Oligarchs and millionaires: The business of luxury yachts | DW Documentary

In the southwest of Turkey, tucked away in a bay near Bodrum,

lies a super yacht. Almost 80 meters long,

the Titan sails under the flag of Bermuda.

But it belongs to a Russian oligarch: Alexander Abramov, the king of steel.

He is one of a dozen Kremlin confidants who have brought their yachts here,

since Russia launched its war on Ukraine.

To avoid international sanctions.

Local journalist Yassar Anter tracks down

some of the world's most luxurious yachts.

To capture his subjects on film,

he no longer needs to leave his corner of the Mediterranean.

If Russian billionaires are coming here,

it’s because Turkey doesn't want to get involved

in the war between Ukraine and Russia.

So in March, April,

the first yachts started coming and anchoring in the area.

In France, Italy, the United States — as well as here, in Spain —

dozens of yachts belonging to Russian oligarchs have already been seized.

In Palma de Mallorca, the Guardia Civil national police force

worked with American authorities and the FBI to seize Tango

? a 78-meter-long yacht belonging to a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

Many of the oligarchs who were able to leave Russia have set course for Turkey.

The yacht you see over there is the Solaris, it belongs to Roman Abramovich.

It has been here since March and hasn’t moved from the bay.

No one knows what will happen next.

The Solaris is 140 meters long and costs over 400 million euros.

Its owner Roman Abramovich is Russia’s most famous billionaire.

His impressive boat is a closely guarded fortress:

The yacht is difficult to approach.

The ship has a hull of armored steel and is equipped with jammers

that use ultrasound to disable the cameras and mobile phones

of journalists within a radius of 300 to 400 meters.

On board the Solaris, there’s even a special security unit,

a team of 20 to 25, who have received military training.

Despite the security measures, a group of Ukrainian activists

managed to protest the arrival of the Solaris in Bodrum.

No war in Ukraine!

A handful of protesters will not change the situation:

In Turkey, the owners of Russian yachts have nothing to fear.

Yet as symbols of wealth and untouchable power,

superyachts are coming under unprecedented public scrutiny.

Monaco: The superyacht capital of the globe.

For the annual international yacht show,

over a hundred of the world’s most spectacular yachts dock here.

Some 530 exhibitors are invited to showcase the industry’s innovations

? including this small support submarine,

which costs over a million euros.

All aspects of the superyacht industry are represented here,

including interior design.

Sabrina Monteleone-Oeino is one of the most important designers in Monaco.

We accompany her to the Mischief,

to take a closer look at one of her latest creations.

We’re on a yacht that we’ve just finished work on,

we gave it a general refitting and a fresh look.

We’re lucky that we’re allowed to view it,

as you know our customers are very private.

There’s a really nice bar and lounge...

Here we went with blue and white colours, like the customer wanted.

We had a lot of fun designing the cabins with the customer.

The cabins are very simple ? this is a very understated boat.

These yachts all have one thing in common:

They consume large amounts of fuel.

A superyacht like this one consumes about 500 liters of diesel per hour

? and there are some 5000 of them worldwide.

Their carbon footprint is disproportionately large.

But alternatives do exist.

We leave the sunshine for Poland, to meet Francis Lapp.

The Frenchman is pioneering a new trend: Electric yachts.

His boats are powered by solar energy.

We have incorporated solar cells into the hull of the ship.

You could hit it with a hammer, it’s unbreakable.

People no longer want to be seen on a yacht

that gobbles up thousands of liters of fuel.

His latest model, the Marie Joseph,

will undergo its final test phase in Dubai. It is expected to be a sensation.

You are welcome back.

Yes.

No noise, no smell of fuel:

Solar technology promises to revolutionize the yachting sector.

So he just needs to keep the boat charged like an iPhone.

You’re gonna be popular.

Yes, everyone will talk about it today.

Yacht sales are booming, and not just in Dubai:

The entire Arabian Peninsula seems to have caught luxury sailing fever.

Saudi Arabia is one of the sector’s most promising countries.

In Jeddah, the country's second largest city,

a marina for hundreds of boats was built in just 6 months.

