superyacht av owner

Shoe shiner turned billionaire Dennis Washington’s $200 million superyacht Attessa IV is a 300 feet long art deco-styled marvel with Gucci chairs, a one-of-a-kind chandelier, a spectacular spa, and a helipad.

You may also like

Lady Petra superyacht is displayed at the 2012 Monaco Yacht Show

Meet Elon Musk’s scandal-ridden father Errol. Though ‘brilliant at engineering’, the Tesla centibillionaire just does not get along with his father and has called him ‘Evil’.

This $130 million superyacht will come with a red carpet entrance and a massive swimming pool

Investigation reveals that German taxpayers funded the construction of sanctioned Russian oligarch’s $500 million yacht – 470 feet long and spread across eight decks, it is the largest sailing yacht in the world. The masts of this lavish vessel alone are taller than Big Ben.

The Vice President of the richest nation in Africa is selling his 295 feet long superyacht for $127 million – Perfect for a deep-pocketed billionaire the pleasure craft’s interiors are covered in marble and gold, it has a helipad and an uber-luxurious owners suite.

German police raided Alisher Usmanov’s plush villa and found not one but four fake Faberge eggs. The sanctioned oligarch is worth $16 billion and also owns the $800 million megayacht Dilbar.

7 of the largest yachts owned by American sports billionaires, ranked: From Dan Snyder’s Lady S, which has an IMAX theater, to the Dallas Cowboys owner’s $225 million superyacht. The most expensive vessel belongs to an immigrant who once washed dishes for $1.20 an hour.

American billionaire and owner of Harbor Freight stores just took delivery of this 384-feet long megayacht. The $350 million vessel has seven decks, a pool, and a yoga studio it uses AI to stabilize the mammoth yacht on rough seas.

The crew of Russian billionaire’s Alfa Nero superyacht is having the time of their lives on the abandoned $120 million vessel. While it is raking up more than $100,000 a month in maintenance bills, the crew has been playing Call of Duty and swimming in the infinity pool.

• Your Profile
• Your Subscriptions
• Your Business
• Support Local News
• Payment History
• Sign up for Daily Headlines
• Sign up for Notifications

Humongous $200M superyacht arrives in Vancouver

• Share by Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Text Message

A 95-metre superyacht priced at $200 million was spotted cruising through False Creek before docking in North Vancouver. 

Attessa V Yacht was built in 2010 by Blohm and Voss, a German shipbuilding and engineering company. It arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday and moved over to a dock in North Vancouver on Wednesday morning.

AV can entertain 24 guests in 12 rooms and has a crew of 33 people. It features a large swimming pool on the deck, a private movie theatre and a jet pool jacuzzi. 

The superyacht was designed by Michael Leach Design and soars in ’speed and style.’

It costs $10 to $20 million per year to run the yacht.

Website SuperYacht.com lists the owner of the AV as Dennis Washington, an 88-year-old American billionaire whose net worth is listed at US$6.4 billion and is ranked number 397 in Forbes' richest people in the world . 

Washington, from Montana, claims to be ‘self-made’ and owns a copper mining, marine transportation and heavy equipment business, according to Forbes. He is married with two children. In an interview with Forbes.com, Washington said his passion is boats. 

Washington’s network of companies includes Washington Marine Group and Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver, where Kyle Washington, Dennis Washington’s son, is executive chairman.

The AV Yacht was previously known as Palladium and is listed as an award-winning superyacht.  It was previously owned by Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian oligarch and previous owner of the Brooklyn Nets. The yacht drew attention when The Late Show host Stephen Colbert visited Prokhorov on the yacht. 

Superyachts flocking to Vancouver Island

Superyachts flock to B.C. every year. One recently drew attention in B.C.’s capital when a Brazilian billionaire docked in Victoria. 

The 62-metre-long vessel called the Anawa was docked at Ship Point on May 30, clad with its own helicopter on deck. 

Billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann owns the yacht, according to Superfanyacht.com. Forbes.com says the investor-philanthropist lives in Switzerland and is worth $14.8 billion.

