Yachts are typically seen as symbols of wealth and luxury. They are classified as any sail or power vessel that is used for the purpose of pleasure, cruising, or racing. Contrary to popular belief, they are not always luxurious vessels. For instance, racing yachts tend to be stripped down to just what they need to race because of limitations that can arise from high weight.
That said, yachts can be some of the most magnificent water vessels on the sea. Charles II of England made the hobby of yachting popular in 1660. The trend has continued into today – leading to the creation of super-yachts, mega-yachts, and giga-yachts. The following list reveals the astonishing details of the 10 heaviest yachts in the world.
10. Serene
Gross tonnage: 8,231
Serene was built by Fincantieri, an Italian shipyard, in 2011. The interior design was done by Reymond Langton Design. It is one of the world’s biggest private superyachts, owned by Yuri Shefler – a Russian vodka tycoon. It cost $330 million.
Length: 439 ft. 4 in.
Beam: 60 ft. 8 in.
Draft: 18 ft. 1 in.
Speed: N/A
9. Al Mirqab
Gross tonnage: 9,518
Al Mirqab is another privately owned yacht that is the property of Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former Prime and Foreign Minister to Qatar. It was built by a German shipyard and designed by architect Tim Heywood and interior designer Andrew Winch.
Deadweight tonnage: 1,440
Length: 436.35 ft
Beam: 62.34 ft.
Draft: N/A
Speed: 20.3 knots
8. Octopus
Gross tonnage: 9,932
Jody Allen owns the Octopus – a mega-yacht that was launched in 2003 and is regularly used for exploration, scientific and research projects, and even rescue missions. It is another yacht that was built by German builders and was designed by Espen Oino Navan Architects and interior designed Jonathan Quinn Barnett.
Net tonnage: 2,979
Displacement tonnage: 8,850
Length: 414 ft.
Beam: 68.9 ft.
Draft: 18.6 ft.
Speed: 20 knots
7. Topaz
Gross tonnage: 9,932
The luxury motor yacht Topaz was made in Bremen, Germany and designed by architect Tim Heywood and the interior design company Terence Disdale design. It was launched in 2012.
Length: 482 ft.
Beam: 70.5 ft.
Draft: 18 ft.
Speed: 25.5 knots
6. Al Salamah
Gross tonnage: 12,234
When Al Salamah was first launched in 2009, it was the 5th largest yacht in the world. It has lost its spot as 5th largest, but it is still incredibly impressive. It was the property of the late Saudi Arabian prince, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.
Length: 457 ft.
Beam: 77.1 ft.
Draft: 16.4 ft.
Speed: 21.5 knots
5. Eclipse
Gross tonnage: 13,000
The Eclipse is a superyacht that was built by Blohm+Voss in Germany in 2009. Terence Disdale designed the interior and exterior, and the owner is Roman Abramovich, a Russian businessman. It cost $340 million and includes a mini-submarine and 3 landing boats.
Length: 533 ft.
Beam: 72 ft. 2 in.
Draft: 19 ft. 4 in.
Speed: 22 knots
4. Azzam
Gross tonnage: 13,136
Azzam was launched in 2013. It is a private super yacht built by Lurssen Yachts in Germany. This yacht was commissioned by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest private motor yacht in the world by length.
Length: 590 ft.
Beam: 68 ft.
Draft: 14 ft. 1 in.
Speed: 32 knots
3. Al Said
Gross tonnage: 15,850
The Al Said is a luxury yacht that belongs to the Sultan Qaboos of Oman. It was launched in 2007 as the second longest yacht in the world.
Length: 508.53 ft.
Beam: 78.74 ft.
Draft: 17.1 ft.
Speed: 25.2 knots
2. Dilbar
Gross tonnage: 15,917
The super-yacht Dilbar was built at the Lurssen shipyard in Germany. It was designed by interior designer Andrew Winch and ship architect Espen Oeino. Currently, this yacht is considered the largest yacht in the world by volume.
Length: 511.81 ft.
Beam: 77.1 ft.
Draft: 20 ft.
Speed: 22.5 knots
1. REV Ocean
Built by VARD shipyards in Romania, the superyacht REV Ocean is a research and expedition vessel that was designed by Espen Oeino and interior design company H2 Yacht Design. This brand-new yacht, launched in 2019, is the largest motor yacht in the entire world and the longest yacht of any type ever built.
Gross tonnage: 17,440
Length: 600 ft.
Beam: 72 ft.
Draft: 17.2 ft.
Speed: 17 knots
Explanation of Measurement Terms
To understand the astonishing size of these yachts, it is necessary to know what the terms mean.
- Gross Tonnage – the volume of all enclosed spaces in a ship
- Ton – a weight measurement that is equal to 2000 pounds
- Beam – the measure of the width of a ship
- Draft – the vertical distance from the bottom of the keel of a ship to the waterline
- Knot – a speed measurement that is equal to 1.15 miles per hour
Types of Yachts and Their Uses
There are many types of yachts. While you may picture larger than life yachts full of fabulous celebrities when you hear the word yacht, they are not always fancy, and they are not always large. Some are made for hourly trips while others are equipped for long journeys on the water. Some yachts are specialized for fishing or racing.
Day-Sailing Yachts
Day-sailing yachts are usually under 20 ft. long. They are also called sailing dinghies. Their keels are retractable. These yachts do not normally have cabins because they are only intended and designed for hourly, daytime use. Some have “cuddy cabins” to store equipment away from water spray and wind.
Weekender Yachts
Weekender yachts measure under 31 ft. in length. They typically have lifting keels or twin keels. These yachts are designed for short adventures that last 2 or 3 days. Their cabins are simple and include sleeping space for 2 to 4 people and a saloon that houses a kitchen, places to sit, and navigation equipment.
Cruising Yachts
Cruising yachts are the most common yachts used today, and they are found in lengths up to 46 ft. The design of cruising yachts varies but must include interior space and comfort along with proper handling qualities and sailing performance. Most follow a certain style to ensure that the yachts perform well – tear-drop-planform hull, fine bow, wide and flat bottom, and a deep single-fin keel with ample beam.
Luxury Sailing Yachts
Luxury sailing yachts typically have lengths of 82 ft. or longer – and the largest luxury sailing yacht that is available for charter today is 295 ft. long. Over the years, this kind of sailing vessel has evolved from simple boats with general accommodations into luxurious boats known for their sophistication and status. The bigger sailing yachts have everyday amenities like air conditioning and television!
Racing Yachts
Racing yachts are built specifically for racing. They are built for maximum buoyancy and balance and can reach speeds of up to 35 knots! Racing yachts are built for 1-person crews, 15-person crews, or 30-person crews, depending on the race.
Sport Fishing Yachts
Sport fishing yachts can be any kind of yacht as long as it is outfitted with both living quarters in it and sport fishing equipment.
In Conclusion…
This list of yachts includes some of the most magnificent yachts ever commissioned. Many of them broke records the moment they were launched – each one being bigger and better than the last one. As of 2018, there were 6,500 yachts on the market for $24 million or more. Yachts are a popular leisure hobby choice that continues to evolve and break records.
