Royal Yacht
Encyclopedia
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch
or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor
the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head. The royal yacht is most often manned by personnel from the navy and used by the monarch and his/her family on both private and official travels.
Later the Vikings produced royal vessels. They followed the pattern of longships although highly decorated and fitted with purple sails (purple sails remained standard for royal vessels the next 400 years).
In England, Henry V
sold off the Royal Yachts to clear the Crown's debts. The next royal vessels in England were built in the Tudor period with Henry VIII
using a vessel in 1520 that was depicted as having cloth of gold sails. James I
had the disdain a ship in miniature (she was later recorded as being able to carry about 30 tons) built for his son Prince Henry. The disdain was significant in that she allowed for pleasure cruising and as a result can be seen as an early move away from Royal ships as warships.
The first ships to unquestionably qualify as royal yachts were those owned by Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. The first was gift from the Dutch but later yachts were commissioned and built in England. This established a tradition of royal yachts in Britain that was later copied by other royal families of Europe. Through the 19th century royal yachts got larger as they became a symbol of national wealth. World War I
brought this trend to an end and the royal families that survived found it harder to justify the cost with the result that there are only two royal yachts left in use in Europe
. For the most part royal yachts have been superseded by the use of warships in this role, as royal yachts are often seen as a hard-to-justify expenditure. In addition most monarchies with a railway system employ a special set of royal carriages
. Most monarchies also employ aircraft
as a luxurious (and much more speedy and timely) mode of transportation.
is the personal yacht of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
, ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Completed in 2006, she is the second largest yacht currently in service at 524 feet (162 metres) long. She came to world media attention when she sailed out to welcome the retired ocean liner
, RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
to Dubai in November 2008.
,the Emperor (Kaiser) used these Imperial Yachts:
received the Royal Yacht Norge as a gift from the people of Norway in 1947. The Royal Yacht is owned by the King but maintained and manned by the Royal Norwegian Navy
. Before this other Navy ships had served as royal sea transport and the King used some smaller boats for short trips mostly on official occasions.
The Portuguese King Charles I used four successive royal yachts, all named Amélia, after his wife, Queen Amélie of Orleans. These yachts were, mainly, used by Charles I his oceanographic missions. It was in the Amélia IV that King Manuel II
and the Portuguese Royal Family left the country for the exile, after the republican revolution of 5 October 1910. In the republican regime the Amélia IV was renamed NRP 5 de Outubro and operated by the Portuguese Navy
.
The United Kingdom has had 83 royal yachts since the restoration of King Charles II
in 1660. Charles II himself had 25 royal yachts, while five were simultaneously in service in 1831. Since the decommissioning of Britannia
in 1997 the Queen no longer has a royal yacht.
, Iran
, and Sweden
.
Zanzibar
had only one naval ship in 1896, the royal yacht HHS Glasgow
. It was sunk by the British during the shortest war in history, the Anglo-Zanzibar War
.
Yugoslavia
had some royal yachts before world war two (most notably, one was a sister ship of the "Ilinden
" which sank in lake Ohrid
in 2009. The most famous Yugoslavian yacht is "Galeb
", the yacht of Marshal Josip Broz Tito
.
The United States
in the past employed presidential yacht
s which functioned identically, serving the American President. Most notably was the USS Potomac
(1936–1945) and the USS Williamsburg
(1945–53). The most recent presidential yacht was the USS Sequoia
(1933–77). Earlier vessels included the USS Mayflower
(1906–29), damaged by fire during the Great Depression
.
The President of Finland
has a small private yacht.
The Principality of Monaco owned the royal yacht Deo Juvante II between 1956-1958. The Camper and Nicholsons
yacht was a wedding gift from Aristotle Onassis to Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly and was used on their honeymoon. The yacht, now called the M/Y Grace, is now owned and operated by Quasar Expeditions.
Italy had a royal yacht called Trinacia, the ex America.
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head. The royal yacht is most often manned by personnel from the navy and used by the monarch and his/her family on both private and official travels.
Types of vessels used
Some royal yachts have been/are small vessels only used for short trips on rivers or in calm waters, but others have been/are large seaworthy ships.History
Depending on how the term is defined royal yachts date back to the days of antiquity with royal barges on the Nile in ancient Egypt.Later the Vikings produced royal vessels. They followed the pattern of longships although highly decorated and fitted with purple sails (purple sails remained standard for royal vessels the next 400 years).
