dilbar biggest yacht in the world

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Delivered in 2016, Dilbar is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. She is one of the most complbuilt as and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology. At 15,917 tons, the 156-meter superyacht features entertainment and recreation spaces never before seen on a yacht. These include a 25-meter swimming pool that holds an incredible 180 m³ of water, the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht. The exterior design, a classic profile with a light ivory hull and bronze accents, was developed by Espen Øino International. Her spectacular interior, created by the Winch Design team, uses rare and exclusive luxury materials.

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Dilbar: 7 Facts

You’ve probably all heard of the yacht “Dilbar”. She is, after all, the world’s biggest yacht! Dilbar was built by Lurssen in Bremen, Germany. A feat of engineering, she is absolutely unbelievable. Just check out these stats.

1. Dilbar has a displacement tonnage of 1230: equal to around 186 Elephants .

Your average African Bush Elephant weighs just over 6000kg. There are (more or less) 907 kg in one US ton.

So, if we know that an elephant weighs 6.62 tons, we can also conclude that Dilbar is truly as heavy as a whole load of Elephants.

2. She has a colossal amount of cabling onboard…

…1,100 km worth to be exact; which is longer than the drive from the very North to the southern-most point of France (a mere 962km). For a yacht 156m long and 23m wide, that’s seriously impressive. Ooh-la-la! ??

3. Owner & Guest living space onboard is spread over 3,800 square metres, or 104 London apartments .

According to the Guardian newspaper, the average London flat covers 46 square metres- meaning Dilbar is much, much larger than your flat (and your friend’s flats, and their parents flats, and their neighbors flats, all rolled into one).????

4. Lurssen says that the 156m Dilbar only took 52 months to build.

To put this into perspective, it took around 100,000 slaves over 20 years to build the Great Pyramid : a stone structure of average height with no diesel engines or advanced audio-visual system.

5. Reportedly, you could actually fit the owner’s previous boat ONA inside Dilbar with space to spare.

This one doesn’t need much more explaining. The owner is Russian though, so it could be that he’s playing some sort of yacht-version of matryoshka dolls… ??

6. There’s a 25m swimming pool onboard, which is the largest superyacht pool in existence.

Dilbar has a beam (width) of 23m and a draft (depth below the water) of 6m, so this pool is relatively massive! Our sources tell us that the pool is around 6m across and around 2m deep, falling to 1m at the shallow end. Therefore we can perform a variable depth calculation to find the volume- which results in an estimated requirement of 225,000 liters of water to fill the Dilbar swimming pool.

Now, a typical Shell or BP Oil Truck can hold 11,000L (see where I’m going here…?). You would need 21 Oil Trucks filled with water just to fill the Dilbar swimming pool.

What’s even more incredible is that, due to the pesky free-surface effect, this pool probably has to be drained every time the boat is moved in order to maintain stability. The watermakers onboard would have to work at an incredible speed and efficiency to get this filled in time for the owner to take a dip once the anchor is dropped!

7. You definitely wouldn’t know all of your colleagues for quite some time if you were new onboard Dilbar…

The average human (never mind a hardworking yacht crew member) consumes 2kg of food a day. This means that the Dilbar chefs cook a whopping 73,000 kg worth of crew meals a year to keep their hungry colleagues’ ship shape and ready for work.

Mind-blowing.

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DILBAR // Lürssen // Espen Øino

Lürssen yachts built the best motor yacht of the year 2016 - dilbar.

DILBAR (also known as Project OMAR), the biggest yacht by volume received the award “Motor Yacht of the Year” and in the category “Displacement Motoryacht 3,000 GT and Above” in Florence. The longest yacht is Azzam with 180m.

“One of the most complex and challenging yachts to be built,” the judges described her “as the most spectacular yacht they had ever seen and a clear winner for this prestigious award.”

The yacht has two helipads. One is on the bow, the other one aft on the top deck and is the home of an Airbus 175 – one of the largest VIP helicopters in the world – custom designed by Pegasus Design.

The diesel-electric propulsion with six Wärtsilä generators delivers a power of 30,000 kW (40,320 HP) to power DILBAR up to a top speed of 22.5 knots. Lürssen construed her with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure.

This vessel is the successor of the previous DILBAR that is now known as RAYA (ex ONA). The home of the sand-colored yacht is the superyacht port in Barcelona.

