al said yacht owner

• Entertainment
• Latest Mortgage Rates
• Credit Cards
• Restaurants
• Food & Drink
• Lamborghini
• Aston Martin
• Rolls Royce
• Harley Davidson
• Honda Motorcycles
• BMW Motorcycles
• Triumph Motorcycles
• Indian Motorcycles
• Patek Philippe
• A. Lange & Söhne
• Audemars Piguet
• Jaeger-LeCoultre
• Vacheron Constantin
• Electronics
• Collectibles

A Closer Look at the $300 Million Superyacht Al Said

Have you ever wished that you could own your very own superyacht? Well, how about one that's the 7th longest yacht in the entire world and accommodates more guests and even many more professional crew members than almost all of the other yachts in the world ? In fact, you might not even have enough friends on earth to fill this massive yacht! And, all you have to be is a Sultan to be able to afford it! Then, you could travel the oceans of the world in comfort and luxury and never have to go back home and live the regular life! Hmm, we can certainly dream about the good life, can't we?

Built by Lurssen

According to Superyacht Times , the motor yacht Al Said was ordered in 2006 and then it was built by Lurssen . Her code name at that time was Project Sunflower during her construction. Once completed, she was named after her very wealthy owner. She's one of the largest superyachts in the world , especially when measured by volume. She accommodates an amazing 65 guests plus 140 crew members and was designed by world-renowned yacht designer, Espen Oeino. She's powered by two MTU marine engines that create a total of 22,000 horsepower for a cruising speed of 14 knots.

Delivered in 2008

The superyacht Al Said was delivered in 2008 to the Sultan of Oman. She replaced a smaller mega- yacht that, at one time, had the exact same name. At an amazing 155m, she has six exceptionally large decks and both her exterior and interior are quite striking. They were designed by Espen Oeino International. That's actually the same company responsible for the designing of the 127m mega-yacht called Octopus.

A Steel Hull & 25 Knots to Boot!

The Al Said sports a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. She has a beam of 24m (78.74ft) and a draft of 5.20m (17.06ft). This is a superyacht that's capable of doing 25 knots flat-out and also has a cruising speed of 22 knots.

Lots of Guests & Crew

According to reports, this superyacht is capable of accommodating up to 70 guests and 154 professional crewmembers for ensuring the ultimate in relaxed luxury yacht experiences for all guests onboard. She also features a massive concert room that accommodates an entire 50-piece orchestra! Now, that's something you probably won't find on any other superyacht!

Based in Muscat

According to the Robb Report , the majority of the time, the Royal Yacht Al Said will be based in the Sultan Qaboos Port, which is near Muscat. When the royal yacht does travel anywhere, she does so with an escort and that escort is the Oman Navy. Now, how many yachts do you know of that have their own royal Navy escort?

About the Owner

The owner of the Royal Yacht Al Said is the Sultan of Oman (and all of its Dependencies) after rising to power by overthrowing his own father, Said bin Taimur during a 1970 palace coup. (What a nice guy, right?) He's also the 14th-generation descendant of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty's founder. Oman (aka the Sultanate of Oman) is, of course, an Arab country in the Middle East that lies on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula as well as on the Persian Gulf. As you may have already guessed, it's an absolute monarchy, which was once known as the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman. It also once included portions of what is now the United Arab Emirates and certain parts of Pakistan. This also a country with very close ties to Saudi Arabia, often functioning as an impartial mediator between Saudi Arabia and countries like Qatar and Iran or Qatar. In addition, the country has a Royal Military Academy that is really highly-regarded.

The Sultan's full title is Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said and, he also owns eight palaces and three luxury yachts. Besides the Al Said, he also owns the Loalat al Behar and the Fulk al Salamah. The Loaloat Al Behar was the prior Al Said, which was a gift to the Ministry of Tourism of Oman and has been recently refitted and repainted. The Fulk Al Salamah Yacht functions as a support vessel for the Royal Yacht Al Said. She was built in Italy at the Mariotti shipyard and delivered in 2016. At 150 meter (492 ft) she's actually almost as big overall as the yacht Al Said and one of the largest superyachts worldwide.

