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Delivered in 2016, Dilbar is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. She is one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology. At 15,917 tons, the 156-meter superyacht features entertainment and recreation spaces never before seen on a yacht. These include a 25-meter swimming pool that holds an incredible 180 m³ of water, the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht. The exterior design, a classic profile with a light ivory hull and bronze accents, was developed by Espen Øino International. Her spectacular interior, created by the Winch Design team, uses rare and exclusive luxury materials.

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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.

National Security

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 .

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Motor Yacht

Originally known as "Project Omar", the 156 metre superyacht Dilbar was launched in 2016 after over 4 years of construction.

According to her German builder Lurssen's description, Dilbar is one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology.

At 15,917 tons, the 156-meter superyacht features entertainment and recreation spaces never before seen on a yacht. These include a 25-meter swimming pool that holds an incredible 180 m³ of water, the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht. 

The exterior design, a classic profile with a light ivory hull and bronze accents, was developed by Espen Øino International. Her spectacular interior, created by the Winch Design team, uses rare and exclusive luxury materials.

• Yacht Builder Lurssen Yachts View profile
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• Exterior Designer Espen Oeino View profile
• Interior Designer Winch Design View profile

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Alisher Usmanov’s Yacht Dilbar: Everything You Want To Know

Dilbar can be translated a few ways but, in general, it means “lover” or “one with a blossoming heart” and other things along those lines. It was also the name of the yacht owner’s mother. The yacht bearing the name has become one of the most famous yachts in the world thanks to its size, its price and its stunning amenities. 

She was built by Lürssen, a German shipyard, and designed by English yacht designer Andrew Winch on the interior while Espen Øino International handled the exterior. The designers have gone on record saying it was one of the most challenging yachts they have ever built thanks to the size and all the custom elements including exclusive luxury materials. It took nearly four years for the yacht to be built. Over 680 miles of cable and wiring was used in the construction to ensure power is provided to all corners of the vessel. The yacht’s owner had it registered in the Cayman Islands.

Dilbar features a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. 

Who Owns the Dilbar Yacht

The yacht Dilbar was launched back in 2015 and is owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, president of the International Fencing Federation. A Russian oligarch, Usmanov became a billionaire after the fall of the Soviet Union in the metal and mining industries. Since then he’s gotten into communications, publishing and much more. He’s currently one of the 100 richest people in the world.

Usmanov previously owned a much smaller yacht called Dilbar as well but he changed the name of the smaller vessel to Al Raya when he upgraded to this particular one.

In March 2022, Dilbar was seized by German authorities. Numerous international assets owned by Russian oligarchs, most notably yachts, have been taken into custody by international authorities as a part of sanctions against Russia for their aggressions in the Ukraine War. It is unclear if the yacht will be returned once the war has ended or if something else is in store.

There is also some talk that Usmanov himself may not technically be the owner of Dilar and that ownership, on paper, may actually be linked to his sister. This is potentially related to some illegal activity and was being investigated by German authorities. 

How Big is the Dilbar Yacht?

One of the reasons Dilbar is so well known is because it’s one of the largest yachts in the world . It currently ranks as the sixth longest at a staggering 511’10” long. The yacht has a gross tonnage of 15,917 and a beam of just over 77 feet. The draft is nearly 20 feet. This makes her the third largest yacht in the world by volume.

Inside Dilbar Yacht 

There is a total of 3,800 square meters of living space inside the yacht for 24 guests. This can actually be increased by the use of a number of fold out balconies. There is additional room for the 80-person crew as well. The crew can also be increased to 96 if there is need as the space is available to accommodate so many.

The average apartment in New York is 866 square feet. Dilbar’s 3,800 square meters works out to about 40,900 square feet. That means this yacht is equal to roughly 47 average New York apartments in terms of living space.

In terms of luxury amenities, the Dilbar has some unusual ones. Aside from the giant swimming pool, there’s even a full garden. The grass is a variety designed to handle living in salt air and all of the plants are native to the regions of Europe that Dilbar travels between so it can avoid sanctions about bringing foreign plants from one country to another. 