Interior of DILBAR

There are no public interior pictures to respect the owner’s privacy, but a few data is available. The Winch-designed interior offers a space of 3,800 square meters for the owner and his guests. There are 20 cabins to welcome 36 guests . Up to 96 crew members can find place onboard. Moreover, the yacht features a 25m swimming pool with a water capacity of 180,000 liters .

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Dilbar - The Making Of

Main specifications of dilbar.

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Gross Tonnage

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Dilbar – the world’s largest super yacht

Dilbar – the world’s largest super yacht launched on 14 November 2015 at the Lürssen shipyard.

It was built as Project Omar. The interior design of Dilbar was designed by Andrew Winch. The exterior by Espen Oeino.

As of 2020, Dilbar Mega Yacht is the sixth longest yacht in the world. At 15,917 gross tons, it is the third largest yacht by volume, after Fulk Al Salamah and REV Ocean.

The length of the yacht is 156 m, with a beam of 24 m and a draft of 6.1 m.

Dilbar features a displacement steel hull with an aluminium superstructure. High quality teak is the selected material for decks. This yacht meets “Lloyd’s Register classification society rules”. Also, Dilbar meets “Safety of Life at Sea” requirements. Her flag state is Cayman Islands.

These include a 25-meter swimming pool that holds an incredible 180 m³ of water, the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht. Espen Øino International was exterior designer. Her spectacular interior, created by the Winch Design team, uses rare and exclusive luxury materials.

We know that it has two hellipads and 41,000 square feet of living space, but beyond that, details on the yacht are few and far between.

Dilbar, the world’s largest super yacht owner

Dilbar was custom-built for Alisher Usmanov, a 62-year-old Russian billionaire who is one of Arsenal FC’s largest shareholders. Usmanov has an estimated networth of $13.4 billion USD, making him one of Russia’s richest citizens. The billionaire’s new yacht completed sea trials earlier in the year and was recently spotted around Gibraltar and France. Unfortunately, as is the case with many vessels custom built for the super-rich, the details of Dilbar’s interior and amenities remain a secret.

Other Opinion

By itself, a personal helicopter is a fact already speaking about the viability of its owner, and here he is like a small detail. Well, a helicopter and a helicopter.

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The 10 biggest Lürssen superyachts

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First founded in 1875, German shipyard Lürssen has grown to become one of the world’s leading builders of luxury superyachts. The yard has launched some of the world’s most iconic superyachts, including the 127 metre Octopus , 138 metre Rising Sun and the longest yacht in the world, the 180.61 metre Azzam . In fact, Lürssen currently holds a near-monopoly in the construction of supersized superyachts, having delivered 13 of the world’s top 25. BOAT rounds up the 10 largest superyachts ever built by Lürssen .

Length: 180.61m

Launched in 2013, Lürssen’s 180 metre superyacht Azzam remains the largest yacht in the world . The flagship of the German yard’s fleet, Azzam features exterior design penned by   Nauta Design . Azzam’s impressive propulsion package consists of two gas turbine engines and 2 x MTU diesel engines driving two Wartsila axial flow Modular waterjets and two boosters. Altogether they produce 97,000hp, resulting in a top speed of 33 knots. This means that Azzam is not only the largest yacht in the world but one of the fastest too.

Length: 156m

The 156 metre Dilbar is the largest Lürssen superyacht by volume, with a massive 15,917GT spread across seven decks. Following Dilbar’s delivery in 2016, the yard revealed the yacht claimed two other records – a 180 cubic metre swimming pool believed to be the largest on any yacht, and a 30,000kw diesel-electric power plant. The propulsion package is thought to be the most powerful ever fitted to a superyacht and results in a cruising speed of 22.5 knots. Dilbar features exterior design by Espen Øino with interiors by Winch Design and is currently the fourth longest yacht in the world.

Length : 155m

The 155 metre Al Said , which was delivered in 2008, holds the record as the fifth largest yacht in the world and also includes a cavernous 15,850GT traditionally styled interior designed by RWD . Inside, Al Said offers huge entertaining spaces and accommodation for a total of 65 guests, but the yacht’s standout feature must be its on board concert hall large enough to hold a 50-person orchestra. First delivered in 2008, Al Said’s exterior comes from the boards of Espen Øino .

Length: 147.25m

Previously known as Topaz , the Tim Heywood designed A+ was first delivered in 2012 and is understood to have been previously owned by Middle Eastern royal and politician Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Listed among the largest superyachts in the world, A+  features a helicopter landing pad at its bow and interiors penned by Terence Disdale .

