In the southwest of Turkey,
tucked away in a bay near Bodrum, lies a super yacht.
Almost 80 meters long, the Titan sails under
the flag of Bermuda. But it belongs to a Russian oligarch:
Alexander Abramov, the king of steel. He is one of a dozen Kremlin confidants
who have brought their yachts here, since Russia launched
its war on Ukraine. To avoid
international sanctions. Local journalist Yassar
Anter tracks down some of the world's
most luxurious yachts. To capture his subjects on film, he no longer needs to leave
his corner of the Mediterranean. If Russian billionaires
are coming here, itās because Turkey
doesn't want to get involved in the war between
Ukraine and Russia. So in March, April, the first yachts started coming
and anchoring in the area. In France, Italy, the United
States ā as well as here, in Spain ā dozens of yachts belonging to Russian
oligarchs have already been seized. In Palma de Mallorca, the
Guardia Civil national police force worked with American authorities
and the FBI to seize Tango ? a 78-meter-long yacht belonging
to a close ally of Vladimir Putin. Many of the oligarchs who were able to
leave Russia have set course for Turkey. The yacht you see over there is the
Solaris, it belongs to Roman Abramovich. It has been here since March
and hasnāt moved from the bay. No one knows what
will happen next. The Solaris is 140 meters long
and costs over 400 million euros. Its owner Roman Abramovich is
Russiaās most famous billionaire. His impressive boat is a
closely guarded fortress: The yacht is
difficult to approach. The ship has a hull of armored
steel and is equipped with jammers that use ultrasound to disable
the cameras and mobile phones of journalists within a
radius of 300 to 400 meters. On board the Solaris, thereās
even a special security unit, a team of 20 to 25, who
have received military training. Despite the security measures,
a group of Ukrainian activists managed to protest the
arrival of the Solaris in Bodrum. No war in Ukraine! A handful of protesters
will not change the situation: In Turkey, the owners of Russian
yachts have nothing to fear. Yet as symbols of wealth
and untouchable power, superyachts are coming under
unprecedented public scrutiny. Monaco: The superyacht
capital of the globe. For the annual
international yacht show, over a hundred of the worldās
most spectacular yachts dock here. Some 530 exhibitors are invited to
showcase the industryās innovations ? including this small
support submarine, which costs over
a million euros. All aspects of the superyacht
industry are represented here, including interior design. Sabrina Monteleone-Oeino is one of
the most important designers in Monaco. We accompany
her to the Mischief, to take a closer look at
one of her latest creations. Weāre on a yacht that
weāve just finished work on, we gave it a general
refitting and a fresh look. Weāre lucky that
weāre allowed to view it, as you know our
customers are very private. Thereās a really
nice bar and lounge... Here we went with blue and white
colours, like the customer wanted. We had a lot of fun designing
the cabins with the customer. The cabins are very simple ?
this is a very understated boat. These yachts all have
one thing in common: They consume
large amounts of fuel. A superyacht like this one consumes
about 500 liters of diesel per hour ? and there are some
5000 of them worldwide. Their carbon footprint is
disproportionately large. But alternatives do exist. We leave the sunshine for
Poland, to meet Francis Lapp. The Frenchman is pioneering
a new trend: Electric yachts. His boats are powered
by solar energy. We have incorporated solar
cells into the hull of the ship. You could hit it with a
hammer, itās unbreakable. People no longer want
to be seen on a yacht that gobbles up
thousands of liters of fuel. His latest model,
the Marie Joseph, will undergo its final test phase in
Dubai. It is expected to be a sensation. You are welcome back. Yes. No noise, no smell of fuel: Solar technology promises to
revolutionize the yachting sector. So he just needs to keep the
boat charged like an iPhone. Youāre gonna be popular. Yes, everyone will
talk about it today. Yacht sales are booming,
and not just in Dubai: The entire Arabian Peninsula seems
to have caught luxury sailing fever. Saudi Arabia is one of the
sectorās most promising countries. In Jeddah, the country's
second largest city, a marina for hundreds of
boats was built in just 6 months. I believe itās
gonna be the future, Monaco and the
Maldives at the same time. At this pace, more and more
superyachts like the Serenity will be cruising the Red Sea. In Hong Kong, French
