Moscow news
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15-Jun-2009
What a yacht!
Messing about in boats just moved up a gear, with Roman Abramovich raising the stakes in the aquatic assets race.
Crisis or no crisis, Russia's second-richest man took delivery of his new vessel, the Eclipse, earlier this week, parting with a tidy $608 million for his latest attempt to recreate "Swallows and Amazons".
And, like any self-respecting status symbol, the yacht lives up to its name - and crucially outshines Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, who used to be the market leader of palatial private excess on the high seas, but appears no great shakes alongside Abramovich's latest toy.
Messing about in boats just moved up a gear, with Roman Abramovich raising the stakes in the aquatic assets race.
Crisis or no crisis, Russia's second-richest man took delivery of his new vessel, the Eclipse, earlier this week, parting with a tidy $608 million for his latest attempt to recreate "Swallows and Amazons".
And, like any self-respecting status symbol, the yacht lives up to its name - and crucially outshines Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, who used to be the market leader of palatial private excess on the high seas, but appears no great shakes alongside Abramovich's latest toy.
According to Britain's Daily Mail, it's the biggest in existence, at 170 metres, and it features a defence system that might eclipse many small nations' military capabilities.
The spec, as delivered by Blohm & Voss of Hamburg, Germany, includes a missile detection system, a luxury spa and a swimming pool. In addition the master suite is armour-plated and the whole craft has bulletproof windows.
For getting on and off there is a mini-submarine and two helipads - presumably visiting tradesman are required to use the smaller of the two.
Not even the recession could scupper the nautical oneupmanship - the deal was struck before the crisis led Roman's riches into choppy waters.
Abramovich's so-called private navy also features the Pelorus (115 metres), the Ecstasea (86 metres) and the bijou Sussurro (49 metres), all of which are dwarfed by the new craft.
However, lovers of Bond villain vessels may be disappointed that the Eclipse fails to emulate the historical Chinese junk style beloved of Scaramanga in "The Man With the Golden Gun".
Far from a romantic retro triple-masted look, Abramovich has opted for the imposing floating monolith style of contemporary waterborne luxury.
Boating bargain
Beating the yacht crunch
If your chances of spending $600 million on a superyacht have been credit crunched, try for a Baghdad bargain.
The Iraqi government is looking for someone to take late dictator Saddam Hussain's floating palace "Qadissiyet Saddam" off its hands for a paltry $30 million.
Among its handy features are a missile launcher, mini-submarine and an operating theatre, all decked out in Saddam's trademark lavish style - though the brutal Ba'athist leader never spent a night there, fearing insurrection if he was seen partying up away from home.
Experts warn that the "Arabesque" décor could make it a hard sell, despite its luxury trim, gold taps and plush carpets.
The vessel, also known as the "Basra Breeze" was built in Denmark in 1981, according to the BBC, and after the Baghdad government won a legal battle with a Jordanian company, is currently in storage in Iraq until a buyer can be found.
Fact box
Sizing up to the Sheikh
Sheikh al Maktoum's vessel is as shrouded in as much secrecy as Abramovich's, though reports claim it has been kitted out with a full-size cinema, squash court and barbeque area.
Eclipse Mega-yacht Dubai
Cost $608m $300+ m
Length 170m 160m
Launched 2009 2006
Built by Blohm & Voss Blohm & Voss
Submarine Yes Yes
Helipads 2 1