al mirqab superyacht

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This Yacht is not for Charter*

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AL MIRQAB yacht NOT for charter*

133.2m  /  437' | kusch yachts | 2008 / 2014.

Owner & Guests

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Guest elevator
• Multi-award winning
• Ice-class hull
• Well-appointed wellness zone, including spa, beach club and beauty salon
• Cinema Room

The multi-award winning 133.2m/437' motor yacht 'Al Mirqab' was built by Kusch Yachts in Germany at their Wewelsfleth shipyard. Her interior is styled by British designer design house Winch Design and she was delivered to her owner in July 2008. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Tim Heywood Design and she was last refitted in 2014.

Guest Accommodation

Al Mirqab has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 60 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a children's playroom, beauty salon, movie theatre, spa, elevator, beach club, gym, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Al Mirqab is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by 5 x diesel Wartsila (6L32CR) 6-cylinder 3,813hp engines running at 720rpm, she comfortably cruises at 21 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 23 knots. Al Mirqab features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. She was built to Lloyds Register classification society rules.

*Charter Al Mirqab Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Al Mirqab 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.

Al Mirqab 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.

Al Mirqab Photos

Al Mirqab Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2009 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and above (approximately 85m+) Winner
• The World Superyacht Awards 2009 Motor Yacht of the Year Winner
• The World Superyacht Awards 2009 Best Interior Design - Motor Yacht Winner
• The World Superyacht Awards 2009 Best Exterior Styling - Motor Yacht Special Commendation

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Al Mirqab

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AL MIRQAB Yacht – Stunning $300 Million Superyacht

He commissioned AL MIRQAB, delivered in 2008 from the German shipyard Kusch Yachts and designed by Winch Design, a UK-based design company.

The AL MIRQAB yacht blazed a trail in yacht building trends at the time of its construction because of the numerous large-scale amenities included in its structure.

AL MIRQAB yacht interior

The AL MIRQAB yacht was designed by Winch Design to reflect a perfect cross between a Bentley and the Starship Enterprise, with its palatial family-orientated interior.

She accommodates 55 crew members and 18 guests.

A wide variety of amenities makes this yacht a trailblazer of design.

There is an internal swimming pool with balconies, a large gym, a sauna, and a hairdressing salon.

A notable feature of AL MIRQAB is the underwater viewing room, forward of the pool.

This yacht feature is a family favorite with its pirate’s theme design.

The deck salon has a terrace feel with fountains and casual seating around the sculpture as a centrepiece.

The exterior was designed by Tim Heywood Design, with permanent cantilevered sun wings.

The helicopter pad is fitted with a refueling station that was a first when it was built.

The aft was developed from other projects with additional entertaining and relaxation spaces which delivers a stately arrival and departure for the yacht’s guests.

The steel hull is paired with underwater lights that were a first when it was built.

The mast that towers above the yacht’s superstructure is shaped like a funnel so that the fumes from the engines do not affect guests.

The family lounge is designed to reflect butterflies with a gentle and relaxing concept.

The construction was executed by Kusch Yachts at their shipyard based in Germany.

The design was developed in 2008 with Peters Werft leading the team.

AL MIRQAB is the biggest yacht Kusch Yachts have built at its impressive length of 133m(436.3 ft).

Specifications

AL MIRQAB is 133m(436.3 ft) in length, with a 19m(62.3ft) beam. She displaces 9604GT and has a max speed of 23kn with her five diesel-electric Wartsila engines.

Her cruising speed is sustained at 21kn. She is one of the largest superyachts in the world.

The at anchor stabilizers give a significant amount of comfort to the guests during their experience on the yacht. AL MIRQAB yacht has an annual $20 – $30 million running cost.

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• Peter Werft
• Tim Heywood
• Winch Design

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Get To Know Your Basics About Al Mirqab, The $300 Million Arab Superyacht

In a story published on Friday by the Saudi-controlled publication Al-Riyadh, the Qatari opposition revealed the hidden fortune of Hamad bin Jassim, the former Qatari prime minister.

Al-Riyadh reported that the Qatari opposition claimed that Hamad’s liquid assets totaled $12 billion in 2013, in addition to his ownership stakes in Qatar Airways, Qatar International Bank, Four Seasons Hotel, and West Bay.