Length: 141.6m

Delivered in 2021, the 141.6 metre Lürssen superyacht Nord was a new entry into the top 25 largest yachts in the world this year. Designed by Nuvolari Lenard, Nord was known as Opus and Project Redwood while in-build and boasts a number of premium superyacht features including a sports and diving centre on the lower deck, a large swimming pool and two superyacht helipads. Nord is accompanied by a fleet of tenders measuring up to 15 metres on its worldwide adventures and features accommodation for 36 guests in 20 staterooms.

Scheherazade

Length: 140m

Lürssen’s 140 metre superyacht Scheherazade is another new entry to the list following delivery in 2020 . Previously known as Project Lightning, Scheherazade features an Espen Øino-designed exterior and four-deck aluminium superstructure. Key exterior features include two large helipads – one at the bow and one on the upper deck – and a prominent beach club aft. Reportedly owned by a Middle Eastern billionaire, this yacht is designed with warmer climates in mind.

Length: 139.29m

Launched in 1999 as the largest yacht in the world, Al Salamah once belonged to Saudi royalty, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Designed inside and out by Terence Disdale , Al Salamah features a 12,234GT interior large enough to accommodate a total of 40 guests in 21 staterooms and a further 96 crew members.

Length: 138.01m

Delivered in 2004, Lürssen’s 138 metre Rising Sun was the last yacht to ever come from designer Jon Bannenberg’s drawing board. Originally built for former Oracle CEO Larry Eliison, Rising Sun experimented with extensive use of structural glass, resulting in a clean profile. Now owned by media mogul David Geffen, Rising Sun boasts 8,000 square meters of living space and can accommodate 16 guests and 45 crew members. Other features include a wine cellar and basketball court.

Length: 136m

Famous for being the most expensive charter yacht in the world with a price tag of €3m a week, the 136-metre, six-deck Lürssen yacht Flying Fox features a curving exterior designed by Espen Øino with interiors from Mark Berryman . Among Flying Fox’s premium features are a total of five fireplaces, an in-built irrigation system for the yacht’s array of greenery and the first cryosauna ever installed on a yacht. Elsewhere, Flying Fox is fitted with two galleys – one for crew and one for guests – run by a total of four permanent chefs.

Length : 135.5m

The 135.5 metre Crescent is the tenth biggest Lürssen superyacht in the world and like many on this list boasts the exterior design signature of Espen Øino. Delivered in 2018, Crescent has a 21 metre beam and 9194GT interior volume with styling penned by Francois Zuretti . Other features include a striking black hull with a bulbous bow with a five-deck superstructure.

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Video: Is Lurssen Superyacht DILBAR The World's Largest Yacht?

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By Oliver Pearson   19 May 2016

Following the success of her sea trials in Bremen earlier this year, the brand new 156m/512ft motor yacht DILBAR from Lurssen has been delivered to her owner. In his latest video, yacht spotter Nicholas Canepa captured the moment she arrived in the Mediterranean .

The arrival of DILBAR in the Mediterranean has this week posed the question: ‘is DILBAR the largest yacht in the world?’.

In an interview earlier this year, Peter Lurssen stated that superyacht DILBAR would be the largest yacht in terms of size, not length, which is measured in gross tonnage.

With this in mind, DILBAR should pip the 155m/509ft motor yacht ‘Al Said’ , the current largest yacht in the world which was also delivered from Lurssen in 2008- In terms of length, the 180m/591ft superyacht AZZAM  remains the world's largest yacht.

In the latest footage of DILBAR - shot as she prepared to refuel in Gibraltar- viewers are able to get a much better impression of her sheer scale and harmonious exterior lines.

What’s more, as a popular refueling destination for superyachts which have departed from Northern European shipyards, enthusiasts can also expect to see the 70m/230ft Heesen motor yacht ‘Galactica Super Nova’ in Gibraltar in the very near future.

Towards the end of the video, viewers are able to get a greater look at not only the aft deck, but also the impressive twin staircases which descend to the swim platform from both the port and starboard sides.

Her distinctive and eye-catching exterior has been designed in collaboration with the acclaimed Espen Oeino , marking the continued strength of an award-winning partnership which stretches back further than twenty years.

