Blue

• LOA: 160.6 m
• Gross tonnage: 14,785 GT
• Beam: 22.5 m
• Delivered: 30 June 2022 (build name Project Blue)
• Builder: Lurssen (Germany)
• Exterior and interior design: Terence Disdale
• Propulsion: diesel-electric hybrid with electric azimuth pods
• Among the longest yachts in the world

Scale with a conscience

Blue stands out even within Lurssen's fleet of giants. At just over 160 metres and 14,785 GT she ranks among the longest yachts in the world, a category that contains only a handful of vessels. Her length alone would make her notable. The effort put into reducing her environmental footprint is what sets her further apart.

The build ran for several years under the name Project Blue before her handover on 30 June 2022. She arrived as owners and builders were under growing pressure to show that even the largest yachts could be greener. Lurssen used Blue to demonstrate what was possible at the top of the size range. The vessel became a reference point for sustainable ambition in an industry often criticised for excess.

A restrained hand

Both the exterior styling and the interior came from Terence Disdale, the British designer known for a relaxed, resort-like aesthetic rather than hard-edged modernism. On a hull this large that instinct matters, because sheer size can easily tip into intimidation. Disdale broke the volume down into liveable, layered decks with generous outdoor space. The profile is long and low for her length, carrying her mass with a certain calm.

The hull is steel with an aluminium superstructure, running to a beam of around 22.5 metres. That width gives the interior designers enormous floor plates to work with across her many decks. Guest zones were organised into distinct areas, each with its own character, so that a party spread across the ship never feels lost in one uniform space. The approach favours comfort over spectacle.

One of the longest yachts afloat, and a bet that scale and cleaner power can share a hull.

A hybrid heart

Blue's defining feature is her propulsion. She runs a diesel-electric hybrid system built around electric azimuth pods, which can either drive the ship directly or feed power to the wider vessel at higher speeds. The arrangement is designed to cut fuel burn and to run quietly at cruising pace. Her cruising speed is around eighteen knots with a top end near twenty.

The environmental package goes beyond propulsion. Blue carries an advanced exhaust after-treatment system to lower nitrogen oxide output, along with a wastewater plant that treats onboard water to a very high standard before discharge. These are systems more commonly associated with modern commercial ships than with private yachts. Fitting them into a vessel of this size was central to the project's purpose.

A resort at sea

Blue is reported to accommodate a very large number of guests across her many suites, with crew numbers to match. The interior volume allows for the kind of amenities that only the largest yachts can house, arranged so that guests can find quiet corners as easily as social spaces. Disdale's layered decks give the ship a sense of neighbourhood rather than a single grand statement. It is a vessel meant to be lived in for long stretches.

Outdoor living is central to the experience, with expansive deck areas and pools taking advantage of her width. The scale means the ship can host large gatherings and still feel private for the owner's party. Life aboard is closer to that of a small floating resort than a conventional yacht. Everything is sized for extended cruising with many people on board.

An owner in the spotlight

Blue has been widely reported to belong to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family and a vice president of the United Arab Emirates. As with all yachts at this level, that identification is reported rather than officially confirmed by owner or yard. Vessels of this size are almost impossible to keep anonymous, and Blue's movements attract steady attention. The reporting has been consistent across the specialist press.

In market terms Blue sits in rarefied company. Only a few yachts exceed her length, and each represents an investment that very few families on earth could contemplate. Her environmental engineering also gives her a distinct position, as a statement that scale and responsibility can be pursued together. For the yard, she is a demonstration of capability at the outer edge of what is buildable.

Design

• Exterior: Terence Disdale Design
• Naval architecture: Lurssen

Who it is for: A head of family or state who wants one of the world's largest yachts while making a visible commitment to cleaner marine engineering.