PHUKET: Phuket sailing circles are abuzz with talk of the iconic vessel at anchor in Patong Bay today. Who owns it, and what is it doing anchored off Phuket?
Sources have told us that the 120-metre Motoryacht A cost 200 million pounds when it was constructed in 2008, that it sleeps 56 and has a helicopter landing pad.
It's all a secret, kind of a stealth vessel.
''I can tell you it is owned by a billionaire from Europe, and that his party will be arriving on Phuket in two weeks to undertake a voyage,'' Phuketwan's source said.
There are 23 crew already on board and more will be arriving with the owner.
Motoryacht A sailed up from Langkawi in Malaysia and is next destined for the mid-Indian Ocean Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It will then do a bit of island-hopping around Burma, then return to Phuket.
The Philippe Starck-designed vessel was built for Russian oligarch, Andrey Melnichenko, and named in honor of his wife, Serbian fashion model Aleksandra Nikolic.
However, secrecy is such around the vessel that it's not clear whether Mr Melnichenko, with a fortune once estimated beyond four billion dollars, still owns the vessel.
The raking radical design makes Motoryacht A special. While it ranks high in all categories, it's not the largest or the most expensive private motoryacht in the world.
If you are thinking of taking it for a spin, at cruising speed, Motoryacht A burns about 691 gallons of diesel fuel per hour.
Back in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported: ''Mr Melnichenko's oversized bed, perched at the top of the tower, rotates on a giant turntable (with built-in entertainment systems) to give him better views out of the panoramic windows.
''Along with its two swimming pools - one in the front and one in back - A sports a helipad, a hovercraft and a garage for the owner's car.
''The ship, which has a crew of 35, has more than 100 audio speakers, and more than a dozen plasma TV screens, many of which are disguised as mirrors. Guests in any of the rooms can watch DVDs from a centralized library of more than 2000 titles.
''Security is tight. Doors are unlocked by electronic finger pads and guests can't gain access to the owner's suite or control rooms. The hull is outfitted with spotlights and motion sensors.''
Phuket jet-ski operators may well find that more than one tourist is happy to pay 1500 baht to zip out for a closer inspection.
Sources have told us that the 120-metre Motoryacht A cost 200 million pounds when it was constructed in 2008, that it sleeps 56 and has a helicopter landing pad.
It's all a secret, kind of a stealth vessel.
''I can tell you it is owned by a billionaire from Europe, and that his party will be arriving on Phuket in two weeks to undertake a voyage,'' Phuketwan's source said.
There are 23 crew already on board and more will be arriving with the owner.
Motoryacht A sailed up from Langkawi in Malaysia and is next destined for the mid-Indian Ocean Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It will then do a bit of island-hopping around Burma, then return to Phuket.
The Philippe Starck-designed vessel was built for Russian oligarch, Andrey Melnichenko, and named in honor of his wife, Serbian fashion model Aleksandra Nikolic.
However, secrecy is such around the vessel that it's not clear whether Mr Melnichenko, with a fortune once estimated beyond four billion dollars, still owns the vessel.
The raking radical design makes Motoryacht A special. While it ranks high in all categories, it's not the largest or the most expensive private motoryacht in the world.
If you are thinking of taking it for a spin, at cruising speed, Motoryacht A burns about 691 gallons of diesel fuel per hour.
Back in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported: ''Mr Melnichenko's oversized bed, perched at the top of the tower, rotates on a giant turntable (with built-in entertainment systems) to give him better views out of the panoramic windows.
''Along with its two swimming pools - one in the front and one in back - A sports a helipad, a hovercraft and a garage for the owner's car.
''The ship, which has a crew of 35, has more than 100 audio speakers, and more than a dozen plasma TV screens, many of which are disguised as mirrors. Guests in any of the rooms can watch DVDs from a centralized library of more than 2000 titles.
''Security is tight. Doors are unlocked by electronic finger pads and guests can't gain access to the owner's suite or control rooms. The hull is outfitted with spotlights and motion sensors.''
Phuket jet-ski operators may well find that more than one tourist is happy to pay 1500 baht to zip out for a closer inspection.
Definitly stealthy - its taken you 10 days to spot it.
Posted by Mister Ree on January 11, 2012 12:39
Editor Comment:
Some readers generously help when there's a news story on parts of Phuket we don't visit every day. Others just take and give nothing in return, Mister Ree.