Anawa was custom-designed and built in 2020 by Damen Yachting. It’s one of the company’s SeaXplorer class of vessels, billed as “long-range, luxury expedition” yachts.

It can carry 12 guests and 15 crew plus a captain, Damen said.

Back in 2020, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones's yacht was spotted in the  waters off Vancouver Island . The "Bravo Eugenia" is worth an estimated quarter-billion dollars.

The superyacht is designed to use 30 per cent less fuel than other vessels of its size and class but it doesn't skimp on amenities. The "Bravo Eugenia" can accommodate 14 guests and 30 crew members and features six guest suites, a beach lounge, spa and gym.

On Tuesday, the AV Yacht wasn’t the only yacht drawing attention. A 32-metre vessel called the Snowbored was passing through False Creek  with the final destination of Galiano Island. 

The Snowbored, built by Westport in 2003, is a 32-metre vessel with a satin cherry wood interior, and a sundeck sporting a hot tub, wet bar, and lounge pads. It also has a fighting chair and rocket launcher for sport fishing, and can launch a Novurania tender and Yamaha waverunners.

In a statement to Glacier Media, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says anyone wishing to view the Attessa V in Vancouver's inner harbour area by boat "is urged to ensure they do so from a safe distance." "We love seeing boaters and paddlers out enjoying the waters that make up the Port of Vancouver," says Jason Krott, manager of marine operations and fleet. "Our focus is working with all users to build the awareness and understanding needed to support a safe shared space for recreational and commercial traffic."

To see the inside of the AV superyacht, visit the designer's website .  

• Oldest Newest

This has been shared 0 times

Featured Flyer

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 3706
• 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

NOT FOR CHARTER *

This Yacht is not for Charter*

SIMILAR YACHTS FOR CHARTER

View Similar Yachts

Or View All luxury yachts for charter

• Luxury Charter Yachts
• Motor Yachts for Charter
• Amenities & Toys

AV yacht NOT for charter*

95.1m  /  312' | blohm + voss | 2010.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Guest elevator
• Impressive 5,000nm range
• Multi-award winning
• SOLAS Certified
• Generous pool

The multi-award winning 95.1m/312' motor yacht 'AV' (ex. Palladium) was built by Blohm + Voss in Germany at their Hamburg shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Michael Leach and she was delivered to her owner in September 2010. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Michael Leach.

Guest Accommodation

AV has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 16 guests in 8 suites comprising one VIP cabin. Additionally, there are 3 staff cabins aboard. She is also capable of carrying up to 34 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include beauty salon, elevator, gym and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

AV is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (16V 959 TE70L) 16-cylinder 4,600hp engines running at 1750rpm, she comfortably cruises at 16 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 19 knots with a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles from her 480,000 litre fuel tanks at 16 knots. Her water tanks store around 102,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to Lloyds Register ✠ 100A1 SSC YACHT(P) MONO G6; EP, LI. ✠ LMC, UMS, PCAC(1.1) classification society rules, and is MCA LY2 Compliant.

*Charter AV Motor Yacht

Motor yacht AV 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.

AV 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.

AV Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2011 Best Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and above (approximately 85m+) Special Commendation
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Interior Design Award: Displacement Motor Yachts 200′+ Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Exterior Design & Styling Award: Displacement Motor Yachts 200′+ Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Tender Design Award Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Bespoke Furniture Award Winner
• International Superyacht Society Awards 2011 Best Power 65m+ Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2011 Interior Layout Award: Motor Yachts Finalist
• Asia Boating Award 2011 Best Custom Built Yacht Finalist

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y AV

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

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

Silver Fast

77m | SilverYachts

from $670,000 p/week ♦︎

80m | Oceanco

from $861,000 p/week ♦︎

81m | Feadship

from $1,028,000 p/week ♦︎

81m | Oceanco

from $812,500 p/week *

78m | Abeking & Rasmussen

from $770,000 p/week

86m | Derecktor Shipyards

from $945,000 p/week

86m | Abeking & Rasmussen

from $939,000 p/week ♦︎

91m | Lurssen

from $1,400,000 p/week

Man of Steel

86m | Oceanco

from $1,000,000 p/week

85m | Lurssen

from $1,056,000 p/week ♦︎

Moonlight II

91m | Neorion

from $713,000 p/week ♦︎

90m | Corsair Yachts

from $497,000 p/week

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

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
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• 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
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

AV is a 95.15 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Blohm & Voss and delivered in 2010.

