Alfa Nero, a seized $120 million superyacht, may have gone dark last year, but the vessel certainly put its owner, Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev on the map. A lot has happened since then. The motoryacht was hunted and raided by the FBI, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda geared up to auction the elegant Alfa Nero that was moored at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina since February 2022, and a new owner surfaced as well. The Guryevs may have denied ownership of the 269-foot steel and aluminum boat, but their name is now linked to another stellar pleasure craft – the $270 million Luminosity. Interestingly, the lavish 351-foot Benetti boat is also sitting abandoned in Montenegro.
As luck would have it, the magnate was placed on the sanctions list a few days after receiving Luminosity. The fertilizer tycoon has never set foot aboard the glass palace that is Luminosity. Burgess, the yacht management company handling Alfa Nero and Luminosity, had to sever ties with the Guryevs and could not pay the crew salaries. The crew of Luminosity, per Esysman Superyacht, has given up all hopes of being paid a year later. Unlike Alfa Nero, Luminosity is a grander, nearly brand-new yacht belonging to the billionaire.
It was apparently commissioned by Kutayba Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim, a Kuwaiti billionaire businessperson who refused the ship’s delivery. It was put on sale and bought by Andrey Guryev, who was eventually sanctioned, leaving Luminosity in Montenegro.
Lush and luxuriant Luminosity superyacht-
Benetti’s Luminosity is one of the first yachts to feature a hybrid propulsion system. Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture was responsible for the hybrid propulsion and expertise in glass, both standout features of the vessel. They created an instantly recognizable exterior with a straight piercing bow complementing the yacht’s angular styling.
The craft flaunts 800 square meters (8,611 square feet) of windows, which allow the blending of the enormous sea and the serene interior. “These are some of the biggest glazed surfaces ever built on a yacht,” said Michele Bechelli, project manager at Benetti.
“They were vital in establishing the right atmosphere: “The concept of these spaces was to feel at one with the sea, open to the ocean,” said interior designer Zaniz Jakubowski of studio Zaniz.
With enormous deck heights and a beam of 17.0m, Luminosity is a capacious yacht. As far as amenities are concerned, the luxury vessel doesn’t disappoint. From food storage that stores enough for eight months, a top-notch galley, a hospital room, and a doctor’s cabin. The owner’s deck is a 500 square meters haven of solace for the affluent tycoon to unwind and rejuvenate for several days at a stretch.
The foredeck features a touch-and-go helipad and a fully certified helideck up-top, along with an arsenal of tenders stored up by the helipad. Luminosity is technically sound, with two 3.5-meter satellite dishes to ensure a signal anywhere in the world. One would never be able to guess that the yacht has 500 kilometers of cable concealed in it.
The sea blue main saloon is an inviting space done up in natural fabrics such as cashmere, linen, cotton velvet, and leather. Boat International shared the mullions are engraved with words from Moby-Dick “to provide the ocean connection when you’re standing inside.” The area includes a huge dining table to seat 28, with a semi-precious marble carpet inlaid with abstract sea creatures.
The lower deck houses the 250-square-meter beach club with a sauna, Turkish bath, and a well-equipped gym.
The stunning pool area is enhanced with a custom chandelier inspired by a diamond. If that’s unheard of, what would you say of the fireplace on board?
The ship is a lesson in abundance, with a bar flaunting a faux skylight and a transformer-like feature wherein holders pop up with a press of a button, dazzlingly revealing bottles. The main deck also includes four guest cabins, which include modern fireplaces. An impressive corridor of 10 different types of marble leads to the owner’s deck.
The private terrace spans 2.5 meters wide, making it roomier than the main aft deck. “Two people walking next to each other is no problem,” says Bechelli. “And if you want to jog around the owner’s deck, you have a loop of more than 200 meters.” Near the owner’s apartment are a well-appointed dressing room, massage room, and bathroom.
Considering the owner would be conducting business onboard, Luminosity is outfitted with an office-cum-conference room. This incredible glass palace has an advanced system comprising six 1,000kW generators that power two Azipods. It also boasts the largest battery pack of any yacht afloat – offering up to 12 hours of quiet, vibration-free navigation without starting the generators. Superyacht Luminosity ranges over 8,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10kn.
