A superyacht owned by a Russian vodka billionaire has arrived in Auckland.
Yuri Scheffler's superyacht Serene arrived in Auckland on Wednesday morning and will be berthed at Wynyard Quarter, reportedly because it's too big to put on downtown Auckland's dedicated big boat marina.
The 133.9m yacht is one of the largest, most luxurious and best-equipped superyachts on the water, according to the Yacht Charter Fleet website.
It is worth about $NZ432m and its facilities include an indoor climbing wall, a dedicated children's playroom, two helicopter landing pads, submarine hangar, cinema and multiple swimming pools.
It's available for charter and its clients reportedly included Microsoft founder Bill Gates last year.
Mr Scheffler owns the Stolichnaya vodka brand. He is now a British citizen, according to a CNBC article, and had a warrant out for his arrest in Russia in 2003 after he refused to let the Russian government renationalise the company previously owned by the Soviet Union government.
The luxury Serene superyacht
- 133.9m yacht built in 2011 by Fincanteri at a cost of $NZ432m
- Owned by Russian Stolichnaya vodka brand controller Yuri Scheffler
- Sleeps up to 24 guests in 15 staterooms, including a master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 7 double cabins and 3 twin cabins
- Capable of carrying up to 52 crew
- Special features include a helicopter hangar and two helipads, internal seawater swimming pool, hot and cold jacuzzi, jet stream swimming pool on the sundeck, submarine hangar and a cinema.
Source: Yacht Charter Fleet website, CNBC website.
source: newshub archive
