Few vessels in the superyacht world command as much fascination or as much secrecy as Eclipse, the 162.5-metre motor yacht once considered the largest private vessel ever built Eclipse Yacht.
Key Takeaways
- Eclipse measures 162.5 metres, making her the third-longest private yacht in the world, behind Azzam and Fulk Al Salamah
- She was built by German shipyard Blohm+Voss and delivered in 2010 to Russian businessman Roman Abramovich at an estimated cost of around $700–800 million
- The yacht is known for extreme security features, including a mini-submarine, laser-based anti-paparazzi systems, and reported missile-detection technology
A Yacht Built to Redefine the Superyacht Category
M/Y Eclipse was constructed by Blohm+Voss, a historic German shipyard founded in 1877 in Hamburg with a long history of building naval vessels and some of the world’s most iconic private yachts. The project took roughly five years of design, development, and construction before Eclipse left the Blohm+Voss yard on December 9, 2010, formally taking her place as the largest superyacht in the world at the time.
At 162.5 metres (533 feet) in length, Eclipse briefly held the title of the world’s largest private yacht until Azzam, a 180-metre Lürssen-built vessel, was launched in 2013 and surpassed her by more than 17 metres. Today, Eclipse ranks as the third-longest private yacht globally, trailing only Azzam and Fulk Al Salamah, the 164-metre yacht owned by the Oman Royal Yacht Squadron.
The yacht’s exterior styling and interior design were both created by Terence Disdale Design, a London-based studio widely regarded as one of the most respected names in large-yacht design. Disdale is credited with the exterior styling and interior design of 41 and 78 yachts respectively among vessels over 24 metres, and his work on Eclipse deliberately avoided extreme or flashy styling in favor of long, clean lines and balanced proportions a design choice that has allowed the yacht to still look modern more than a decade after her delivery.
Ownership and Cost
Eclipse is owned by Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire whose name has become closely tied to the yacht’s public profile. While the vessel is frequently described online as a “$1.5 billion yacht,” her original contract price is more commonly reported at approximately €550 million, or roughly $700 million, with some sources placing the figure closer to $800 million once refits and upgrades are factored in.
The yacht is managed by Blue Ocean Yacht Management and, since March 2022, has been registered in Bermuda. Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war and the international sanctions that followed, Eclipse relocated to Turkish territorial waters along the South Aegean coast of Muğla Province, where she has been spotted docked in Bodrum and Marmaris a pattern reflecting the broader trend of sanctioned oligarchs seeking safe harbor for their vessels in Turkey.
Specifications and Performance
Eclipse’s technical specifications place her firmly among the largest and most capable yachts ever built. The vessel has a beam of approximately 22 metres, a draft of around 5.9 metres, and a gross tonnage of roughly 13,564 GT a volume figure that dramatically exceeds the average for yachts of comparable length, giving her interior spaces an unusually spacious feel even by superyacht standards.
Power comes from a diesel-electric propulsion system using MTU engines, specifically twin 16-cylinder units producing 8,717 horsepower each and driving rotating Azipod thrusters rather than conventional propeller shafts. This configuration allows Eclipse to cruise comfortably at 20 knots, reach a top speed generally listed between 21 and 25 knots depending on the source, and cover a maximum range of 6,000 nautical miles enough to cross the Atlantic Ocean without refueling.
The yacht is constructed with a steel hull, aluminium superstructure, and teak decking, and was built to Lloyd’s Register classification standards including Ice Class 1D certification, meaning she is technically capable of operating in light ice conditions an unusual feature for a yacht primarily associated with Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising grounds.
Accommodation and Interior Features
Eclipse can accommodate up to 36 guests across 18 staterooms, supported by a crew of approximately 70 a crew-to-guest ratio that reflects the extraordinarily high level of service typically expected on vessels of this size. The owner’s deck alone spans 56 metres in length, offering a level of privacy that few other yachts in the world can match.
The interior features hundreds of custom finishes developed exclusively for the project, and the yacht’s amenities reportedly include a movie theatre, beauty salon, gym, elevator, fireplace, beach club, and multiple hot tubs. Perhaps her most distinctive feature is a 16-metre swimming pool on the deck, engineered so its base can be raised hydraulically to convert the pool area into a dance floor a signature detail frequently cited in coverage of the vessel.
Eclipse also carries capacity for up to three helicopters, with two dedicated helipads on deck and a third storage hangar built into the foredeck. In 2011, the yacht was voted Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards, recognition that reflected both her scale and the technical sophistication of her build.
Why This Matters: Security as a Design Priority
What sets Eclipse apart from most superyachts isn’t just her size it’s the extent to which security was built into her design from the outset. The yacht is widely reported to carry a mini-submarine capable of independent underwater excursions, along with missile-detection systems and bulletproof glass in key areas of the superstructure.
Perhaps most notably, Eclipse has been associated with an anti-paparazzi laser defense system, reportedly designed to detect camera flashes from nearby vessels or shorelines and disrupt the resulting photographs before they can be taken. Combined with reinforced crew quarters and armored elements throughout the vessel, these features have led some in the yachting press to describe Eclipse less as a leisure vessel and more as a floating fortress.
For readers newer to the superyacht world, this matters because it illustrates a broader trend among ultra-high-net-worth owners: as yacht size and visibility increase, so does investment in privacy and physical security, often at a scale far beyond what’s found on comparably sized commercial vessels.
Charter Availability
Despite being made available for charter briefly through Monaco-based brokerage SuperYachtsMonaco in February 2011, Eclipse is not currently believed to be available for private charter. The yacht has historically been used primarily for the personal use of her owner and guests, including regular winter trips to St. Martin in the Caribbean, where guests fly in before continuing on to Abramovich’s residence on nearby St. Barts.
Prospective charter clients interested in vessels of similar scale and caliber are generally directed toward Eclipse’s closest peers in the ultra-large yacht category, though few vessels worldwide match her combination of size, security infrastructure, and design pedigree.
Current Status and Location
As of recent reporting, Eclipse remains an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Turkey, continuing the pattern established since the 2022 sanctions period. The yacht’s movements are tracked through AIS (Automatic Identification System) data by several superyacht intelligence platforms, allowing enthusiasts and industry watchers to monitor her location in near real time.
FAQ
How big is the Eclipse yacht?
Eclipse measures approximately 162.5 metres (533 feet) in length, making her the third-longest private yacht in the world.
Who owns the Eclipse yacht?
Eclipse is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and has been in his possession since her delivery in 2010.
How much did Eclipse cost to build?
Estimates vary, but the yacht’s original contract price is most commonly reported at approximately €550 million, or roughly $700 million, with some sources citing figures closer to $800 million.
Can you charter the Eclipse yacht?
No. While Eclipse was briefly listed for charter in 2011, she is not currently available for private charter and is used primarily by her owner.
What security features does Eclipse have?
Eclipse is widely reported to include a mini-submarine, missile-detection systems, bulletproof glass, and an anti-paparazzi laser defense system designed to disrupt nearby camera flashes.
Where is Eclipse currently located?
Since 2022, Eclipse has primarily been located in Turkish waters along the South Aegean coast, having been spotted at both Bodrum and Marmaris.