Comfort was the order of the day for interior as exemplified by something as simple as cushions. There are over 1,000 custom made cushions on board, each designed to match the interior of the rooms they were designed for. Accents in many parts are bronze and light ivory. It’s said that many materials were rare or luxury items but the fine details of what went into the overall interior design have been mostly kept under wraps.

While many superyachts have a helipad these days, Dilbar features two of them. Oneis located near the bow while the second is closer to aft on the top deck flybridge.

There is a beach deck on board as well as a floating observation bay for guests to enjoy. As expected you can also enjoy amenities like a gym, a sauna and a spa. There are several tenders including a limo tender available to ferry passengers to and from shore.

Helicopter Tender

Many superyachts have tenders for guests and Dilbar is no different as we’ve seen. However, one major difference is that Dilbar also has an AirBus Tender. That’s a large, $20 million custom helicopter tender with room for 7 passengers. The interior is designed with a lounge seating area. There’s a forward lounge that can hold 4 passengers. It faces a gallery and the sofa-seating area where three more passengers can be seated. 

The windows of the helicopter can be electronically dimmed for privacy and there’s also mood lighting inside. In-flight entertainment system can be accessed with touch screens as well.

How Fast is the Dilbar Yacht

Dilbar can get up to a top speed of 22.5 knots and a cruising speed of about 16 knots. It’s powered by an electric-diesel hybrid power source that provides 30,000 KW of power. According to the builders, this was the largest power plant ever installed on a yacht.  She runs on 4 Wärtsilä engines each producing 8,158 HP.

What’s Special About the Dilbar Yacht Pool?

The pool on the Dilbar is the largest pool ever installed on a yacht. It measures 25 meters in length which is just over 82 feet. It holds 180 m³ of water which is 47,551 gallons. A gallon of water weighs just over 8 lbs so if that pool is filled, it increases the total weight of the yacht by 396,575 pounds or nearly 200 tons.

What Was the Price of the Yacht Dilbar?

It’s not 100% clear what Usmanov paid initially for the Dilbar but its value has been assessed at $600 million to $735 million by the US Treasury department. That makes it one of the most expensive yachts ever. With a crew of about 80, the estimated annual running cost of the yacht is as much as $50 million to $80 million.

Based on some reports the yacht has a capacity for 1,000,049 liters of fuel or about 220,000 gallons. Diesel for a yacht can cost around $3 per gallon so the cost of a full refuel would be around $660,000. Apparently refueling a beast like this requires a firetruck be on hand in case something goes wrong. 

How Much Does it Cost to Charter Superyacht Dilbar?

The yacht is currently in the custody of German authorities and no one at all besides the government has access to it. That said, even before the yacht was seized it was not made available for yacht charter and was only used by its owner as far as anyone knows. 

The Bottom Line

Dilbar hit the seas in 2016 and is owned by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, though the German government has since seized it. It is the largest motor yacht in the world by volume and the sixth longest in the world overall. The value of the yacht, according to US authorities, could be as much as $735 million. It’s unknown if the Dilbar yacht owner will be getting custody of the yacht again anytime soon.

Many of the features of the yacht are only partially known but what is known is that the yacht has the biggest swimming pool on the sea. It also has a custom made garden with plants designed to handle the salt air. There is a massive living space on board unlike any other yacht on the sea as well. Guests also have access not just to tender boats but a helicopter tender as well. 

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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With a total interior volume of 15,917GT, Dilbar is the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage, if not by length. Built by Lürssen and delivered to the Mediterranean in May 2016, she replaced the owner's previous yacht of the same name, which has since been renamed Al Raya. Record-breaking features on board include her 180 cubic metre swimming pool, which is believed to be the largest on any yacht, and her 30,000KW electric diesel power plant, which Lürssen claims is the most powerful fitted to a superyacht.

About DILBAR , brought to you by BOAT Pro

DILBAR is a 156.0 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2016.

Her top speed is 22.5 kn and her power comes from a diesel electric engine. She can accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 staterooms, with 96 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 15917.0 GT and a 23.5 m beam.

She was designed by Espen Oeino International , who has designed 66 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Lurssen , who has architected 69 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by Winch Design , who has 74 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

DILBAR is the 6th longest yacht in the world. She is one of 70 motor yachts longer than 100m, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her top speed is 2.64 kn above the average, and her volume 8704.31 GT above the average.

