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The 95-metre luxury motor yacht Kismet built by Lurssen in 2014 was spotted in Saint-Petersburg these days. According to Marinetraffic.com, the yacht spent one day at the shores of Saint-Petersburg on May 15, and today arrived to Tallin. Kismet is owned by Shadid Khan, Pakistani-American billionaire and business tycoon, the owner of the Fulham FC and Jacksonville Jaguars, belonging on the list of the largest superyachts of sports teams owners. The net worth of Mr. Khan is estimated at $6.6 billion (Forbes). Meanwhile, Kismet boasts a symbolic jaguar on the bow, representing the owner’s team. Stretching over five decks, the yacht was designed by Espen Oeino with corporate entertainment and charter in mind, thus suitable for parties of up to 270 guests. The charter price of the vessel starts from € 1,200,000 per week.Copyright: Oleg Zoloto via Komsomolskaya PravdaAmong innovative features on-board, Kismet boasts video walls, extending up to two decks high, able to show regular television but programmed to display high-definition moving artwork. A large swimming pool and Jacuzzi area, spa zone, movie theatre, an outdoor fireplace and winter garden can be found among the yacht’s luxury amenities.The yacht’s entertainment and design characteristics have been attracting top artists and events. For example, Jay-Z and Beyonce were spotted on-board last year, while Netflix filmed Kismet in party scene from its biggest production so far, "Six Underground".

Annually, the Cannes Film Festival unofficially represents the beginning of superyacht season in France. The event becomes one of the season's destinations for many of the world's wealthiest people. This year’s Festival started on May 14, continuing till May 25, with the most magnificent superyachts showcased in various locations along the French Riviera. Below is the listing of some of the largest superyachts owned by billionaires, that have already occurred in the area, according to Forbes information.#1. EclipseBuilder: Blohm+Voss (2010)LOA: 162,5mOwner: Roman Abramovich ($12.8 billion)Location: AntibesFamously built for Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich and the owner of Chelsea football club as the flagship of his fleet, Eclipse was delivered in 2010 by German shipyard, Blohm+Voss (now part of Lurssen), as the largest yacht in the world, a title that she held until the delivery of the 180-meter Azzam in 2013.Although not on the open charter market, Eclipse is available for rent according to several sources at a rate of €3 million per week with the owner's team dealing with the management of the superyacht's operations themselves, without the involvement of any brokerage firm.Refitted in 2015, Eclipse boasts a 56-meter private owner's deck, a 16-meter swimming pool that can transform into open deck and can carry up to three helicopters at a time.#2. DilbarBuilder: Lurssen (2016)LOA: 156mOwner: Alisher Usmanov ($12.8 billion)Location: AntibesKnown during her highly secretive build as Project Omar, the 156-meter yacht was launched at Lurssen facility in 2015. She became Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov's third yacht and the third yacht to bear the same name Dilbar, after the businessman’s mother.With her gross tonnage of 15,917 tons, she has officially become the world's largest yacht by volume.Diblar boasts exterior design by Espen Oeino and interior styling by Andrew Winch. Dilbar features a combined 3,800 square meters of living space, being able to host up to 40 guests and a crew of 80.#3. Rising SunBuilder: Lurssen (2004)LOA: 138mOwner: David Geffen ($8.3 billion)Location: CannesRising Sun was built by Lurssen in 2004, with the design of Jon Bannenberg. David Geffen, a billionaire with a net worth of $6 billion, co-owned Rising Sun along with Larry Ellison from 2004, before he bought it in 2010. Being one of the largest yachts in the world, it costed $200 million to build Rising Sun, according to some reports.#4. Sailing Yacht ABuilder: Nobiskrug (2017)LOA: 143mAndrey Melnichenko ($12.9 billion)Location: headed to AntibesThe yacht delivered in 2017 features masts stunningly taller than Big Ben. With the height of nearly 100 meters, S/Y A boasts over 12,600 GT of interior volume, just 3,100 less than Dilbar, the most voluminous yacht in the world. By this measurement, she's also 4.6 times larger than the largest sailing yacht in the world, the 108-meter Black Pearl.The yacht powered by twin MTU engines of 4,827 HP each, is projected to reach her top speed at 20 knots without using her sails and feature cruising speed of 16 knots under transatlantic range of 5,320 nautical miles.