In addition, the opposition disclosed that he was charged $200 million for an unfinished project involving a bridge between Qatar and Bahrain and £500 million in fees for completing an arms trade in 1996. He earned a total of $400 million for the acquisition of Harrods outlets in London.

More about Al-Thani

From 2000 to 2013, al-Thani managed high-profile investments in corporate Britain, including Harrods, the Shard (of which Qatar owns 95%), London’s Olympic Village, and the Intercontinental hotel on Park Lane.

Al-Thani has gained notoriety for his political prowess—as a member of Qatar’s royal family, he has held various prominent posts in the country’s administration, including a foreign minister in 1992. In 2003, he was chosen as Qatar’s vice prime minister. In 2007, he became prime minister, a position from which he resigned in 2013.

In a 2016 interview with the Financial Times, he was said to as an outspoken statesman “renowned for his readiness to speak his opinion and switch policies without shame.”

Motor Yacht Al Mirqab

The 113-meter meter yacht was constructed at the renowned shipyard Peters Schiffbau in Steinburg, Germany. During construction, the name of the boat was Project May. The yacht’s exterior was created by the renowned designer Tim Heywood. At the same time, the luxuriously outfitted interior has the hallmarks of class and elegance that yacht aficionados have come to identify with the world-class design company Andrew Winch Designs.

Al Mirqab is stunning and has a cruising speed of 21 knots and a top speed of 23 knots. Al Mirqab can opulently accommodate up to sixty guests and the same number of staff people. With the ‘at anchor stabilizers’ function, which makes the boat stable at zero speed, guests are guaranteed total comfort even in the roughest waves.

There is a theatre, bars, a pool, a Jacuzzi, and a helipad among the hotel’s amenities. In 2009, Al Mirqab earned the prestigious “Motor Yacht of the Year” award.

Details of the yacht

This pioneering vessel had amenities that are now standard on superyachts, including a large spa room with an enclosed pool, a fitness center, a beauty salon, and a helipad with a refueling station. It was also one of the first yachts to include a hybrid propulsion system, allowing it to sail at over 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph), which is rather fast for a vessel of this size.

This superyacht, estimated at $300 million, was designed to be a family refuge despite its exceptional luxury. The underwater viewing area was constructed with a pirate theme to make it more appealing to children. There is also a spacious family lounge onboard with an apparent butterfly theme.

This is only a small portion of what this floating house with space for up to 26 guests has to offer. If it ever occurs, the day Al Mirqab unveils its inner beauty will undoubtedly be unforgettable.

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A Closer Look at the $250 Million Superyacht Al Mirqab

Have you ever dreamed of owning a superyacht? How about one of the 20 largest yachts in the entire world? Who hasn't, right? Well, the Al Mirqab is the 15th largest and has everything you could possibly want in a superyacht. That includes award-winning design and so much more. Her navy blue steel hull cuts thru the water like a knife thru butter and that's at more than 20 knots, to boot. OK, maybe all you can do is wish but here's some in-depth info about the Al Mirqab superyacht so you can dream in living color complete with all the details.

#15 Largest in the World

The amazing superyacht Al Mirqab happens to be one of the biggest motor yachts that have ever been built worldwide (#15 to be exact). It’s actually owned by the exceptionally wealthy former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. It was built at the world-renowned German shipyard, Peters Schiffbau Wewelsfleth, and the yacht's architect is the very talented Tim Heywood. The interior design was designed by Andrew Winch Designs. During the superyacht's construction phase, it was known as "Project May". Her current value is in excess of a whopping US$ 200 million according to Yacht Charter Fleet .

Located Near Athens, Greece

According to Wikipedia, Al Mirqab was completed in 2008. She has an overall length of 133 meters with a beam of 18. Her summer deadweight of 1,440 DWT and a gross tonnage of 9,518 GT. The Al Mirqab is built of steel and she has a cruising speed of 18.7 knots and a max speed of 20.3 knots. Currently, she is docked for a portion of the year on the Faliro coastal area in Athens, Greece.

Interior and Amazing Amenities

The yacht Al Mirqab accommodate 24 guests in her 10 guest suites and also offers two VIP suites for the yacht owner. The suites are massive and every one has its own living room, double bedroom, and bathroom. She also accommodates a full crew of 55 people.

