The Eclipse has all the on-board luxuries a millionaire could dream of
Before the war in Ukraine, Russian oligarchs sailed the seven seas on board some of the world’s largest superyachts. Until the imposition of the Western blockade on Russian assets abroad, the Russian-Israeli businessman Roman Abramovich was the owner of the Eclipse, an enormous superyacht which, at 162 meters in length, held the honor of being the second largest megayacht in the world.
However, the enormous vessel that until 2022 was owned by the Russian oligarch is not only equipped with all the amenities and luxuries expected of a yacht of this category. According to the experience in 2018 of a drone pilot, whose aircraft attempted to fly over the Eclipse, Abramovich’s yacht also has military-grade equipment that makes it an impregnable fortress of privacy.
A luxury giant, armored and drone-proof According to Superyacht Fan, a specialist nautical publication, the Eclipse is estimated to be worth around 700 million dollars.
A giant of luxury, armored and drone-proof
According to the publication Superyacht Fan, a nautical specialist magazine, the Eclipse is estimated to be worth around 700 million dollars. The yacht was built in 2010 by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg. The approximate annual cost of keeping it running is estimated at $60 million. It is precisely this high maintenance cost of luxury superyachts that has been the main problem in the confiscations of the yachts of Russian oligarchs.
The superyacht has the capacity to accommodate up to 36 guests in its 18 cabins and several suites, looked after by a crew of 70. On its decks there are two helipads, a 16-meter swimming pool, several jacuzzis, a disco room and abeach club area equipped with all kinds of water sports.
However, if its leisure facilities are already impressive in their exuberance and luxury, wait until you discover what lies beneath that glamorous exterior. The luxury superyacht takes on the character of a fortress when its anti-paparazzi system is activated, using lasers to prevent cameras from capturing the yacht’s guests.
In addition to a system to protect the privacy of its guests when they go out to sea, the Eclipse has armored glass in all the windows on the deck and the hull, as well as an anti-missile system that protects it from an attack with heavy material from a distance. As if that were not enough, the superyacht is also equipped with a small submarine in the purest James Bond style, which would allow its owner to enjoy the seabed or to escape discreetly. Whichever comes first.
Advanced anti-drone technology in 2018
While it is true that its equipment is impressive, the most surprising thing is the chance discovery made in 2018 by Justin Oakes, professional drone pilot and regular collaborator of the popular YouTuber Casey Neistat: its anti-drone system.
As the pilot recounted in a 2018 video (now restricted as private), Abramovich’s superyacht approached an area of the coast where the pilot and the YouTuber were filming a video. They were surprised by the vessel, so they decided to take some shots of the superyacht by flying over it.
When Oakes’ DJI Phantom approached the Eclipse, it was neutralized and the pilot lost control of it. The screen of his controller that was receiving the images from the drone went dark and the aircraft continued to move in a straight line. No matter how hard he tried to restart the controller to regain control, it was useless.
Both Justin Oakes and Neistat witnessed several people, one of them armed with an anti-drone device, trying to capture their aircraft. Fortunately, one of Oakes’ attempts to regain control of his drone was successful and he was able to regain the connection, just enough to activate “Sport” mode and quickly move it away from those who wanted to capture it.
These anti-drone systems are currently used in airports and protected areas, but it was not very common to see them as equipment on a luxury superyacht, although that would explain, at least in part, the 600 million dollars that the Russian oligarch paid for the Eclipse.
