The bigger the secret, the harder it is to keep it under covers. Obviously, that doesn't apply to the superyacht industry, where the reverse seems to hold true. Luminance is proof of that.
Luminance is currently the 15th private vessel by size in the world. It's the 15th biggest superyacht, in simpler words, a distinction it earned upon delivery to the owner, thanks to its gargantuan length on water of 455 feet (139 meters) and almost 9,900 GT of interior volume. Except for a couple of occasions, Luminance has also been the most secretive project to come out of luxury shipyard Lurssen.
That's impressive if you consider the Lurssen way of business. Lurssen is a leading player on the market of custom superyachts over certain sizes, with clients that include the richest men (and women) in the world. Secrecy is the hottest commodity Lurssen trades in, right after unparalleled luxury leisure craft.
Yet Luminance, aka Project Luminance as it was referred to internally, was such a secret that the first time the world learned of its existence was in 2021 when the hull was already being put together, and construction had been underway for many months. It made a surprise return in the news just one year later when the owner identified himself through a statement saying he wanted to sell it.
Photo: DrDu / CharterWorld
He never did. In early 2024, after successfully completing sea trials, Luminance was delivered to Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, that owner who briefly experienced what could only be described as buyer's remorse.
It wasn't just that, though. According to reports online, the final cost of the megayacht was anything between $300 million and $700 million, and Akhmetov was in desperate need of some image damage control after the fall of his Azovstal steel plant into Russian hands in May 2022.
This followed reports about the way Akhmetov had made his fortunes and whether his supposed ties with the Kremlin might have had anything to do with it. That aside, there was the simple consideration of the bad optics of his taking delivery of a brand-new megayacht when his country was under attack.
Photo: Lurssen
Whatever that strange announcement was, Akhmetov never followed through with it. He took delivery of Luminance, which still goes by this name and has been spotted off the coast of Trieste, in Italy, according to one trade publication.
Its controversial ownership aside, Luminance is an outstanding build, even based on the few details that have been revealed to the public. It's immediately recognizable for its elongated bow and the deep blue hull with golden accents – on the rare occasion when its size wouldn't be the first give-away.
Built on a Lurssen naval architecture, Luminance features exterior design by longtime designing partner Espen Oino and interiors by Zuretti Interior Design that are yet to be shown to mere mortals. Powered by twin MTU diesel engines of 6,037 hp each, Luminance can reach speeds up to 19.5 knots (22.4 mph/36.2 kph), so it's no slouch.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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