businessman Eric Noyel has been working in
the industry for ten years. He buys and sells yacht shares. To put it simply ? this is a
yacht that costs around 6 million. Split three ways,
thatās 2 million. In order to keep
his business going, Eric is constantly on the lookout
for interesting opportunities. This is an incredible yacht, itās 65
meters long. The biggest in Hong Kong. I'm trying to get in
touch with the owner because I have
an interested buyer. New markets, cutting-edge
technology and innovation: The superyacht industry is
trying to transform its image. Saudi Arabia is home to one of the
most popular destinations for yacht lovers: King Abdullah Economic City. Built in a very short time, this
place revolves around two things: Business and sailing. The imposing Serenity
is moored in the marina. The 72 meter-long vessel belongs to a
super-rich Greek-Lebanese businessman. With room for thirty guests,
the boat has four decks, 15 luxury cabins, private
salons and even a cinema. Before the yacht
sets sail today, Gregory inspects it
closely one last time. Irina, did you check the cabins that I
had opened for the guests last night? Originally from Greece, Gregory
has been Serenityās MaĆ®tre d'HĆ“tel since 2017. Now, he
ensures everythingās in order. Irina, the bathroom master, did
you secure the top of the shower... Door? Yes! Yes. To maneuver the yacht
safely out of the harbor, the captain receives assistance
from a local Saudi Arabian pilot. You can start
the engine, slowly. Itās very tight, actually. There are places where
the draft is only three meters, means the allowance from
the canal is only few centimeters and weāre passing on the limits... For this reason we should pass
exactly in the middle of the canal. Mister pilot here is very
experienced to do that, as heās... his particular
job on this area. Perfect. Thank you very much
captain. Thank you and weāll be in touch. Thank you very
much for everything. Bon Voyage. Bye! Mission accomplished, the
Serenity is headed for the open sea. The captain sets course for Jeddah,
Saudi Arabiaās second largest city. The crossing will
only take five hours. But these days, navigating
on the Red Sea can be risky. Donāt forget that two days ago they had
the attack with the drones from Yemen, in Aramco storage here in Jeddah, this
means you know, it is kind of dangerous, because if you must
leave and the crew is out and you pass in this area you
can face a dangerous situation. The captain has no choice
but to face the danger. Before leaving, he filled the yachtās
tanks with 22,000 liters of diesel. On the CĆ“te d'Azur, this would
have cost him some 40,000 euros. Superyachts are gas guzzlers.
But now, there are alternatives. Perhaps surprisingly, itās in Poland,
on the shores of the Baltic Sea, that the future of yachting
has already launched. Gdansk is home to the
former Lenin shipyard. This was the cradle of Lech
Walesa's Solidarity trade union, instrumental in bringing
down the communist regime. 30 years later, a technological revolution is
taking place in the city's shipyards. At the forefront
is Francis Lapp. Born in Alsace, Lapp left his
homeland after the fall of the Wall, and earned a fortune in
the construction industry. 19 years ago, he got
into the yacht business. 20 years ago, Poland was
not exactly known for luxury. Francis Lapp is a success story. His
shipyard can hardly keep up with orders, with 36 ships currently under
construction and 10 nearing completion. Clean energy and
environmentally friendly materials are his selling points. People no longer want
to be seen on yachts that consume thousands of liters
of fuel, itās just not eco-friendly. You even have kids say to their parents,
Have you seen how much fuel we use? Francis Lapp employs
some 2,000 people. His firm relies heavily on
research and development to keep up with
cutting-edge technologies. This is the model weāll
show you in production, we canāt show all the details. Are they secret? Yes, many secrets. Our strength at Sunreef is
that we do everything in-house. We develop everything on site,
from the hull to the carbon mast. And new technologies, everything
is done here. Thatās our strength. Not many engineering firms have such a large research
and development department. Francis' son Nicolas oversees
technological innovations. To power the boats' electric motors,
he developed these unique solar panels. Made on site and by hand, the solar
panels can be adapted to any surface. This is what it looks like. The extra-flexible panels will later
be attached to the hull of the ship. They are ultra-light and
