Ukrainian oligarch Akhmetov acquired a $500 million yacht

German shipbuilder Lürssen Werft has unveiled a giant yacht known as Project Luminance, with an exterior design by Monegasque studio Espen Øino.

The ship is 145 meters long and is the 30th pleasure boat launched at the shipyard in Bremen, Germany, bearing the signature of the famous Oslo-born yacht designer, much sought after by owners of the largest custom yachts.

The construction of Luminance, which began in 2018, ended yesterday with the first public entry into the water next to the structures where it was completed. In terms of length, this is the seventh largest yacht produced by Lurssen in the yachting sector.

According to forecasts, Luminance can be transferred to its owner not earlier than the end of the year, when all the fitting-out is completed and sea trials are passed.

The estimated cost of this huge motor yacht is around $500 million and annual operating costs are expected to be around $50 million.

In May last year, the authoritative New York Times newspaper reported that the customer and owner of the Luminance yacht is the Ukrainian billionaire and president of the Shakhtar football club Rinat Ahmetov.