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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 complex 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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Alisher Usmanov’s Yacht Dilbar: Everything You Want To Know

Dilbar can be translated a few ways but, in general, it means “lover” or “one with a blossoming heart” and other things along those lines. It was also the name of the yacht owner’s mother. The yacht bearing the name has become one of the most famous yachts in the world thanks to its size, its price and its stunning amenities. 

She was built by Lürssen, a German shipyard, and designed by English yacht designer Andrew Winch on the interior while Espen Øino International handled the exterior. The designers have gone on record saying it was one of the most challenging yachts they have ever built thanks to the size and all the custom elements including exclusive luxury materials. It took nearly four years for the yacht to be built. Over 680 miles of cable and wiring was used in the construction to ensure power is provided to all corners of the vessel. The yacht’s owner had it registered in the Cayman Islands.

Dilbar features a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. 

Who Owns the Dilbar Yacht

The yacht Dilbar was launched back in 2015 and is owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, president of the International Fencing Federation. A Russian oligarch, Usmanov became a billionaire after the fall of the Soviet Union in the metal and mining industries. Since then he’s gotten into communications, publishing and much more. He’s currently one of the 100 richest people in the world.

Usmanov previously owned a much smaller yacht called Dilbar as well but he changed the name of the smaller vessel to Al Raya when he upgraded to this particular one.

In March 2022, Dilbar was seized by German authorities. Numerous international assets owned by Russian oligarchs, most notably yachts, have been taken into custody by international authorities as a part of sanctions against Russia for their aggressions in the Ukraine War. It is unclear if the yacht will be returned once the war has ended or if something else is in store.

There is also some talk that Usmanov himself may not technically be the owner of Dilar and that ownership, on paper, may actually be linked to his sister. This is potentially related to some illegal activity and was being investigated by German authorities. 

How Big is the Dilbar Yacht?

One of the reasons Dilbar is so well known is because it’s one of the largest yachts in the world . It currently ranks as the sixth longest at a staggering 511’10” long. The yacht has a gross tonnage of 15,917 and a beam of just over 77 feet. The draft is nearly 20 feet. This makes her the third largest yacht in the world by volume.

Inside Dilbar Yacht 

There is a total of 3,800 square meters of living space inside the yacht for 24 guests. This can actually be increased by the use of a number of fold out balconies. There is additional room for the 80-person crew as well. The crew can also be increased to 96 if there is need as the space is available to accommodate so many.

The average apartment in New York is 866 square feet. Dilbar’s 3,800 square meters works out to about 40,900 square feet. That means this yacht is equal to roughly 47 average New York apartments in terms of living space.

In terms of luxury amenities, the Dilbar has some unusual ones. Aside from the giant swimming pool, there’s even a full garden. The grass is a variety designed to handle living in salt air and all of the plants are native to the regions of Europe that Dilbar travels between so it can avoid sanctions about bringing foreign plants from one country to another. 

Comfort was the order of the day for interior as exemplified by something as simple as cushions. There are over 1,000 custom made cushions on board, each designed to match the interior of the rooms they were designed for. Accents in many parts are bronze and light ivory. It’s said that many materials were rare or luxury items but the fine details of what went into the overall interior design have been mostly kept under wraps.

While many superyachts have a helipad these days, Dilbar features two of them. Oneis located near the bow while the second is closer to aft on the top deck flybridge.

There is a beach deck on board as well as a floating observation bay for guests to enjoy. As expected you can also enjoy amenities like a gym, a sauna and a spa. There are several tenders including a limo tender available to ferry passengers to and from shore.

Helicopter Tender

Many superyachts have tenders for guests and Dilbar is no different as we’ve seen. However, one major difference is that Dilbar also has an AirBus Tender. That’s a large, $20 million custom helicopter tender with room for 7 passengers. The interior is designed with a lounge seating area. There’s a forward lounge that can hold 4 passengers. It faces a gallery and the sofa-seating area where three more passengers can be seated. 

