Roman Abramovich

Spectacular $714 million yacht



Many stopped to gawk as the 557-foot (169 metre) yacht glided out of the shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.

The sight was breathtaking, and so is the price. It cost the owner a staggering £300 million ($714 million).

So who is the man who can splash out so much cash in such depressing times?

Chelsea owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

It is the biggest private yacht in existence and comes with a missile-detection system, two helipads, a luxury spa, swimming pool and a miniature submarine, The Daily Mail reported.

Named the Eclipse, it has a military-grade missile defence system, armour-plating around Abramovich's master suite and bullet-proof windows.

There is also a private submarine, which doubles as an escape pod.

The project has been shrouded in such secrecy that at one point, its shipbuilders would only say that a yacht called Eclipse was being built somewhere in Germany.

Abramovich already owns three luxury yachts.

The Daily Mail quoted industry experts as saying that it has been built to overshadow the world's current largest private yacht, a 525-footer owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

Eclipse is set to be delivered next year.

The oil magnate, who is the 11th richest man in the world according to Forbes, uses his yachts for specific purposes.

Originally built for a Saudi sheikh, the Pelorus is used for entertaining and boasts room for 22 guests and 40 staff. It has two helipads, an indoor pool and a steam room.

He uses the Ecstasea, which comes complete with Chinese-themed interior, for cruising and the Sussuro for short journeys and to loan to friends.

Annual overhead for the boats is more than £15 million, the report added, and it costs him £73,000 just to fill up the tanks of his current largest boat, the Pelorus.

by The New Paper|16 June 2009
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