Tonnage wise, she will be the biggest in the world, with amazing features Peter Lurssen, Lurssen CEO

Whilst her exterior profile has been heavily photographed leading up to her delivery, the interior design of motor yacht DILBAR remains something of a mystery.

Carried out by Andrew Winch , a British designer with a predilection for sharp and contemporary aesthetics, there’s every reason to believe that DILBAR possesses a similarly outstanding arrangement courtesy of the award-winning designer with a long history of working with Lurssen.

Indeed, his previous work on the 87m/285ft luxury yacht ACE and the 90m/295ft superyacht ‘Phoenix 2’ should leave little doubt about the wonders Winch and his team are capable of installing on larger yachts.

In order to find out more about Lurssen superyachts, and particularly those which are similar to M/Y DILBAR, please get in touch with your preferred charter broker .

Alternatively, take a look at yachts similar to DILBAR which are available for charter .

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Ukraine invasion — explained

The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all.

Germany seizes the world's largest yacht (at least according to volume)

Rachel Treisman

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017.

German authorities have seized the world's largest yacht by volume after determining that a Russian oligarch had transferred its ownership to his sister — who is also facing Western sanctions.

Dilbar, the yacht in question, measures some 511 feet and 15,917 tons, which shipbuilder Lurssen says makes it the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. It has two helipads and one of the biggest indoor pools ever installed on a yacht, according to the U.S. Treasury Department , which puts its estimated worth between $600 and $735 million.

Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs

The superyacht is named after the mother of its original owner: Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires and a known close associate of the Russian president. Usmanov was sanctioned by the U.S., United Kingdom., European Union and Switzerland in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany's federal police tweeted Wednesday that it found, "through extensive investigations despite offshore concealment," that the yacht currently belongs to Usmanov's sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova. Authorities impounded the yacht, which remains at the port of Hamburg , after confirming with Brussels that its owner is under sanctions.

A Russian billionaire's superyacht has been impounded in Hamburg, Germany. Harsh sanctions in response to the invasion of #Ukraine brought the estimated $600-750 million yacht Dilbar out of 'offshore concealment', and into the hands of authorities. pic.twitter.com/GYkH6SmQk2 — German Embassy (@GermanyinUSA) April 14, 2022

Ismailova was sanctioned by the U.K. on Wednesday and the EU last week. Both entities said Usmanov had indirectly transferred assets to his sister, including leaving her as Dilbar's only beneficial owner.

"The owner of the yacht 'Dilbar' is Navis Marine Ltd. (Cayman Islands), whose shareholder is Almenor Holdings Ltd. (Cyprus). All shares in that holding company are held by PomerolCapital SA (Switzerland) in trust for the benefit of 'The Sisters Trust,' " EU officials explained, adding that Usmanov has not been a shareholder of that trust company since 2017.

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A russian oligarch's $90 million yacht is seized as part of u.s. sanctions.

Ukrainian sailors tried to block a Russian oligarch's yacht from docking in Turkey

Ismailova has also been linked to luxury real estate in Italy and Latvia associated with Usmanov, the EU said, and therefore has "actively supported materially or financially Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine."

Dilbar made headlines in early March , when Hamburg officials denied conflicting reports that they had seized the superyacht and said any such move would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

According to Boat International, Dilbar is also the fourth-longest yacht in the world. It can accommodate up to 96 crew members as well as 24 guests in a large living space, which includes fold-out balconies, an onboard garden (with "a specifically developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air") and more than 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions.

This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog .

• Russia sanctions

Dilbar, The World’s Largest Superyacht

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Roger Scoble blogs about the latest gadgets, travel and luxury…

Superyachts and cruise ships that are akin to floating cities are fairly ubiquitous now. But there is something particularly alluring about Dilbar, the largest yacht in the world in terms of internal volume, weighing in at 15,917 tons. Additionally, it is the fourth longest yacht in the world at 511.8 feet, making it something of a seafaring behemoth. But more than that, it’s Dilbar’s mystique that makes it especially interesting. We know that it has two hellipads and 41,000 square feet of living space, but beyond that, details on the yacht are few and far between.