A few of her onboard amenities include:

• A full-size cinema
•  A helicopter pad (gotta have one of those, right?)
•  An interior swimming pool (just in case it's raining outside)
•  An on-deck jacuzzi (for those big jacuzzi parties)
•  Several beautiful sun-drenched sunbathing spots on-deck as well,
•  Tender Garage (for keeping all of those toys),
•  Plenty of Air Conditioning (to keep everybody cool as a cucumber)
•  Gym (to keep everybody onboard in-shape and looking good)
•  Spa (in case they're not relaxed enough)
•  Elevator/Lift (in case the guests don't feel like using the amazing staircase)
• Beach Club (for more fun, fun, fun)
• At Anchor Stabilizers (wouldn't want to become de-stabilized while at-anchor)
• Dynamic Positioning (and definitely wouldn't want to get lost!)

Recent Interior Update & Other Facts

According to the Robb Report , the yacht's beautifully well-appointed interior by Andrew Winch has won a number of awards and includes images with Arabic-influenced motifs all over the marble floors of some of the larger social areas. Her centerpiece is actually an amazingly stunning and quite complicated floating staircase that is also encircled by numerous custom-made glass panels. And, according to the Robb Report, she offers staterooms for 36 plus crew quarters for 45. Not quite sure whose count is correct though. Al Mirqab also has a large lower deck swimming pool that can be opened up to the ocean simply by opening the side hatches in the hull. In addition, Al Mirqab underwent a refit in 2014, which included a brand new sundeck as well as a complete interior remodel. Now, her even more gorgeous interior wows guests when they arrive onboard. (Wish we could be among them!)

Awards & Nominations

She has won a number of special awards, mainly in the year 2009, the year following her completion, including:

• World Superyacht Awards of 2009 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and above (approximately 85m+)
• World Superyacht Awards of 2009 Winner of Motor Yacht of the Year
• World Superyacht Awards of 2009 Winner Best Interior Design - Motor Yacht
• World Superyacht Awards of 2009 Special Commendation for Best Exterior Styling - Motor Yacht

Al Mirqab Specs

• Registry: George Town, Grand Cayman
• Owner: Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani Builder: Peters Schiffbau Wewelsfleth, Germany Yard number: 681 Launched: 2008 Current Status: In service Call sign: ZCTS4 IMO number: 1009223 MMSI number: 319361000

General characteristics

• Class and type: Superyacht Tonnage: 9,518 (gross tonnage) 1,440 DWT (summer deadweight) Length: 133.00 m (436.35 ft) Beam: 19.00 m (62.34 ft) Maximum Speed: 20.3 knots (37.6 km/h; 23.4 mph) Cruising Speed: 18.7 knots
• Displacement: 9,604t
• Capacity: Guests: 25 Crew: 55

About the Owner

• Prime Minister of Qatar
• Sheikh Al Thani held the position of Prime Minister of Qatar from April 3. 2007 until June of 2013. He was also the Foreign Minister of Qatar since January 11, 1992, until the year 2013.
• NY Penthouse worth US$ 100 Million
• In 2012, Sheik Al Thani bought a 100 million USD penthouse at Midtown Manhattan 's One57 tower.

Sheik Al Thani must also be quite the art lover since he bought Picasso's Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O) and paid a whopping US$180 million for it in May 2015. According to Superyacht Fan , that was a record price for a painting being sold at auction.

Sheik Al Thani- Net Worth

The Al Thani Family's net worth has been estimated at more than US$ 2.4 billion. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Muhammad Al Thani's personal net worth is estimated to be US$ 1.3 billion. Al Mirqab is not available for charter, however, if you're interested, you can follow Al Mirqab's current location live.