Other Royal Toys

Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said is also the owner of a Boeing 747 private jumbo jet, (registration A4O-OMN), which was built in 2001. In addition, he owns another 747 that was built in 2012 (registration A4O-HMS). However, since it wasn't painted with the ‘royal colors’, he mainly uses his older jet.

Sultan of Oman- Net Worth

Sultan Qaboos al Said's net worth is estimated to be in excess of US$ 1 billion. (Not bad.)

Superyacht Al Said Specs

• Type: Motor Yacht
• Model: Custom
• Builder: Lurssen Yachts
• Naval Architect: Lurssen Yachts
• Exterior Designers: Espen Oeino
• Interior Designer: RWD
• Year Built: 2008
• Hull #: 13644
• Hull Color: White
• Length Overall: 155.00m (508'6"ft)
• Beam: 24.00m (78'8"ft)
• Maximum Draft: 5.20m (17'0"ft)
• Gross Tonnage: 15,850
• Accommodations-
• # of Guests: 70
• Crew accommodations: 154
• # of Cabins: 30 cabins total
• Construction-
• Hull Material: Steel
• Superstructure: Aluminum
• Decks #: Six
• Quantity: 2
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Engines Manufacturer: MTU Marine Engines
• Power per engine: 10996hp / 8200kW
• Total Power: 21992hp / 16400kW
• Performance & Capabilities-
• Max Speed: 25.00 knots Cruising Speed: 22.00 knots

Not For Charter

This yacht is not for charter. However, if you would like to see this yacht's current location in real-time, just go to this site. That way, you could live vicariously thru the Sultan, his guests, and crew members. Sure, it would be better to be there but tracking its location just might have to suffice for today.

Written by  Garrett Parker

Related articles, a closer look at david and victoria beckham's yacht seafair.

The Top 20 Celebrity Yachts in The World

17 Most Expensive Yachts in the World

A closer look at tankoa's t500 tethys, a closer look at x-yachts new x49e electric sailing boat, check out camper and nicholsons international's 120 ft tecnomar superyacht "lucy", sirena's new fully customizable 78-foot yacht, what boat characteristics make it a yacht.

Wealth Insight! Subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter

• Impressions

One of the largest yachts in the world, 155-metre AL SAID was delivered in 2008. Tailored to the wishes of the owner, she features an Espen Øino exterior reminiscent of classic cruise liners. Her interior was designed by RWD.

Do you wish to talk about yacht design?

We would love to hear from you

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• Boat Pro Home
• Pricing Plan
• Superyacht Insight
• Product Features
• Premium Content
• Testimonials
• Global Order Book
• Tenders & Equipment

AL SAID is a 155.0 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2008.

Her top speed is 25.0 kn and her cruising speed is 22.0 kn and her power comes from a MTU diesel engine. She can accommodate up to 70 guests, with 200 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 15850.0 GT and a 24.0 m beam.

She was designed by Espen Oeino International , who has designed 66 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Lurssen , who has architected 69 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by RWD , who has 64 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium and Steel superstructure.

AL SAID is the 7th longest yacht in the world. She is one of 70 motor yachts longer than 100m, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her cruising speed is 5.95 kn above the average, her top speed 5.14 kn above the average, and her volume 8637.31 GT above the average.

AL SAID is currently sailing under the Oman flag (along with a total of other 11 yachts). She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Oman. For more information regarding AL SAID's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: AL SAID
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Lurssen
• Naval Architect: Lurssen
• Exterior Designer: Espen Oeino International
• Interior Designer: RWD

Yacht featured in

Yachts like this, from our partners, sponsored listings.

Get  free  early access to a dvanced functions and special offers.

Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions

World of Superyachts operates the https://worldofsuperyachts.com/ website, which provides the SERVICE.

This page is used to inform website visitors regarding our policies with the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information if anyone decided to use our Service, the World of Superyachts website.