I believe it’s gonna be the future,

Monaco and the Maldives at the same time.

At this pace, more and more superyachts like the Serenity

will be cruising the Red Sea.

In Hong Kong, French businessman Eric Noyel

has been working in the industry for ten years.

He buys and sells yacht shares.

To put it simply ? this is a yacht that costs around 6 million.

Split three ways, that’s 2 million.

In order to keep his business going,

Eric is constantly on the lookout for interesting opportunities.

This is an incredible yacht, it’s 65 meters long. The biggest in Hong Kong.

I'm trying to get in touch with the owner

because I have an interested buyer.

New markets, cutting-edge technology and innovation:

The superyacht industry is trying to transform its image.

Saudi Arabia is home to one of the most popular destinations for yacht lovers:

King Abdullah Economic City.

Built in a very short time, this place revolves around two things:

Business and sailing.

The imposing Serenity is moored in the marina.

The 72 meter-long vessel belongs to a super-rich Greek-Lebanese businessman.

With room for thirty guests, the boat has four decks,

15 luxury cabins, private salons and even a cinema.

Before the yacht sets sail today,

Gregory inspects it closely one last time.

Irina, did you check the cabins that I had opened for the guests last night?

Originally from Greece, Gregory has been Serenity’s Maître d'Hôtel

since 2017. Now, he ensures everything’s in order.

Irina, the bathroom master, did you secure the top of the shower...

Door? Yes! Yes.

To maneuver the yacht safely out of the harbor,

the captain receives assistance from a local Saudi Arabian pilot.

You can start the engine, slowly.

It’s very tight, actually.

There are places where the draft is only three meters,

means the allowance from the canal is only few centimeters

and we’re passing on the limits...

For this reason we should pass exactly in the middle of the canal.

Mister pilot here is very experienced to do that,

as he’s... his particular job on this area.

Perfect. Thank you very much captain. Thank you and we’ll be in touch.

Thank you very much for everything.

Bon Voyage. Bye!

Mission accomplished, the Serenity is headed for the open sea.

The captain sets course for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second largest city.

The crossing will only take five hours.

But these days, navigating on the Red Sea can be risky.

Don’t forget that two days ago they had the attack with the drones from Yemen,

in Aramco storage here in Jeddah, this means you know, it is kind of dangerous,

because if you must leave and the crew is out

and you pass in this area you can face a dangerous situation.

The captain has no choice but to face the danger.

Before leaving, he filled the yacht’s tanks with 22,000 liters of diesel.

On the Côte d'Azur, this would have cost him some 40,000 euros.

Superyachts are gas guzzlers. But now, there are alternatives.

Perhaps surprisingly, it‘s in Poland, on the shores of the Baltic Sea,

that the future of yachting has already launched.

Gdansk is home to the former Lenin shipyard.

This was the cradle of Lech Walesa's Solidarity trade union,

instrumental in bringing down the communist regime.

30 years later,

a technological revolution is taking place in the city's shipyards.

At the forefront is Francis Lapp.

Born in Alsace, Lapp left his homeland after the fall of the Wall,

and earned a fortune in the construction industry.

19 years ago, he got into the yacht business.

20 years ago, Poland was not exactly known for luxury.

Francis Lapp is a success story. His shipyard can hardly keep up with orders,

with 36 ships currently under construction and 10 nearing completion.

Clean energy and environmentally friendly materials

are his selling points.

People no longer want to be seen on yachts

that consume thousands of liters of fuel, it’s just not eco-friendly.

You even have kids say to their parents, Have you seen how much fuel we use?

Francis Lapp employs some 2,000 people.

His firm relies heavily on research and development

to keep up with cutting-edge technologies.

This is the model we’ll show you in production,

we can’t show all the details.

Are they secret?

Yes, many secrets.

Our strength at Sunreef is that we do everything in-house.

We develop everything on site, from the hull to the carbon mast.

And new technologies, everything is done here. That‘s our strength.

Not many engineering firms

have such a large research and development department.

Francis' son Nicolas oversees technological innovations.

To power the boats' electric motors, he developed these unique solar panels.

Made on site and by hand, the solar panels can be adapted to any surface.

