Key Facts
- Length
- 141.96 m
- Beam
- 23.30 m
- Draught
- 5.10 m
- Builder
- Lürssen
- Year
- 2020
- Type
- Motor yacht / giga yacht
- Gross tonnage
- 10167.00 GT
- Guests
- 18
- Cabins
- Estimated / not publicly confirmed
- Crew
- 40
- Flag
- Cayman Islands
- Cruising speed
- 16.20 knots
- Maximum speed
- 19.50 knots
- Country
- Germany
- Charter availability
- Privately Owned
- IMO
- 9809980
- Call sign
- ZGKI2
Previous / Project Names
Previous names
Project Lightning
Superyacht Guide Award
Superyacht Guide Yacht Star
★★☆☆☆
2 Stars - Good standard
Scheherazade is recognised as an exceptional giga yacht for her Lürssen construction, scale, Espen Øino exterior design and significance among the world’s largest private yachts.
Giga Yacht
Lürssen Build
Sanctions-Reported
Last reviewed: May 9, 2026
Superyacht Guide Awards are editorial ratings based on available information and review criteria.
Scheherazade is a 141.96-metre custom motor yacht built by Lürssen and delivered in 2020. Known during construction as Project Lightning, she is one of the largest private yachts in the world and has become one of the most widely discussed yachts because of her scale, secrecy and sanctions-related public reporting.
The yacht has exterior design by Espen Øino International and interior design publicly associated with François Zuretti. Her exterior profile is long, formal and imposing, with a high-volume superstructure, broad decks and the visual presence expected of a modern giga yacht.
Scheherazade is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure and has a gross tonnage of approximately 10,167 GT. Her beam of around 23.3 metres gives her exceptional interior volume and allows for extensive guest, owner and service spaces across multiple decks.
Public information about her interior and private arrangements remains limited, but public sources refer to amenities such as helicopter facilities, large guest spaces, a pool arrangement, wellness areas and extensive service capacity. As with many very large private yachts, some claims about onboard features should be treated cautiously unless supported by primary sources.
The yacht is reported to accommodate up to 18 guests, with a large crew complement. BOAT International lists 40 crew, while other public sources report higher capacity; the difference may reflect operational definitions, guest configuration or incomplete public data.
Scheherazade was seized by Italian authorities in 2022 in connection with sanctions investigations. Public reporting has linked the yacht to Russian state or oligarch networks, while some investigations have alleged a connection to Vladimir Putin. These claims remain politically and legally sensitive, so ownership should be described cautiously as publicly reported or alleged rather than absolute fact.
Key features
- Built by Lürssen and delivered in 2020
- Known during construction as Project Lightning
- Approximately 141.96 metres in length
- Exterior design by Espen Øino International
- Interior design publicly associated with François Zuretti
- Steel hull and aluminium superstructure
- Gross tonnage of approximately 10,167 GT
- Beam of approximately 23.3 metres
- Reported accommodation for up to 18 guests
- Large crew and service capacity
- Giga yacht scale and private-use arrangement
- Subject to sanctions-related immobilisation in Italy in 2022
Gallery
Primary image
Scheherazade by Lurssen
Credit: Lurssen
Specifications
| Length | 141.96 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 23.30 m |
| Draught | 5.10 m |
| Gross tonnage | 10167.00 |
| Construction | Steel hull, aluminium superstructure, teak decks |
| Max speed | 19.50 kn |
| Cruise speed | 16.20 kn |
| Range | Approximately 7,000 nautical miles |
| Machinery | Twin MTU diesel engines |
Accommodation
| Guests | 18 |
|---|---|
| Cabins | Estimated / not publicly confirmed |
| Crew | 40 |
Design
| Naval architecture | Lürssen |
|---|---|
| Exterior design | Espen Øino International |
| Interior design | François Zuretti |
Ownership intelligence
Accounts & Financial Intelligence
Indicative ownership costs for Scheherazade, separating routine operating expenditure from capital expenditure and major-refit reserves.
Estimated
Low confidence
Annual operating expenditure
| Category | Annual estimate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Berthing, ports and agency fees | €5,366,614 | Estimated |
| Communications, IT and security | €1,341,654 | Estimated |
| Crew salaries and employment costs | €23,478,938 | Estimated |
| Fuel and lubricants | €8,049,922 | Estimated |
| Insurance | €3,354,134 | Estimated |
| Maintenance and routine repairs | €13,416,536 | Estimated |
| Yacht management and administration | €2,012,480 | Estimated |
| Provisions and hospitality | €4,024,961 | Estimated |
| Flag, registration, class and surveys | €1,341,654 | Estimated |
| Tenders, toys and deck equipment | €2,683,307 | Estimated |
| Travel, training, medical and uniforms | €2,012,480 | Estimated |
Capital expenditure and refit history
| Item | Amount | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reported yacht-specific capital transactions have yet been added. | |||
Sources, assumptions and methodology
Indicative SYG estimate. Value basis: Length-and-age model using length. Central annual OPEX uses the established 14% of estimated yacht value fallback, adjusted for yacht age where available. Low and high cases reflect utilisation, condition, crewing, fuel, berthing and maintenance uncertainty. Capital reserve is shown separately from routine OPEX. Figures must be replaced or upgraded when reported accounts, invoices, court records or other yacht-specific evidence is available.
