Luminance Megayacht Looks Gorgeous as It Starts Final Sea Trials

The kind of escapism Project Luminance allows for is anything but "small." Luminance is the latest megayacht completed at luxury shipyard Lurssen, on track to becoming the seventh largest build from the yard and the world's 15th by length once it's delivered to the owner. Delivery is estimated to take place later this year and won't be a public event.

Project Luminance is not just among the world's biggest privately owned vessels, it's also a somewhat controversial build and, given its size, perhaps one of the most expensive as well. Its owner is believed to be Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, a man who rose to the title of the richest man in the country by apparently espousing pro-Putin views.

Politics aside, Project Luminance made headlines in early 2022 when a rep for Akhmetov told the press that the billionaire was considering selling it off, presumably as a means to cut ties with Mother Russia for good. No word on whether the sale ever went through or if it was just damage control, but construction on the vessel continued unhindered.

In February 2023, Project Luminance launched, setting off on the first round of sea trials in April. Last weekend, the megayacht came out of its shed in Vegesack to set out for the second – and final – round of sea trials. This meant that local superyacht watchers got an excellent chance for fresh footage of what has become one of the most secretive builds this size in the industry.

The video below shows the megayacht in all its glory – and beauty. Luminance is 145 meters (475 feet) long and features the standard Lurssen elongated bow, with four decks with separate walkarounds and huge amounts of open space for lounging. The megayacht has two helipads, an oversize pool aft, right above the large beach club, and two jacuzzis, and is clearly built for entertaining, with its many open-air lounge areas.

Luminance is also good-looking, as you'd expect any megayacht reportedly worth more than $300 million (if not more) to be. It features a striking navy blue hull with gold accents on the lower part and contrasting superstructure. For its size, it's sleek and elegant and not a slug, though there's no disguising the fact that it's massive.

This megayacht, which will probably be renamed on delivery, offers 9,861 GT of interior space, exterior design by Espen Oino, and interiors by Zuretti Interior Design. Assuming Akhmetov, or whoever its owner is, never agrees to a media tour of the interiors, videos like this one are the closest thing we're going to get to see it in detail. So let's enjoy it!