Mega Yacht LE GRAND BLEU has been cruising around UK

UK/RUSSIA: "Le Grand Bleu" has been on the "Top 10" list of the world's largest mega yachts since built in 2000, but she lost her place when Roman Abramovich lauched the largest yacht ever to be built, the nearly 200 m long "Eclipse".

"Le Grand Bleu" has been spotted in different places around England and Scotland lately.

"Le Grand Bleu" was originally owned by John McCaw Jr., an American businessman and brother of Craig McCaw, the founder of McCaw Cellular and Clearwire.

In 2002, "Le Grande Bleu" was sold to Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea Football Club Roman Abramovich.

In 2006, Roman Abramovich presented the USD 90 mln "Le Grand Bleu" as a gift to old friend Eugene Shvidler, an asset-management and one-time oil Russian billionaire who became an American citizen and is the present owner of the vessel.

Abramovich, 42, handed over the floating palace "Le Grand Bleu" (Big Blue) to his business lieutenant Eugene Shvidler in 2006 to thank him for his hard work.

Shvidler, 44, is also a billionaire and already had a luxury yacht, but "Le Grand Bleu" is 114 meter (370 feet) long and therefore double as long and valuable as has previous yacht.

The yackt has a 65-strong crew, a pair of 3,600-horsepower Wärtsilä engines, diving centre, helicopter, aquarium and an onboard 74-foot sailboat and 67-foot speedboat.

It was brainbox Shvidler who struck the GBP 140 mln deal for the Russian tycoon to buy Chelsea.

He sits on the club’s board and headed Abramovich’s oil firm Sibneft.

A source on the yacht said: “Roman has known Eugene for 25 years and he is one of the few men he trusts. He will never forget the part Eugene played in helping him realise his dream of owning a Premiership club.

“He wanted to show his appreciation and felt presenting him with one of his yachts would do it. Eugene is delighted although he told Roman he didn’t expect such largesse.”

Ironically, Shvidler has ticked off his pal in the past for splashing so much cash on his soccer team. He said: “My heart bleeds at the amount.”

About "Le Grand Bleu"

Overview
Le Grand Bleu is a 370 foot mega yacht (114 meters) built in 2000 by Bremer Vulkan under the supervision of Claus Kusch. In May 2004, Le Grande Bleu received international attention as the home base for Roman Abramovich during Chelsea Football Club's attempt to beat AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League. Currently owned by Eugene Shvidler, she is one of the largest private mega yachts in the world.

Construction
Le Grande Bleu was built at the Vulkan yard in Germany and launched in 2000. Design and construction were handled by Kusch Yachts. In 2002, Abramovich bought Le Grande Bleu and had her lengthened and refitted by HDW in Kiel. In 2008, under the ownership of Eugene Shvidler, Le Grande Bleu was refitted again in Jackson, Florida. Le Grande Bleu's redesign includes a greener wastewater treatment system as well as Lloyd's certified system, which allows the mega yacht to reuse wastewater after treatment rather than discharging wastewater into the sea.

Features
Le Grand Bleu has a 74-foot sailboat and a 67-foot speedboat stored on her aft deck. She also makes room for a helicopter. The interior of Le Grande Bleu was designed by Terence Disdale. Le Grande Bleu has a crew of 50.

About Eugene Shvidler

According to TimesOnline Rich List, Eugene Shvidler is Worth GBP 1,664 mln by the end of 2008, and rank as 42nd richest person residencing in UK.

His Source of wealth origine from Oil, gas and investments.

The flotation of Russian pharmaceuticals company Pharmstandard last May made GBP 66 mln for Shvidler, right-hand man to Roman Abramovich. London-based Shvidler, 44, took control of the Sibneft oil company with Abramovich via the Millhouse Capital operation. Oil giant Gazprom later took over the Millhouse controlling stake for £6.6 billion. Other Shvidler investments include a Russian meat processor and Moscow real estate.

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