If you choose to use our Service, then you agree to the collection and use of information in relation with this policy. The Personal Information that we collect are used for providing and improving the Service. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.

The terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions, which is accessible at https://worldofsuperyachts.com/, unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy.

Information Collection and Use

For a better experience while using our Service, we may require you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information, including but not limited to your name, phone number, and postal address. The information that we collect will be used to contact or identify you.

We want to inform you that whenever you visit our Service, we collect information that your browser sends to us that is called Log Data. This Log Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser version, pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, and other statistics.

Cookies are files with small amount of data that is commonly used an anonymous unique identifier. These are sent to your browser from the website that you visit and are stored on your computer’s hard drive.

Our website uses these “cookies” to collection information and to improve our Service. You have the option to either accept or refuse these cookies, and know when a cookie is being sent to your computer. If you choose to refuse our cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.

For more general information on cookies, please read “What Are Cookies” .

Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals due to the following reasons:

• To facilitate our Service;
• To provide the Service on our behalf;
• To perform Service-related services; or
• To assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.

We want to inform our Service users that these third parties have access to your Personal Information. The reason is to perform the tasks assigned to them on our behalf. However, they are obligated not to disclose or use the information for any other purpose.

We value your trust in providing us your Personal Information, thus we are striving to use commercially acceptable means of protecting it. But remember that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and reliable, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Links to Other Sites

Our Service may contain links to other sites. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that site. Note that these external sites are not operated by us. Therefore, we strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of these websites. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

Children’s Privacy

Our Services do not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal identifiable information from children under 13. In the case we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we immediately delete this from our servers. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so that we will be able to do necessary actions.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. Thus, we advise you to review this page periodically for any changes. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. These changes are effective immediately, after they are posted on this page.

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us .

Rate 1 to 5 stars

2.8 / 5. Vote count: 5

No votes so far! Be the first to rate

Yacht model

Full custom, sultan of oman, owner country, exterior design, espen oeino, interior design, redman whiteley dixon, naval architect, estimated today, estimated annual, hull configuration, displacement, superstructure, classification, stabilizers, water capacity, fuel capacity, main engine, quantity.

Manufacturer

20v 8000 m70, generator, quantity, cruising speed, economical speed, range speed, guest accommodations, number of guests, guests cabins, cabin configuration, staff cabin, grand piano​, beauty salon, massage room, on board helicopter, helipad delta, helipad mtow, helicopter hangar, helicopter refuel, heli pilot cabin, dive center, inflatable slide.

Rescue Tender

Generic rescue tender, number of tenders, maximum tender size, tender garage, tender crane, crew accommodations, number of crew, crew cabins, captain cabin, first officer cabin, chief engineer cabin, head chef cabin, chief stew cabin, heli-pilot cabin, crew amenities, officer mess, crew galley, crew lounge, available jobs, currently no vacancies, get job notification.

Job notification for This yacht Any yacht Position Captain First/Chief Officer Mate/Bosun Deckhand Chief Engineer/2nd Engineer Chief Stewardess/Purser Junior Stewardess Chef Sous Chef/Cook

Crew Education

Available options, coming soon, image gallery, video gallery.

World of Superyachts

We're here to help

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We will gladly help and answer all your questions.

Over 1 million astonishing Superyacht specifications, deckplans, engines, tenders and much more.

Join us at the forefront of Superyachts and information from the World’s Top Echelon Marine Industry.

2008 Lurssen Yachts Al Said

Report error

Boat Overview

Hull material, iron and steel, boat length (loa), see all details, boat description.

One of the largest yachts in the world, 155-metre AL SAID was delivered in 2008. Tailored to the wishes of the owner, she features an Espen Øino exterior reminiscent of classic cruise liners. Her interior was designed by RWD.

Discover the Pro

Hide ads, help pay for servers & development and unlock Pro only features like, sharing, advanced dashboard, extra storage space & more!

Performance & Ratios

Mega Yacht “Al Said” in Oman

• Inspiration

Related News

Popular news this week, popular news this month, latest news.

