The largest private superyachts in the world

If a megayacht is officially a boat over 45 meters long, what are you going to call something much bigger? That would be a gigayacht of course.

(1) In April 2005, the Lurssen yard rolled out its latest piece: a 160 meter vessel named Platinum built for Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. With two master staterooms, a 21-metre-wide atrium, cinema, disco and gym, the 16 metre vessel is the biggest privately owned yacht yet put out to sea.

(2) The Saudi Royal family own this rather nice 147 meter tub called the Prince Abdul Aziz. She is berthed beside the King's palace, but has apparently not left Saudi waters since 1995. Her accommodations include a fully-equipped hospital, a mosque and a cinema. She is manned by a permanent crew of 65.

(3) The largest American owned yacht is the Rising Sun which is also arguably the sleakest megayacht in existence. Designed by Jon Bannenberg it is now owned by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison. Its 138 meter length includes all the customary luxuries. Larry's wife Melanie Craft said "I tried to get Larry to call it Princess Melanie, but that got shot down pretty fast." According to the latest reports it is up for sale. Second hand yacht for $200 million anyone?

(4) Now merely the fourth largest privately owned superyacht is the 126 meter Octopus belonging to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It boasts seven decks including two helicopter pads, full diving facilities and "paparazzi lights" to blind those naughty photographers. We still found a picture though.

The market for these big ego-boosting yachts is apparently booming. No doubt something bigger will be rolling down the slipway sometime soon.