Abramovich's Gigayacht Eclipse Sets Sail

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
May 3rd 2010 at 7:02AM

When we last checked in on the progress of Roman Abramovich's new 557-ft. Eclipse (above), the world's largest and most expensive privately owned yacht, the Russian oligarch had installed a high-tech anti-photo shield designed to keep the paparazzi at bay. After numerous delays and costs spiraling to an estimated $1 billion, it seems as if the gigayacht is now finally ready to be delivered. The Huffington Post found some pix of the massive vessel leaving the dock of the Blohm +Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, the other day, a sight to behold (apparently the photo shield isn't working yet). In addition to the paparazzi spoiler, the Eclipse features a military-grade missile defense system, armor plating and bullet-proof windows. It also has three helipads, two swimming pools – the larger of which converts into a dance floor when drained – six foot home cinema screens in every guest cabin, and a master suite where the roof opens to allow Abramovich and his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova to sleep under the stars.

Gallery: The Eclipse Sets Sail

Tags: Blohm + Voss, Blohm Voss, Dasha Zhukova, Germany, gigayacht, megayacht, Roman Abramovic, Russia, Russian billionaire, Russian oligarch, superyacht, yacht

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Gil May 4th 2010 7:59AM

Whatever floats your boat.

Walter May 4th 2010 9:16AM

One billion dollars, and it blows black smoke like a military surplus 6-71

mwisker68 May 11th 2010 9:34PM

I guess the nuclear reactor option would have pushed the price tag a little too high...

ted May 4th 2010 10:26AM

LIVING LARGE OFF THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE!!!!

Uncledees May 4th 2010 11:20AM

I never have heard so many people so jealous!!!

Ronnie Jun 2nd 2010 4:37PM

must be nice....I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I coul be helping so many children with rare diseases......A billion dollars could probable save many.

BOB PINARDI May 4th 2010 11:32AM

I am very happy for the guy.. This is the kind of stuff that creates high paying jobs and spreads the wealth around. Wish More ships like this were built. This ship I bet created 50,000 jobs. Wish Obama had something doing that well.

Ray Wright May 4th 2010 9:20PM

Ya baby, Speak it.
We who are the littyle guys live off these type systems. My business nwas Directly the center of the mega and the maga mega yachts. I made a very gpood living off these people. I can only say my people who have carried on. are even more in control.
Ray

BOB PINARDI May 15th 2010 10:12AM

And a yacht like this takes at least 200 people full and part time to keep up. You need cooks, maids, Capt, and crew, People to clean the bottom. not to mention those that have business that maintain them.

Richard May 4th 2010 11:54AM

Does it take high test or regular

D2104 May 5th 2010 8:39AM

sEEMS COMMUNISM IS GOOD FOR SOME PEOPLE

bskenes May 4th 2010 12:09PM

Folks, some of you are missing the ball. Abramovich is a RUSSIAN oligarch. A few years ago he was just another political flunky in the Soviet state beauracracy. He got where he is because he knows how to play the communist system. In a few more years, we will be in the same condition here in the US with all the wealth being controlled by the state. The free market is almost dead. Murdered by the socialists and their big business monopolistic partners.

hhecuba May 7th 2010 10:40AM

Actually, we are losing freedom and jobs due to the socialist democrat regime. Absolute power corrupts.

laditaxi2 May 11th 2010 1:30PM

RIGHT ON-- I agree and who is putting this country in this perdicament? VOTE THEM OUT! ! !

delquattro May 13th 2010 3:32PM

Wealthy communists ARE the State. Money owns the government, and uses the government for their own means. In the US it isn't as brazen, until ObaMao, but the government is used to protect business, too. It is mistakenly identified as "capitalism," but it is more accurately described as fascism, or corporatism. Abramovich is in a financial position to use the government for his purposes so long as he doesn't offend the master communists in the Financial Institutional Complex. In the US, the middle class small business owner is all that remains of capitalism, or free enterprise. In communist economies free enterprise exists in the underground economies.