It’s quite ironic how Russian tycoon Andrey Guryev’s luck seems to work. On one hand, he fought hard to prevent his exceptional superyacht, Alfa Nero, from slipping out of his control but failed. On the other, he is allegedly trying just as hard to sell his Benetti superyacht, Luminosity, for $146 million, exactly half its original price of $292 million, yet still has no takers.
A common thread ties these two superyachts together: both were abandoned by their alleged owner. Andrey Guryev isn’t the only one left frustrated, as the crew aboard the 353-foot glass palace also hasn’t been paid their salaries for over two years. Luminosity was delivered to its billionaire owner in Montenegro just a week before Guryev was added to the sanctions list.
Since then, the luxury vessel has been abandoned in Montenegro. Adding to its desolation is a skeleton crew that continues to maintain the yacht after most of the professional staff left due to unpaid wages. The crew had been promised payment once permissions and a special license were secured. While this license was reportedly obtained nearly a year ago, according to the YouTube channel eSysman Superyachts, the crew remains unpaid.
Selling the five-deck superyacht is also proving difficult, as debts are owed to the port of Montenegro and other creditors. According to reports, there is an interested buyer willing to cover these debts, but no resolution has been reached yet. The Commercial Court has not responded to inquiries. Interestingly, history could repeat itself. The crew of Alfa Nero, who were also unpaid for a prolonged period, finally received their salaries after the yacht was sold. Perhaps Luminosity will follow a similar path, but for now, patience seems to be the only option.
Amid all this gloom, Luminosity stays true to her name. Even after two years of abandonment, this radiant superyacht continues to shine, her brilliance undimmed by time. With 800 square meters of windows offering unparalleled views of the surrounding seascape, she glistens even on the darkest nights, living up to her reputation as a “beaming sun” of the seas.
Her standout features are nothing short of extraordinary. Luminosity boasts a touch-and-go helipad, two 3.5-meter satellite dishes ensuring connectivity anywhere in the world, a luxurious beach club, a sauna, a Turkish bath, a well-equipped gym, and at least 13 guest cabins. Maintaining such opulence, however, comes at a steep cost, which explains why the crew is desperate to receive their long-overdue salaries.