• Yacht Charter & Superyacht News >

Written by Maria Korotaeva

AL SAID , the fifths largest superyacht in the world, was spotted in Oman. The custom built yacht was ordered from bespoke shipbuilder Lurssen in 2006. This impressive 155-metre mega yacht features exterior styling by Espen Oeino , while her interior design is by Redman Whiteley Dixon . With launch in 2008, Al Said is able to reach a maximum speed of 25 kn and a cruising speed of 22 kn. Opulent accommodation on board is offered for up to 70 guests, assisted by 154 crew members. Al Said is owned by the Sultan Qaboos of Oman.

Mega Yacht Al Said. Photo by Flickr/Jerry Clark

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Mega Yacht "Al Said" in Oman".

• Charity & Fund Raising
• CharterWorld News
• Classic Yachts
• Coronavirus
• Cruise Ship
• Ecological Yachts
• Expedition Yachts
• Expert Broker Advice
• Feature Superyachts
• Interior Design
• Legal & VAT Yacht Issues
• Luxury Catamarans
• Luxury Gulet
• Luxury Phinisi
• Luxury Trimarans
• Luxury Yacht Design
• Luxury Yachts
• Marinas & Harbours
• Marine Ecology
• Marine Electronics
• Marine Equipment
• Mega Yachts
• Modern Yachts
• Motor Yachts
• New Launch Yachts
• New To Charter
• Open Style Sports Yachts
• Private Jets
• Sailing Yachts
• Social Media
• Sports Yachts
• Superyacht Crew
• Superyacht Photographers
• Superyacht Products & Supplies
• Superyacht Refits
• Superyacht Reviews
• Superyachts
• Uncategorized
• Yacht Builders
• Yacht Charter
• Yacht Charter Destinations
• Yacht Charter Picks
• Yacht Charter Specials
• Yacht Delivered to Owner
• Yacht Designers
• Yacht Events & Boat Shows
• Yacht Fashion
• Yacht Industry News
• Yacht Photos
• Yacht Racing
• Yacht Racing & Regattas
• Yacht Safety Equipment
• Yacht Support Vessels
• Yacht Tenders
• Yacht Videos
• Yachting Associations
• Yachting Awards
• Yachting Business
• Yachts For Charter
• Yachts For Sale

Quick Enquiry

Superyacht news:.

Email Your Yachting News to: news @ charterworld.com

Custom Built

BLACK PEARL I

10 Incredible Pictures of Superyachts From Around the World

10 Superyachts and their Outstanding Aft Decks

125m GOLDEN ODYSSEY Yacht by Lurssen

Impressive Lurssen Mega Yachts PHOENIX 2, QUANTUM BLUE and ICE

Mulder Yachts Launches the Seventh Mulder ThirtySix, motor yacht Q43

Sailing catamaran FELICITA makes her debut on the charter market

Mangusta announce the launch of the sixth hull in the MANGUSTA 104 REV series

49m sailing yacht ACAPELLA is offering a fabulous June ‘fill the gap’ special offer on charters in Croatia

Explorer style motor yacht ROCKIT available for charter in select locations around the world

Mulder unveils the luxury yacht MULDER THIRTYSIX Hull #8

Florida charter yacht REAL SUMMERTIME offering 10% discount

Westport announce the first hull of their 36m W117 range is nearing completion

Superyacht LAUNCHPAD previously Feadship 1010 delivered

Croatian charter yacht LA PERLA offering 10% discount on exclusive vacations in the Adriatic

News from Feadship about superyachts PROJECT 712 and PROJECT 715

33m luxury yacht FREEDOM for charter in the Caribbean and New England

Charter a yacht during the Monaco Historic and F1 Grand Prix festivals and soak up the atmosphere from on deck

39m luxury yacht EVOLUTION for charter on Australia’s east coast

• Yachts for sale
• Yachts for charter
• Brokerage News

• Yacht Harbour
• Yacht Al Said

About Al Said

Contact agent

Specifications

Similar yachts.