can be made into any shape. The plates are practically
invisible and extremely robust. In his workshop, Francis
Lapp shows us his pride and joy: A yacht designed to be
completely eco-friendly. There it is, an
exclusive preview. This 24-meter catamaran will be
powered solely by wind and solar energy. It should launch in a week. The solar panels are part of the
hull. This is our in-house patent. The advantage is that
they are not simply glued on, we have incorporated solar
cells into the hull of the ship. In terms of resistance, you could
hit it with a hammer, itās unbreakable. This allows us to
recharge the batteries that supply the two
engines with clean electricity. We are going to visit
the heart of the boat. I'll go first. We are here
in the heart of the boat. This room has a ceiling
height of 70 to 85 cm. Weāve housed all the
electric elements here, itās the control center
of the ship, so to speak. Weāve housed a
huge battery pack here. Altogether the batteries
weigh three tonnes. We could have fit
even more of them in, but it's perfectly
adequate for our purposes. The only exception to the rule
of environmental sustainability is this emergency generator,
which provides extra power in case the sun doesn't
shine or the system fails. Soon, the yacht will be cruising the
warm waters of the Arab Emirates. Her name: Marie Joseph. Why Marie Joseph? My mother is Marie,
Marie-Louise, and my father is Joseph. I wanted to thank them
for the life they gave me, so I named the
boat Marie Joseph. The catamaranās price is
estimated at 7 million euros. But Lapp has no intention of selling.
He wants to keep it - for his own use, and to advertise his
revolutionary technology. A week later, the boat is ready to leave the icy Baltic
Sea for warmer waters. The Marie Joseph
will begin its journey to the Emirates on
board a yacht carrier. The crossing is
expected to take a month and will cost Francis
Lapp 300,000 euros. The catamaran is set to be unveiled at
the annual Dubai boat show in March. But as weāll see, not
everything goes as planned. First, to another continent: Welcome to Hong Kong, a dense
metropolis of 7.5 million people. Part of China, this trading hub on
the South China Sea has several ports. One is Aberdeen Harbour,
on Hong Kong Island. To get there, you can
take a local taxi, or junk. Eric Noyel, who is French, has
lived in Hong Kong since 2013. He made his fortune
in toilet brushes before getting into the
big business of yachts. The boat is on its way, it
was shipped to the yard today and should be here
by the end of January. I can show it to you in early February,
it could be the first week of February. Ok perfect, got it. Thanks
CĆ©dric, see you soon. Who was that? That was a customer who would
like to buy one of the boats I have ? a new boat. Heās someone
Iāve known for 10 years. He lost his boat in a typhoon
recently. It sank. He loves boats. Heās a French entrepreneur,
who owns a big factory nearby. He wants to see the boat
again before sending the check. He says the money is ready, so it
should all work out, but you never know. Eric offers different
services to his clients: He sells yachts, but he
also offers yacht sharing ā something quite
trendy at the moment. Several owners share both the costs
and the use of a boat for the season. This is the one we have for sale at
the moment, itās an incredible boat. Itās owned by the same
person as that yacht over there. Aberdeen Marina Club is the
largest marina in Hong Kong, and there are plenty
of luxury yachts here. The cityās twenty richest
families moor their boats here. This is my beautiful office. Weāve
become partners with a company that is one of the world
leaders in superyachts. For normal clients, we have
normal boats, that we rent out, for example in Thailand,
Hong Kong or Indonesia. And these are the
yachts we offer for sale. We have new ones, from Turkey,
Poland or Great Britain, and used ones. The fifty-year-old entrepreneur
leads a team of 15 employees from six different countries. Hello! Hello, Adam! Hello, you ok? Eric is meeting with a
potential client today. We have to listen first, to
understand what he wants. Heās had two boats before: The family had a 100 footer and he
personally used to have an Atlantis 50. He has always had boats. At the moment he still
owns a 21-meter yacht, which is already
quite a big boat. And his family always
had 30 meter long ones. The last time we
spoke on the phone, he wanted to get rid of his family's
boat and buy a 40-meter model. Eric is meeting the
customer for the first time. The 40-year-old prospective
buyer comes from a family of Hong Kong restaurateurs.
