MINE IS BIGGER THAN YOURS - ABRAMOVICH VS SHEIK KHALIFA BIN ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL-NAHYAN YACHT

Roman Abramovich doesn't do second best. Just ask the nine managers he's sacked. And he certainly won't like being knocked off his perch by Manchester City. But unfortunately for the Russian billionaire, that is exactly what has happened after Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan splashed out nearly £390million on the planet's biggest mega-yacht. The Chelsea owner's vessel Eclipse had been the the world leader for the past three years, but it has now been usurped by Azzam which is 54ft (16.5m) longer - an extra 'penalty area' in length. The 590ft (180 metre) super-yacht is set to launch a new round of one-upmanship among the world's super-rich. Ownership of the craft has been shrouded in secrecy, but Yachts France, which creates the annual mega yacht league table, revealed it belongs to the president of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi. He is the half-brother of City owner Sheikh Mansour. Longer than 12 double-decker buses, not only is Azzam the biggest superyacht, it is also expected to be one of the fastest.
The 94,000 horsepower vessel could reach speeds of more than 30 knots, or 35mph. French interior designer Christophe Leoni was briefed to produce a sophisticated and yet timeless interior with a turn-of-the-century, Empire style. It is likely to match the luxury of Abraovich's Eclipse, which features an armour-plated master suite, two swimming pools, two helipads, a hall, a cinema, a mini-submarine and even its own missile defence system. Abramovich has owned Eclipse, which is valued at £740million, since it was launched in 2010. The size of superyachts has grown as billionaires compete to own the largest and its builders boast that Azzam, which means dedication in Arabic, is the 'most complex and challenging yacht that has ever been built'.
It was designed by Nauta Yachts and constructed in Bremen by Lurssen - she was floated out in April. The firm's Peter Lurssen said: 'She truly represents another milestone in yachting history.' The yacht requires a staff of 50, and interior features include a 29ft salon and a stunning, open-plan interior. It took the title of world's biggest private yacht from the 454ft Rising Sun, owned by American businessman Larry Ellison, which in turn took over from the 414ft Octopus, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Azzam's design suggests it has been built for a buyer in the Middle East as it has about 50 suites but no large open spaces on deck, said TheYachtPhoto's Peter Seyfferth.

ECLIPSE

AZZAM

AZZAM VS ECLIPSE

At 590.6ft long, Azzam is longer than 12 double-decker buses parked end-to-end.
At her widest point, known as the beam, Azzam measures 68.2ft, while her hull is 15.8ft deep.
She's heavier than Eclipse, too, with estimated gross tonnage of 14,000GT - roughly equivalent to 1,750 adult African elephants.
Powered by two gas turbines and two diesel engines, she boasts 94,000 horsepower and a top speed in excess of 30 knots.
Azzam's fuel tank can hold one million litres and she will have a similar top speed.
It took the world's top engineers one year to design Azzam and three years to build her - but this is considered very quick in building terms.
Interior features will include a 29ft salon and a stunning, open-plan interior.
French interior designer Christophe Leoni was briefed to produce a sophisticated and yet timeless interior with a turn-of-the-century, Empire style.
Roman Abramovich's Eclipse is 533.1ft long and 72.2ft wide, and has an estimated gross tonnage of 13,500GT.
She has four diesel engines and a maximum speed of 22 knots, which means Azzam will far outstrip her should the billionaire owners decide to have a race.
The yacht can accommodate 36 guests in comfort, and boasts a cinema, conference facilities, children's playroom, beauty salon, dance floor, swimming pool and sauna.
Built by Blohm +Voss Shipyards and designed inside and out by Terence Disdale, Eclipse was custom-made for the Chelsea oligarch in 2010.
Both ships are so huge, they would have trouble fitting into the majority of the world's marinas.  Only a handful, including Monaco and Antibes on the Riviera would be large enough to accommodate them.
However, despite Azzam eclipsing Eclipse today, neither of them comes close to the Titanic in terms of scale.  Built in 1912, the ill-fated Titanic was 882ft long and 92ft wide.
 ---Curled from Dailymail