This is what it looks like.

The extra-flexible panels will later be attached to the hull of the ship.

They are ultra-light and can be made into any shape.

The plates are practically invisible and extremely robust.

In his workshop, Francis Lapp shows us his pride and joy:

A yacht designed to be completely eco-friendly.

There it is, an exclusive preview.

This 24-meter catamaran will be powered solely by wind and solar energy.

It should launch in a week.

The solar panels are part of the hull. This is our in-house patent.

The advantage is that they are not simply glued on,

we have incorporated solar cells into the hull of the ship.

In terms of resistance, you could hit it with a hammer, it’s unbreakable.

This allows us to recharge the batteries

that supply the two engines with clean electricity.

We are going to visit the heart of the boat.

I'll go first. We are here in the heart of the boat.

This room has a ceiling height of 70 to 85 cm.

We‘ve housed all the electric elements here,

it‘s the control center of the ship, so to speak.

We‘ve housed a huge battery pack here.

Altogether the batteries weigh three tonnes.

We could have fit even more of them in,

but it's perfectly adequate for our purposes.

The only exception to the rule of environmental sustainability

is this emergency generator, which provides extra power

in case the sun doesn't shine or the system fails.

Soon, the yacht will be cruising the warm waters of the Arab Emirates.

Her name: Marie Joseph.

Why Marie Joseph? My mother is Marie, Marie-Louise, and my father is Joseph.

I wanted to thank them for the life they gave me,

so I named the boat Marie Joseph.

The catamaran’s price is estimated at 7 million euros.

But Lapp has no intention of selling. He wants to keep it - for his own use,

and to advertise his revolutionary technology.

A week later, the boat is ready

to leave the icy Baltic Sea for warmer waters.

The Marie Joseph will begin its journey

to the Emirates on board a yacht carrier.

The crossing is expected to take a month

and will cost Francis Lapp 300,000 euros.

The catamaran is set to be unveiled at the annual Dubai boat show in March.

But as we’ll see, not everything goes as planned.

First, to another continent:

Welcome to Hong Kong, a dense metropolis of 7.5 million people.

Part of China, this trading hub on the South China Sea has several ports.

One is Aberdeen Harbour, on Hong Kong Island.

To get there, you can take a local taxi, or junk.

Eric Noyel, who is French, has lived in Hong Kong since 2013.

He made his fortune in toilet brushes

before getting into the big business of yachts.

The boat is on its way, it was shipped to the yard today

and should be here by the end of January.

I can show it to you in early February, it could be the first week of February.

Ok perfect, got it. Thanks Cédric, see you soon.

Who was that?

That was a customer who would like to buy one of the boats I have

? a new boat. He’s someone I’ve known for 10 years.

He lost his boat in a typhoon recently. It sank. He loves boats.

He’s a French entrepreneur, who owns a big factory nearby.

He wants to see the boat again before sending the check.

He says the money is ready, so it should all work out, but you never know.

Eric offers different services to his clients:

He sells yachts, but he also offers yacht sharing

— something quite trendy at the moment.

Several owners share both the costs and the use of a boat for the season.

This is the one we have for sale at the moment, it’s an incredible boat.

It’s owned by the same person as that yacht over there.

Aberdeen Marina Club is the largest marina in Hong Kong,

and there are plenty of luxury yachts here.

The city’s twenty richest families moor their boats here.

This is my beautiful office. We’ve become partners with a company

that is one of the world leaders in superyachts.

For normal clients, we have normal boats, that we rent out,

for example in Thailand, Hong Kong or Indonesia.

And these are the yachts we offer for sale.

We have new ones, from Turkey, Poland or Great Britain, and used ones.

The fifty-year-old entrepreneur leads a team of 15 employees

from six different countries.

Hello! Hello, Adam!

Hello, you ok?

Eric is meeting with a potential client today.

We have to listen first, to understand what he wants.

He‘s had two boats before:

The family had a 100 footer and he personally used to have an Atlantis 50.

He has always had boats.

At the moment he still owns a 21-meter yacht,

which is already quite a big boat.

And his family always had 30 meter long ones.