Her top speed is 20.0 kn and her cruising speed is 16.0 kn and her power comes from two diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 staterooms, with 33 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 4440.0 GT and a 16.0 m beam.

She was designed by Michael Leach Design , who also designed the interior. Michael Leach Design has designed 10 yachts and designed the interior of 6 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

The naval architecture was developed by Blohm & Voss , who has architected 8 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

AV is in the top 5% by LOA in the world. She is one of 35 motor yachts in the 90-100m size range, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her cruising speed is 0.95 kn above the average, her top speed 1.17 kn above the average, and her volume 1424.34 GT above the average.

AV is currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the 2nd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1411 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Canada. For more information regarding AV's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Previous Names: PALLADIUM
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Blohm & Voss
• Naval Architect: Blohm & Voss
• Exterior Designer: Michael Leach Design
• Interior Designer: Michael Leach Design
• Refits: 2019,2022

Yacht featured in

Yachts like this, from our partners, sponsored listings.

By SuperyachtNews 13 Feb 2019

The AV/IT skills needed on superyachts

Are the increasingly complex av/it systems installed on board superyachts causing manning issues.

Audio-visual (AV) and satellite communication systems found on today’s superyachts can be complex and, crucially, are a major part of the guest experience. Electro-technical officers (ETOs) and engineers on board modern-day vessels are under immense pressure to ensure all systems work seamlessly all of the time. But with this technology constantly evolving, it is increasingly difficult for crew to keep abreast of the skills and training required to maintain them. 

Typically, it is recommended that ETOs have experience with each main system component on board their yacht, but this is difficult to acquire prior to joining the vessel. AV training is not always directly available to crew and, where it is, it can be time-consuming and expensive. Also, specific manufacturers’ courses can go beyond what crew need as they are intended for those installing and programming systems regularly.

However, some companies in the sector are trying to do something about the skills shortage. Just ETOs is a marine electronics training provider that focuses on tailor-made yacht electronics training courses aimed at ETOs, electricians, AV/IT officers and engineers. Its courses cover the core skills needed to maintain AV and satellite communication systems.

There are certain skills required of crew based on the current technology that is now featured on the most modern superyachts, and identifying these is an important step towards ensuring that demand is met. Scott Molloy, founder of Just ETOs, thinks it is the technology trends as a whole that drive most of what is installed on superyachts, and these trends also dictate the skills that are required on board, which is why they can’t be ignored.

“Digital trends, and the industry not recognising or reacting to them sufficiently, is the reason behind the ongoing crew AV/IT skills shortage,” Molloy explains. “I believe the biggest trend to be the continued move towards IP-based solutions on board. Most large-yacht systems will now connect and inter-connect using the ship’s LAN [local area network], unlike 10 or more years ago. This has led to many more yachts now finding they need a network specialist on board. However, finding experienced crew with strong networking skills remains challenging.”

Molloy adds that consumer ‘gadgets’ and online services are also rapidly changing, being such big business now for the manufacturers and providers. With all this latest technology coming to market, crew need up-to-date training to keep pace. This trend is driven by the fact that most of western society lives in a digital age and spend lots of money in these areas.

“We must also consider the exponential curve of ever-increasing consumer video standards – 4K, 8K etc.,” says Molloy. “Video is the biggest consumer on most yacht networks, with the throughput required for the latest video standards increasing fast. The most recent new builds also tend to have an IP-based video distribution solution, such as Crestron NVX, as opposed to the traditional central video matrix. Again, this is indicative of the ongoing move towards IP-based solutions. Crucially, all of this needs a well-designed, robust and future-proof LAN and somebody to support it.” 