The windows of the helicopter can be electronically dimmed for privacy and there’s also mood lighting inside. In-flight entertainment system can be accessed with touch screens as well.

How Fast is the Dilbar Yacht

Dilbar can get up to a top speed of 22.5 knots and a cruising speed of about 16 knots. It’s powered by an electric-diesel hybrid power source that provides 30,000 KW of power. According to the builders, this was the largest power plant ever installed on a yacht.  She runs on 4 Wärtsilä engines each producing 8,158 HP.

What’s Special About the Dilbar Yacht Pool?

The pool on the Dilbar is the largest pool ever installed on a yacht. It measures 25 meters in length which is just over 82 feet. It holds 180 m³ of water which is 47,551 gallons. A gallon of water weighs just over 8 lbs so if that pool is filled, it increases the total weight of the yacht by 396,575 pounds or nearly 200 tons.

What Was the Price of the Yacht Dilbar?

It’s not 100% clear what Usmanov paid initially for the Dilbar but its value has been assessed at $600 million to $735 million by the US Treasury department. That makes it one of the most expensive yachts ever. With a crew of about 80, the estimated annual running cost of the yacht is as much as $50 million to $80 million.

Based on some reports the yacht has a capacity for 1,000,049 liters of fuel or about 220,000 gallons. Diesel for a yacht can cost around $3 per gallon so the cost of a full refuel would be around $660,000. Apparently refueling a beast like this requires a firetruck be on hand in case something goes wrong. 

How Much Does it Cost to Charter Superyacht Dilbar?

The yacht is currently in the custody of German authorities and no one at all besides the government has access to it. That said, even before the yacht was seized it was not made available for yacht charter and was only used by its owner as far as anyone knows. 

The Bottom Line

Dilbar hit the seas in 2016 and is owned by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, though the German government has since seized it. It is the largest motor yacht in the world by volume and the sixth longest in the world overall. The value of the yacht, according to US authorities, could be as much as $735 million. It’s unknown if the Dilbar yacht owner will be getting custody of the yacht again anytime soon.

Many of the features of the yacht are only partially known but what is known is that the yacht has the biggest swimming pool on the sea. It also has a custom made garden with plants designed to handle the salt air. There is a massive living space on board unlike any other yacht on the sea as well. Guests also have access not just to tender boats but a helicopter tender as well. 

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DILBAR Yacht – Glamorous $800M Superyacht

At 156 meters (512 ft), DILBAR yacht is the fifth-longest yacht in the world.

If measured by tonnage, she actually ranks in first place as the largest yacht in the world by interior volume. DILBAR was built by Luerssen in Germany in 2016.

DILBAR yacht interior

The interior of the DILBAR yacht was designed by Andrew Winch’s studio based in London. Twelve luxury suites can accommodate 24 guests onboard the yacht.

An impressive 96-member crew finds space below deck and tends to every need the guests might have.

The crew can move through the vessel on separate crew passageways to ensure maximum privacy and a luxurious experience.

The superyacht has a gym, sauna, spa, elevator system, beauty salon, and sauna, all for the comfort and entertainment of the guests.

She also has the largest indoor pool ever installed on a yacht, measuring a total length of 25 meters.

The interior of DILBAR features a classical yacht design with beautiful wood elements and opulent furnishings.

Blue and gold accents take the interior design of the impressive superyacht to the next level and have earned her several design awards in the past.

Specifications

The DILBAR yacht has a total length of 156 meters (512 ft), a beam of 25.7 meters (84.4 ft), and a draft of 6 meters (19.8 ft).

She was built in 2016 by the Luerssen shipyard in Lemwerder, Germany and the project took more than four years to complete.

Her tonnage lies at 15,917, but she can still reach top speeds of 23 knots despite her weight. Her average cruising speed lies at 18 knots, and she is powered by twin diesel engines.

DILBAR is a multi-award-winning yacht with an array of unusual features. Her exterior was designed by the Monaco-based studio of Espen Oeino, which has worked on some of the world’s largest yachts.