Written by  Dana Hanson

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Al Mirqab Specifications

• Name Al Mirqab
• Model Custom
• Flag Cayman Islands
• Hull NB 681
• Hull Colour -
• Naval Architect Kusch Yachts
• Exterior Designer Tim Heywood Design
• Interior Designer Winch Design
• Length Overall 133.0m
• Length at Waterline -
• Draft (min) -
• Draft (max) 4.9m
• Gross Tonnage 5000
• Cabins Total -
• Hull Configuration Displacement
• Hull Material Steel
• Superstructure -
• Deck Material Teak
• Fuel Type Diesel-Electric
• Manufacturer -
• Power 6700 hp / 5000 kW
• Total Power 6700 hp / 5000 kW
• Propulsion Twin Screw
• Max Speed 23 Kn
• Cruising Speed 21 Kn
• Fuel Capacity -
• Water Capacity -
• Generator -
• Stabilizers -
• Thrusters -
• Amenities -
• Yacht Builder Kusch Yachts View profile
• Naval Architect Kusch Yachts View profile
• Exterior Designer Tim Heywood Design View profile
• Interior Designer Winch Design View profile

Yacht Specs

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AL MIRQAB Kusch Yachts

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AL MIRQAB has 11 Photos

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In Pictures: $200 Million Dollar Mega ...

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A General Description of Motor Yacht AL MIRQAB

This motor yacht AL MIRQAB is a 133 m 437 (ft) colossal steel boat which was crafted at Kusch Yachts and concieved by Kusch Yachts and Tim Heywood. Accommodating 60 guests and 60 crew members, motor yacht AL MIRQAB was formerly (Project May). The balanced superyacht was envisaged from naval architects Kusch Yachts and Tim Heywood. Andrew Winch undertook the interior design.

The yacht belongs to Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister - Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. During the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards ceremony, in the motor yacht categories, Kusch Yachts 133m Al Mirqab won the coveted Motor Yacht of the Year, as well as an award for the interior design by Andrew Winch, and a Judges commendation for the exterior styling by Tim Heywood. The exterior styling award itself went to Francesco Paszkowski for Onyx, built by Sanlorenzo.

Build & Yacht Design with respect to Luxury Yacht AL MIRQAB

Kusch Yachts was the naval architect involved in the professional superyacht design work for AL MIRQAB. Her interior design was realised by Andrew Winch. Kusch Yachts and Tim Heywood is also associated with the yacht general design work for this boat. Germany is the country that Kusch Yachts completed their new build motor yacht in. After the formal launch in 2008 in Wewelsfleth she was afterwards delivered on to the proud new owner following sea trials. Her main hull was constructed with steel. The motor yacht superstructure is made largely with aluminium. With a beam of 19.5 m / 63.98 ft AL MIRQAB has massive size. A reasonably deep draught of 5m (16.4ft) affects the list of certain harbours she can berth in, contingent on their specific depth at low tide.

Max/Min Speed & Main Engines On M/Y AL MIRQAB:

Coupled to the AL MIRQAB engines are twin screw propellers. Her total HP is 13400 HP and her total Kilowatts are 10000. For bow thrusters she utilises X2.

Accommodation Aboard Superyacht AL MIRQAB:

The enormous luxury yacht M/Y AL MIRQAB can accommodate as many as 60 people in addition to 60 qualified crew.

A List of the Specifications of the AL MIRQAB:

Miscellaneous yacht details.

In October 2009 AL MIRQAB sailed to Palma, in Spain. This motor yacht also navigated the waters including Illes Balears during Sept 2009. As the yacht comes with a helicopter pad onboard, AL MIRQAB can transfer guests and cargo to and from another place.

AL MIRQAB Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht AL MIRQAB displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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Tim Heywood's greatest superyacht designs

Related articles, superyacht directory.

Legendary superyacht designer Tim Heywood began his career in the seventies alongside fellow British designers Andrew Winch and Terence Disdale who learnt their trade under the godfather of modern yacht design Jon Bannenberg . Having worked with the celebrated designer for 20 years, Heywood eventually left to set up his own studio in 1996, a studio that produced some of yachting's most iconic designs that remain as fresh as the day pen was put to paper. As Heywood prepares to speak on his greatest hits and life under Bannenberg at the 2023 Superyacht Design Festival , we look back on some of his most memorable designs...

When the 147 metre Lürssen superyacht A+ , previously known as Topaz , was delivered in 2012, she was the fourth largest in the world and second largest yacht to be built by the German yard. She features Heywood's trademark sheer line that gently sweeps down to the stern, while a second curve runs forward towards the bow, the two converging on the main deck aft. A+ ’s vast 5,306GT interiors were designed by Terence Disdale , another legendary designer to have trained under Bannenberg, and can host up to 62 guests in 26 luxury cabins. 