So, how can the superyacht industry ensure that it has enough crew with the required skill-sets in the future? “Something that I have noticed through the Just ETOs business model is that the majority of crew who train with us are funding their training privately,” responds Molloy. “Most of us will probably agree how important AV/IT systems are on superyachts. However, most vessels are either failing to recognise this or failing to provide for appropriate crew training.” 

Molloy believes that addressing a vessel’s skills requirements shouldn’t be a case of the captain or chief engineer just handing a list of ideal and hopeful requirements to a recruiter. “These skills are in very short supply, so crew development also needs to be an important part of the manning strategy,” he continues. “Of most concern is that the digital trends driving these skills shortages are nothing new. I actually joined my first yacht back in 2005 due to an IT skills shortage. So, will industry attitudes in these areas really change any time soon?”

Profile links

Superyacht Electronics Academy

Join the discussion

To post comments please Sign in or Register

When commenting please follow our house rules

Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here .

Sign up to the SuperyachtNews Bulletin

Receive unrivalled market intelligence, weekly headlines and the most relevant and insightful journalism directly to your inbox.

Sign up to the SuperyachtNews Bulletin

The superyachtnews app.

Follow us on

Media Pack Request

Please select exactly what you would like to receive from us by ticking the boxes below:

SuperyachtNews.com

Register to comment

• WEATHER ALERT Flood Watch Full Story

1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks were onboard yacht that burned in Marina del Rey: Owner

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- The owner of a luxury yacht that erupted in flames and sank in Marina del Rey said 1,000 rounds of "unspent ammunition and fireworks" were onboard the vessel, according to fire officials.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department provided an update on the incident in a social media post Thursday morning.

The fire was reported shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at 211 Basin A, where flames engulfed the multi-level, 100-foot boat, the agency said.

Residents in the area said they heard multiple explosions resonating throughout the harbor as yacht was consumed by flames. Fire officials said two people were able to get off the boat uninjured.

Fire crews poured water onto the burning vessel, which later sank into the harbor.

An environmental hazard team was expected to arrive in Marina del Rey Thursday to assist with the cleanup of the burned vessel.

A United States Coast Guard Incident Management Team from Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach is monitoring the cleanup efforts, according to the Coast Guard, which said that the yacht "caught fire and discharged red-dye diesel."

"The fire did not appear to damage any other vessels in the harbor," the USCG said in a statement Thursday. "The Coast Guard is working with Patriot Environmental Services and Clean Harbors organizations to contain and recover the discharge from the yacht."

The yacht's fuel capacity was reported to be 6,000 gallons, according to the Coast Guard. Crews from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department are also assisting in the efforts.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network was also notified and was on standby for wildlife response. "No observations of oiled wildlife have been reported at this time," the Coast Guard said Thursday morning. "For your safety and the safety of the animals, do not attempt to capture oiled animals." Witnesses were urged to report oiled wildlife to (877) 823-6926.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Related Topics

• MARINA DEL REY
• BOATING SAFETY
• FIREFIGHTERS

Top Stories

8 firefighters injured as OCFA truck crashes in Irvine

• 44 minutes ago

Methane leak, odor forced hourslong evacuations in Ventura

• 29 minutes ago

New video shows former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías attack wife

Californians can now download mobile driver's license on Apple Wallet

Amazon opens 1st-of-its-kind wildfire relief center in Beaumont

History made! Ohtani becomes 1st member of MLB's 50/50 club

Teenagers arrested in online threats against SoCal schools

IE man who sold fentanyl-laced pill liable for $5.8M in woman's death

Yacht with 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks burns in Marina del Rey

• Copy Link URL Copied!

Marina del Rey’s harbor produced an unexpected light show Wednesday evening as a luxury yacht loaded with ammunition and fireworks burned for more than two hours before flames were extinguished, authorities said.

Flames leaped 20 to 30 feet from the 100-foot vessel, dubbed the Admiral, while live ammunition rounds could be heard firing from the boat, according to videos from the scene .