DILBAR is currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the 2nd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1366 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Germany. For more information regarding DILBAR's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: DILBAR
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Displacement
• Builder: Lurssen
• Naval Architect: Lurssen
• Exterior Designer: Espen Oeino International
• Interior Designer: Winch Design
• Refits: 2020-07-05,2021-05-13

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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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Dilbar: 7 Facts

You’ve probably all heard of the yacht “Dilbar”. She is, after all, the world’s biggest yacht! Dilbar was built by Lurssen in Bremen, Germany. A feat of engineering, she is absolutely unbelievable. Just check out these stats.

1. Dilbar has a displacement tonnage of 1230: equal to around 186 Elephants .

Your average African Bush Elephant weighs just over 6000kg. There are (more or less) 907 kg in one US ton.

So, if we know that an elephant weighs 6.62 tons, we can also conclude that Dilbar is truly as heavy as a whole load of Elephants.

2. She has a colossal amount of cabling onboard…

…1,100 km worth to be exact; which is longer than the drive from the very North to the southern-most point of France (a mere 962km). For a yacht 156m long and 23m wide, that’s seriously impressive. Ooh-la-la! ??

3. Owner & Guest living space onboard is spread over 3,800 square metres, or 104 London apartments .

According to the Guardian newspaper, the average London flat covers 46 square metres- meaning Dilbar is much, much larger than your flat (and your friend’s flats, and their parents flats, and their neighbors flats, all rolled into one).????

4. Lurssen says that the 156m Dilbar only took 52 months to build.

To put this into perspective, it took around 100,000 slaves over 20 years to build the Great Pyramid : a stone structure of average height with no diesel engines or advanced audio-visual system.

5. Reportedly, you could actually fit the owner’s previous boat ONA inside Dilbar with space to spare.

This one doesn’t need much more explaining. The owner is Russian though, so it could be that he’s playing some sort of yacht-version of matryoshka dolls… ??

6. There’s a 25m swimming pool onboard, which is the largest superyacht pool in existence.

Dilbar has a beam (width) of 23m and a draft (depth below the water) of 6m, so this pool is relatively massive! Our sources tell us that the pool is around 6m across and around 2m deep, falling to 1m at the shallow end. Therefore we can perform a variable depth calculation to find the volume- which results in an estimated requirement of 225,000 liters of water to fill the Dilbar swimming pool.

Now, a typical Shell or BP Oil Truck can hold 11,000L (see where I’m going here…?). You would need 21 Oil Trucks filled with water just to fill the Dilbar swimming pool.

What’s even more incredible is that, due to the pesky free-surface effect, this pool probably has to be drained every time the boat is moved in order to maintain stability. The watermakers onboard would have to work at an incredible speed and efficiency to get this filled in time for the owner to take a dip once the anchor is dropped!

7. You definitely wouldn’t know all of your colleagues for quite some time if you were new onboard Dilbar…

The average human (never mind a hardworking yacht crew member) consumes 2kg of food a day. This means that the Dilbar chefs cook a whopping 73,000 kg worth of crew meals a year to keep their hungry colleagues’ ship shape and ready for work.

Mind-blowing.

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10 of the world’s biggest superyachts

Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN

Does size really matter? When it comes to superyachts, it seems the answer is most certainly “yes.”

The title for world’s biggest yacht was once held by the same vessel, El Mahrousa, for over a century.

But it’s changed hands far more frequently in the years since then as more and more supersized yachts come onto the scene.

While demand for large yachts has steadily grown over the past few decades, sales have shot up considerably since 2019 due to the increasing number of billionaires emerging, as well as the impact of the pandemic.

“The market is telling us that yards are building bigger and bigger sheds to build bigger and bigger yachts,” explains yacht designer Oliver Stirling from Stirling & Co.

“And with increasing high net worth individual wealth, the demand for large yachts is going to always increase.”

“The pandemic has also illustrated that commercial cruise ships may or may not be desirable for holidays, vacation or leisure destinations.”