Al Mirqab saw Heywood and his former colleague Andrew Winch team up for the first time - and was the first of many projects by the pair. But it is more than her design pedigree that makes this 133 metre icon a standout. Her size was formidable at the time of her launch, and to this day, she remains among the top five per cent of the largest yachts in the world. Al Mirqab was also the blueprint for a number of large-scale amenities. She is home to one of the largest spas afloat and was the first of its kind to feature an indoor pool and balcony terraces that fold down over the sea. Built for Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former Prime Minister and Minister of Qatar, she is a family yacht at heart with a pirate-theme underwater playroom and a butterfly-themed family lounge overlooking the bow.

Carinthia VII

Carinthia VII was built for Heidi Horten, the widow of department store owner Helmut Horten. Lürssen had built her late husband's Carinthia VI and on a visit to the shipyard, she was permitted to peep at Tim Heywood’s preliminary drawing of the yacht that was to become Pelorus . The two share a raised forebody and reverse sheer, but Carinthia VII stands out thanks to her custom Awlgrip hull colour which was later dubbed 'Carinthia Blue'. Aiming for a profile that was as clean and uncluttered as possible, Heywood replaced the usual stanchions and handrails with glass bulwarks set in slim steel frames that do not catch the eye. Forward-facing windows in the superstructure are shaded by the characteristic brow that looks like the peak of a cap.

The World Superyacht Award-winning Ice was delivered in 2005 and was the first yacht to have Azipod drive units in place of conventional shafted diesels, keeping noise and vibration pollution to a minimum. Delivered in 2005 as Air , she was one of the first explorers with that classic forward set superstructure to make room for a helipad aft - carrying a Eurocopter EC135 helicopter. Constructed in steel and aluminium, the yacht boasts an interior of 3,268GT while her beam of 15 metres accommodates 14 guests.

Here Comes The Sun

Here Comes The Sun was the flagship of Amels when she left the Dutch shipyard in 2016. Heywood and Winch had worked together on a number of Amels Limited Editions vessels and it seemed only natural for the pair to reunite for the largest in the series to date. One of the major changes from her smaller siblings was the beltline’s angle of descent. “It’s a more gentle curve, swept right the way round the back and into the stairwells and back outside of the stairwells, round the swimming pool,” said Heywood. Here Comes The Sun measures 83 metres and packs in 2,827 gross tonnes of volume (compare that with 99 metre Madame Gu ’s 2,991GT and 95.2 metre Kismet ’s 2,700GT). She recently completed an extensive 16-month refit that added an extra six metres added to the overall length.

Heywood’s curving exterior lines are again on display on the 74 metre Plvs Vltra , which was launched in 2016 as the first Amels Limited Editions 242 yacht. At the time of her delivery, Heywood said of Plvs Vltra : “[It’s signature look] is strong and functional, complementing the flowing lines very well which I would describe as athletically feminine. I must admit, these curves are not necessarily the easiest forms to build, but Amels rose to the challenge.” Jet black paint between Matterhorn white decks gives the exterior a healthy dose of individuality. “I added those curving black jet highlights to echo the curve of the wing station and then reversed it in the superstructure,” Heywood continued. Seven Limited Editions 242 models have now hit the water with an eighth on the way.

Planet Nine

Planet Nine is the former flagship of Admiral Yachts and was built for heli-skiing adventures in higher latitudes. The owner had seen Heywood's work on Ice which formed the starting point for this similarly capable explorer. She’s undoubtedly a capable yacht but to characterise Planet Nine as an explorer alone is to do her a real disservice, according to Heywood. “ Planet Nine displays a constant state of great comfort and elegance,” he said in an interview. “The fact that she is wrapped in an ice-class hull only adds to her luxury.” The superstructure is a relatively modest three-storey affair, but huge volume has been created within the hull’s tall topsides. Nearly the entire main deck above is given over to the owner’s suite which total 250 square metres. Other highlights include an observation lounge, two lifts and a boot room beach club.

The 2023 Superyacht Design Festival will return to the Italian town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the heart of the Dolomitic Alps, on February 8-10. This event will bring leaders of the superyacht industry and guests from the luxury community together for a thought-provoking and entertaining event that celebrates the world of design through innovating discussion and exclusive network opportunities. Tickets are on sale now .