New listings

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3576
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

AL SAID yacht NOT for charter*

155m  /  508'6 | lurssen | 2008.

• Amenities & Toys

Special Features:

• Elevator for easy access between floors
• Master cabin with dressing room and study
• Impressive 7,700nm range
• Comfortable Movie Theatre
• Twenty-six cabins

The 155m/508'6" motor yacht 'Al Said' was built by Lurssen in Germany at their Vegesack shipyard. Her interior is styled by British designer design house RWD and she was delivered to her owner in March 2008. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Espen Oeino.

Guest Accommodation

Al Said has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 70 guests in 26 suites. The master suite incorporates its own study and dressing room. She is also capable of carrying up to 174 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include conference facilities, movie theatre, elevator, underwater lights, deck jacuzzi, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Al Said is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (20V 8000 M70) 20-cylinder 11,149hp engines running at 1150rpm, she comfortably cruises at 20 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 22 knots with a range of up to 7,700 nautical miles from her 1,420,000 litre fuel tanks at 20 knots. Al Said features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. Her water tanks store around 750,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to Lloyds Register classification society rules.

*Charter Al Said Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Al Said is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Al Said Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Al Said Photos

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Here are a selection of superyachts which are similar to Al Said yacht which are believed to be available for charter. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

115m | Lurssen

from $2,808,000 p/week ♦︎

107m | Olympic Yacht Services

from $2,160,000 p/week ♦︎

136m | Lurssen

from $4,320,000 p/week ♦︎

108m | Benetti

from $1,944,000 p/week ♦︎

122m | Lurssen

from $3,000,000 p/week

Renaissance

112m | Freire Shipyard

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

South Florida yacht brokers hit with lawsuits that claim 10% commissions violate antitrust laws

T wo newly filed federal lawsuits claim that 10% sales commissions required by South Florida’s yacht broker industry are anticompetitive and violate antitrust laws.

The claims follow an October finding by a federal jury in Kansas City, Missouri, that the National Association of Realtors conspired with brokers to artificially inflate commissions paid to real estate brokers. The ruling, and a March 15 settlement by the Realtors, is expected to radically change how homes are sold in the United States.

Both lawsuits involving yacht brokers name as defendants the International Yacht Brokers Association, based in Fort Lauderdale, the Yacht Brokers Association of America, Boats Group LLC and YATCO LLC.

Also listed as defendants in both suits are a who’s who of South Florida-based yacht brokers, including Denison Yacht Sales, MarineMax Inc., Galati Yacht Sales Inc., Allied Marine Inc., Tournament Yacht Sales LLC and Northrop & Johnson Yacht Ships, among others.

Nearly all of the defendants are headquartered in South Florida.

The most recent suit, filed on March 22, proposes a class of plaintiffs that includes anyone who listed vessels on certain Multiple Listing Services using a listing agent or broker affiliated with one of the defendants and paid a buyer’s broker commission since March 22, 2020.

The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit is Kip Lamar Snell, identified as an Alabama resident. Snell entered into an agreement with Galati to sell a 41-foot Express Cruiser Sea Ray in July 2020 and ended up paying a $12,000 commission on the $120,000 sale price, the suit states. The lawsuit lists as defendants 15 brokers and six organizations that promote the yacht trade or operate Multiple Listing Services.

That lawsuit follows one filed on Feb. 29 that proposes a class of plaintiffs that includes anyone who paid a commission to a listing broker affiliated with the defendants since Feb. 19, 2020. It lists as defendants 11 brokers and five organizations that promote the yacht trade or operate Multiple Listing Services.

The lead plaintiff in that suit is Ya Mon Expeditions, a Wyoming company that paid a “substantial broker commission” when it sold a vessel in January 2023 while represented by Tournament Yacht Sales of Tequesta.

The most recent complaint accuses the trade associations of colluding with brokers to “enforce an anticompetitive restraint that requires (sellers of pre-owned yachts and boats) to pay a brokerage fee to the buyer’s broker and a total aggregate commission fee that is inflated as a condition for selling their yachts.”

