BOOTE EXCLUSIV ranking: The world’s largest motor yachts – places 1–25

Uske Berndt

, Sören Gehlhaus

· 28.08.2024

25. Octopus: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen used the original Explorer for over 15 years. When he died, ‘Octopus’ is said to have passed into the hands of the Swedish-Swiss businessman Roger Samuelsson in the summer of 2021. The 126.18-metre vessel, built by HDW, was constructed under Lürssen’s management and to specifications drawn up by Espen Øino. In 2003, “Octopus” amazed with a 36-metre-long float-in dock, a Nemo Lounge and a hangar for two helicopters. Adriana Monk made only minor alterations to the interiors at the owner’s request, though the legendary recording studio was replaced by a bar. On this eight-deck vessel, twelve guests can sail the world’s oceans at a charter rate starting from 2.05 million euros per week, venturing as far as Antarctica. Bookings are made through the specially established company Big Blue Expeditions.

24. Al Mirqab: Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani owns the flat Tim Heywood-style yacht – at least, that is what was stated in the Panama Papers. Kusch Yachts booked a slot at the Peters shipyard to build the new ‘Al Mirqab’ – the old one now ranks 61st as the ‘H3’. Qatar’s former Prime Minister’s favourite cruising area is the northern Mediterranean, though the yacht has also been spotted off the coast of Sardinia.

23. Serene: Bill Gates is said to have been on board in 2014. However, Fincantieri’s first yacht made the headlines because of the alleged Leonardo da Vinci painting ‘Salvator Mundi’. It is said that Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) stored the painting on ‘Serene’ after purchasing it; the Saudi Crown Prince had acquired the yacht from the Russian businessman Yuri Shefler in 2015. MBS presented the artwork to the President of the UAE.

22. Crescent: ‘Crescent’ was originally conceived as ‘Project Thunder’ and was built almost simultaneously with ‘Scheherazade’ (No. 15) at Lürssen. Both were based on a design by Espen Øino and François Zuretti; the interior features ethanol fireplaces, a real wood-burning fireplace and a glass atrium. Apparently, the yachts were intended for two friends who were owners; ‘Crescent’ was presumably for Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin. The 135-metre vessels were most recently moored in Tarragona.

21. Flying Fox: It retains its title as the most expensive charter yacht. Bluewater charges four million euros for a week’s hire, during which the 22 guests have access to a submarine and a 400-square-metre spa. The Russian aviation magnate Dmitry Kamenshchik is rumoured to be the owner. In March 2022, US customs officials boarded the yacht in the Dominican Republic, after which the “Flying Fox” set course for Turkey and has now been spotted in Dubai.

25 Images

Photo: Peter Seyfferth / theyachtphoto.com

Here are the 25 largest motor yachts in the world! These spectacular vessels have made it to the top of the BOOTE EXCLUSIV rankings

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25th place: Octopus

Photo: Peter SeyfferthOctopus

Length: 126.18 m
Shipyard: HDW, Lürssen, 2003
Designers (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, J. Barnett, Adriana Monk
Propulsion: MTU, diesel-electric, 8 × 1,766 kW

24th place: Al Mirqab

Photo: Peter SeyfferthAl Mirqab

Length: 133.00 m
Shipyard: Kusch Yachts, 2008
Designers (exterior, interior): Winch Design, Tim Heywood
Propulsion: diesel-electric, 5 × 2,800 kW

23rd place: Serene

Photo: Peter SeyfferthSerene

Length: 134.00 m
Shipyard: Fincantieri Yachts, 2010
Designers (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, Reymond Langton
Propulsion: MTU, diesel-electric, 8 × 2109 kW

22nd place: Crescent

Photo: Giovanni RomeroCrescent

Length: 135.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2018
Designers (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, François Zuretti
Drive: unknown

21st place: Flying Fox

Photo: Peter SeyfferthFlying Fox

20th place: Rising Sun

Photo: Peter SeyfferthRising Sun

Length: 138.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2005
Designers (exterior, interior): Jon Bannenberg, Laura Seccombe
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 4 x 2,250 kW

19th place: Luminance

Photo: Carl GrollNew release: Luminance

Length: 138.80 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2024
Designers (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, François Zuretti
Drive: unknown

18th place: Al Salamah

Photo: Giovanni RomeroAl Salamah

Length: 139.28 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, HDW, 1999
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: MTU diesel, 2 × 6,500 kW

17th place: Solaris

Photo: Giovanni RomeroSolaris

Length: 139.70 m
Shipyard: Lloyd Shipyard, 2021
Designer: (Exterior, Interior): Marc Newson
Propulsion: MTU, diesel-electric, 8 x 1,750 kW