#5. Bravo EugeniaBuilder: Oceanco (2018)LOA: 109mOwner: Jerry Jones ($6.8 billion)Location: MonacoBravo Eugenia had been technically launched in 2017 and delivered in 2018 to her reported owner, US billionaire and owner of the Dallas Cowboys NFL franchise, Jerry Jones. The latter is estimated at $6,9 billion. Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys acquired by Jones for $150,000,000 in 1989, currently worth $5 billion.Designed by Nuvolari Lenard with naval architecture by Lateral Naval Architects, the yacht claims to be the first to feature a LIFE (Lengthened, Innovative, Fuel Efficient, Eco Friendly) design.The 109-meter's interior was created by Reymond Langton, with an expected over 4,000GT of volume stretching across a 16,3-meter beam. Powered by a hybrid propulsion system, the yacht is capable of reaching a top speed of 17,5 knots.#6. Al RayaBuilder: Lurssen (2008)LOA: 110mOwner: Bahrain Royal FamilyLocation: AntibesFamously built as Dilbar, the 110-meter Lurssen was renamed to Ona by Russian billionaire, Alisher Usmanov, when the new, 156-meter Dilbar was delivered in 2016 and became the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage. First listed for sale at the end of 2016 asking €250 million, Ona was later no longer publicly marketed for sale. Earlier this year, her name was changed to Raya presumably by a new owner although the yacht remains berthed at the same location in Monaco.#7. Quantum Blue Builder: Lurssen (2014)LOA: 104mOwner: Sergei Galitsky ($3.5 billion)Location: Currently cruising Côte d'AzurBuilt in 2014, Quantum Blue was designed by Tim Heywood and Alberto Pinto. She has a length of 104m, a beam of 16.8m and a draft of 4m. The yacht's alluring amenities include a spa with a pool, a lift, helipad, beach club, gym and movie theatre. With a maximum speed of 22 knots, she can cruise at 13 knots.#8. LionheartBuilder: Benetti (2016)LOA: 90mOwner: Philip Green ($3.6 billion)Location: MonacoThis custom mega yacht was built by Benetti in 2016 as the yard's flagship and the largest vessel, keeping the status until the recent launch of three 100m+ gigayachts.Stefano Natucci collaborated with Benetti on the exterior design, while Green & Mingarelli Design was responsible for the interior design. Lionheart has a sporty aggressive look, with a large beach club and side-opening doors for easy launching of the tenders. The yacht provides a wide range of amenities including an outdoor bar and ample space for sunlounging and relaxing. She can accommodate up to 12 guests, the cabins with private balconies on the main deck are a notable addition and will offer great sea views. Also, guests can enjoy open Jacuzzi, spa and barbeque and helipad.Featured with interior volume of 2,990 GT and a beam of 14.4 metres, the yacht boasts maximum speed of 18 knots with cruising speed of 16 knots.#9. Lady LaraBuilder: Lurssen (2015)LOA: 91mOwner: Alexander Machkevitch ($2.4 billion)Location: headed to AntibesBuilt by Lurssen in 2015, the yacht features the exterior and interior design from Reymond Langton. Lady Lara's alluring amenities include VIP suites with fold down balconies, a large beach club, a gym, Jacuzzi, a swimming pool and a helipad.The yacht features feminine elegance when viewed at a distance, thanks to her sweeping curves and elegant proportions that allow her masculine details to emerge. #10. Maltese FalconBuilder: Perini Navi (2006)LOA: 88mOwner: Elena AmbrosiadouLocation: headed to AntibesMaltese Falcon is an iconic yacht that had held the title of the world’s largest sailing yacht until Oceanco launched the Black Pearl in 2017.Commissioned in 2000 by Tom Perkins, the late venture capitalist, the Maltese Falcon took nearly six years to complete. Sold to hedge fund manager Elena Ambrosiadou at an asking price of €70 million in 2009, the 88-meter is now one of the largest yachts available for charter with a rate starting from €360,000 per week.Maltese Falcon’ most innovative attribute became her sails that could rotate based on the direction of the wind. This was a first for the yachting industry. This innovative system allows the yacht to even sail against the wind. Maltese Falcon features a cruising speed of 16 knots. Meanwhile, in a storm in the Gulf of Lion, France she demonstrated a speed of 26 knots under sail alone.Designed by Ken Freivokh, the Maltese Falcon was extensively refurbished in 2015/2016 during a refit. She can accommodate up to 12 guests on-board.

