Motor Yacht A: 119 m Blohm+Voss designed by Philippe Starck

In short

A is a 119-metre motor yacht that Blohm+Voss delivered in 2008; Philippe Starck designed her exterior and interior, and Martin Francis was her technical and naval designer (Boat International, Blohm+Voss). Her submarine-like hull with an axe bow made her one of the most talked-about yachts of her time: Boat International called her "the world's most famous yacht" in 2021 (SuperYacht Times, Boat International). Starck himself said in 2018 that "everybody hated Motor Yacht A at first" (Boat International, March 2018). Announced in December 2004 as Project Sigma, she was floated out at HDW in Kiel on 3 January 2008 and was named A in a June 2008 press release (SuperYacht Times). She is reported to have been commissioned by Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko (Boat International, February 2025).

Videos

Three tours from YouTube, most viewed first.

**Motor Yacht A By Philippe Starck**billnv2 · 12,500 viewsWatch on YouTube

**Megayacht designed by Philippe Starck**Emilio vanderW · 7,566 viewsWatch on YouTube

**Helicopter landing on Philippe Starck Motor yacht A**The Billionaires Lodge · 1,315 viewsWatch on YouTube

Photos

Off a mountainous coast

In profile

Aerial view of Motor Yacht A from astern at sunset, underwater lights on along the hull — From astern at sunset

Motor Yacht A seen head-on, the narrow bow below the tiered superstructure and mast — Head-on

Motor Yacht A from the bow quarter with hills behind — From the bow quarter

The bow of Motor Yacht A with a tender alongside and two crew aboard, a city behind — Bow with a tender alongside

Main saloon with white sofas, mirrored columns, crystal lamps and floor-to-ceiling windows — Main saloon

Stateroom with a padded headboard, grey walls, a mirror and a sofa with stools — Stateroom

Round polished-steel tub under a curved band of windows looking out to sea — Tub under the panoramic windows

A swimmer in a deck pool seen from above, set in a curved teak deck — Deck pool

Swimmers seen from below through the round glass base of a pool — A pool seen from below through its glass base

Teak-framed daybeds with white cushions on deck at sunset — Daybeds on deck

Specifications

Length overall: 119 m (390 ft 5 in)
Waterline length: 118.38 m
Beam: 18.87 m
Draught: 5.15 m
Gross tonnage: 5,959 about 5,500 in the builder's specification
Shipyard: Blohm+Voss, Germany
Built at: HDW yard, Kiel
Build name: Project Sigma, hull 970; SF99 during sea trials
Contract announced: December 2004
Launched: 3 January 2008, Kiel
First sea trials: 10 March 2008, Baltic Sea
Delivered: Early summer 2008; re-delivered in June 2009 after further yard work
Exterior and interior design: Philippe Starck
Naval architecture: Martin Francis (Francis Design) with Blohm+Voss
Construction: Steel hull and superstructure, teak decks aluminium superstructure in some listings
Classification: Lloyd's Register
Guests: 14 in 7 staterooms (owner's suite and 6 guest suites)
Crew: 37 plus 5 owner's staff 35 in some listings
Engines: 2 × MAN RK280 diesels, 9,000 kW in total
Propulsion: Twin shafts, five-bladed controllable-pitch propellers 3.6 m in diameter
Speed: 23 kn max, 19.5 kn cruising 19 kn cruising in some listings
Range: About 6,500 nm at cruising speed; about 4,250 nm at full speed
Fuel capacity: 757,000 litres
Helipad: On the forward main deck
Pools: Glass-fronted pool forward of the superstructure, large whirlpool aft
Tenders: Open and limousine tenders designed by Philippe Starck, built by Vaudrey Miller (New Zealand)
Flag: Malaysia (2026) Bermuda in the builder's 2010 specification
Owner: Reported to have been commissioned by Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko (Boat International, February 2025); described as owned by him (Boat International, February 2021)
For sale: Not listed for sale (April 2025)

Where is she now

Live AIS position on:

MarineTraffic VesselFinder

IMO 1009340 · MMSI 533133134

Questions

How big is Motor Yacht A?

She is 119 metres (390 ft 5 in) long with a beam of 18.87 metres, a draught of 5.15 metres and a gross tonnage of 5,959 (Boat International). The builder's specification gave about 5,500 gross tons at delivery (Blohm+Voss).

Who designed and built Motor Yacht A?

Philippe Starck designed her exterior and interior, Martin Francis was the technical and naval designer, and Blohm+Voss built her at the HDW yard in Kiel (Blohm+Voss, SuperYacht Times). Starck told Boat International the design came to him at his home in Burano, Venice, in 2004, with no brief beyond a length and six cabins (Boat International).

Is Motor Yacht A the same as Sailing Yacht A?

No. Motor Yacht A is the 119-metre Blohm+Voss of 2008; Sailing Yacht A is a separate 142.81-metre sail-assisted motor yacht, also designed by Philippe Starck (Boat International).

How fast is Motor Yacht A and how far can she go?

Two MAN RK280 diesel engines with 9,000 kW in total give a top speed of 23 knots and a cruising speed of 19.5 knots (Blohm+Voss, SuperYacht Times). The builder gives a range of about 6,500 nautical miles at cruising speed and about 4,250 at full speed, from 757 cubic metres of fuel (Blohm+Voss).

What is on board Motor Yacht A?

A helipad on the forward main deck and a lift for the owner and guests (Blohm+Voss). SuperYacht Times describes a glass-fronted pool forward of the superstructure, a large whirlpool aft, a Jacuzzi inside the main saloon and revolving beds in the main stateroom (SuperYacht Times). Boat International reports that Starck's favourite space is the tender garage (Boat International).

Who owns Motor Yacht A?

She is reported to have been commissioned by Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko: Boat International wrote in February 2025 that Sailing Yacht A was the second superyacht he commissioned, after Motor Yacht A (Boat International), and in February 2021 it described both yachts as owned by him (Boat International).

Where is Motor Yacht A now?

Her live position is shown on public AIS trackers, where she transmits under the name MYA: MarineTraffic and VesselFinder. Search by IMO 1009340 or MMSI 533133134 (VesselFinder).