Many of the largest yachts on the water were built by German shipyard Lurssen, which has eight shipyards across northern Germany

“Over the years we’ve been in the fortunate position of being able to accommodate, because of the infrastructural abilities that we have, that occasional demand that has arisen for a rather large yacht,” Michael Breman, sales director at Lurssen, tells CNN Travel

“Every large yacht that you see that comes from our shipyard is the result of a very careful and painstaking discussion with designers, owners and advisers in order to ensure that it reflects the wishes of the individual [owner].”

The current world’s biggest yacht measures 180 meters, and a 183-meter vessel is due for delivery in 2024, but a number of gigayacht concepts have been floated about over the years, with some in the very early stages of development.

While Stirling stresses that there will come a point in which superyachts “can’t grow any further,” he believes its only a matter of time before we’ll see a superyacht over 200 meters long become a reality.

“Someone’s going to want to build the first 200 meter plus motor yacht and I’m sure that that will just carry on the trend,” he adds.

From privately owned mega yachts, to those available to charter, and even vessels that are still under construction, we take a look at 10 of the biggest superyachts in the world.

It’s held the record for world’s largest privately owned superyacht since 2013, but this 180-meter vessel was originally meant to be 35 meters shorter.

Built by Lurssen with guidance from engineer Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi, Azzam, which cost an estimated $600 million to construct, grew longer and longer during the optimization process.

With room to accommodate up to 36 guests and at least 80 crew members, it’s equipped with an on board gym as well as a golf training room.

The superyacht’s exterior lines are the work of Nauta Design, and the studio’s founder Mario Pedol has previously told how onlookers often remark that it looks much smaller from a distance.

Unlike vessels of a similar size, Azzam is just as fast as it is large, hitting speeds of up to 31.5 knots.

When Eclipse was launched at the Blohm + Voss Hamburg shipyard back in 2010, it was the world’s largest private yacht.

But the 162.5-meter vessel was eclipsed by Azzam a few years later, while the delivery of the 164-meter Fulk Al Salamah in 2016 saw it fall even further down the ranking of biggest yachts.

Nonetheless, Eclipse remains one of the largest and most impressive superyachts ever to hit the waters.

Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Eclipse is powered by four MTU diesel engines and has a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots.

Fitted with 18 guest cabins and two helipads, the vessel can accommodate up to 36 guests and 66 crew members at a time.

Its stand out features include a 16-meter swimming pool that transforms into a dance floor and a wood-burning fire pit.

Dilbar may not be the longest yacht in the world, but it’s certainly the largest by interior volume, with a gross tonnage of just under 16,000.

Named after the late mother of the owner, Uzbekistan-born billionaire Alisher Usmanov, the 156-meter vessel was designed by naval architect Espen Oino and delivered by Lurssen in 2016.

Made with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure, Dilbar can reach a top speed of around 22.5 knots and happens to be equipped with a 25-meter swimming pool, the largest ever installed on a superyacht.

With space for up to 24 guests and about 100 crew members, there’s also an expansive garden on board, along with two helipads.

The superyacht is fitted with an electric-diesel hybrid power, which helps to reduce its emissions while providing a top speed of 22.5 knots.

“One of the things that we have seen happening, and the clients are very sensitive to the issue, is to look for further ways of how we can improve the sustainability of the product we’re making,” says Breman.

“Not only in the process of manufacturing, and the things you use for the boat, but also in the way the boat operates.

“We are hopeful that in the next 10 to 15 years we’ll be able to deliver a yacht that will be emission free. We see that as a positive step.”

El Mahrousa

Measuring 145.72 meters, the Egyptian presidential yacht was launched in 1865 by the Samuda Brothers shipyard.

Although it lost its world’s largest yacht title to the 147-meter Prince Abdulaziz in the 1980s and has dropped further and further down the list in the years since then, El Mahrousa is still a significant vessel in the yachting world due to its rich history.

Designed by British naval architect Oliver Lang, who also devised Queen Victoria’s steam yacht Victoria & Albert II, El Mahrousa was originally built for Khedive Ismail, the Ottoman governor of Egypt.

The five-floor yacht became the first ship to cross the Suez Canal back in 1869 and would later become a naval training ship for the Egyptian government.

