For nearly three years, one of the world’s most expensive private vessels sat motionless in a quiet marina on the southwestern coast of Turkey. At first glance, the Eclipse, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, appeared dormant. But behind its 164-meter hull and bulletproof windows, the yacht consumed more than a ton of diesel every day, its generators running around the clock to maintain a stable internal climate.
Built to house everything from a mini-submarine to an anti-missile defense system, the Eclipse is less a pleasure craft than a floating fortress. Yet since late 2022, the ship hadn’t moved. Sanctions stemming from the Russia–Ukraine war had left Abramovich in limbo, his assets heavily scrutinized. Turkish ports, while not enforcing Western restrictions, became de facto holding zones. The Eclipse remained in Marmaris, silent but burning through fossil fuels at a rate rarely seen in private maritime operations.
Now, after more than 900 days docked in Albatros Marina, the Eclipse has finally weighed anchor and set course for Tuzla, a shipbuilding hub near Istanbul. As reported by Türkiye Today, the vessel quietly departed the Mugla coast in mid-August, bound for a comprehensive overhaul. Its departure marks the end of one of the most resource-intensive standstills in recent yachting history—a vessel so advanced it had to stay powered even when going nowhere.
Extreme Luxury, Extreme Maintenance
Originally delivered in 2010 at a reported cost of $500 million—since upgraded to over $700 million—the Eclipse is equipped with two helipads, an indoor pool that transforms into a dance floor, and suites that rival presidential hotel rooms. It also carries a crew of at least 60, even while stationary, to manage everything from security protocols to air circulation systems.
The diesel consumption wasn’t a vanity quirk. Maritime sources say that maintaining the yacht’s intricate climate-control systems was necessary to protect its interiors from Turkey’s intense summer heat and coastal humidity. Without constant cooling, rare wood panels would warp, touchscreen control systems could fail, and corrosion could damage engines and infrastructure—especially in a vessel this electronically dense.
That logic hasn’t spared the Eclipse from scrutiny. Over the course of its 30-month mooring, the yacht likely consumed well over 1,000 tons of diesel, based on generator burn rates for vessels of its size and configuration. As Luxurylaunches detailed in its report, this level of passive energy use rivals that of small commercial ships actively operating at sea.
From Billionaire Icon to Sanctioned Asset
Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, became a lightning rod for international sanctions in 2022. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, governments in the UK, EU, Canada, and beyond froze his assets, revoked travel rights, and accused him of maintaining ties to the Kremlin. Abramovich has denied direct involvement in state affairs, but his wealth and influence made him a visible target.
That left his assets—including superyachts like the Eclipse and Solaris—in a legal gray zone. While Solaris moved to ports in Montenegro and later the Middle East, Eclipse remained stranded in Turkey, a non-EU country that hasn’t enforced sanctions but has limited maneuverability in global finance and shipping.
“Yachts like this become symbols,” said Dr. Ioannis Chapsos, a maritime security researcher at Coventry University. “They represent both opulence and political entanglement. Their movement—or lack thereof—reflects much more than leisure travel.”
Luxury Refit Underway in Istanbul
Now docked in Tuzla, a hub for megayacht overhauls, the Eclipse is reportedly undergoing a complete refit. These renovations may include upgrades to the vessel’s propulsion systems, onboard infrastructure, and surveillance tech. In the elite world of yacht restoration, such projects often require dozens of engineers, custom-ordered materials, and budget lines that rival public infrastructure works.
While details remain confidential, sources close to the Tuzla shipyard industry suggest the refit is both preventative and symbolic. A fully upgraded Eclipse could signal a reentry—quiet or otherwise—into active waters. For now, though, it remains out of sight, likely shielded behind scaffolding and soundproof hangars.
At the same time, climate analysts point to the yacht as a prime example of disproportionate emissions. According to a 2021 study in Global Environmental Change, the top 1% of earners globally account for more than twice the emissions of the bottom 50%, with private aviation and yachting among the top contributors.
Here are the fully formatted references in APA (7th edition) style — polished and ready to paste into your article’s reference section:
References:
- Boat International. On board Blohm + Voss superyacht Eclipse. https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/on-board-blohm-voss-superyacht-eclipse
- Chakravarty, S. Eclipse superyacht headed for repairs after three years at anchor. Luxury Launches. https://luxurylaunches.com/transport/eclipse-superyacht-headed-for-repairs-08182025.php
- Forbes. (n.d.). Roman Abramovich [Profile]. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/roman-abramovich/
- Lamb, W. F., et al. Discourses of climate delay. Global Environmental Change, 71, 102398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102398
