100 A5 Motor Yacht, ✠ MC AUT classification

The 110m/360'11" motor yacht 'Radiant' (ex. Darius) was built by Lurssen in Germany at their Lemwerder shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Glen Pushelburg and she was delivered to her owner in February 2010. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Tim Heywood Design and she was last refitted in 2023.

Guest Accommodation

Radiant has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests in 10 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 44 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a movie theatre, beauty salon, elevator, beach club, gym and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Radiant is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (16V 1163 TB73L) 16-cylinder 8,715hp engines running at 1230rpm, she comfortably cruises at 16 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 21 knots. Radiant features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. Her water tanks store around 100,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to Germanischer Lloyd ✠ 100 A5 Motor Yacht, ✠ MC AUT classification society rules.

*Charter Radiant Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Radiant is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Radiant Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Radiant Photos

Radiant Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2011 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and above (approximately 85m+) Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Exterior Design & Styling Award: Displacement Motor Yachts 200′+ Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Naval Architecture Award: Motor Yachts Finalist

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Radiant

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

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115m | Lurssen

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Carinthia VII

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from $1,303,000 p/week ♦︎

107m | Olympic Yacht Services

from $2,172,000 p/week ♦︎

97m | Feadship

108m | Benetti

from $1,955,000 p/week ♦︎

122m | Lurssen

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91m | Lurssen

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93m | Feadship

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A sister to Al Raya, Radiant was commissioned by the Russian media tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who wanted a rival to Pelorus, owned by his arch enemy Roman Abramovich. However, he subsequently sold her to Abdulla al-Futtaim, a billionaire car dealer from the United Arab Emirates, before she was completed. As well as the standard features for a yacht of this size - helipad, gymnasium, cinema, spa - she has one of the highest security specifications ever conceived. Berezovsky ordered a personal “escape launch” – a speedboat with turbo-charged twin diesel engines capable of exceeding 75 knots. She is also equipped with an arsenal of sonic guns that fire low-frequency sound waves that can burst the eardrums of approaching assailants, and a military water cannon capable of sinking an approaching boat at more than 100 yards.

About RADIANT , brought to you by BOAT Pro

RADIANT is a 110.0 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2009.

Her top speed is 21.0 kn and her cruising speed is 16.0 kn and her power comes from two MTU diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 20 guests in 10 staterooms. She has a gross tonnage of 5027.0 GT and a 16.3 m beam.

She was designed by Tim Heywood , who has designed 60 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Lurssen , who has architected 72 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by Terence Disdale , who has 77 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

RADIANT is in the top 5% by LOA in the world. She is one of 72 motor yachts longer than 100m, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her top speed is 1.14 kn above the average.

RADIANT is currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the 2nd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1382 yachts registered. She is currently located at the superyacht marina Flisvos Marina, in Greece, where she has been located for 3 weeks. For more information regarding RADIANT's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: RADIANT
• Previous Names: DARIUS
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Lurssen
• Naval Architect: Lurssen
• Exterior Designer: Tim Heywood
• Interior Designer: Terence Disdale
• Refits: 2020

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Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Radiant was built by Lurssen Yachts in 2009 and features exterior design by Tim Heywood.

Sistership of Lurssen yacht Dilbar, Radiant’s generous beam will allow for a spacious interior, which has been designed by is the work of Terence Disdale Design and Glen Pushelberg.

The 110 metre yacht, project named Darius, was launched in April 2009 out of Lurssen Shipyard’s new floating dock located in Bremen Germany. She was delivered to her owner in 2010.  

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Anderson Radiant Heating

ANDERSON RADIANT HEATING has designed, installed, and successfully completed over 5,700 residential and commercial hydronic radiant panel, baseboard, and fan-coil heating systems.

Additional Resources: Customer Testimonials Between 1958-2000, formally ANDERSON HOT WATER HEATING and now known as ANDERSON RADIANT HEATING, has designed, installed, and successfully completed over 6,000 residential and commercial hydronic radiant panel, baseboard, and fan coil heating systems. As a third generation contracting company, our integrity, expertise, professionalism and reputation remains beyond reproach. Our motto has always been and continues to be: 

“Trust Must Be Earned. We Have Earned It. Ask Our Customers.”