Thursday morning, the charred yacht was lying on its side, and the water around it was tinted red from the diesel fuel dumped from the vessel. A Coast Guard spokesperson said an estimated 4,000 gallons of diesel was dumped into the water. The total is not official as monitoring continues.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said two passengers aboard the boat exited safely. No information was available about the cause of the blaze.

An L.A. County Fire spokesperson said one individual suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene and was released.

A deadly crash on a Long Beach sunset cruise. Then, the fight to save survivors

The boat, traveling at a high speed, crashed into the jetty near its slip, killing a man. It would have been much worse, if not for the quick thinking of a passenger.

Aug. 8, 2024

Firefighters responded to a call around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and eventually knocked out the flames at 10:33 p.m. The boat was declared fully submerged at 11:33 p.m.

The yacht’s owner, who was not identified, told fire officials that the vessel was carrying 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel confirmed they were on the scene evaluating cleanup options.

More to Read

Wildfire damages Navy base on remote California island; live fire suspected

Sept. 4, 2024

5 rescued as boat burns and sinks off Catalina Island

July 30, 2024

‘Misfire and explosion’ leave pyrotechnic workers injured at La Puente fireworks show

July 4, 2024

Sign up for Essential California

The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Andrew J. Campa is a member of the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times, having previously covered the Eastside and San Gabriel Valley. Before, he worked at several medium and small daily newspapers and has covered education, sports and general news. He’s a proud University of Alabama (#RollTide), Cal State Fullerton and Pasadena City College alumnus.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Multiple firefighters suffer major injuries in Irvine crash returning from Airport fire

California secretary of state among officials in 16 states receiving suspicious packages

Sept. 19, 2024

World & Nation

Yellowstone visitor scalded in thermal pool hot enough to burn people to death. She broke the Pledge

YFN Lucci’s attorney confirms imprisoned rapper is still alive amid death rumors

Most read in california.

Rare September rain due in Southern California, with some areas under flood watch

A wall of secrets may crumble as feds call out enablers of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ alleged sex crimes

In an effort to create more affordable homes, Gov. Newsom signs package of housing bills

Column: California voters are fed up with crime and, apparently, the response by Democrats

Sept. 18, 2024

Testimonials

M/Y Skye is the second yacht I have been skipper on that Charles, and Superyacht AV, has been responsible for.

With neat and unobtrusive installation, Superyacht AV’s system is slick in both operation and presentation. Using Savant as the main control throughout.The audio quality in every area of the yacht is unsurpassed and testament to Charles’ skill and experience, with 4k video distribution we have the whole package onboard. Support and communication is quick and easy, and nothing is ever too much trouble.

Robin Shellcock, Captain M/Y Skye

Thanks for the help Charlie ! I can definitely recommend you

Ferdi Heymann , Captain M/Y PANGAEA

Charles in now working on my third Sunseeker yacht, the first being the Manhattan 65 in 2018, the Sunseeker 86 yacht in 2019 and now the latest work in progress which is the Sunseeker 116 yacht. Whilst the audio visual available from the ship builder is a fairly comprehensive system I really wanted a completely personalised bespoke system. We needed pure simplicity in terms of operating all of the audio visual systems, blinds, environmental controls, lighting and monitoring all areas of the boat for added guest and crew safety. With each boat the technology available has vastly improved, from the size and flexibility of the speakers, they can be almost invisible these days, to the line array speakers and the compactness and lightness of the outdoor cinema screen. I am still using the 86 whilst the 116 is under construction and enjoying every moment of the boat, though in only 24 months new AV tech has recently become available and is being readied for the 116 will make this a truly stand out yacht. For all of the yachts we have built Charles has given us an end to end service from initial concept right through to wiring diagrams, rack design and stacking to even making sure we have the right TV channels for Mediterranean and Asia cruising. In particular the Savant integration is a dream to operate giving us the ability to control lights, blinds,music and tv from our phones or dedicated iPads onboard. From the initial designs to the hidden away custom built racks, the whole process went seamlessly, and is a joy to both use and of course hear. Charles used his 25+ years of experience in the music business to map and tune all 9 areas of the yacht, in particular the Dolby Atmos setup in the saloon is spectacular. I couldn’t recommend these guys highly enough.

