Photo: Merijin de Waard/Superyacht Times
What happens to superyachts when they grow old? The luckier ones manage to stay on top even after decades, as luxury charter vessels or even moving on to new millionaire owners. But others are not as fortunate and end up abandoned and forgotten, despite the glamour and opulence of their younger days.
1976 sounds like a long time ago, but things were not different when it came to millionaires and their toys. A famous industrialist at the time, Roy Carver, chose Maritima de Axpe boat builder, in Spain, for the construction of his new yacht. Apparently, things were taking too long, so Carver went to another boat builder, and the ship that was supposed to be named LAC III, after his mother’s initials, lost its intended owner.
But the luxury 147-footer would soon be owned by the Sultan of Sabah, in Malaysia. It went on to have several owners, who changed its name every time, ending up in South Africa, where it was supposed to be given a “facelift.” Two decades had passed since then, and Bella T, as it is currently named, lost all of its former glow. The owner who initially launched the refit process was sued for not keeping up with the payments, so the rebuilding process stopped abruptly.
No wonder the former luxury boat seems cursed. After its turbulent history of multiple ownerships, it was sold several times, during its legal troubles, to various companies. Business Insider South Africa reports that Bella T became a property of Europa Shipping five years ago and that the applicant in the lawsuit against it, Rapaport Flagship Limited, has a claim that amounts to almost $1 million (€835,000).
Finally, the Western Cape High Court ordered that Bella T would go to auction. Despite it looking pretty awful, and with all of its engine components and interior fittings in separate containers, the superyacht is still considered to be in “very good condition,” according to official appraisals. It could snatch around $2.5 million, which isn’t a small amount, considering its age and current state.
With an exterior design by the famous Arthur de Fever and enough room to accommodate up to 12 guests, the Bella T could still be reborn from the ashes and shake off its troubled past.
But the luxury 147-footer would soon be owned by the Sultan of Sabah, in Malaysia. It went on to have several owners, who changed its name every time, ending up in South Africa, where it was supposed to be given a “facelift.” Two decades had passed since then, and Bella T, as it is currently named, lost all of its former glow. The owner who initially launched the refit process was sued for not keeping up with the payments, so the rebuilding process stopped abruptly.
No wonder the former luxury boat seems cursed. After its turbulent history of multiple ownerships, it was sold several times, during its legal troubles, to various companies. Business Insider South Africa reports that Bella T became a property of Europa Shipping five years ago and that the applicant in the lawsuit against it, Rapaport Flagship Limited, has a claim that amounts to almost $1 million (€835,000).
Finally, the Western Cape High Court ordered that Bella T would go to auction. Despite it looking pretty awful, and with all of its engine components and interior fittings in separate containers, the superyacht is still considered to be in “very good condition,” according to official appraisals. It could snatch around $2.5 million, which isn’t a small amount, considering its age and current state.
With an exterior design by the famous Arthur de Fever and enough room to accommodate up to 12 guests, the Bella T could still be reborn from the ashes and shake off its troubled past.
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