Powered by three Parsons steam turbines, it’s the oldest active superyacht in the world and can achieve a top speed of 16 knots.

Another Lurssen-built vessel, Flying Fox measures 136 meters and happens to be the largest charter vessel in the world.

While that means you don’t have to be invited by the owner to experience what it’s like on board, those keen to hire the luxurious superyacht for the week have to stump up at a minimum of €3 million ($3.5 million) for the privilege.

However, the price tag doesn’t seem to be putting off any of its admirers.

In fact, a spokesperson for Imperial Yachts, the yacht brokerage who manage Flying Fox and also oversaw the build, tells CNN Travel that interest has intensified in the last year, which has seen the minimum charter period extended beyond seven days.

Made up of six decks, Flying Fox can accommodate up to 36 day and 25 overnight guests who’ll be able to take advantage of its state of the art diving center, as well as its 400-square-meter spa, which is fitted with a cryotherapy sauna.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years we’ve seen development in areas like spas and fitness that have carried over from domestic or urban lifestyle into the boat lifestyle,” says Breman. “Some of the spas we have put on boats have been exceptional.”

Celebrity couple Beyonce and Jay Z were spotted on board the superyacht, which has a top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots, earlier this year.

Sailing Yacht A

Sailing Yacht A is one of a number of significant superyachts by prolific designer Philippe Starck and is said to have cost over $400 million to construct.

Delivered by Germany’s Nobiskrug yard, the 143-meter sail-assisted motor yacht is powered by two engines, providing a maximum speed of 21 knots.

Comprising eight decks, the futuristic vessel can accommodate up to 14 guests and 37 crew members.

While details regarding its amenities have largely been kept under wraps, Sailing Yacht A is rumored to be equipped with a glass observation pod, as well as a helipad and a submarine.

“Born from the desire of the owner to ‘push the boundaries of engineering and challenge the status quo of the industry’, Sailing Yacht A is undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects Nobiskrug has ever been involved in,” Holger Kahl, then managing director of Nobiskrug, said at the time of its launch in 2017.

The largest yacht in the world by volume at the time it was built, Dubai was originally commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei.

However, the ambitious project, which has a gross tonnage of 12,488, would go on to be passed around during the build process before being taken on by current owner Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai.

The 162-meter superyacht designed by Andrew Winch of Winch Design was built by Platinum Yachts in Dubai (where else?) at an estimated cost of $400 million.

On board, Dubai holds everything from a disco, to a cinema, along with a submarine and a lobster tank across its eight decks and is powered by four MTU-20V diesel engines that can deliver maximum speeds of at least 25 knots.

Delivered by Lurssen in 2021, Nord is one of the newest, and biggest, superyachts on the water.

Formerly known as Project Opus, the 142-meter superyacht, which has a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, was devised by Italian design studio Nuvolari Lenard.

“Nord was designed with one idea in mind: she must cause strong emotions in every observer, not only through her sheer size, but with the design itself. No one should be left indifferent,” Dan Lennard from Nuvolari-Lenard said in a statement, before describing the vessel as “a warship wearing a tuxedo.”

“Whether you like the design or not, it must strike you. Nord is a serious ship first and foremost, but she also transcends the traditional language of yacht design.”

Powered by four engines, Nord has a maximum speed of around 20 knots and a volume of 10,154 gross tonnage.

It covers six decks and can accommodate up to 36 guests in its 20 cabins, with amenities such as a beach club, as well as a spa and two helipads on board.

Developed by REV (Research Expedition Vessel) Ocean, a not-for-profit organization established by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Rokke, REV is an entirely different kind of superyacht.

The 183-meter expedition vessel currently under construction at Norwegian shipyard VARD is scheduled for delivery in 2024.

Designed by naval architect Espen Oino, REV is to be powered by ultra-quiet hybrid propulsion and will have a top speed of 17 knots.

Once launched, it will technically take over from Azzam as the world’s largest superyacht.

However, there’s been much debate over whether REV can be classed as a superyacht given that its primary purpose is to study the oceans of the world, although it will be available for charter for recreational purposes and expeditions.

With space for 28 guests in its 18 cabins, the vessel is built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure and has a gross tonnage of 17,440.