Stuart Gibson Co-founder, CEO ESR Ltd

SIMON LE BON, Lead Vocals: Duran Duran

As an owner of yacht companies, I deal with some of the largest and most prestigious yachts in the world. I will only work with Charles and Superyacht-AV for new construction projects and refits/retrofits. The greatest frustration with 99% of marine AV companies globally, is that they cannot bring themselves to the level of the end operators – the owner, guests and crew. Owners and guests on yacht need a simple and quick solution to operate systems they are not readily familiar with. Additionally, owners & guests want those systems to be state of the art. Often complicated substandard equipment is an Achilles heel to any yacht and it’s crew, which can result in valuable crew time being used to inform guests on how to operate what should be a user friendly device. Charles’ total package encompasses the most important elements of Marine AV – simple usability for owners/guests and easy maintenance by crew, while designing top of the line and durable systems. His work has been celebrated by yacht owners internationally, he is the only choice for yachts & superyachts, as well as luxury houses around the world.

NIGEL BEATTY, Director of The Someya Group

Charlie is one of the best In-Ear Monitor Engineers I’ve ever come across. His patience and attention to detail puts him leagues ahead of the competition. The esteemed list of satisfied artists he has worked with, including my tours with Robbie Williams and Duran Duran, makes for impressive reading. For me, designing sound systems is a natural extension of his skills. If he can make the plethora of horrible venues we are faced with on a daily basis sound good to artists used to perfection in recording studios, he can make a Stateroom on a yacht feel like Wembley Arena with his eyes closed. Wob Roberts ,Production Manager

 Client privacy and confidentiality is imperative.

Identities, project images and information are used with prior written consent.

Designed by Charles Bradley

Donetsk and Luhansk: What you should know about the ‘republics’

Who has followed Russia in recognising the controversial, Moscow-backed statelets in Ukraine? And what is life like there?

Kyiv, Ukraine – Moscow-backed separatists have controlled the southeastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, known collectively as Donbas, for almost eight years.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised them only on Monday, paving the way for the official presence of Russian troops in the rebel-controlled areas that occupy about a third of Donetsk and Luhansk.

So far, only Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Syria have joined Putin in recognising Donetsk and Luhansk – along with breakaway Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. They all did so also on Monday.

The central question is whether Russia would recognise them in their current borders. Should it decide to help the rebels “restore” their statelets to the original borders, it may spell a large-scale war between Moscow and Kyiv.

At the moment, Russia will recognise “the borders, where the leadership of the DNR and the LNR are executing their authority,” Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told the Interfax News Agency on Tuesday.

But the foreign ministry also said on Tuesday that the issue of the borders is yet to be resolved.

While Ukraine and the West try to avoid war, other questions loom.

What are the roots of the region’s separatism? What has kept these areas alive since 2014? And what is their future?

Neo-Stalinism

A 13.5 metre-tall statue of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin still dominates the main square in Donetsk, the capital of the eponymous breakaway region in southeastern Ukraine.

And the constitution adopted by Lenin’s successor, Josef Stalin, has been restored by the Moscow-backed separatist leaders of Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk after they broke away from the central government in 2014.

This constitution prescribes the death penalty for a number of crimes, making the separatist “People’s Republics” – and authoritarian Belarus nearby – Europe’s only homes to capital punishment.

After almost eight years of existence, the “republics” are understood to have evolved into totalitarian, North Korea-like statelets.

It is near impossible for foreigners to enter the areas. Ukrainians can only visit if they have relatives in Donetsk and Luhansk, and would have to cross into Russia first, which takes about 30 hours and costs $100 – a journey that also involves bribing officials at times. Residents need a Soviet-era residency registration.

In the statelets, secret police and “loyal” residents monitor every word, phone call and text message.

Dissidents or businessmen who refuse to “donate” their assets to the “needs of the People’s Republic” have been thrown in “cellars”, or dozens of makeshift concentration camps, without trial.