Dutch builder Feadship has revealed a new 65-metre super yacht concept named Silence, right ahead of the opening ceremony of new Amsterdam facility, that will be held by Her Majesty Queen Máxima.The vessel with a beam of 12 metres will be built on a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The design project meanwhile was developed with a female American client in mind, capable to “facilitate partying by day, becoming zen by day.”Silence’ key exterior features comprise a hanging pool aft, supported by a glass structural pillar in the centre. Then, a stage for dancing and sunbathing, accompanied by a spacious beach club would sit below. The yacht will also be fitted with a touch-and-go helicopter landing pad forward, a hydroponic garden and crow’s nest.Thanks to Silence’ tender lift platform system, the passengers will be able to board tenders while they are still on the platform, lowering them down into the water safely without the need of a crane.Indoor attractions comprise a spa, main deck bar and underwater lounge. Furthermore, Silence will come equipped with a significant eco feature that would be deployed to remove plastic from the sea when the yacht is afloat. Special stores beneath the lower deck will be used to store plastic until it can be disposed of at shore.The yacht will have accommodation capacity for up to 12 guests within four double guest staterooms and a full beam-VIP on the lower deck, along with a master suite fitted with a spa pool on a private deck. In addition, crew capacity on-board amounts to a staff of 18.Silence will be powered to a top speed of 16 knots, along with cruising speed of 14 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles while at 12 knots.Images: Feadship.

The Panama Canal was constructed in the beginning of the XX century, connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific Oceans. The first journey through was conducted in 1914. Although it is not an easy one, roughly 14,000 ships yearly transit through the canal today.If you have chosen to transit your own private yacht through the Panama Canal, there are some important things not to be neglected before embarking on the journey. The most significant matters shall become time and expenses, as traveling through a system of locks might come out really time-consuming, expensive and stressful. Still, the transition might become a unique adventure and even the most epic story to be told for the rest of your life. Here are some details to think over, before you decide upon a journey.In terms of time limits, the journey through Panama Canal solely might last up to eight to nine hours. An intricate system of locks should be passed on your way through, guiding your private sailboat from one ocean to another.Prior to that, there is obligatory paperwork to be done, along with the vessel screening (to make sure your boat complies with size regulations etc.). That is why you have to consider in advance the time your boat will be docked at either the Pacific side marina or Caribbean side marina to await your turn before transit. Average waiting time varies, but be prepared that it normally takes several days at least.As to the paperwork, The Panama Canal Authorities demand an advance notification of 96 hours to accommodate the arrival for vessels desiring to transit the Panama Canal. If you are planning on transiting the canal without hiring an agent, you will need to call to the Admeasurer’s office (English is spoken by all canal officials) to arrange a time and location for your boat’s measurement. You have to go through measurement and payment first, before entering the ACP system to get a transit date assigned, as it cannot be reserved in advance.If dealing with documentation yourself, you need to fill in a form stating where you are and when you would like to get measured. Then, an official Ad measurer will come out, to measure your yacht according to canal regulations. Once the process is completed, you will receive a form to be proceeded to a bank for an official deposit. Once you are measured and your money is deposited, you will call the official schedulers office and make an appointment for transit. Again, be prepared that paperwork might take from three to seven days. Money wise, the price to pay for closing the Canal naturally varies depending on the size of your yacht. For small vessels of up to 15 metres LOA, the price makes around $1,875; for larger ones of up to 30 metres LOA it makes around $ 4,275, etc. Furthermore, you should consider extra transit fees including long lines, car tires and making sure you have line handlers on board.Finally, depending on your appointment