Incorporated by Steven B. Anderson in 1958, the company was purchased by Lawrence P. Wagner and the name was changed in 1978 to ANDERSON HOT WATER HEATING. 

The company soon grew from five employees to over 30 by 1981 when contracting for the Eastside Union High School District to provide the largest solar pool heating system in the State of California. The company has continued and maintained a rock solid reputation within the hydronics industry by down-sizing and customizing our talents to better service our customers’ needs. Our contracting services have been expanded to include complete project conception through providing an entire operational heating system. We have pioneered high technology leak detection for underground and in-slab leaks using Helium Spectrographic Analysis applications for the hydronic heated home. Our expertise includes solar heating design for pools, space heating, and domestic hot water systems. Our reputation for service and reliability has no equal in the hydronics field. In 2000, the name of the company was changed to ANDERSON RADIANT HEATING and all responsibilities for directing company operation were assumed by Glen M. Wagner. 

The company is owned and operated by Glen M. Wagner with the assistance of his father, Lawrence Wagner. Glen’s background in hydronics began at the age of 17 while servicing systems with his father throughout the Silicon Valley. He obtained his Own C-4 (Hot Water Heating and Boiler) State Contractors License in April 1994. Constantly applauded by county inspectors, professionals, and clients alike, he has installed over 1,200 boiler and radiant panel systems with great success. With major involvement in the pioneering of helium leak detection, his individual efforts have resulted in over 5,000 radiant panel repairs and the restoration of these older systems to a new operating condition when they were otherwise determined to be non-repairable. He shares a collective family experience of over 60 years in the hydronics field, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. As senior engineer for the company, Lawrence P. Wagner is responsible for project concepts, system design and engineering. His background in hydronics began when he was just 14 years old by installing radiant panel systems for summer work with his father for the Los Altos Square Condominium Project. He graduated from San Jose State University in 1970 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biological Science and a minor in Chemistry. As an ROTC student, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and entered the United States Air Force shortly after graduation. He was quickly promoted to the rank of Captain and after being transferred to Vandenberg AFB in 1974, he became an instructor of Emergency War Order Concepts. He composed, refined, published, and implemented technical operating procedures for the Titan II, Minuteman I, II, III, and Command Data Buffer ICBM systems. As an expert in our country’s nuclear missile arsenal, his training background included extensive study in mechanical, thermo-mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, hydraulic, and nuclear engineering principles and applications. He obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University while performing his duties as an instructor. In 1977 he was honorably discharged from the USAF to enter business for himself and purchased ANDERSON HOT WATER HEATING where he has remained as the Head Contractor and Systems Engineer for 27 years. Trained in hydronic application and system design by Steven B. Anderson, he has promoted, refined, and improved hydronic installations for both residential and commercial buildings. Published in “Air conditioning, Heating, Refigeration News”, Mr. Wagner’s hydronic engineering expertise has been nationally recognized and featured in print. The accomplishments of our company in the field of hydronics includes, but are not limited to the following:

• Independence High School Olympic Swim Complex in San Jose, California.
• Timpany Center for the Handicap-Santa Clara County Building, San Jose California.
• Reid Hillview Airport Hanger (a maintenance facility) San Jose, California.
• Milpitas Materials Operational Garage and Maintenance Facility, Milpitas, California.
• 10,000 Sq. Ft. Residence for Joe and Jennifer Montana (Former pro quarterback for the San Francisco 49’ers and Kansas City Chiefs), Atherton, California.
• 10,000 Sq. Ft. Residence for David and Lucille Packard (Co-Founder of Hewlett Packard), Los Altos Hills, California.
• Well Publicized “Children’s Discovery Cave” for Steve Wozniack (Founder of Apple Computers), Los Gatos, California.
• 15,000 Sq. Ft. Residence for Christos and Tommi Cotsakos (Founder and CEO of E-TRADE), Atherton, California.
• 15,000 Sq. Ft. Residence for Gene Shaw (Owner of Shaw Leathers), Woodside, California.