He knows Eric by reputation. We know Eric is a very good
professional in this industry, so we decided
just to have a drink. And he likes to know
what our priorities are and thatās how we
are together today. How old is the boat? It was a 2013, predator 68. Cheers! Cheers! The chemistry seems good, but
Eric doesn't want to say too much. It's quite confidential,
so I can't talk too much. But definitely Gilbert
belongs to the type of family that has always had boats and will always have boats
in this part of the world. So it's important that we stay close
and I understand what they need, what problem they
encounter with the boats and I try to be as
helpful as possible. No deal today. But
they will stay in touch. When Eric isnāt working, he likes
to spend his free time on yachts. Weāll meet up with him again
later, in Phuket, Thailand. Now, weāre off to the
United Arab Emirates. To Dubai: A city built from
petro-dollars in the desert sand. A place of skyscrapers,
beaches, and excess. Far from the tourist hotspots,
a new revolution is underway: The move from black
gold to green energy. An hourās drive
from the city center lies the Muhammad-bin-Raschid
solar park, the world's largest
single-site solar park. At the wheel of his off-road
vehicle, we meet Francis Lapp again. This desert is
where it all began, far from the freezing
temperatures of Poland. It was here that I first had the idea
of integrating solar panels into boats and building environmentally-friendly
yachts. More than three years ago, I bought the first solar
panels and we started testing. Today, we have a market-ready
product and offer fully autonomous boats. The demand has grown. 15 years ago, customers were
mainly interested in owning fast boats. Nowadays, speed hardly matters. Thereās an increasing demand
for sustainable alternatives, with electric motors. Now, he just needs to
win over new customers. The Alsatian entrepreneur is on his
way to the Dubai International Boat Show, which takes place
every year in March. A dozen exhibitors have
traveled from all over the world to present their
latest products. Luxury items for a clientele
with limitless budgets. Francis Lapp spared no
expense for his trade fair stand: He had a dozen employees flown in
from Poland to greet his customers. But there is one small problem:
The Marie Joseph has still not arrived. Yes I recognize
you. How are you? I was just asking, which
one are you displaying? The 80 Sailing.
Eco, full electric. The boat will be in Dubai at
the end of May. Any time you can. Ok, very good. He wanted to know
when the boat will be here. Of course he wants
to see it and touch it. The boat is coming, so I gave him
my contact and he will be in touch then. We will organize
a private viewing. Whatās happening with the boat? Since Covid, there have
been many problems. Everything is delayed
and no one knows why. With this app I can
easily find the yacht. I tap on it and I can
see the yacht carrier! It's off the coast of Oman and
traveling at a speed of 13 knots. It will arrive tomorrow
at 2 p.m. local time. We are here in Dubai and
the ship is currently in this area. It's just setting
course for Dubai. The delay of over a
month is bad for business. Still, there does seem to be quite a
lot of interest in solar-powered yachts. Honestly I didnāt know that
it existed in this way already. I like catamarans because they are more
efficient, but I will see I will learn. I think he seems seriously
interested. He wants a second boat. He comes from the entertainment
industry, he can definitely afford it. Has the electric
motor convinced him? Definitely. It's a
novelty on the market, but I think in 5 years
it will be the standard, everyone else will
be offering it too. With his electric yacht, Francis
Lapp is a pioneer in the industry. However, he had to
postpone the big reveal. The Marie Joseph ? his yacht
powered entirely by green electricity ? will only make its long-awaited
public appearance in a few days. On the Red Sea, on the other
side of the Arabian Peninsula, the Serenity is approaching
its port of destination. After a peaceful crossing, Jeddah
gradually appears on the horizon. On the bridge, the captain
is preparing to enter the port. I see that the entrance is
clear. Can we start proceeding? The Jeddah marina
was opened only recently, after a construction
period of just six months. Home to restaurants,
boutiques and sailing clubs, the marinaās construction
is not quite finished. But there is already space for 100
of the worldās most luxurious yachts. The Valerie, for example: An 85-meter-long yacht
belonging to a Russian oligarch, it has since been
confiscated in Spain. People are jostling on the quay
to witness the Valerieās arrival. After the boat has docked, itās time for the captain to
greet the next passengers. Probably he's on the upper deck. Bridge deck. Bridge deck? Ok letās go. Today's client: A rich Saudi family,
specializing in event management. Hi, how are you?