time and your port of entry you can expect to depart in the afternoon, around 1pm or 2pm. You will be assigned an official advisor from the Panama Authority to join you on-board, provided everything is going as planned. Thus, you need to provide hot meal and drinking water for your advisor. He or she will serve as your sailing mentor, attempting to get you through the canal as quickly and efficiently as possible. Still, you might end up having to stay the night for some unforeseen reason. In that case, expect to pay up to $500 dollars extra to dock. On your journey, You will go through a series of locks (12 in total) composing is a system of levels that lift a ship up 85 feet to the main elevation of the Panama Canal and back down. Each lock is around 300-metre long and can be filled and emptied in 10 minutes. Once you have transited through all of them, you can continue on to either the Pacific or Caribbean side ocean.All in all, if you decide to cross a Chanel on a private vessel, below are some tips for a smoother canal transit (Yachting World):• Start researching information in advance, at least 3 months ahead, for comfortable preparation.•It is better to keep the yacht’s decks clear. Move or stow items to keep the area around bow and stern cleats as clear as possible.• Ensure all fairleads are fair to start. Re-leading takes time you may not have if currents start spinning the raft.• Stern lines took the most load. Consider running them to a cockpit winch with the stern cleat as a guide to provide better control and mechanical advantage.• Prep line handlers well. Hold a crew meeting. Make sure they understand how critical it is to be alert: they should not expect to use a GoPro or post on social media during transit.• Repeat instructions from the adviser. It confirms you have heard and are responding to the action called for. It may serve to clarify the adviser’s intentions when issuing rapid instructions.• Engage your adviser. Talk through manoeuvres in advance, asking for clarification on next steps and understanding actions they will want you to take before they need to happen.

After the sale of the first hull of Bilgin 156 series, Starburst III (ex. Nerissa), in March 2019, Turkish builder Bilgin Yachts has launched the second hull out of the range at Kucukcekmece of Istanbul. The 47-metre Lilium will now undergo sea trials before heading to the South of France for her public debut at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show. Meanwhile, as the shipyard is currently buzzing with activities at its facility in the West Istanbul Marina, the launch was set to become the last one at the old marina.
Lilium features exterior design and naval architecture by Istanbul-based Unique Yacht Design, who has collaborated with Bilgin for Starburst III, and interior design by Bilgin Yachts in-house design team.İsmail Şengün, CEO of Bilgin Yachts comments on the latest model: The Bilgin 156 -II is named after the beautiful white flower Lilium as a sign of
our promise to the yacht owners: A sunny and happy day on a deck.

Lilium slightly differes from her sistership Starburst III. Besides having light colours in the living areas, Lilium's main difference from her sistership is certainly her galley. The layout has been changed in order to make it easy for the crew to move around without coming accross with the guests. There is a pantry located between the galley and the living room.Emrecan Özgün, Founder and CEO of Unique Yacht Design, explains: 
It is always exciting to see the end result of our designs. After the success of
ex. Nerissa, we can’t wait to see how Lilium will affect the ones who see her. She is a proud example of today's globally recognized Turkish craftsmanship.The interior colour palette mostly includes white and golden touches. Brass helps to create the warm atmosphere as a material. The lighting also enhances the relaxing atmosphere in the interior. The staircase reflects the daylight from the above Jacuzzi, while the specially designed Caviar lights are the result of the inspiration from nature. The owner's cabin as well as four guest cabins have special design features such as the headboards and lighting, while the marble in the bathroom of each cabin breaks the monochromatism and adds luxury feeling to the area.Lilium features a top speed of 16 knots, along with comfortable cruising speed of 12 knots under a range of over 5,000 nautical miles.Alongside the 48-metre yacht, Bilgin is currently building two units of the 80-metre Bilgin flagship 263 series. The first hull of Bilgin 263 will be available for delivery in 2019, while the second one is planned to be launched in 2020.