Project Y910

Unlike many of the other superyachts featured, Project Y910 i s still under construction.

But the 120-meter conversion project, which is currently up for auction, could join the ranks as one of the biggest superyachts in the world within the next two years if it finds a buyer soon.

Originally built by Polish shipyard Stocznia Gdynia, it was launched as a 90-meter passenger ship named Vladimir Chivilikhin in 1990, serving as a commercial vessel for nearly a decade before it was refitted and expanded.

However, the project was later put on hold and remains unfinished.

Project Y910 was listed for sale as a conversion project earlier this year, with a €25 million asking price, and is now being auctioned online via Concierge Auctions , in partnership with Boathouse Auctions.

Although yachts of this size tend to take around five years to build, Project Y910 is already partially complete, which means the process will likely be far shorter.

“She’s an amazing vessel in terms of what she could offer a potential owner,” Stirling, who has been involved with the design for the project for over 20 years, tells CNN Travel.

“It’s designed to be an explorer type yacht. It can go anywhere, whether it’s polar regions, the Pacific or the Mediterranean. As many adventurous locations as you want to go to.

The vessel has been receiving a lot of interest from bidders during the auction, which ends on November 23, and with no reserve set, it’s set to become the biggest yacht ever sold under the hammer.

“It would be fantastic to see her complete,” adds Stirling.

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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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What we know about Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday after being hit by a cargo ship, with large parts of the bridge falling into the Patapsco River.

At least eight people fell into the water, members of a construction crew working on the bridge at the time, officials said. Two were rescued, one uninjured and one in serious condition, and two bodies were recovered on Wednesday. The remaining four are presumed dead. The workers are believed to be the only victims in the disaster.

Here’s what we know so far.

Baltimore bridge collapse

How it happened: Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship . The container ship lost power shortly before hitting the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Video shows the bridge collapse in under 40 seconds.

Victims: Divers have recovered the bodies of two construction workers , officials said. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers . A mayday call from the ship prompted first responders to shut down traffic on the four-lane bridge, saving lives.

Economic impact: The collapse of the bridge severed ocean links to the Port of Baltimore, which provides about 20,000 jobs to the area . See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods .

Rebuilding: The bridge, built in the 1970s , will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild , experts said.

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When is The Boat Race 2024? Start time, TV channel, weather and odds for Oxford vs Cambridge

The Boat Race returns this weekend for the annual battle between the top rowers of Oxford and Cambridge universities.

It was Cambridge who prevailed last year to make it 86-81 in the historic tally ahead of this, the 169th edition of the men’s race.

Oxford has been dominated to a greater degree in the women’s event, having last won in 2016, but they are favourites for the 2024 showpiece in both categories.

As ever, the 6.8km course will run across west London from Putney to Mortlake.

The build-up to this year’s Boat Race has been marred, however, by the threat of E. coli to the participants .

When is the Boat Race?

This year’s Boat Race takes place on Saturday, March 30, 2024.

The women’s event is scheduled to start at 2.46pm with the men’s race at 3.46pm GMT.

How to watch the Boat Race

TV channel: In the UK, both races will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC One with coverage starting at 2pm.

Live stream: Viewers can watch online via the BBC Sport or iPlayer website and app.

Boat Race weather forecast

West London is set to be mild, relatively sunny and dry with light winds on Saturday. Perfect conditions for rowing .

Latest Boat Race odds

Women’s race

Oxford - 1/3

Cambridge - 9/4

Dead heat - 100/1

Oxford - 2/5

Cambridge - 7/4

Odds via William Hill, subject to change.

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How to watch The Boat Race 2024: live stream Oxford vs Cambridge online

A great sporting rivalry spanning almost 200 years

• Watch for FREE
• Watch from abroad
• Watch in the U.S.
• Watch in the U.K.
• Watch in Australia

One of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting events, the 2024 Boat Race will once again see crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge commence battle on the River Thames. 

Read on and we'll show you how to watch the Boat Race from anywhere using a VPN – and potentially for FREE!