The last time we spoke on the phone,

he wanted to get rid of his family's boat and buy a 40-meter model.

Eric is meeting the customer for the first time.

The 40-year-old prospective buyer comes from a family

of Hong Kong restaurateurs. He knows Eric by reputation.

We know Eric is a very good professional in this industry,

so we decided just to have a drink.

And he likes to know what our priorities are

and that’s how we are together today.

How old is the boat?

It was a 2013, predator 68.

Cheers!

Cheers!

The chemistry seems good, but Eric doesn't want to say too much.

It's quite confidential, so I can't talk too much.

But definitely Gilbert belongs to the type of family

that has always had boats

and will always have boats in this part of the world.

So it's important that we stay close and I understand what they need,

what problem they encounter with the boats

and I try to be as helpful as possible.

No deal today. But they will stay in touch.

When Eric isn‘t working, he likes to spend his free time on yachts.

We‘ll meet up with him again later, in Phuket, Thailand.

Now, we’re off to the United Arab Emirates.

To Dubai: A city built from petro-dollars in the desert sand.

A place of skyscrapers, beaches, and excess.

Far from the tourist hotspots, a new revolution is underway:

The move from black gold to green energy.

An hour’s drive from the city center

lies the Muhammad-bin-Raschid solar park,

the world's largest single-site solar park.

At the wheel of his off-road vehicle, we meet Francis Lapp again.

This desert is where it all began,

far from the freezing temperatures of Poland.

It was here that I first had the idea of integrating solar panels into boats

and building environmentally-friendly yachts. More than three years ago,

I bought the first solar panels and we started testing.

Today, we have a market-ready product and offer fully autonomous boats.

The demand has grown.

15 years ago, customers were mainly interested in owning fast boats.

Nowadays, speed hardly matters.

There‘s an increasing demand for sustainable alternatives,

with electric motors.

Now, he just needs to win over new customers.

The Alsatian entrepreneur is on his way to the Dubai International Boat Show,

which takes place every year in March.

A dozen exhibitors have traveled from all over the world

to present their latest products.

Luxury items for a clientele with limitless budgets.

Francis Lapp spared no expense for his trade fair stand:

He had a dozen employees flown in from Poland to greet his customers.

But there is one small problem: The Marie Joseph has still not arrived.

Yes I recognize you. How are you?

I was just asking, which one are you displaying?

The 80 Sailing. Eco, full electric.

The boat will be in Dubai at the end of May. Any time you can.

Ok, very good.

He wanted to know when the boat will be here.

Of course he wants to see it and touch it.

The boat is coming, so I gave him my contact and he will be in touch then.

We will organize a private viewing.

What’s happening with the boat?

Since Covid, there have been many problems.

Everything is delayed and no one knows why.

With this app I can easily find the yacht.

I tap on it and I can see the yacht carrier!

It's off the coast of Oman and traveling at a speed of 13 knots.

It will arrive tomorrow at 2 p.m. local time.

We are here in Dubai and the ship is currently in this area.

It's just setting course for Dubai.

The delay of over a month is bad for business.

Still, there does seem to be quite a lot of interest in solar-powered yachts.

Honestly I didn’t know that it existed in this way already.

I like catamarans because they are more efficient, but I will see I will learn.

I think he seems seriously interested. He wants a second boat.

He comes from the entertainment industry, he can definitely afford it.

Has the electric motor convinced him?

Definitely. It's a novelty on the market,

but I think in 5 years it will be the standard,

everyone else will be offering it too.

With his electric yacht, Francis Lapp is a pioneer in the industry.

However, he had to postpone the big reveal.

The Marie Joseph ? his yacht powered entirely by green electricity ?

will only make its long-awaited public appearance in a few days.

On the Red Sea, on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula,

the Serenity is approaching its port of destination.

After a peaceful crossing, Jeddah gradually appears on the horizon.

On the bridge, the captain is preparing to enter the port.

I see that the entrance is clear. Can we start proceeding?

The Jeddah marina was opened only recently,

after a construction period of just six months.

Home to restaurants, boutiques and sailing clubs,

the marina‘s construction is not quite finished.

