Seized or free, there is a poetic beauty in watching a stunning superyacht sail. The 460-foot mammoth Scheherazade is finally stretching her legs after being immobilized for over two years. This $700 million Lürssen goliath was docked at the Italian Sea Group shipyard in Marina di Carrara, Italy, when officials impounded the magnificent megayacht in May 2022. The pleasure craft, allegedly tied to one of the most powerful politicians in the world, was undergoing a refit at an Italian port. However, Russian tycoon Eduard Khudainatov eventually came forward as the owner of this gem, which was subject to EU sanctions, leaving the 460-footer stranded in the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara.
After more than 24 months of stillness, the yacht, now extended to 465 feet with an elongated stern, made its first move out of the shipyard. Her AIS (Automatic Identification System) now broadcasts a Malaysian flag, replacing the Cayman Islands registration that was terminated after the vessel was seized. According to the popular YouTube channel Esysman SuperYachts, her brief sea journey was carefully monitored by an Italian military vessel to ensure strict supervision and prevent her from escaping into international waters.
Designed by Espen Øino with interiors by François Zuretti, Scheherazade is a masterpiece of maritime luxury, showcasing jaw-dropping features like two helicopter pads, a vast pool that transforms into a dancefloor when not in use, a cinema, and an exquisite beach club aft and a 16-feet fishtank and almost equally massive TV. High-tech security systems, including a drone-disabling mechanism, ensure unparalleled privacy. The six-deck marvel also includes a Turkish bath, sauna, cryotherapy chamber, and hydromassage room, with surfaces glistening in either marble or gold. In fact, every little screw found aboard the lavish Scheherazade is gold-plated.
Other standout amenities include a hospital, a judo room, a royal suite for the owner, and an impressive library featuring iconic books such as The Atlas of Beauty by Mihaela Noroc, Fashion History from the Kyoto Costume Institute, and Photo Icons by Hans-Michael Koetzle. The ship accommodates 18 guests in 9 luxurious rooms serviced by a dedicated crew of 40.
Khudainatov, the former CEO of Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft, is no stranger to opulence. In addition to Scheherazade, his fleet includes the 348-foot Amadea, seized by the U.S. Department of Justice, and the 445-foot Crescent. With a net worth of $1 billion, Khudainatov surprisingly has a fleet of superyachts worth $1.2 billion. His assets extend beyond the sea to the skies, with a Bombardier Global 6000 private jet.
For now, Scheherazade is stationed outside Apuan port to carry out various production activities for the Italian Sea Group shipyard over the next two weeks. It will return to Marina di Carrara once the work is complete.