The largest yachts owned by tech billionaires, from Mark Zuckerberg to Jeff Bezos

• Megayachts have become a status symbol for the richest of the rich.
• In recent years, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have splurged on enormous boats.
• These are the biggest yachts owned by tech billionaires.

The average Joe celebrating a personal renaissance after, say, the end of a long-term relationship or when approaching a fresh decade might commemorate it with an ankle tattoo or a sports car. But if you're a billionaire, you may instead spend hundreds of millions on a yacht .

A few years after he and his wife divorced, Jeff Bezos shelled out on a megayacht. Last year, Bezos debuted the 127-meter vessel "Koru," a Māori symbol that signifies a fresh start — perhaps referring to that with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez.

Earlier this year, just before his 40th birthday, Mark Zuckerberg became the rumored owner of a yacht originally built for a Russian oligarch.

Superyachts have increasingly become ultrawealthy status symbols , providing highly secluded leisure and networking sites. They are — even more so than real estate — the single most expensive asset you can own.

"It's a bit of a celebration of your success in life, of wealth," Giovanna Vitelli, the chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, the world's biggest producer of superyachts, told Business Insider.

While many tech billionaires have bought yachts, the richest of the rich, like Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, have gone bigger. Their boats are virtual palaces at sea, decked with amenities like gyms, spas, pools, nightclubs, and movie theaters.

A look at these megayachts — broadly defined as over 70 meters long, mostly custom-built, and often costing nine figures — offers a glimpse into how the .00001% lives. It's something few others will ever get to experience. Even chartering a yacht of this size for a week typically costs upwards of $1 million.

One major thing that hundreds of millions of dollars can buy is privacy. There are likely yachts that have not been publicly recorded or registered — for example, Evan Spiegel is rumored to own the 94-meter megayacht Bliss. In an industry ruled by discretion , deciphering who owns what is typically an exercise in stringing together many clues.

Here are the largest yachts owned by tech billionaires, listed in order of length.

Jeff Bezos: Koru and Abeona

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the 127-meter Koru, made a splash last year as she crisscrossed the Mediterranean in her first summer at sea, with her 75-meter support vessel Abeona in tow.

The sailing yacht, which is hard to miss thanks to her massive size and unique design, was host to Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez's famous friends . The couple held an engagement party on board, which reportedly drew guests including Bill Gates, Ari Emanuel, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Just a week later, they were seen on the streets of Dubrovnik, Croatia, with Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, and Usher.

Even before her completion, Koru made headlines. She drew the ire of some Dutch people, who vowed to hurl eggs after she was announced a historic bridge in Rotterdam might be taken apart to allow the Oceanco boat through. Luckily, the shipyard made alternative plans, and an egg crisis was averted.

Among yacht world insiders , Koru is widely praised for her craftsmanship.

"I heard back in 2018 or something that somebody had ordered a classic sailing yacht," one superyacht expert told BI. "You order 125 meters, that's not really going to be classic. But it is. I think it's pretty cool."

Mark Zuckerberg: Launchpad

Earlier this year, the yacht world was rife with rumors that Zuckerberg purchased Launchpad, a 118-meter superyacht originally designed for a sanctioned Russian businessman.

The ship made her maiden voyage in March, going from Gibraltar to St. Maarten and mooring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Little is known about her interior, but photos show a large swimming pool and helipad. Her price, too, has been kept under wraps but is said to be nine figures.

Eric Schmidt: Whisper

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt made waves last year when he agreed to buy the Alfa Nero , the yacht of a sanctioned Russian oligarch, for $67 million in an auction conducted by Antigua and Barbuda. But he backed out of the deal following legal issues over her true owner. He quietly purchased Kismet instead. The 95-meter-long Lürssen-built boat was formerly owned by the Jacksonville Jaguar's billionaire owner Shahid Khan . Schmidt renamed her Whisper.

The ship can fit 12 guests and a crew of 28, according to Moran Yacht & Ship, which oversaw her construction. She features a master deck with a private jacuzzi, full-service spa, lap pool, movie theater, and outdoor fireplace.

While her final sale price was not public, she was listed for 149 million euros (about $161 million at current exchange rates), and at a charity auction in January, one week aboard the ship went for $2.4 million, according to industry outlet Yacht Charter Fleet.