Calculation version: SYG-FI-1.0 · Last reviewed: 25 July 2026
Financial figures may include reported expenditure, source-derived calculations and indicative estimates. Estimated figures are not audited accounts, quotations or financial advice.
Yacht intelligence
Superyacht Passport
A dynamic record assembled from Superyacht Guide yacht data, sourced ownership records, construction milestones, valuations, sale listings and related reporting.
Identity
- Current name
- Scheherazade
- Launch year
- 2020
- Builder
- Lürssen
- Flag
- Cayman Islands
Former / other names
Project Lightning
Names are displayed as recorded in Superyacht Guide. Their chronological order is not implied unless supported by dated evidence.
Ownership & provenance
Eduard Khudainatov
reported
·
Individual / contested ownership reporting
Alleged connection to Russian government / Vladimir Putin
reported
·
Alleged / sanctions-related reporting
Ownership information is displayed only where a dedicated sourced ownership record exists. A record does not by itself establish beneficial ownership.
Market snapshot
Estimated current value
€700,000,000
Valued at
15 May 2026
Estimated annual
running cost
€98,000,000
Initial current approximate value copied from existing approxvalue during Superyacht Guide valuation field upgrade. This should be reviewed against fresh market evidence when available. VALUE_CLASS: EDITORIAL_ESTIMATE_VALUE. This classification separates direct source-backed values from public estimates and editorial/comparable estimates.
Values and running costs are estimates unless explicitly identified as documented transaction figures.
Yacht Value History
Permanent Superyacht Guide market records showing estimates, asking prices and, where verified in future, documented transaction or financial values.
1
recorded
point
Date
15 May 2026
Valuation date
Record type
Superyacht Guide estimate
Value
€700,000,000
Evidence
Superyacht Guide valuation
Initial current approximate value copied from existing approxvalue during Superyacht Guide valuation field upgrade. This should be reviewed against fresh market evidence when available.
VALUE_CLASS: EDITORIAL_ESTIMATE_…
How to read this history:
Superyacht Guide estimates,
brokerage asking prices and
documented transaction values are
stored as separate record types.
The first baseline record marks the
beginning of permanent Superyacht
Guide value-history tracking; the
absence of an earlier record does
not mean the yacht had no earlier
market value or sale history.
Yacht timeline
Dated milestones and Superyacht Guide records, ordered chronologically.
2020
Launch year
Passport evidence
Editorial seed
Supports:
import
Lürssen official yacht profile — Scheherazade
Supports:
Builder, current name, former names, year, dimensions, speed, design and description
Superyacht Guide distinguishes sourced records, estimates and reported information. Evidence shown here reflects sources attached to this yacht record and may be updated as new verified information becomes available.
Where can Scheherazade go?
11 public marina records are recorded with a maximum yacht length of at least 141.96 m.
Port Vauban
Antibes
·
France
Recorded maximum yacht length:
150.00 m
Length-capable record only.
Current berth availability,
beam and draught suitability
must be confirmed directly.
Yas Marina Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
·
United Arab Emirates
Recorded maximum yacht length:
150.00 m
Length-capable record only.
Current berth availability,
beam and draught suitability
must be confirmed directly.
Island Gardens Deep Harbour
Miami
·
United States
Recorded maximum yacht length:
150.00 m
Length-capable record only.
Current berth availability,
beam and draught suitability
must be confirmed directly.
One Island Park Marina
Miami Beach
·
United States
Recorded maximum yacht length:
150.00 m
Length-capable record only.
Current berth availability,
beam and draught suitability
must be confirmed directly.
Marina Port Tarraco
Tarragona
·
Spain
Recorded maximum yacht length:
160.00 m
Length-capable record only.
Current berth availability,
beam and draught suitability
must be confirmed directly.
Port Tarraco
Tarragona
·
Spain
Recorded maximum yacht length:
160.00 m
Length-capable record only.
Current berth availability,
beam and draught suitability
must be confirmed directly.
Similar yachts to Scheherazade
Dynamically matched using recorded dimensions, broad yacht type, estimated value, launch era and builder, with gross tonnage and speed used only where comparable data exists.
Match score
92/100
Nord
Lürssen
·
141.60 m
· 2021
Estimated value
€500,000,000
Why it is similar
- 0.4 m difference in length
- Same broad type: motor yacht
- Built within 1 year
Match score
86/100
Luminance
Lürssen
·
138.80 m
· 2024
Estimated value
€460,000,000
Why it is similar
- 3.2 m difference in length
- Same broad type: motor yacht
- Built within 4 years
Match score
84/100
Crescent
Lürssen
·
135.50 m
· 2018
Estimated value
€552,000,000
Why it is similar
- 6.5 m difference in length
- Estimated value within 21%
- Built within 2 years
Match score
84/100
Opera
Lürssen
·
146.35 m
· 2023
Estimated value
€450,000,000
Why it is similar
- 4.4 m difference in length
- Same broad type: motor yacht
- Built within 3 years
Match score
83/100
HADAR
Lürssen
·
136.00 m
· 2019
Estimated value
€400,000,000
Why it is similar
- 6.0 m difference in length
- Same broad type: motor yacht
- Built within 1 year
Match score
80/100
Dilbar
Lürssen
·
156.00 m
· 2016
Estimated value
€600,000,000
Why it is similar
- 14.0 m difference in length
- Same broad type: motor yacht
- Estimated value within 14%
Similarity is calculated from recorded Superyacht Guide data. A high match score does not imply identical design, condition, specification or market availability.
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