In England, Henry V
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
sold off the Royal Yachts to clear the Crown's debts. The next royal vessels in England were built in the Tudor period with Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
using a vessel in 1520 that was depicted as having cloth of gold sails. James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
had the disdain a ship in miniature (she was later recorded as being able to carry about 30 tons) built for his son Prince Henry. The disdain was significant in that she allowed for pleasure cruising and as a result can be seen as an early move away from Royal ships as warships.
The first ships to unquestionably qualify as royal yachts were those owned by Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. The first was gift from the Dutch but later yachts were commissioned and built in England. This established a tradition of royal yachts in Britain that was later copied by other royal families of Europe. Through the 19th century royal yachts got larger as they became a symbol of national wealth. World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
brought this trend to an end and the royal families that survived found it harder to justify the cost with the result that there are only two royal yachts left in use in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. For the most part royal yachts have been superseded by the use of warships in this role, as royal yachts are often seen as a hard-to-justify expenditure. In addition most monarchies with a railway system employ a special set of royal carriages
Royal Train
A royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
. Most monarchies also employ aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
as a luxurious (and much more speedy and timely) mode of transportation.
Denmark
The Danish royal family have had several royal yachts. Two of them have been named Dannebrog.- HMDY Sophia Amalia (1650–?)
- HMDY Elephanten (1687–1721)
- HMDY Kiel (1824–1840)
- HDMY Ægir (1841–1855)
- HMDY Slesvig (1855–1879)
- HDMS JyllandJylland (ship)Jylland is the world's last screw-propelled steam frigate. During the Second War of Schleswig in 1864, it participated in the naval action against the Austrian-Prussian fleet in the Battle of Heligoland on 9 May 1864...
(1874–1885) – A frigateFrigateA frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
which served as a royal yacht on occasion. - HDMY Dannebrog (1879–1932)
- HDMY Dannebrog (1932–present)
Dubai
DubaiDubai (yacht)
Dubai is the name of a yacht currently owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates...
is the personal yacht of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
, ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Completed in 2006, she is the second largest yacht currently in service at 524 feet (162 metres) long. She came to world media attention when she sailed out to welcome the retired ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
, RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
to Dubai in November 2008.
Ottoman Empire/Republic of Turkey
The Imperial Ottoman Government and the Republic of Turkey has used many yachts for its Head of State. These include:- The Imperial Yacht, Tesrifiye
- The Imperial Yacht, İzzeddin
- The Imperial Yacht, Sultaniye
- The Imperial Yacht, Talia
- The Imperial Yacht, Ertuğrul
- Presidential Yacht Savarona – The current Turkish Presidential Yacht; privately leased while her replacement (below) is in development
- New Presidential Yacht – The Turkish Government has currently commissioned a new yacht for the personal use of the President and visiting Heads of State. Details of this new yacht first surfaced in September, 2008. The yacht is being built at the Istanbul Naval Yard, Pendik, Istanbul and is reported to have a ballistic hull, surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
s and high-tech equipment.
Egypt
- Mahroussa a.k.a. El Horria (1866–1951) – Built for Isma'il PashaIsma'il PashaIsma'il Pasha , known as Ismail the Magnificent , was the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan from 1863 to 1879, when he was removed at the behest of the United Kingdom...
, the KhediveKhediveThe term Khedive is a title largely equivalent to the English word viceroy. It was first used, without official recognition, by Muhammad Ali Pasha , the Wāli of Egypt and Sudan, and vassal of the Ottoman Empire...
of Egypt. She passed the Suez Canal during its opening. Lengthened twice, converted from paddle steamer to screws. Now serves as a school ship for the Egyptian Navy.
Germany
During the existence of the German EmpireGerman Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
,the Emperor (Kaiser) used these Imperial Yachts:
- SMY HohenzollernSMY HohenzollernSMY Hohenzollern was the name of several Yachts used by the German Emperors between 1878 and 1918, named after their House of Hohenzollern.- SMY Hohenzollern I :...
1878–1912, renamed SMY Kaiseradler in 1892 - SMY Hohenzollern II 1893–1914
- SMY Hohenzollern III begun in 1914 but never finished
Kingdom of Hawaii
- Cleopatra's BargeCleopatra's BargeCleopatra's Barge was an opulent yacht built in Massachusetts in 1816. It became the Royal Yacht of King Kamehameha II who named it Haaheo o Hawaii , but was wrecked in the Hawaiian Islands in 1824.-Building:...
(1820–1824) renamed Haʻaheo o Hawaiʻi ("Pride of Hawaii")
Norway
King Haakon VIIHaakon VII
Haakon VII may refer to:People* Haakon VII of Norway , King of Norway Ships* HNoMS King Haakon VII, a Royal Norwegian Navy escort ship in commission from 1942 to 1951...
received the Royal Yacht Norge as a gift from the people of Norway in 1947. The Royal Yacht is owned by the King but maintained and manned by the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
. Before this other Navy ships had served as royal sea transport and the King used some smaller boats for short trips mostly on official occasions.