Barry Diller: Eos

Barry Diller , the chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns the megayacht Eos with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg , who is immortalized by a figurehead sculpture by Anh Duong.

One of the largest private sailing yachts in the world, the three-masted Lürssen schooner measures 93 meters long. She took three years to be built before being delivered to Diller in 2009, and since then, little has come to light about her interior and features.

The power couple has hosted many celebrities on the Eos, which spends her summers crisscrossing the Mediterranean and New Year ' s Eve in St. Barts . Over the years, guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Emma Thompson, Anderson Cooper, and Bezos, leading some to believe she provided inspiration for his Koru.

Jim Clark: Athena

Netscape founder Jim Clark purchased the 90-meter sailing yacht Athena in 2004.

"I could easily have built a 50- or 60-meter motor yacht that would have had the same space as Athena, but I was never really interested in building a motor yacht," he told Boat International in 2016. "To my eye, she's one of the most gorgeous large sailing yachts, maybe the most gorgeous large sailing yacht in the world."

Athena has room for 10 guests and 21 crewmembers, and the only change Clark says he'd make in her design is adding more space for his kids.

"If I was forced to change something, I would convert the office on the lower deck into a children's room," he said.

The former Stanford professor tried to sell her at various points — listing her for $95 million in 2012 , $69 million in 2016, and $59 million in 2017 — but she has yet to change hands.

Larry Ellison: Musashi

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun — which he sold to fellow billionaire David Geffen .

He purchased his current boat, Musashi, in 2011 for a reported $160 million from custom-yacht giant Feadship.

Named after a famous samurai warrior, the 88-meter-long yacht has both Japanese and Art Deco-inspired design elements. She also boasts amenities including an elevator, swimming pool, beauty salon, gym, and basketball court.

Ellison is known for his extravagant spending — private islands, jets, a tennis tournament — and yachting is among his favorite and most expensive hobbies. He took up racing them in the 1990s and financed the America's Cup-winning BMW Oracle Racing team .

Laurene Powell Jobs: Venus

Steve Jobs' wife, investor and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, inherited a nearly finished 78-meter yacht named Venus when the Apple cofounder died in 2011.

After spending years vacationing on Ellison's yachts, Jobs wanted one for himself. He designed Venus with French starchitect and decorator Philippe Starck , and she was worth $130 million at completion.

"Venus comes from the philosophy of minimum," Starck said of her design. "The elegance of the minimum, approaching dematerialization."

Jobs and Starck began working together in 2007, the designer told Vanity Fair , and held monthly meetings over four years. Venus was delivered in 2012 to Jobs' specification: six identical cabins, a design to ensure spaces of absolute silence, and the most up-to-date technology.

"There will never again be a boat of that quality again. Because never again will two madmen come together to accomplish such a task," Starck told the magazine. "It was not a yacht that Steve and I were constructing, we were embarked on a philosophical action, implemented according to a quasi-religious process. We formed a single brain with four lobes."

Charles Simonyi: Norn

Early Microsoft employee Charles Simonyi has purchased two megayachts from the German shipyard Lürssen: the 90-meter Norn and 71-meter Skat.

Delivered in 2023, Norn is full of luxe features, including an outdoor cinema and a pool floor that lifts to become a light-up dancefloor. She shares a militaristic style with Skat , which Simonyi sold in 2021.

Skats's name is derived from the Danish word for treasure, and she had a listing price of 56.5 million euros and was launched in 2002.

"The yacht is to be home away from my home in Seattle, and its style should match the style of the house, adapted for the practicalities of the sea," Simonyi once said .

Sergey Brin: Dragonfly

Google cofounder Sergey Brin has built a flotilla of yachts, boats, and toys known as the "Fly Fleet."

Named after a once-secret Google product , the largest of Brin's armada is the sleek Dragonfly , which boasts a movie theater and a helipad. The 73-meter-long vessel was built by the Australian shipyard Silver Yachts and can fit up to 18 guests and 16 crew members, according to SuperYacht Times.

Also in his fleet is the superyacht Butterfly, a mere 38 meters long. Often moored in the Bay Area, her crewmembers spend their downtime kitesurfing and giving swimming lessons to local kids.