The exterior of DILBAR is white with bronze and ivory accents to match Usmanov’s other luxury vessels. The yacht has two helipads that can hold Usmanov’s H175 helicopter.

Several sunbathing decks with a great selection of seating areas make this yacht the perfect place to relax and enjoy the stunning sea views.

DILBAR yacht for an estimated sales price of US $800 million, although this number could be even higher.

The yacht generates a further US $50 to 80 million in annual running costs.

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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

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Originally known as "Project Omar", the 156 metre superyacht Dilbar was launched in 2016 after over 4 years of construction.

According to her German builder Lurssen's description, Dilbar is one of the most complex 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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With a total interior volume of 15,917GT, Dilbar is the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage, if not by length. Built by Lürssen and delivered to the Mediterranean in May 2016, she replaced the owner's previous yacht of the same name, which has since been renamed Al Raya. Record-breaking features on board include her 180 cubic metre swimming pool, which is believed to be the largest on any yacht, and her 30,000KW electric diesel power plant, which Lürssen claims is the most powerful fitted to a superyacht.

About DILBAR , brought to you by BOAT Pro

DILBAR is a 156.0 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2016.

Her top speed is 22.5 kn and her power comes from a diesel electric engine. She can accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 staterooms, with 96 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 15917.0 GT and a 23.5 m beam.

She was designed by Espen Oeino International , who has designed 66 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Lurssen , who has architected 69 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by Winch Design , who has 74 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

DILBAR is the 6th longest yacht in the world. She is one of 70 motor yachts longer than 100m, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her top speed is 2.64 kn above the average, and her volume 8704.31 GT above the average.

DILBAR is currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the 2nd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1375 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Germany. For more information regarding DILBAR's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: DILBAR
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Displacement
• Builder: Lurssen
• Naval Architect: Lurssen
• Exterior Designer: Espen Oeino International
• Interior Designer: Winch Design
• Refits: 2020,2021

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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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Lurssen Reveals Superyacht DILBAR to be 'One of the Most Complex' Builds Yet

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By Rebecca Bradbury   22 June 2016

Lurssen has today reported its latest delivery, the 156m/512ft superyacht DILBAR , was 'one of the most complex and challenging yachts that has ever been built, both in terms of dimension and technology.'

The German shipyard has also confirmed that DILBAR , delivered to her Owner just four weeks ago, is the world’s largest yacht in terms of volume, with a huge gross tonnage of 15,917 tons.

There has been much speculation on whether DILBAR would, in fact, take this title after the shipyard’s CEO Peter Lurssen made the claim before her launch in May.

Now it is clear she has surpassed the former record holder, the 155m/508ft superyacht ‘Al Said’ , which was delivered by Lurssen  in 2008 and has a gross tonnage of 15,850 tons.

Currently on her maiden voyage in the Mediterranean , luxury yacht DILBAR also provides spaces in the interior which have never been seen on a yacht before, according to the shipyard.

Further information on her interior, however, remains shrouded in much secrecy and many are left guessing at what the celebrated British designer, Andrew Winch, has created.

Dilbar has been a big part of my life. She is truly special, culturally unique and incredibly detailed in so many ways. Andrew Winch

Commenting on the yacht, Winch said, “Dilbar has been a big part of my life. She is truly special, culturally unique and incredibly detailed in so many ways. We are sure that her owners will enjoy every space on board.”

Despite her mysterious interior, two other record-breaking features have been unveiled, both of which point to just how much the motor yacht has pushed the boundaries of superyacht design.

She is said to be home to the largest swimming pool to ever be built on a yacht as well as the largest electric diesel-electric power plant ever installed on a yacht, which allows her to cruise at a speed of 22 knots.

What can be observed from recently released photographs is her timeless profile designed by renowned naval architects Espen Oino, her ivory-coloured hull and her bronze finishes.

If you would like to find out more on Lurssen superyachts, get in touch with your preferred charter broker .

Alternatively, compare all 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 .

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