Any one of us would probably be screaming it from the rooftops, but then again, we're not very versed in the billionaire way of life. Discretion is the name of the game, as evidenced by the complete secrecy surrounding the delivery of the Luminance megayacht.
Luminance is one of the biggest superyacht deliveries of recent years and one of the most controversial builds, too. The work of German luxury shipyard Lurssen, Luminance is technically a megayacht due to its size, which also qualifies it as the 15th largest in the world by length, now that it's been delivered to the owner.
Project Luminance is 476 feet (145 meters) in total length, offering an interior volume of 9,861 GT spread across four decks and the finest of luxury amenities around. It's been under construction with Lurssen for years but only captured the attention of the global media in 2022 when the owner's management casually let it slip in an interview that he was thinking of selling it before completion.
That owner is Ukraine's richest businessman, billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, a controversial figure not because of his estimated $5.7 billion net worth but due to allegations regarding the manner he may have amassed said fortune. Akhmetov's management revealed the supposed plans for a sale after his Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol fell under Russian control in May 2022, in what skeptics assumed was a damage control move for his public image.
Photo: DrDu / CharterWorld
Whether Akhmetov ever went any further with this plan is unknown, but what is known is that Lurssen completed the build. Luminance underwent sea trials in April 2023 and then again in September 2023 while the finishing touches were put to the sumptuous interiors.
This week, Luminance was delivered, one trade publication confirms. The event was a private one and did not include the owner. Luminance departed the Lurssen Lemwerder facility and is now making its way to Kristiansand, Norway, where the owner will take personal delivery.
Project Luminance is the internal codename of the megayacht, so it's bound to change once the owner takes delivery. The luxury vessel stands out not just for its size but also for its striking navy blue hull with golden accents and contrasting superstructure and the impressive list of amenities that can only be glimpsed from the outside. They include three pools (two oversize jacuzzis and a large pool), two helipads, and countless lounging areas.
Luminance is built on a Lurssen naval platform, with exterior design by Espen Oino and interiors by Zuretti Interior Design, and may have a final price tag of anything between $300 million and $700 million if online reports are anything to go by. Whatever its next name, Luminance was clearly designed for entertaining in the absolute lap of luxury.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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