But there is already space for 100 of the world’s most luxurious yachts.

The Valerie, for example:

An 85-meter-long yacht belonging to a Russian oligarch,

it has since been confiscated in Spain.

People are jostling on the quay to witness the Valerie’s arrival.

After the boat has docked,

it‘s time for the captain to greet the next passengers.

Probably he's on the upper deck.

Bridge deck.

Bridge deck? Ok let’s go.

Today's client: A rich Saudi family, specializing in event management.

Hi, how are you? Welcome on board.

This is my father, Babac.

Yes, I remember. Daddy, how are you? Welcome on board. Nice to see you again.

During the next Formula 1 Grand Prix,

Mohammed and his father want to use the yacht for a few days

- without even leaving the harbor.

Where will we relocate the boat? We’ll go there?

We’ll go there, just the wall that is right next to the Marina there.

Sorry the yacht club.

Ok, you want me to be there?

Yes, exactly.

You want the bow or the stern there?

Whatever. It doesn’t matter. We are going to have a couple of nice events.

In the next couple of days. Today we have something at night.

Tomorrow there is another lovely evening happening.

The best thing about it is the deck spaces,

you cannot get another 70 meters with the same deck spaces,

the number of cabins and rooms...

Yes, but prioritize properly.

Number one is the crew and the captain.

Now you are talking!

Number one is the crew and the captain..

The parties quickly agree on a rate.

The family will rent the yacht for 500,000 euros per week.

It is an investment.

We don't... obviously some people take it for pleasure, we do business here.

We charter the boat to do hospitality.

F1 hospitality, you can watch the race on the boat, we do catering, five star catering.

We put screens all over the boat so you can watch the race itself.

So we do have a business behind it.

It is not just for pleasure but after we are done we have two days

where we take the boat for our own pleasure.

We have friends family and we have a good time after.

In Saudi Arabia, care is taken to ensure

that private gatherings are shielded from both cameras and the public.

For the people here, however, yachts are a big attraction.

Onlookers try to catch a glimpse between the moorings.

What I’m wishing only in my dreams to see this boat like that.

It’s like a castle. Everybody loves it. And I have to have one...

For ordinary people, this dream is probably out of reach.

But some get a chance to spend a few stolen moments on a yacht.

In Thailand, on the shores of the Andaman Sea.

Phuket‘s long beaches are crowded with tourists.

Eric Noyel, the French entrepreneur from Hong Kong,

is about to board a luxury yacht.

The Dolce Vita, a 33-meter vessel that can cruise at a speed of up to 30 knots.

The crew of 5 is busy with the final preparations.

Everything is ok, yeah no problem.

All under control, waiting for the guests. Should be here shortly.

Less than an hour later,

Eric Noyel arrives with a few friends, accompanied by his wife Yumiko.

Hi!

How are you Yumi?

Very good. Thank you so much for bringing the boat.

Today is Yumiko's birthday.

To celebrate, Eric has taken a week off and organized a small private cruise.

Yann, is this your first time here?

Eric, the co-owner of three yachts,

has chosen the Dolce Vita today for a reason.

This yacht will be sold soon, so we wanted to enjoy it one last time.

It’s Yumiko’s birthday today,

so she is happy that she can enjoy it with her friends.

The experienced businessman shows off the yacht to his guests.

He demonstrates the latest gadgets.

Sit down here.

So, press your two fingers on this and this simultaneously.

That? Like James Bond?

Yes, that's a James Bond moment. Now you press.

Where is the target now?

This is the master bedroom.

This brand, they make a pretty sleek boat, it’s not the old age,

full of wood and heavy and full of mystique.

This is the opposite, it’s white it’s light.

You just get to enjoy the view. Which is really what you want...

After the tour, time for a bit of relaxation on the back deck...

...with a drink or two with the guests.

Now, Eric can finally let the dinghy pull him on his paddleboard.

But even though the boat trips are primarily for pleasure,

business is never far from his thoughts.

Look, we have a neighbor coming! After all, superyachts are my profession.

I know everything that's going on... When a boat comes, I look:

What's it called, whose is it,

where are they from, how many passengers are on board?