Dilbar was custom-built for Alisher Usmanov, a 62-year-old Russian billionaire who is one of Arsenal FC’s largest shareholders. Usmanov has an estimated networth of $13.4 billion USD, making him one of Russia’s richest citizens. The billionaire’s new yacht successfully completed sea trials earlier in the year and has in recent weeks been spotted around Gibraltar and France. Unfortunately, as is the case with many vessels custom built for the super-rich, the details of Dilbar’s interior and amenities remain a secret. So far all that is known is that London’s Winch Design is responsible for the vessel’s interior, and its exterior is the work of Monaco-based Espen Oeino. Another detail that is unknown is the precise building cost, though the generally accepted estimate is a whopping $478.9 million USD.

Roger Scoble blogs about the latest gadgets, travel and luxury news. A graduate of UCLA, Roger loves to travel, drive luxe autos and have amazing adventures.

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Germany Impounds the World’s Largest Yacht After Establishing Links to a Russian Billionaire

"dilbar" has been linked to sanctioned russian billionaire alisher usmanov. meanwhile, 20 yachts in the netherlands are now prohibited from leaving the country., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories, why this luxe cruise ship’s 3-year world tour got stuck in belfast before it started, tiara’s newest 56-foot, 2400 hp boat is a speed demon in a full-feature package.

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German authorities impounded the superyacht Dilbar on Wednesday in Hamburg, according to a tweet from the federal police. The vessel has been linked to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, and is the world’s largest by volume. It was built by Germany’s Lürssen Yachts.

The national police said in the tweet that, “through extensive investigations despite offshore concealment,” it found Dilbar is owned by Gulbakhor Ismailova, Usmanov’s sister. The US Treasury Department said that it was named after Usmanov’s mother, according to the Washington Post . The department estimates its value to be between $600 million and $700 million, with annual maintenance costs of about $60 million.

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The Treasury Department said that Usmanov has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as to Dmitry Mevedev, former president and prime minister. Usmanov has “vast holdings across multiple sectors,” according to the statement, including a 49 percent stake in USM, a holding company that controls Russia’s largest iron-ore producer.

The 350-ft Amadea, owned by Russian bilionaire Suleiman Kerimov, also on the sanctions list, has entered Fijian waters.  Robb Report File

The Netherlands has also reported that Dutch authorities have impounded 20 yachts at shipyards in that country. The country has added four new yachts to its list this week. It did not specify the names of the yards or which yachts are impacted, but said that 14 are now under construction, two are in storage and four are being refitted. They said the vessels’ lengths range from 30 to 400 feet.

“For two of these yachts, it has been established that they are linked to a person on the EU sanctions list,” the statement said, adding that none could be delivered, sold or exported.

Meanwhile the 350-foot yacht Amadea , owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, has landed in Fiji after a long Pacific crossing. Kerimov is on the sanctions list from the US, UK and EU following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Fiji’s Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said his department would need clarification when asked about the arrival of the yacht on Tuesday, adding, “We don’t do Russians.” The US Embassy in Suva and the EU’s delegation in the Pacific said they have already been in touch with the Fijian government over the yacht’s presence.

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Video shows moments before superyacht went down in storm off Sicily

Newly released video captures a luxury superyacht being battered by a violent storm before it suddenly sank off Sicily with 22 people aboard Monday.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored, about a half-mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast .

The yacht's 250-foot mast, illuminated with lights and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it finally disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The speed with which a yacht built to handle the roughest seas capsized stunned maritime experts.  

“I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size,” said Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five of the 22 other people who were aboard the 184-foot vessel remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped in the Bayesian’s hull, nearly 170 feet underwater.

Officials confirmed Monday that at least one person, the ship’s cook, had died.  

Superyachts like the Bayesian, which had been available for charters at a rate of $215,000 a week, are designed to stay afloat even as they are taking on water to give the people aboard a chance to escape, Richter said. 

“Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday,” Richter said. “They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, they’re typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed.”

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

On Tuesday, Italian rescue workers resumed the search for Lynch and the five other passengers still missing: Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

“The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” Salvatore Cocina, the head of civil protection in Sicily, told Reuters .

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was one of the 15 people rescued Monday after it capsized.

“It’s extremely rare for a boat of this size to sink,” Richter said.

What’s not rare is the kind of storm that sank it , said Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in oceanography at Britain’s University of Southampton.

“People assume the Mediterranean is this rather calm and passive place that never gets storms and always blue skies,” Boxall said. “In fact, you get some quite horrendous storms that are not uncommon at this time of year.”

The president of Italy’s meteorological society has said Monday’s violent storm may have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, which occurs more frequently but doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorology Society, also said recent temperatures may have been a factor. 