The complaint states the typical commission is 10% and is shared between the seller’s broker and the buyer’s broker under terms spelled out in Central Listing Agreements provided by the brokers associations, including the International Yacht Brokers Association and the Yacht Brokers Association of America.

Only boat brokers are able to list boats and yachts on such Multiple Listing Services as YachtWorld.com , BoatTrader.com and Boats.com , and the Multiple Listing Services will not accept listings from owners who want to sell their vessels themselves, the lawsuit states.

Yacht owners are “severely disadvantaged” if they do not list their boats for sale on the listing services, while buyers suffer because their brokers are “financially incentivized” to show boats that will earn them standard “and inflated” commission rates of 4% to 5% through co-brokerage transactions, the complaint states.

None of the defendants contacted for this story responded to a request for comment, and no response has been filed yet in either case.

Robert Allen Jr., whose Miami-based law firm Robert Allen Law represents the International Yacht Brokers Association, did not respond to emails or return a phone call.

A woman who answered the phone at the International Yacht Brokers Association said, “We have no comment on that,” and hung up after a reporter asked for her name.

Of six brokers contacted for comment about the lawsuits, only Tournament Yacht Sales responded to emails. “No comment,” the company’s response stated.

Overall commissions have increased faster than the rate of inflation in recent years as the price of larger boats and yachts have increased, according to the lawsuit that lists Snell as lead plaintiff.

The result is that boat owners pay “hundreds of millions of dollars” in inflated commissions each year, the suit alleges.

Both lawsuits allege violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act that are upheld by “brokers who should be competing with one another but, instead, cooperate with each other to the detriment of pre-owned boat sellers.”

Some brokerages represent both buyers and sellers and retain the entire 10% commissions, the suits state.

The trade associations enforce rules requiring brokers to offer their boats through a listing service and to share commissions, the suits state, adding that they can impose significant penalties on members who do not comply with their rules.

Yacht purchasers are disadvantaged by the current system, the lawsuit alleges, because their agents would otherwise negotiate for their business by decreasing their commission rates.

But buyer brokers’ commissions have remained constant despite their diminishing role, the suits state. Many buyers today find boats they are interested in purchasing through online searches and enlist the services of a buyer’s broker only after identifying the yacht they want to buy, the suits claim.

The lawsuits seek an order declaring the commission structure to be illegal, a permanent injunction outlawing what they describe as anticompetitive conduct, plus damages and/or restitution, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees.

Paul Geller, an attorney for one of two law firms representing the class that includes Snell, acknowledged “parallels between the allegations relating to commissions in the real estate and yacht markets.”

In the real estate matter, the National Association of Realtors on March 15 agreed to a $418 million proposed settlement that would free home sellers from paying commissions to brokers for both sellers and buyers.

After a jury ruled for the plaintiffs in the case against the National Association of Realtors in October, numerous lawsuits were filed across the country with similar allegations, including one in December against the Florida Association of Realtors and 16 brokerages.

“At bottom, the goals of (the suit against the yacht brokers) are similar: protecting consumers by challenging what we allege to be anti-competitive conduct,” Geller said by email. “We believe in the universal truth that consumers benefit by increased transparency and the competitive pricing that results from negotiated terms, including commissions.”

Geller is a partner at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, which specializes in securities litigation on behalf of investors. The firm has offices in 10 cities, including Boca Raton.

©2024 South Florida Sun Sentinel. Visit at sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Baltimore businesses are trying to figure out how the bridge collapse will affect them

• Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after it was struck by a ship on Tuesday morning.
• The bridge is close to several major distribution centers, including Amazon and FedEx.
• A local business owner said he expected to see traffic disrupted for weeks.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore could have major effects on distribution and deliveries for businesses in the area.

Baltimore's biggest bridge collapsed early on Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into one of its support beams, prompting Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to declare a state of emergency.

Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, Kevin Cartwright, the communications director for the Baltimore Fire Department, told the Associated Press.