Welcome on board. This is my father, Babac. Yes, I remember. Daddy, how are you?
Welcome on board. Nice to see you again. During the next
Formula 1 Grand Prix, Mohammed and his father want
to use the yacht for a few days - without even
leaving the harbor. Where will we relocate
the boat? Weāll go there? Weāll go there, just the wall that
is right next to the Marina there. Sorry the yacht club. Ok, you want me to be there? Yes, exactly. You want the bow
or the stern there? Whatever. It doesnāt matter. We are
going to have a couple of nice events. In the next couple of days.
Today we have something at night. Tomorrow there is another
lovely evening happening. The best thing about
it is the deck spaces, you cannot get another 70
meters with the same deck spaces, the number of cabins and rooms... Yes, but prioritize properly. Number one is the
crew and the captain. Now you are talking! Number one is the
crew and the captain.. The parties quickly
agree on a rate. The family will rent the yacht
for 500,000 euros per week. It is an investment. We don't... obviously some people
take it for pleasure, we do business here. We charter the
boat to do hospitality. F1 hospitality, you can watch the race on
the boat, we do catering, five star catering. We put screens all over the
boat so you can watch the race itself. So we do have a
business behind it. It is not just for pleasure but after
we are done we have two days where we take the boat
for our own pleasure. We have friends family and
we have a good time after. In Saudi Arabia,
care is taken to ensure that private gatherings are shielded
from both cameras and the public. For the people here, however,
yachts are a big attraction. Onlookers try to catch a
glimpse between the moorings. What Iām wishing only in my
dreams to see this boat like that. Itās like a castle. Everybody
loves it. And I have to have one... For ordinary people, this
dream is probably out of reach. But some get a chance to spend
a few stolen moments on a yacht. In Thailand, on the shores
of the Andaman Sea. Phuketās long beaches
are crowded with tourists. Eric Noyel, the French
entrepreneur from Hong Kong, is about to board
a luxury yacht. The Dolce Vita, a 33-meter vessel that
can cruise at a speed of up to 30 knots. The crew of 5 is busy
with the final preparations. Everything is ok,
yeah no problem. All under control, waiting for the
guests. Should be here shortly. Less than an hour later, Eric Noyel arrives with a few friends,
accompanied by his wife Yumiko. Hi! How are you Yumi? Very good. Thank you so much
for bringing the boat. Today is Yumiko's birthday. To celebrate, Eric has taken a week
off and organized a small private cruise. Yann, is this your
first time here? Eric, the co-owner
of three yachts, has chosen the Dolce
Vita today for a reason. This yacht will be sold soon, so
we wanted to enjoy it one last time. Itās Yumikoās birthday today, so she is happy that she
can enjoy it with her friends. The experienced businessman
shows off the yacht to his guests. He demonstrates
the latest gadgets. Sit down here. So, press your two fingers
on this and this simultaneously. That? Like James Bond? Yes, that's a James Bond
moment. Now you press. Where is the target now? This is the master bedroom. This brand, they make a pretty
sleek boat, itās not the old age, full of wood and heavy
and full of mystique. This is the opposite,
itās white itās light. You just get to enjoy the view.
Which is really what you want... After the tour, time for a bit of
relaxation on the back deck... ...with a drink or
two with the guests. Now, Eric can finally let the
dinghy pull him on his paddleboard. But even though the boat
trips are primarily for pleasure, business is never
far from his thoughts. Look, we have a neighbor coming!
