Roman Abramovich has reportedly poured $160 million into repairing his two prized megayachts, yet 14 months later, the Russian billionaire is yet to take delivery of either vessel. His 533-foot Eclipse and 458-foot Solaris, together valued at an estimated $1.3 billion, were sent to Turkish shipyard facilities for maintenance last year, with the work initially expected to take just six and four months, respectively. Instead, both floating palaces have remained in Turkey far beyond their anticipated schedules, despite the staggering sums reportedly committed to keeping them in pristine condition.
Roman Abramovich’s superyachts, Eclipse and Solaris, were taken to a Turkish shipyard in Kocaeli for maintenance back in August 2025, with the Russian billionaire spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the two vessels.
Turkish media put the refurbishment budget for Eclipse at $100 million and the maintenance bill for Solaris at $60 million. However, approximately 14 months after the yachts began their maintenance journeys, Abramovich has not taken delivery of either vessel. The reported figures represent anticipated budgets rather than verified final bills, leaving the total cost and reasons for the extended timelines uncertain.
Eclipse’s $100 million refurbishment
Eclipse was built by German shipbuilder Blohm+Voss and delivered in 2010, reportedly costing €340 million ($380 million) at the time. However, the luxury vessel is currently valued at around $700 million. Measuring 162.5 meters (533 feet) and weighing approximately 13,564 gross tons, she held the title of the world’s largest private yacht until Azzam surpassed her in 2013.
Designed by Terence Disdale, the yacht accommodates up to 36 guests in 18 suites, supported by a crew of approximately 70. Her standout features include two helipads, a 16-meter (52-foot) swimming pool that converts into a dance floor, and a mini-submarine, while reports of additional security systems remain unconfirmed.
The reported $100 million refurbishment extends beyond routine servicing, encompassing work on the yacht’s machinery and interior decoration. Her last known refit took place at Blohm+Voss in 2015, making the latest maintenance operation a significant undertaking for a vessel that has spent years cruising and remaining in Turkish waters.
With sanctions preventing a return to Germany for maintenance, Turkey offers an alternative location for the work. The estimated six-month schedule, however, has proved considerably shorter than the period the yacht has reportedly spent awaiting completion.
Solaris brings another $60 million bill
At 139.7 meters (458 feet), Solaris is younger than Eclipse, having been delivered by German shipbuilder Lloyd Werft in 2021. Reportedly built for £430 million (about $570 million), she is commonly valued at around $600 million and was billed as the world’s largest explorer yacht when launched.
Her striking exterior was designed by Marc Newson, the industrial designer who also worked on the Apple Watch, and incorporates a distinctive arch across the superstructure. The yacht features more than 2,000 square meters of glass, two beach clubs, a glass-bottomed aft pool, and a helipad, alongside accommodation for 36 guests and approximately 60 crew members.
Unlike Eclipse, Solaris was initially reported to be undergoing scheduled servicing and classification-related maintenance, with Turkish media estimating a $60 million budget and a four-month timeline. Her twin ABB Azipod propulsion units deliver a combined 9 megawatts, or approximately 12,000 horsepower, powered by eight MTU engines.
The yacht was reported to have arrived in the Kocaeli area for maintenance, where the Kocaeli Free Zone provides specialized maritime facilities and operates outside Turkey’s customs territory for qualifying imports. For Abramovich, the extended wait means two extraordinary vessels, cumulatively valued at approximately $1.3 billion, remain in Turkey, where they have been kept to evade confiscation under sanctions, while their eventual return remains uncertain.