16th place: Ocean Victory

Photo: Peter SeyfferthOcean Victory

Length: 140.00 m
Shipyard: Fincantieri Yachts, 2014
Designers (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, Alberto Pinto
Engine: Diesel, unknown

15th place: Scheherazade

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Photo: Carl Groll

Length: 140.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2020
Designers (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, François Zuretti
Drive: unknown

14th place: YAS

Photo: Peter SeyfferthYAS

Length: 141.00 m
Shipyard: Abu Dhabi Mar, 1978, 2014
Designers (exterior, interior): ADM, Pierrejean Design
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 2 x 7,830 kW

13th place: Alibaba

Photo: DrDuu / LürssenNew listing: Alibaba

Length: 141.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2024
Designer (exterior, interior): unknown
Drive: unknown

12th place: North

Photo: Giovanni RomeroNorth

Length: 141.60 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2021
Designer (exterior, interior): Nuvolari Lenard
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 2 x 5602 kW

11th place: OK

Photo: WerftOK

Length: 146.00 m
Shipyard: Oshima Shipyard, 1982, 2022
Designer (exterior, interior): Bozca Design
Propulsion: Stork diesel, 2 x 3169 kW

10th place: Opera

Photo: Klaus JordanGetting started: Opera

Length: 146.35 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2023
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: diesel-electric

9th place: Prince Abdul Aziz

Photo: Peter SeyfferthPrince Abdul Aziz

Length: 147.00 m
Shipyard: Helsingør Skibsværft, 1984
Designers (exterior, interior): Helsingør Skibsværft, Maierform
Propulsion: SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines, 2 × 5,740 kW

8th place: A+

Photo: Peter SeyfferthA+

Length: 147.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2012
Designers (exterior, interior): Tim Heywood, Terence Disdale
Propulsion: SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines, 2 × 5,678 kW

7th place: Al Said

Photo: Claus SchäfeAl Said

Length: 155.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2008
Designer (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, RWD
Propulsion: MTU diesel, 2 × 8,200 kW

6th place: Dilbar

Photo: Peter SeyfferthDilbar

Length: 156.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2016
Designer (exterior, interior): Espen Øino, Winch Design
Propulsion: Wärtsilä, diesel-electric, 30,000 kW

5th place: Blue

Photo: Carl GrollBlue

Length: 160.60 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2022
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: MTU, diesel-electric, unknown

4th place: Dubai

Photo: Ralf GrabbertDubai

Length: 162.00 m
Shipyard: Platinum Yachts, 2006
Designer (exterior, interior):
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 4 x 6323 kW

3rd place: Eclipse

Photo: Peter SeyfferthEclipse

Length: 163.00 m
Shipyard: Blohm+Voss, 2010
Designer (exterior, interior): Terence Disdale
Propulsion: MTU diesel engines, 4 x 7,400 kW

2nd place: Fulk al Salamah

Photo: Fraser GowFulk al Salamah

Length: 164.00 m
Shipyard: Mariotti, 2016
Designers (exterior, interior): Dölker + Voges, De Jorio
Drive: unknown

1st place: Azzam

Photo: Giovanni RomeroAzzam

Length: 180.00 m
Shipyard: Lürssen, 2013
Designers (exterior, interior): Nauta Design, Christophe Leoni
Propulsion: 2 x diesel engines, 2 x gas turbines, 70,000 kW

The Top 100 motor yachts and their stories:

Uske Berndt

Editor News & Panorama

Uske was born just outside Volkswagen in 1970 and tested various small boats with sails through her boyfriend (now husband 😊) on a quarry pond. Her studies in Kiel took her to the Baltic Sea with boats of all kinds and eventually to a regatta from Hong Kong to Mauritius via the Academic Sailing Club. Her teacher training ended at the Burda School of Journalism in Munich instead of in the classroom and finally at Boote Exclusiv. After a long break and various stories about house building, she returned to Delius Klasing and has been filling the magazine with long stories about large ships ever since. A family-owned H-boat was quickly sold again as the mother realized that sailing with two small children was neither relaxing nor fun.

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BOOTE EXCLUSIV ranking: The world’s largest motor yachts – places 1–25

25th place: Octopus

24th place: Al Mirqab

23rd place: Serene

22nd place: Crescent

21st place: Flying Fox

Most read

20th place: Rising Sun

19th place: Luminance

18th place: Al Salamah

17th place: Solaris

16th place: Ocean Victory

15th place: Scheherazade

14th place: YAS

13th place: Alibaba

12th place: North

11th place: OK

10th place: Opera

9th place: Prince Abdul Aziz

8th place: A+

7th place: Al Said

6th place: Dilbar

5th place: Blue

4th place: Dubai

3rd place: Eclipse

2nd place: Fulk al Salamah

1st place: Azzam

The Top 100 motor yachts and their stories:

Uske Berndt

Most read in category Boats