Al Said (Ex-Sunflower)

LENGTH: 508ft. 6in. (155m)
SHIPYARD: Lürssen, Germany
YEAR: 2007

Lürssen built Al Said under the code name “Sunflower” for Oman’s sultan and prime minister, Qaboos bin Said Al-Said. The yacht, styled by Espen Øino, is said to sleep 70 guests and a crew of some 150. The Sultan of Oman was educated in England and served in the British military; he returned to Oman in 1970 where he overthrew his father and established a monarchy. The sultan has ruled Oman, an independent oil producer, ever since. The Sultanate of Oman’s economy, which is pegged to the dollar, is generally is considered a successful model of moderate growth and diversification. The cream-colored yacht usually lies at the Omani capital’s port of Mutrah, but has also traveled to Mediterranean ports. She attracts plenty of attention with her imposing size, helipad and pool, all amenities to be expected on a vessel of her kind. When the yacht travels, as she did recently to Croatia where she anchored in Dubrovnik’s port of Cruz, she often does so with Fulk Al Salamah, an amphibious transport ship carrying all that is necessary to ensure proper logistics.

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