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius [86 Fahrenheit], which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli told Reuters. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who two months ago was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of fraud charges stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates,” and Autonomy’s vice president for finance, Stephen Chamberlain, had padded the firm’s finances ahead of the sale. Lynch’s lawyers argued that HP was so eager to acquire Autonomy that it failed to adequately check the books .

Lynch had taken Morvill, who was one of his defense attorneys, on the luxury trip. 

Chamberlain was not on the Bayesian.

In what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a car struck and killed Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family,” Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement .

Henry Austin reported from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

More From Forbes

The world’s best luxury cruise lines, according to globe travel awards.

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Seabourn Sojourn

From poolside mini-massages to Picasso artworks, personal butlers, private access to historic sites and grand 4,443 square-foot suites, here are five of the world’s best luxury cruise lines shortlisted in the 2024 Globe Travel Awards .

1. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur

Often dubbed the world’s most luxurious fleet, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers stylish, ultra-luxury cruising, with complimentary shore excursions in over 550 destinations from Arabia to the South Pacific , carrying fewer than 750 guests on its six sumptuous ships, adorned with Picasso artworks, 40-foot tapestries, and bronze Bonsai Cherry Trees .

Onboard its newest ship , Regent Seven Seas Grandeur , you’ll find a $6 million art collection (including the first Fabergé egg at sea), 503 crystal chandeliers, unlimited high-speed WiFi, gourmet dining from modern French to Pan-Asian (serving more than 130 new dishes), specialist lectures from war history to winemaking and ancestry; a state-of-the-art cooking school, the Culinary Arts Kitchen; and a high-tech spa boasting a zero-gravity wellness massage on quartz crystal bed.

Its palatial $11,000-a-night Regent Suite is set across 4,443 square feet, overlooking the bow of the ship, with two lavish bedrooms (one with a four-poster bed), a marble-wrapped bathroom, a full-size dining room and living room with a personalized bar, three walk-in wardrobes, and a sweeping wraparound balcony with a heated whirlpool.

You’ll also receive daily canapés, access to The Study, a private dining room for up to 12 guests; a personal butler, and a personal car and guide to explore ashore.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, 2. seabourn cruise line.

Seabourn Encore

Seabourn is a leader in small-ship ultra-luxury cruising, boasting an elegant fleet of six ships designed for suave travelers who demand the very best–bearing a private yacht-like atmosphere onboard with all ocean-front suites.

Service is at the heart of Seabourn with complimentary fine wines and premium spirits, mini-massages at the poolside, wine tastings, and fine dining from lobster to quail. While its shore excursions often include private access to historic sites when they’re closed to the general public, as well as sailings into secluded coves and champagne and caviar beach picnics.

The newest of Seabourn’s two purpose-built expedition ships– Seabourn Pursuit , was designed to reach some of the most coveted, remote destinations in the world, carrying just 264 guests with two custom-built submarines, 24 zodiacs, kayaks, and a 24-person expedition team.

Onboard, you can whiz up and down its ten passenger decks boasting an Expedition Lounge , eight dining venues, an infinity pool, and a Discovery Center hosting enthralling lectures–or retire to your Owner’s Suite, set across 1,023 square feet, with a private veranda, sweeping walk-in wardrobe, and a lavish bathroom with a deep soaking tub and plush robes.

At sunset, sip a glass of Montaudon or order gourmet in-room dining, served course by course.

3. Silversea Cruises

A pioneer in ultra-luxury cruising since 1994, Silversea Cruises offers exceptional service standards across its 12 a ll-suite ships, with 24-hour butler service, a Venetian Society loyalty program (earning complimentary 14-day sailings), and some of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea.

Launched in 2024, its newest ship– Silver Ray –sails with 728 passengers, swanning across its 11 decks with a two-story Venetian Lounge hosting musical performances, film screenings, and guest lectures; a cozy 32-guest cocktail bar, The Shelter ; a sexy cigar lounge, The Connoisseur’s Corner, with floor-to-ceiling windows and Chesterfield armchairs; a panoramic 270-degree observation lounge, The Panorama Lounge; a culinary test kitchen S.A.L.T. Lab, and the Otium Spa inspired by Ancient Roman baths.

Guests staying in the one-bedroom Otium Suite will have 1,324 square feet of space to spread out across with a commodious living room, dining area, a decadent bathroom with its own whirlpool bath, walk-in wardrobes, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a vast veranda with a private hot tub.