But Eric is well aware that superyachts are only for the super-rich.

Maybe if I had a lot of money...

But above a certain size, it is no longer financially possible for me.

I can't afford something that big, I don't have the money for that.

Our yacht is a manageable size, beyond that it becomes too expensive.

Even on this yacht you need a crew of five. That's already a pretty big boat.

For the past two years,

Eric has been one of the biggest sellers of yachts in the Asian region.

His most lucrative deal so far involved a 50-meter long boat.

But the Frenchman does not intend to rest on his laurels.

Yachts are his great passion, as his wife knows.

It is almost within his genes. He is unstoppable. His passion.

So I’m glad that he is in a business that what he’s genetically designed for.

It’s not just what he likes. He’s in the right business.

In French?

I don’t know, how do you say it?

He was made to be in this business.

There you go, mini french lesson.

Have you seen those colors? The orange? Beautiful.

Despite all the beautiful moments,

the Dolce Vita will no longer be his in a few weeks.

But the entrepreneur will soon be sailing on other boats

— one of the upsides of his job.

Back in Dubai, we are welcomed by Francis Lapp, the Alsatian entrepreneur.

He has settled on the island of Palm Jumeirah,

one of the city’s most upscale areas. He lives here with his wife, Mounira.

I only live here part-time.

I have to take care of my 2,000 employees in Poland.

I usually spend one week in Dubai and three weeks in Poland.

At last, Francis can breathe a sigh of relief. His yacht has just arrived.

In less than ten minutes by car, he has reached the marina.

The Marie Joseph, Francis' pride and joy, left Poland over two months ago.

The catamaran is due to arrive at the marina at any moment.

For Francis, it‘s a special moment.

The boat, powered entirely by solar energy,

makes its spectacular entry in the marina.

How does it feel?

Well, I’m happy.

It's completely new technology and we are the first to offer it. It’s great.

It's a big ship.

It really is. It’s bigger than I’d imagined.

His son, who works with him in Poland, has traveled all the way here.

It‘s named after your grandmother and grandfather.

The Marie Joseph is here. So are the real Marie and Joseph.

I would never have dreamed of that.

Grandma can do it by herself!

The whole family is moved.

As a tribute to their homeland, the company logo shows an Alsatian pretzel.

Is everything all right? Did it withstand the journey well?

Everything looks good, doesn't it?

You think?

Yes, definitely.

It looked very different in Gdansk. Here is the dressing room.

Do you like the colors?

Oh yes, very much.

I didn't think I would find it so touching.

It's an emotional moment.

I never took it too seriously. But now it is real.

Before the yacht sails, Francis awaits an important guest.

It’s Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

He will dock and come to visit us.

Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum

is one of the United Arab Emirates‘ highest dignitaries.

Hi my friend.

You are welcome back!

How are you?

Fine, fine. Hello, Madam, How are you?

Good, thank you. Welcome.

Congratulations, congratulations... this beautiful girl!

With everyone on board, the crew of five gets to work.

It's time to set sail.

The futuristic yacht leaves the harbor.

This maiden voyage could be opening a new chapter in the history of sailing.

In the steering cabin, the atmosphere is relaxed.

The two electric motors are working well.

It’s nice when you don’t hear anything, no vibrations, nothing.

You see, what is this?

You’re gonna be popular.

Yes, everybody will talk about it today!

It’s impressive, no, this new technology. What do you think?

Yes, everybody will talk about it.

As I told you this is the first solar cell boat. And 80... not a small one.

It's a dream come true for Francis: The Marie Joseph is a success.

The yacht sails smoothly, without using a drop of fuel.

This is what we appreciate, this is luxury at the end of the day,

the boat is one thing, but the great luxury is the silence,

no vibrations, nothing. We’re not going backwards.

No one will want to buy another diesel-engine boat, clearly.

Luxury sailing may be heading into the future

- and away from its highly-pollutant present.

And electric motors are only one of many alternatives,

when it comes to leaving behind environmentally-harmful fuels.

Indeed, Francis Lapp and other manufacturers

are already working on the next energy alternative: Hydrogen technology.