Whisper (yacht)

A ship at dock backlit by skyscrapers
As Kismet, moored in Canary Wharf
History
Name
  • Kismet (2014–2024)
  • Whisper (2024–present)
OwnerEric Schmidt
BuilderKrögerwerft, Schacht-Audorf, Germany
Yard number13678
CompletedOctober 2014
In service2014–present
StatusIn service
General characteristics
TypeSuperyacht
Tonnage
Length95.2 m (312 ft 4 in)
Beam13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
Speed17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Capacity16
As Kismet, moored at Sète, France

Whisper, formerly known as Kismet, is a 95.2-metre (312 ft 4 in)-long superyacht which was built by Lürssen in 2014. The yacht's new-construction project was overseen by Moran Yacht & Ship, which also managed its chartering business, and it was owned by Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan.[1][2][3][4] In September 2023, the vessel was sold to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and renamed Whisper. Shahid Khan built a new larger superyacht in 2024 with the name Kismet.[5][6]

Design and description

The vessel measures 95.2 m (312 ft 4 in) long overall with a beam of 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in). The megayacht was measured at 2,928 gross tonnage (GT) and 320 tons deadweight (DWT) at construction.[7] The ship has a maximum speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).[1] Kismet can carry 28 crew members at a time, and has eight state rooms which provide a capacity for 16 guests. Its design includes large and open public spaces for lounging and dining, and the rooms are stylized with exotic woods, handcrafted textiles, marble and leather.[3] The exterior is notable for its large-sized windows across all decks.[3]

It was finished in a luxurious style by Reymond Langton and Espen Øino (Oeino), with an expensive interior design.[8][3] The fittings were specified to be better than a "five star hotel", featuring a deck of black marble and a large bath made of solid onyx.[8] The yacht is complete with a swimming pool, barbecue area, movie theatre, sauna, helipad, elevator and gymnasium.[3] Other amenities and provisions include an onboard internet connection, underwater lighting, and stabilizers at the anchor and underway.[3]

In 2023 the vessel was retrofitted with a 474 kWh Orca ESS battery from Corvus Energy installed at the Lürssen-Krüger Werft shipyard.[9]

Construction and career

Kismet was ordered from Lürssen[1] and constructed at Krögerwerft's shipyard in Schacht-Audorf, Germany.[7] Construction was completed in October 2014, with the yacht entering service that year.[7] The word kismet means "destiny" or "fate" in Khan's native language Urdu and many other languages.[10] According to Yacht Harbour, Kismet is worth an estimated $200 million.[11] It has a charter price of $1.2 million per week, excluding food, fuel and dockage costs.[12][3]

In mid-2018, the yacht was rented by Jay-Z and Beyoncé during a vacation to Italy.[12] Kismet was featured in the 2019 Netflix film 6 Underground starring Ryan Reynolds.[13] The yacht was listed for sale in 2023.[1] In September 2023, the vessel was sold by Cecil Wright & Christie Yachts.[14] The buyer was revealed to be Eric Schmidt, who renamed the vessel Whisper.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Lurssen KISMET – Completed New Build". moranyachts.com. Moran Yacht & Ship. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Super-yacht worth £70 million moored on the River Thames", Evening Standard, 5 November 2014
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hemlock, Doreen (3 February 2015). "Bahia Mar hosts its biggest yacht yet: 312-foot Kismet". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Billionaire's 95m superyacht Kismet spotted in Saint Petersburg". Yacht Harbour. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. ↑ Levitan, Hannah (2025-01-29). "Another luxury yacht worth $360 million has docked in New Orleans for the Super Bowl". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  6. ↑ "KISMET". www.boatinternational.com. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  7. 1 2 3 "Kismet (1012000)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 Dawson, Dudley (May 2008), "Putting on the Ritz", Yachting: 100–105
  9. ↑ "Kismet". Corvus Energy. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  10. ↑ Ratcliffe, Justin (November 2007). "Destiny's Child". Nautic Expo. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020. The term kismet means "destiny" in Turkish and Arabic, as well as Urdu and Hindi.
  11. ↑ "Jay-Z and Beyonce aboard Shahid Khan's $200-million 95-metre superyacht Kismet". Yacht Harbour. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  12. 1 2 Martin, Guy (31 July 2018). "Inside Billionaire Shahid 'Shad' Khan's Superyacht Kismet". Forbes. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Byrne, David (19 December 2019). "Kismet in the Movie 6 Underground". Megayacht News. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  14. ↑ Flanagan, Frances (14 September 2023). "Lürssen's 95m Kismet Sold by Cecil Wright & Christie Yachts". Superyachts.com. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  15. ↑ Berg, Madeleine (7 May 2024). "Eric Schmidt was supposed to buy a yacht once owned by a Russian oligarch. Here's the one he bought instead". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to IMO 1012000 at Wikimedia Commons
  • Moran Yacht & Ship - Whisper (ex-Kismet) project
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