After all, superyachts are my profession. I know everything that's going
on... When a boat comes, I look: What's it called, whose is it, where are they from, how
many passengers are on board? But Eric is well aware that
superyachts are only for the super-rich. Maybe if I had a lot of money... But above a certain size, it is no
longer financially possible for me. I can't afford something that big,
I don't have the money for that. Our yacht is a manageable size,
beyond that it becomes too expensive. Even on this yacht you need a crew
of five. That's already a pretty big boat. For the past two years, Eric has been one of the biggest
sellers of yachts in the Asian region. His most lucrative deal so far
involved a 50-meter long boat. But the Frenchman does not
intend to rest on his laurels. Yachts are his great
passion, as his wife knows. It is almost within his genes.
He is unstoppable. His passion. So Iām glad that he is in a business
that what heās genetically designed for. Itās not just what he likes.
Heās in the right business. In French? I donāt know, how do you say it? He was made to
be in this business. There you go,
mini french lesson. Have you seen those
colors? The orange? Beautiful. Despite all the
beautiful moments, the Dolce Vita will no
longer be his in a few weeks. But the entrepreneur will
soon be sailing on other boats ā one of the upsides of his job. Back in Dubai, we are welcomed by
Francis Lapp, the Alsatian entrepreneur. He has settled on the
island of Palm Jumeirah, one of the cityās most upscale areas.
He lives here with his wife, Mounira. I only live here part-time. I have to take care of my
2,000 employees in Poland. I usually spend one week in
Dubai and three weeks in Poland. At last, Francis can breathe a sigh
of relief. His yacht has just arrived. In less than ten minutes by
car, he has reached the marina. The Marie Joseph, Francis' pride and
joy, left Poland over two months ago. The catamaran is due to arrive
at the marina at any moment. For Francis, itās
a special moment. The boat, powered
entirely by solar energy, makes its spectacular
entry in the marina. How does it feel? Well, Iām happy. It's completely new technology and
we are the first to offer it. Itās great. It's a big ship. It really is. Itās bigger
than Iād imagined. His son, who works with him in
Poland, has traveled all the way here. Itās named after your
grandmother and grandfather. The Marie Joseph is here. So
are the real Marie and Joseph. I would never have
dreamed of that. Grandma can do it by herself! The whole family is moved. As a tribute to their homeland, the
company logo shows an Alsatian pretzel. Is everything all right? Did
it withstand the journey well? Everything looks
good, doesn't it? You think? Yes, definitely. It looked very different in
Gdansk. Here is the dressing room. Do you like the colors? Oh yes, very much. I didn't think I would
find it so touching. It's an emotional moment. I never took it too
seriously. But now it is real. Before the yacht sails, Francis
awaits an important guest. Itās Sheikh Rashid Al
Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. He will dock and
come to visit us. Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum is one of the United Arab
Emiratesā highest dignitaries. Hi my friend. You are welcome back! How are you? Fine, fine. Hello,
Madam, How are you? Good, thank you. Welcome. Congratulations,
congratulations... this beautiful girl! With everyone on board,
the crew of five gets to work. It's time to set sail. The futuristic yacht
leaves the harbor. This maiden voyage could be opening
a new chapter in the history of sailing. In the steering cabin,
the atmosphere is relaxed. The two electric
motors are working well. Itās nice when you donāt hear
anything, no vibrations, nothing. You see, what is this? Youāre gonna be popular. Yes, everybody will
talk about it today! Itās impressive, no, this new
technology. What do you think? Yes, everybody
will talk about it. As I told you this is the first solar
cell boat. And 80... not a small one. It's a dream come true for Francis:
The Marie Joseph is a success. The yacht sails smoothly,
without using a drop of fuel. This is what we appreciate,
this is luxury at the end of the day, the boat is one thing, but
the great luxury is the silence, no vibrations, nothing.
Weāre not going backwards. No one will want to buy another
diesel-engine boat, clearly. Luxury sailing may be
heading into the future - and away from its
highly-pollutant present. And electric motors are
only one of many alternatives, when it comes to leaving behind
environmentally-harmful fuels. Indeed, Francis Lapp
and other manufacturers are already working on the next
energy alternative: Hydrogen technology.
Other than its military might, Turkey has no business joining NATO.