“It looks like the 1930s in the Soviet Union, a classic gulag,” Stanislav Aseyev, a publicist who was kidnapped in 2017 in Donetsk and was sentenced by a separatist “court” to 15 years in jail for “espionage”, told Al Jazeera.

For almost two years, he was incarcerated and tortured in these “cellars” until separatists swapped him and dozens of other prisoners in 2017.

Thousands of others were tortured and abused in the “cellars”, according to rights groups and witnesses. The grave human rights abuses make Donetsk and Luhansk far worse than today’s Russia, an international human rights advocate said.

“The cellars where prisoners are held in Donetsk, and the widespread use of torture, are among the most obvious human rights issues,” said Ivar Dale, a senior policy adviser with the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, a human rights watchdog group.

But there are much wider problems such as civil and political rights, he said.

“You could say that the political repression in Russia is doubly felt in Donetsk and Luhansk and other areas effectively under control of the Putin regime,” Dale told Al Jazeera.

Rust-belt ruins

These tendencies have gone hand in hand with economic degradation.

The living standards are “many times, if not dozens of times worse than in pre-war 2013”, said Aseyev, 32, who now lives in Kyiv and has published a novel about the events in Donetsk.

This regress looks even more staggering considering Donetsk’s and Luhansk’s not-so-ancient history. The cities were founded by two Brits.

Englishman Charles Gascoigne built a metal factory in what is now Luhansk in 1795, shortly after czarist Russia annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine from the Crimean Khanate, a mostly-Muslim vassal of Ottoman Turkey.

Decades later, in 1869, Welshman John Hughes started a steel plant and a coal mine in what is now Donetsk, and the city was named after him – Hughesovka or Yuzovka – until the Soviet era.

The birth and rapid growth of both cities followed the czarist government’s drive to develop the immense coal and iron ore deposits of what is now eastern Ukraine.

Communist Moscow further spurred the region’s development, and tens of thousands of ethnic Russians settled there, making urban areas almost exclusively Russian-speaking.

Coal and mines grew deeper next to hillocks made of spent ore, and foundries, chemical and power plants dotted the region.

The political heyday of Donetsk began in 2010, when its native Viktor Yanukovych became Ukraine’s president – and brought cohorts of his cronies to Kyiv.

They tried to wrestle control of Ukraine’s politics and economy – but triggered months-long protests that began in November 2013 and ended in February 2014, when the Ukrainian parliament voted to remove Yanukovych from office.

The protests are known in Ukraine as the Revolution of Dignity – but Russian President Vladimir Putin still calls them a “coup”.

‘Russian spring’

In the czarist era, the region was known as Novorossiya – or New Russia – and the Kremlin would use the name in 2014 as it proclaimed the “Russian Spring” or “liberation” of Russian-speaking regions in eastern and southern Ukraine.

But pro-Russian rallies and uprisings in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, and Odesa, its largest seaport on the Black Sea, failed.

However, thousands of Russian volunteers flocked to Donetsk and Luhansk to aid separatist militias – while many locals were ecstatic about the “Russian Spring”.

“Putin will come and restore order here,” one of their supporters, a rotund minibus driver named Valerii, told this reporter in April 2014 in Donetsk.

But four months later, after the separatists tried to confiscate his minibus, he locked his apartment, loaded the bus with his most valuable belongings, and left for Kyiv.

‘Price tag’

Even though Ukraine barred any economic ties to the separatist regions, they still exist – and even involve top politicians.

Pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko, who came to power after the Revolution of Dignity, admitted that he channeled government funds worth tens of millions of dollars in exchange for Donetsk coal in the winter of 2014-2015 because otherwise “half of Ukraine could have frozen”.

But Russia still had to bankroll the separatist provinces spending billions of dollars a year.

So, what are Moscow’s economic goals in Donbas?

“Very simple – to lower the price tag of maintaining the occupied territories,” Aleksey Kusch, a Kyiv-based analyst, told Al Jazeera.

To achieve that, Russia may want to remove the middlemen who pocketed the lion’s share of profits from the export of coal and steel and the delivery of humanitarian aid that was immediately resold on the black market.

“They kept up to 70 percent of the profits,” Kushch said.