The collapse prompted the immediate close of the Port of Baltimore, which is one of the US' biggest ports by volume and value of cargo and the biggest US port for cars and light trucks, according to Bloomberg .

It may also delay companies' deliveries by road because they have to find an alternative route to cross the harbor.

Around 11.3 million vehicles drive over the bridge each year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority , and Amazon, Home Depot, FedEx, BMW, and Volkswagen all have distribution centers and warehouses just east of the bridge at Sparrows Point.

"This is a huge issue that is going to motivate an all-hands-on-deck response to offset the financial hit," Dave Marcotte, a longtime retail and supply chain expert from Kantar, told Business Insider.

"It's going to snarl container seaboard, train routing, and East Coast trucking for a while," he added.

Neil Saunders, managing director of the retail division at data analytics and consulting company GlobalData, told BI via email that the collapse could "have a negative impact on journey times and costs for both incoming and outgoing goods from those centers."

He said the "main impact" would be local but added, "There might be a slight regional impact as other centers have to increase volume to compensate, but this should not be too onerous as most retailers can divert delivery traffic via other routes."

Related stories

The bridge was one of three routes for vehicles to cross the harbor alongside two tunnels. The MDTA is advising drivers on alternative routes to take.

The bridge is near major distribution sites

Tradepoint Atlantic, the logistics hub at Sparrows Point, is home to distribution sites for various retailers and delivery companies, including Amazon, Home Depot, FedEx, Under Armour, McCormick, and Floor and Decor. BMW and Volkswagen also have sites there.

Tradepoint Atlantic said it had been "in constant contact" with emergency response officials and leaders from the city and state.

When asked about the impact of the bridge's collapse on its operations, a BMW spokesperson told BI it expected only "short-term traffic delays."

Volkswagen said its operations were unaffected as its Baltimore facility was "located on the sea board of the bridge collapse." But said there "may be trucking delays as traffic will be rerouted in the area."

Both Home Depot and McCormick, which manufactures spices and seasonings, said their distribution centers in the area were open and operating.

And, a spokesperson for FedEx said they have contingency plans in place to "lessen any potential impacts on service," without specifying what these are.

Business Insider contacted the other companies for comment but had not heard back when this article went live.

When the Volkswagen Group vehicle terminal opened in 2020, the automaker said it would import and process about 120,000 Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley vehicles from Europe and Mexico each year, serving about 300 dealers in the mid-Atlantic region.

The BMW vehicle distribution center, which opened in 2022, was designed to support more than 125 BMW and Mini dealers in central and eastern US, the company said in a press release when it opened. BMW said the 35-acre site would act as a distribution hub for vehicles from manufacturing facilities and be used for vehicle inspections, repairs, and maintenance.

McCormick said in 2020 that it expected its site at Tradepoint Atlantic to become its biggest distribution site.

"This is going to be catastrophic for many reasons," one resident told local CBS affiliate WJZ . "Number one, the harbor's blocked. Number two, we're not going to get any more new car deliveries at this time. Amazon is just on the other side of the river and you can forget your same-day, next-day delivery packages."

"The beltway is going to be a parking lot. The tunnels are going to be over-jammed," he added.

Local businesses prepare for ongoing disruption

The Hard Yacht Cafe, located about a mile from the bridge, told BI that it wasn't yet clear how the collapse would affect its business.

"The area of destruction is a major artery for traffic. We can't be sure what kind of impact this is going to have on our business but this will for sure disrupt all travel both auto and boating for weeks to come," Alexander DelSordo, majority owner of the café and Anchor Bay Marina, told BI via email.

"It's going to take weeks to get back to some kind of normalcy with regards to travel," he added.

A worker at Royal Farms, a convenience store at Hawkins Point on the southwestern end of the bridge, told BI at about 7:30 a.m. local time that it was open as usual and all its staff had been able to get in so far.

Has your business been affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge? Email these reporters at [email protected] or [email protected].

Watch: How truck driving became one of the worst jobs in the US

• Main content