Le Grand Bleu (yacht)

History

Le Grand Bleu was built at the Bremer Vulkan yard in Bremen, Germany, and was launched in 2000. She was designed by Stefano Pastrovich and constructed by Kusch Yachts.

She was commissioned by John McCaw, Jr., an American businessman, who sold her to Russian businessman Roman Abramovich in 2002. Abramovich had her refitted to his own preferences by HDW in Kiel, Germany. This included an internal refit and the addition of a 5 m swim platform.

In June 2006, Abramovich reportedly lost Le Grand Bleu in a bet to Eugene Shvidler. A mini refit in Port Canaveral, Florida in 2008 included a "green" wastewater treatment system.

In 2016, the boat underwent a refit at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg.

In March of 2022, Forbes reported that the yacht Le Grand Bleu was still owned by Shvidler. At 354 feet and registered in Bermuda, she had a value of $109 million. That March she was sanctioned by the UK and Australia, and on June 6, 2022, was recorded in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Features

Le Grand Bleu is powered by two 9730 bhp Deutz engines.

The boat also carries two additional yachts, a 73 ft sailing yacht, Bellatrix, and a 68 ft motor yacht, Sirius A. She also features two Buzzi sports boats and a landing craft to carry a 4x4 Land Rover. She also has 2 helipads on the superstructure and aft deck.

She supports a crew of 65 and can accommodate 20 visitors.

References

References

1. "Le Grand Bleu Specifications".
2. "Le Grand Bleu Story". Pastrovich Studio.
3. "Kusch Yachts {{!}} Yachtconsulting and Construction - Le Grand Bleu".
4. Van Rooy, Charl. (30 August 2019). "Motor yacht Le Grand Bleu on the Italian Riviera".
5. (2017-08-07). "One of world's largest yachts to leave Portland harbor".
6. Smith, Craig. "£135m luxury superyacht, one of largest in world, wows onlookers after dropping anchor off Fife".
7. Constable, Gemma. (2009-09-14). "'Floating palace' visits Isle".
8. "[https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2022/03/01/biden-and-allies-are-coming-for-russian-billionaires-yachts-forbes-tracked-down-51-heres-where-to-find-them/?sh=73c84e9954ac Biden And Allies Are Coming For Russian Billionaires’ Yachts: Forbes Tracked Down 51. Here’s Where To Find Them]", Giacomo Tognini, March 1, 2022; ''Forbes''
9. "Kusch Yachts {{!}} Yachtconsulting and Construction - Le Grand Bleu".
10. McKenzie, Jamie. (19 August 2020). "Superyacht once owned by Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich pictured in Firth of Forth near Edinburgh".