4. Explora Journeys

Private veranda.

A passion project by the Aponte family, Explora Journeys launched its first ship, EXPLORA I , in August 2023, offering 461 ‘ Homes at Sea.’ At the top of the tree, its Owner’s Residence is set across 3,000 square feet, bearing a private steam room and panoramic ocean-front terrace with a swirling whirlpool where your butler will service you a chilled glass of Dom Pérignon .

Onboard restaurants range from Mediterranean to Pan-Asian , plus a fine-dining restaurant , Anthology , curated by Franck Garanger , serving fine Italian regional dishes like Mediterranean seabass with Arabica coffee and scallop cannelloni with black truffle.

You’ll also find four heated swimming pools, a spacious thermal area, 64 private cabanas, two VIP double spa suites, a Technogym fitness area, Luminaries –hosting expert-led talks, and the first Rolex at Sea boutique.

Sustainability is a focus area for Explora Journeys , and from EXPLORA III onwards, it will use LNG fuel, allowing engines to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25%.

5. Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours

Scenic Eclipse

With a focus on exclusive experiences from private concerts to gourmet feasts and after-hours access to historical sites, Scenic offers six-star cruising using ground-breaking technology to access some of the most remote environments in the world, from Vanuatu to Snow Hill Island –while protecting the wildlife’s natural habitat and sensitive underwater ecosystems

While cruising with Scenic , you can make use of state-of-the-art helicopters, next-generation submersibles for eight passengers (diving up to 200 meters below sea level), and 20-member expedition teams made up of naturalists, marine biologists, and glaciologists.

Its ultra-luxury yacht Scenic Eclipse II launched in 2023 with a maximum of just 228 guests–bearing 114 luxury suites, a Senses Spa , and a Sky Deck boasting a Vitality pool, private cabanas, and a Sky Bar .

Stay in its Owner’s Penthouse Suite stretching across 1,990 square feet with a sweeping 110 square foot terrace, adorned with sun loungers and a private Jacuzzi; a therapeutic spa bath, dual steam showers, a personalized mini-bar, and a Spa Day Bed transforming for in-suite spa treatments where you can indulge in hot stone massages and eye lift facials as you sail by Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands .

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Breaking news, bayesian superyacht victims were trapped alive when ship went down, died of ‘dry drowning’: report.

Four of the seven victims killed in the Bayesian superyacht wreck were trapped alive inside the ship’s cabins as the vessel went down off the coast of Sicily last month, according to their autopsies.

New York City lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife, Neda, along with Morgan Stanley Bank International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy, all died of “dry drowning,” according to tests conducted over the past two days, Italian outlet la Repubblica reported .

None of the four passengers aboard the 185-foot sailboat had water in their lungs, trachea or stomach — revealing that they did not drown in the seawater after the ship began sinking during an Aug. 19 storm.

Pathologists with the Palermo Institute of Forensic Medicine determined the four victims died of asphyxiation when the air bubble they huddled in ran out of oxygen and became toxic with carbon dioxide.

They said the victims’ cause of death was “death by confinement,” according to the Italian publication.

The bodies of the Morvillos and the Bloomers — and that of British tech billionaire and the yacht owner Mike Lynch — were found inside the same cabin room on the left side of the $40 million yacht.

The body of Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was discovered in the next room , also on the left side of the hull.

The ship sank to the ocean floor and sat tilted on its right side — which means the victims were likely awake as they headed inside the cabins that filled with water last in hopes of finding air pockets.

But the air pockets quickly became toxic as the victims breathed in the last of its oxygen and breathed out carbon dioxide.

Lynch’s wife and Hannah’s mother, Angela Bacares — who survived the shipwreck — reportedly tried to warn those below the ship’s deck but was injured when she stepped on broken glass and wasn’t able to reach the cabins as they quickly filled with water, the local outlet reported.

Bacares was among 15 passengers and crew members on the yacht to survive.

One crew member, the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was also killed. His body was found floating next to the downed yacht.

Additional tests are needed to confirm that the four victims died by “dry drowning,” la Repubblica reported.

Autopsies on the bodies of Lynch, Hannah and Thomas are scheduled for Friday.

The cause of the ship’s sinking has not yet been determined, though the stormy weather is believed to be a contributing factor.

Three Bayesian crew members, including Captain James Cutfield, are being investigated for suspected negligent manslaughter and causing the shipwreck.

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