Superyacht 'Dar' Is a Shark-Shaped Icon, Now Asking $225 Million

Dar is not a new build, having been delivered to the owner in 2018. That same year, it received a Judges' Commendation for Best Technical Achievement at the Boat International Design & Innovation Awards, became the first Dutch build to have the official Lloyd's Register Integrated Bridge System (IBS) notation for its advanced pilothouse, and earned warm praise for the way it used innovation to break with yacht building tradition and create a leisure craft of the kind that had not been done before.

Since delivery, Dar has been offered for charter, asking upwards of €1.2 million ($1.3 million at the current exchange rate) per week, not including expenses. It's now up for sale as well, having first been listed in March this year and relisted recently after completing a thorough maintenance and upgrade process. The asking price is the first clue as to the kind of amenities and experience this superyacht can offer: €208 million, or approximately $225.2 million, before taxes.

Dar is the famous Oceanco superyacht made to resemble a hammerhead shark, with its inspiration most notable in the contrasting black hull and white superstructure, and a mast that's shaped like a dorsal fin. The exterior design is by Luiz De Basto, while the interiors were penned by Nuvolari Lenard following a very specific brief: create spaces that blur the lines between the interior and the outside world, with nods to natural elements, and the finest materials.

According to online reports that have never been confirmed (nor will they be), the owner of Dar is Jordanian-born Russian entrepreneur Ziyad Al Manaseer, who made his fortune in the construction industry. That also explains the name of the vessel, as "dar" means "gift" in Russian.

And Dar is the kind of gift that keeps on giving. Whereas most superyachts seem to struggle to fit all amenities possible and the highest number of features within what is essentially a limited space, Dar does away with this kind of self-imposed pressure. The result is a superyacht with flowing spaces encased in glass to an unprecedented level up to that point, offering ample space for each feature, and without feeling crowded or overwhelming.

Nearly the entirety of the superstructure is glass, which is a feat that hadn't been done before Dar's delivery. The superyacht features almost 400 square meters (4,305 square feet) of glass panels where other superyachts would use aluminum, glued to the deck without mechanical fasteners. For that process alone, Oceanco had to go through a lengthy process to get Lloyd's approval.

This over-reliance on glass is due to the designer's wish to balance sea views with privacy and the specific brief that asked for an "open" feel. All glazing is tinted, allowing guests to admire the views without being seen from the outside. Most notable examples are on the owner's deck, where you can find a glass-wrapped jacuzzi and a rotating sofa that's just perfect for admiring the views.

Dar is 90 meters (295 feet) long and has an interior volume of 2,926 GT, which makes it one of the largest vessels on the market right now. Despite the size, the superyacht boasts enhanced performance on water thanks to its custom superstructure, which is long, lean and sporty, and a lower center of gravity. The shark resemblance goes beyond the visual appeal or whatever bragging rights the owner can derive from it – not that should come as much of a surprise. In this industry, nothing is random or done out of a whim.

Speaking of enhanced performance, Dar maxes out at 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph) and cruises leisurely at 14 knots (16.2 mph/26 kph).

While Dar wasn't designed to cram in all possible features, don't make the mistake of assuming that it doesn't pack an entire laundry list of them. Accommodation is for 14 guests in seven cabins, including the owner's suite that sits on its own private deck, and 31 crew, and the list of amenities is long and impressive.

Dar boasts two helipads for private use, one of which is hidden from view when not in use and disguised as the main pool. A six-person all-glass elevator connects the decks, and there's a fully-equipped gymnasium, a wellness area, an oversize beach club, a couple of pools (including the owner's private jacuzzi), and garages packed with everything from a pair of matching tenders to motorized water toys, inflatables, and even filming gear.

Formal and informal dining is possible both inside and outside, and Dar is littered with lounge and relaxation areas throughout. All these spaces are styled and furnished elegantly, with rich fabrics and fine leathers, glass artworks, hand-painted plaster bas-reliefs, marble, and woods like maple veneer, sycamore, and limed ash. The overall styling is elegant but subtle, and luxurious without tipping into tacky territory.

If you happen to have a couple of hundred million (and then some) just lying around in between the cushions of your couch, Dar sounds like the perfect plaything to splurge on.