The 2024 Boat Race takes place on Saturday, March 30. ► Time (women's race): 2.46 p.m. GMT / 10.46 a.m. ET / 7.46 a.m PT / 1.46 a.m. AEDT (Sunday, March 31) ► Time (men's race): 3.46 p.m. GMT / 11.46 a.m. ET / 8.46 a.m PT / 2.46 a.m. AEDT (Sunday, March 31) • FREE — BBC iPlayer (U.K.) • U.S. / AUS — Olympic Channel (FREE) • Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free

The ultimate rivalry continues as the world-famous sporting event between the UK’s two most prestigious universities sees Oxford (dark blues) out for revenge after Cambridge (light blues) dominated both the men’s and women’s races in 2023. 

Held on the Championship Course that stretches 6.8km from Putney to Mortlake in London, the race regularly attracts a crowd of more than 250,000 who line the shores of the river and provide plenty of vocal support. The women's race starts at 2.46 p.m. GMT, with the men's race starting an hour later at 3.46 p.m.

This will be the 169th edition of the men’s race and Cambridge hold a slight advantage having won 86 times. In the women’s race, the light blues start as overwhelming favourites in the 78th running of the famous event. 

Cambridge have triumphed on 47 occasions and last year secured a sixth consecutive victory as they finished a massive 4 ½ lengths ahead of rivals Oxford.

Will this be the year that Oxford claim the bragging rights or will Cambridge extend their winning run? Tune in to find out, but first, read to find out how to watch 2024 Boat Race live streams from anywhere. 

Watch the 2024 Boat Race for free

Rowing fans in the U.K. can watch the Boat Race for FREE on BBC One and its streaming service BBC iPlayer . Coverage starts at 2.00pm GMT.

But what if you live in the U.K. but aren't at home to watch the Boat Race live stream? Maybe you're on holiday and don't want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you'd usually be able to watch for free at home?

Don't worry — you can watch it via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.

Watch the 2024 Boat Race from abroad

2024 Boat Race live streams will be shown on many different channels across the world, but what if you're not in your home country and want to watch it on your usual service?

You can still watch the 2024 Boat Race live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are, making it ideal for sports fans away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN .

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

<a href="http://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=564&url_id=10992&aff_id=3013&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-link-merchant="go.nordvpn.net"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Get over 60% off with this NordVPN deal

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice . As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer or another service to watch the event. 

Watch the 2024 Boat Race in the U.S.

Streaming information for the 2024 Boat Race is still being updated but currently those wanting to watch the rowing event in the U.S. can watch live streams on the Olympics TV channel.  

It is FREE to sign up and it will be broadcasting all the action from the River Thames. 

If you already use the services but aren't in the U.S. right now, you can watch a 2024 Boat Race live stream by using a VPN such as NordVPN .

Watch the 2024 Boat Race in the U.K.

If you live in the U.K. then you can enjoy every single minute of the 2024 Boat Race without spending a penny — provided you already have a valid U.K. TV Licence.

The full event will be broadcast live on BBC One, with a live stream available on BBC iPlayer . That means you can watch every single moment of the action without needing a streaming service subscription or having to pay a box office fee. 

All sounds great, right? But if you're not in the U.K., you can still follow a 2024 Boat Race live stream by using one of the best VPN services, such as  NordVPN .

Watch the 2024 Boat Race in Australia

Streaming information for the 2024 Boat Race is still being updated but currently those wanting to watch the rowing event in Australia can watch live streams on the Olympics TV channel .

It is FREE to sign up and it will be broadcasting all the action from London.

Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN, such as NordVPN ,  to watch all the action as if you were back home.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to watch Premier League live streams from anywhere
• The best VPN service
• How to watch F1 online

Adrian is a freelance journalist and copywriter based in the UK. He’s written about sport for a wide range of publications including World Soccer Magazine, Newsweek, Yahoo and FourFourTwo. Having covered everything from the NBA Finals and French Open to the London Olympics and F1 in Abu Dhabi, his great passion remains soccer – a sport he could write and talk about all day long.

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What Lies Beneath: London Boat Race Marred by Sewage Concerns

Rowers in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race this weekend have been warned of dangerously high levels of E. coli in the River Thames, the latest sign of England’s polluted waterways.

By Stephen Castle

Reporting from London

The warning was stern: Do not enter the water. Not because of the tide. Not because of sharks. Because of the sewage.