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Insiders still have no idea what's going to happen to Russian oligarchs' seized superyachts

• It's been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to sanctions against Russian oligarchs.
• Many of their superyachts were seized or frozen , leading industry insiders to question their fate.
• The yachts, some of which are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, remain in a state of limbo.

More than two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the boating world still doesn't have many answers about what's going on with the very large, expensive elephants in the sea: oligarchs' superyachts .

The war prompted many governments to enact sanctions against Russia's richest , including seizing their superyachts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But it's unclear whether they can be sold or who'd buy them, leaving ports peppered with massive boats stuck in a floating limbo.

"The Russian problem, it's becoming a bigger and bigger and bigger problem," one luxury yacht broker told Business Insider at the Palm Beach International Boat Show last week. Like many others, he requested not to be named, given the sensitive nature of the matter at hand and the generally discreet nature of the industry.

Russia has been a massive player in the massive boat market for a long time. In August 2021 — about six months before Russia's Ukraine invasion — Russians owned the second-largest share of yachts over 40 meters in length, according to a report from the industry publication SuperYacht Times.

They were responsible for 16% of new build superyacht purchases in the decade preceding the report and are known for splashing out on extravagant interiors and unique features. (One builder BI spoke to recalled a mandate from an oligarch for a large safe in the owner's cabin in which he could keep his rifles. The builder later learned he'd use them to skeet shoot on deck.)

But those sales have now screeched to a halt as oligarchs get hit by international sanctions. At least a dozen superyachts — worth well over $1 billion combined — have been affected.

And no one is quite sure what will happen to them.

Russia's sanctioned superyachts are hard to buy and sell

The first problem is that many of the yachts are "frozen" — not seized. That means that although the Russian owners can't operate or collect them, they don't technically belong to an overseas government, so they can't be sold without special permission.

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors petitioned a judge asking for consent to sell the Amadea, the 106-meter superyacht that has been docked in San Diego and costs the US as much as $922,000 a month to maintain.

"I've had some inquiries, but all you can tell them is we don't know the outcome yet" of the case, another superyacht broker told BI at the yacht show.

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And despite the broker's claim of interest in yachts like Amadea , most ultrarich — or at least their brokers — don't want to go near the vessels with a ten-foot pole, even if the government does get legal permission to sell them.

"How does it look if you bought a Russian boat?" Julia Simpson, a broker at Thompson of Monaco, said. "Even if it's completely legal and normal, there are too many things on the line," she said, like how the original owner got their money and whether that could make the new buyer look bad.

There are also possible legal implications, as it's hard for the government to prove who actually owns the yachts.

"Oligarchs typically structure their ownership of these high-value assets through a web of offshore shell companies and trusts that is designed to conceal the true owner," Joshua Naftalis, a former federal prosecutor who now works for Pallas Partners, told BI.

And if the government does assume ownership, it's highly dependent on court orders. For example, a Russian whose yacht had been seized by the French government regained access to his boat after winning a legal battle in 2022.

"It's a very difficult process to buy them," Ralph Dazert, the head of intelligence at SuperYacht Times, told BI. "There is a high risk of the former (Russian) owner suing you to get the boat back."

He pointed to the Alfa Nero, the 82-meter yacht that Eric Schmidt planned to purchase for $67 million last year in an auction put on by Antigua and Barbuda. He backed out after various parties tried to block the sale, likely deeming it not worth the legal headache.

"When the reason for sanctioning goes away, which it may do," the Russian owners will try to get their boats back , Simpson said. After all, "the government's not going to pay them."'

That said, if sanctions are dropped, the yachts will be worth much less than when they were seized, as a boat not in use deteriorates much faster than one sailing the seas.

"Those yachts need to be used to be kept in shape, kept in condition," the second broker said. "​​Just having them sit at the dock with a temporary crew on board is not good for the boats."

And the sanctioned Russians who have managed to maintain control of their superyachts won't have an easy time offloading them in the future.

Americans who try to do business with sanctioned oligarchs would have a number of hoops to jump through — like finding a bank to process the purchase, which would be next to impossible. If somehow they did and the government caught wind, they'd face hefty penalties and the transaction would be void.

So Russia's richest have found themselves "stuck" sailing in a select few countries that will let them, like the Maldives, Montenegro, and Dubai.

Watch: Video of Russian naval ship explosion shows a much-needed win for Ukraine

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