- Sophia Amalia (1650–?)
- Elephanten (1687–1721)
- HeimdalHNoMS Heimdal OPV (1892)HNoMS Heimdal was a Norwegian warship built at Akers mekaniske verksted in Kristiania, Norway in 1892 with build number 137.She was built to patrol Norwegian territorial waters and act as a rescue ship for sea travelers...
(1892–1946) - Stjernen IStjernen IKongesjaluppen Stjernen I is a boat formerly used by the King of Norway for short sea transport on official occasions. It was built by Akers Mek. Verksted in Oslo as build number 189 in 1899. It is 17 meters long, 3 meters wide and weighs 11 tons. The boat is powered by a steam engine...
(1899–1940) - Stjernen II
- NorgeHNoMY NorgeOne of only two remaining Royal Yachts in Europe, HNoMY Norge is the Royal Yacht of the King of Norway. The ship's name Norge is Norwegian for Norway....
(1947–present) - HortenHNoMS Horten (A530)HNoMS Horten was built at Horten shipyard in 1978. Originally HNoMS Horten was a support vessel for submarines and missile torpedo boats. It temporarily acted as the Royal Yacht in 1985 when the HNoMY Norge was damaged during a fire....
(1985)
Oman
| Name | Length (m) | Shipyard | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Said Al Said (yacht) Al Said is a luxury yacht owned by the Sultan Qaboos of Oman. The yacht was ordered to be made in 2006, by Lürssen.The ship was code named Project Sunflower during its construction. It is currently the world's third largest super-yacht.... |
155 | Lürssen Lürssen Lürssen is a German shipbuilding company based in Bremen-Vegesack.Lürssen designs and constructs yachts, naval ships and special vessels... |
2007 | Has a helipad, orchestra and swimming pool. It is berthed in Mutrah port most of the time. |
| Fulk al Salamah Fulk al Salamah Fulk al Salamah is an amphibious transport ship in service with the Royal Navy of Oman since her construction in 1987. The vessel is capable of transporting 240 troops, but now works alongside the royal yacht.... |
136 | Lürssen | 1982 | It has participated in Ship for World Youth Ship for World Youth The Ship for World Youth is a unique international cultural exchange program organised by the Government of Japan. SWY brings together over 250 youth from around the world to learn about international cooperation and understanding... . |
| Loaloat Al Behar Loaloat Al Behar Loaloat Al Behar is the name of the ex-yacht Al Said owned by Sultan Qaboos of the Sultanate of Oman. The yacht is large and spacious, being built in 1982 by Picchiotti of Italy.... |
103.85 | Picchiotti Italy | 1982 | Largest yacht built in Italy in the 1980s. |
| Zinat al Bihaar | 61 | Oman Royal Yacht Squadron | 1988 | Luxury sailing yacht built in Oman with imported engine from Siemens. |
| Al-Noores | 33.5 | K. Damen Netherlands | 1982 | Specialized tug boat for the other royal yachts. |
Portugal
- Veloz (22,6 m): 1858
- Sirius (22,5 m): 1876
- Amélia I (35 m): 1888;
- Amélia II (45 m): 1897;
- Amélia III (55 m): 1898;
- Amélia IV (70 m): 1901.
The Portuguese King Charles I used four successive royal yachts, all named Amélia, after his wife, Queen Amélie of Orleans. These yachts were, mainly, used by Charles I his oceanographic missions. It was in the Amélia IV that King Manuel II
Manuel II of Portugal
Manuel II , named Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Bragança Orleães Sabóia e Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha — , was the last King of Portugal from 1908 to 1910, ascending the throne after the assassination of his father and elder brother Manuel...
and the Portuguese Royal Family left the country for the exile, after the republican revolution of 5 October 1910. In the republican regime the Amélia IV was renamed NRP 5 de Outubro and operated by the Portuguese Navy
Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
.
Russia
Imperial Yachts employed by the Tsar of Russia:- Alexandria (I) (1851–1906)
- Standart (I) (1857–1892)
- DerzhavaDerzhava (yacht)The Derzhava was a royal yacht of the House of Romanov. It was laid down in 1866 and launched in 1871. The Derzhava and the Livadia were the last wooden paddle steamers built for the Romanovs...