For almost two centuries, rowers from Oxford University have raced their rivals from Cambridge in a contest that typically ends with jubilant members of the victorious crew jumping into the River Thames in celebration.

This year they will be staying as dry as possible.

After the discovery of elevated levels of E. coli in the river, rowers have been urged to stay out of the water, to cover any open wounds and to wash themselves down at a dedicated cleansing station at the finish.

The warning from organizers of the annual competition known as the Boat Race is the most striking symbol of the dire and deteriorating state of Britain’s rivers and coastlines. E. coli, which can be contracted from inadequately treated water supplies, can cause a number of symptoms including diarrhea, stomach cramps and occasionally fever. According to Britain’s health service , a small number of people can also develop hemolytic uraemic syndrome which can sometimes lead to kidney failure and death.

In recent years, England’s private water companies have faced fierce criticism for discharging sewerage and untreated rainwater into waterways and onto beaches when rainfall is heavy — a tactic they use to prevent the system from backing up.

Water firms in England were privatized in 1989, and critics accuse them of paying out huge sums in dividends to their shareholders while failing to make vital infrastructure investments.

While campaigners have long highlighted the problem with water quality, few Britons will have expected contamination to impact the Boat Race, a fixture of the sporting calendar which attracts up to 250,000 spectators as well as a TV audience of millions, organizers say.

Rowers from the two ancient universities will compete over the 4.25-mile course on the Thames on Saturday afternoon, the 169th men’s and 78th women’s races.

The first Boat Race took place on 10 June 1829 at Henley-on-Thames, west of London, and was won by Oxford. However, for the next 25 years, contests happened irregularly and, from 1836, in the national capital. They became annual events in 1856. A women’s boat race was introduced in 1927 but only took place intermittently until the mid-1960s.

The new guidance follows testing of the Thames by River Action, a charity that campaigns for cleaner waterways and said that its tests revealed levels of E. coli up to 10 times higher than the minimum accepted standards for bathing water.

The testing locations suggested that the source of pollution was from Thames Water, the local water company, “discharging sewage directly into the river and its tributaries,” River Action said in a statement.

“We are in a tragic situation when elite athletes are issued with health guidance ahead of a historic race on the capital’s river,” said James Wallace, chief executive officer of River Action. “Our water quality results show what happens after decades of neglect by an unregulated water company, Thames Water.”

The Boat Race, a company that puts on the race and was set up by the Oxford and Cambridge Rowing Foundation, said that it “and the universities involved love rowing on the Thames,” but that “water quality is an ongoing concern.”

In a statement it added: “We have put in place a series of precautionary measures this year to protect the health of our athletes, which includes guidance regarding the covering up of open wounds, regular hand washing, a cleansing station at the finish area and highlighting the risks of entering the water.”

Most of Britain relies on a combined sewer system that pushes both rainwater and human waste along the same set of pipes.

When rainfall is heavy, water firms are sometimes permitted to discharge some of this into rivers or the sea to avoid the pipes being overwhelmed, something that could cause sewage to back up and flood roads and homes.

Critics accuse the water firms of spilling sewage even in dry weather and, according to figures released on Wednesday, last year there were on average 1,271 spills a day across England, compared with 825 in 2022.

In a statement, Thames Water, the utility that is responsible, blamed “higher than average long-term rainfall across London and the Thames Valley.” It said overflows were designed to operate automatically when the sewer network was about to be overwhelmed, so that diluted wastewater would be released into rivers instead of flowing “back up into people’s homes.”

The company added that it was “working hard to make these discharges unnecessary” and had announced plans to upgrade one sewage treatment plant, in southwest London, “to treat the high volumes of incoming sewage and reduce the need for overflows during wet weather.”

That may be of little comfort to this year’s rowers who know that, even if they take all the precautions advised, history suggests there is no guarantee they can stay out of the Thames.

In 1912 both crews were submerged by bad weather, and the most recent sinking took place in 1984 when the Cambridge men’s boat hit a barge before the race had even started.

Stephen Castle is a London correspondent of The Times, writing widely about Britain, its politics and the country’s relationship with Europe. More about Stephen Castle