The rest of his marine lineup includes a smaller boat called Firefly, as well as Jet Skis, foilboards, dinghies, and kiteboards. She takes a team of 50 full-time employees to manage, steer, and maintain the entire operation.

Sindhu Sundar contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Correction: May 6, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated Giovanna Vitelli's title. She is the chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, not a vice president.

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Feadship launches world’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered superyacht.

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Feadship's Project 821 uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to provide clean, emission-free power to ... [+] the yacht in certain situations

Now that Project 821 has emerged from a massive build shed in The Netherlands, few superyacht shipyards can say they’ve made a “bigger” commitment to using alternative energy sources in a superyacht than Feadship .

That’s because this new, 390-foot-long superyacht (designed by RWD with owner’s representation by Edmiston ) can provide carbon-emission-free power from hydrogen while cruising between harbors or, to power the yacht’s the entire hotel load for up to a week without noise or carbon emissions.

"The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world," said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship Director / CEO Royal Van Lent Shipyard. The large size of the proposed yacht made it a good candidate to explore pure green hydrogen as the fuel-cell source. For those captivated by cutting-edge innovations, this yacht presents an opportunity for potential acquisition as it showcases the pinnacle of modern technological advancements.”

Feadship's Project 821 is the first superyacht to be powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology in ... [+] certain situations.

Although hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars and fuel cells are not new, nothing like this has been built in the yachting sector. And since there were no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems at class, flag-state or even IMO level, Feadship sought out expert partners from allied industries, Edmiston and Lloyd's Register to develop the appropriately scaled equipment, protocols and safety regulations simultaneously.

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"The value of the research as well the development of class and flag safety regulations for an entirely new type of energy generation is an advancement we are proud to have made available to all," Verkuyl said. Next year, for example, two long-route Norwegian passenger and car ferries will enter into service utilizing the system that Project 821 has pioneered.

According to advance reports Project 821’s fuel cell technology can provide an entire week's worth of silent operation at anchor or emission-free propulsion at 10 knots while leaving harbors or cruising in protected marine zones. Project 821 also features the most efficient waste heat recovery system yet developed.

Meanwhile, with five decks above the waterline, two below, and additional mast yet to be attached, the yacht’s height is commanding. For example, the owners' deck is 121-feet above water. Yet the proportions of the exterior profile created by RWD are flowing, modern and elegant

The full owners' deck above the bridge is essentially an apartment with two bedrooms, twin bathrooms and dressing rooms, a gym, a pantry, two offices each with a fireplace, and a living room. However, the owner accommodation extends beyond a single deck. A unique and completely private vertical corridor extends to the lower deck. This includes both a spacious staircase lined with bookshelves and display nooks and an owners' elevator.

At each deck level, there are inviting private lifestyle destinations to savor such as a coffee corner and games niche on the bridge deck, a library on the main deck, and a private dining room with a sea terrace and adjacent ensuite stateroom on the lower deck. It creates, in essence, a secluded four-level townhouse-by-the sea within the much larger yacht.

Feadship's Project 821 is nearly 400-feet-long.

Jan-Bart Verkuyl says fuel cells will play an important role for yachts in the years to come considering their superior efficiency, low particle emissions and low noise radiation. "We have now shown that cryogenic storage of liquified hydrogen in the interior of a superyacht is a viable solution. Future innovations on fuel cells and onboard reforming of methanol to hydrogen are on the near horizon. For Feadship, the bottom line is that the decarbonization of Feadship's upstream process such as our extensive use of aluminum produced in a more environmentally sensitive way and the production of net-zero carbon-free fuels or hydrogen carriers deserves utmost priority."

Jamie Edmiston (Chief Executive) also shares his experience with this project. "The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise. It was a huge challenge, but one that the team has embraced and delivered on. The yacht we see today, designed by RWD and built by Feadship is without doubt the best yacht ever built. I am proud to have been involved since the inception of this idea.”

Charlie Baker (Director) adds “RWD are immensely proud to have been involved in such a forward-thinking project, as a collaboration alongside Feadship and Edmiston. We hope it inspires other projects to think differently in the future.”

I hope so too!

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