Saudi Crown Prince's Luxury Superyacht 'Serene' Anchors Off Devon Coast
One of the world's largest superyachts, belonging to billionaire Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been spotted anchored in the English Channel off the coast of Torquay, Devon this morning. Marine tracking data confirms the vessel 'Serene' is currently positioned in the area, having arrived at Meadfoot at 10am on Thursday.
Vessel's Journey and Specifications
The impressive yacht departed from Vlissingen in the Netherlands at 9.51am local time on Wednesday before making its way to the Devon coastline. Built in 2011, Serene stretches an extraordinary 133.9 metres in length with a width of 19 metres, placing it among the world's ten largest yachts when constructed. The vessel currently sails under the Cayman Islands flag.
Serene was originally constructed for Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler before being leased to Microsoft founder Bill Gates in 2014 for a reported £3.7 million per week. At that time, it was described as the third most expensive yacht globally. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly known as MBS, later purchased the vessel for an estimated £437 million.
Luxury Features and Accommodation
The award-winning superyacht boasts exceptional amenities including a nightclub complete with dance poles, a dancefloor, sundeck with wet bar, spa, beauty salon, indoor climbing wall, beach club, gym, deck jacuzzi, two helicopter landing pads, underwater viewing room and a full conference room. Remarkably, the vessel reportedly housed Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting Salvator Mundi between 2019 and 2020.
Serene can comfortably accommodate up to 24 guests across 12 suites, including one VIP cabin, while carrying a crew of up to 62 personnel. The yacht now appears to be facing southward and may continue along the coastline toward Paignton, though it remains unclear who is currently on board.
Political Context and Controversies
The sighting comes shortly after Prince William's three-day diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, where he was accompanied by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit aimed to strengthen ties between the UK and its key Middle Eastern ally, with royal sources indicating it sought to lay foundations for friendship with the Saudi leader.
Mohammed bin Salman, effectively the ruler of Saudi Arabia and heir to the throne, has faced significant international controversy. Most notably, the CIA concluded with 'high confidence' in 2018 that MBS ordered the murder of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. Saudi officials initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi's fate for over two weeks, with MBS telling Bloomberg News the journalist had left the consulate 'after a few minutes or one hour' and claiming 'we have nothing to hide.'
In November 2018, Saudi Arabia's deputy public prosecutor stated the murder was ordered by the head of a negotiations team sent to bring Khashoggi back to the kingdom. Investigators concluded Khashoggi was forcibly restrained, injected with a lethal drug overdose, then dismembered and disposed of by a local collaborator. Five individuals confessed to the murder, though officials asserted the crown prince had no knowledge of it.
International Relations and Criticism
The Saudi leader's international engagements have drawn criticism, particularly from American politicians. In November, MBS canceled a meeting with US Senators during an official state visit to discuss defense agreements, Saudi Arabia's pledged £470 billion investment into the US, and potential civilian nuclear deals. The cancellation occurred because Saudi officials were reportedly 'being overly sensitive about which senators could attend.'
Democrats expressed outrage over the crown prince's White House visit, referencing the Khashoggi murder. Senator Bernie Sanders posted on social media calling MBS 'the dictator who had a U.S. columnist murdered for criticizing the Saudi royal family,' while Senator Ed Markey criticized potential arms deals with Saudi Arabia following the intelligence assessment about Khashoggi's killing.
The superyacht's presence in British waters highlights the complex intersection of luxury assets, international diplomacy, and ongoing controversies surrounding one of the world's most powerful political figures.