(1871–1905) - Tsarevna (1874–1917)
- LivadiaLivadia (yacht, 1873)Livadia was an imperial yacht of the House of Romanov built in 1869–1873 by Leopold Schwede in Nikolaev. She served on the Black Sea. The Livadia was the only Russian imperial yacht that has seen active combat service during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877–1878...
(1873–1878); wrecked in CrimeaCrimeaCrimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
October 21–22, 1878 - LivadiaLivadia (yacht, 1880)The Livadia was an imperial yacht of the House of Romanov built in 1879–1880 to replace a yacht of the same name that had sunk off the coast of Crimea in 1878. The new Livadia, intended for service on the Black Sea, was a radically novel ship conceived by Vice Admiral Andrey Popov, designed by...
(1880–1926); flawed experimental ship, retired and hulkedHulk (ship)A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Although sometimes used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, the term most often refers to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipment removed, retaining only its flotational qualities...
soon after commissioning. Used by the Romanovs only twice. - Polyarnaya Zvezda (1890-1917/1961)
- Alexandria (II) (1904-1917/1927)
- Standart (II) (1895-1917/1936-1961 as Soviet NavySoviet NavyThe Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
minelayerMinelayerMinelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
Marti)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Royal Yachts have included the following:- Prince Abdulaziz (1984–) Now owned by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz
- Al Riyadh (1978–)
- El Horriya (1865–)
- Al SalamahAl SalamahAl Salamah is a motor yacht which is the property of the Saudi Arabian defense minister, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. At the time of its construction, it was the third largest motor yacht in the world...
(1999–) - Issham al Baher (1973–)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had 83 royal yachts since the restoration of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in 1660. Charles II himself had 25 royal yachts, while five were simultaneously in service in 1831. Since the decommissioning of Britannia
HMY Britannia
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the 83rd such vessel since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. She is the second Royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the famous racing cutter built for The Prince of Wales...
in 1997 the Queen no longer has a royal yacht.
Other nations
Other nations that employ some form of yacht presently or in the past include ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
had only one naval ship in 1896, the royal yacht HHS Glasgow
HHS Glasgow
His Highness' Ship Glasgow was a royal yacht belonging to the Sultan of Zanzibar. She was built in the style of the British frigate HMS Glasgow which had visited the Sultan in 1873. The Glasgow cost the Sultan £32,735 and contained several luxury features but failed to impress the Sultan and she...
. It was sunk by the British during the shortest war in history, the Anglo-Zanzibar War
Anglo-Zanzibar War
The Anglo-Zanzibar War was fought between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar on 27 August 1896. The conflict lasted 38 minutes and is the shortest war in history. The immediate cause of the war was the death of the pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini on 25 August 1896 and the subsequent succession...
.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
had some royal yachts before world war two (most notably, one was a sister ship of the "Ilinden
Ilinden
-Events:* Day of the Republic in the Republic of Macedonia, celebrated on 2 August each year.-Geographic locations:* In Bulgaria:** Ilinden, Blagoevgrad Province, a village** Ilinden, Sofia, an urban municipality* In Macedonia:** Ilinden municipality...
" which sank in lake Ohrid
Lake Ohrid
Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem with more than 200 endemic species that is of worldwide importance...
in 2009. The most famous Yugoslavian yacht is "Galeb
Galeb
Galeb is the Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian word for "seagull". It can refer to any of the following:*Yugoslav Navy Yacht Galeb, presidential yacht used by Josip Broz Tito...
", the yacht of Marshal Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the past employed presidential yacht
Presidential yacht
Presidential yacht may refer to a naval vessel of a country's navy that would be specially used for by the country's President. It is common for a vessel to be designated as the Presidential yacht during a fleet review.Specific vessels include:...
s which functioned identically, serving the American President. Most notably was the USS Potomac
USS Potomac (AG-25)
USS Potomac , formerly the USCGC Electra, was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidential yacht from 1936 until his death in 1945. It is one of only three still existing presidential yachts. On August 3, 1941, she played a decoy role while Roosevelt held a secret conference to develop the Atlantic...
(1936–1945) and the USS Williamsburg
Williamsburg (yacht)
USS Williamsburg was a US Navy gunboat, a former private yacht, that served as a presidential yacht from 1945 to 1953.-Private yacht:The steel-hulled, diesel-powered yacht Aras was laid down on March 19, 1930 by the Bath Iron Works; launched on December 8, 1930; and delivered to wood-pulp magnate...
(1945–53). The most recent presidential yacht was the USS Sequoia
USS Sequoia (presidential yacht)
USS Sequoia is a former United States presidential yacht used from Herbert Hoover to Jimmy Carter, who had it sold in 1977. The ship was decommissioned under Roosevelt and lost its "USS" status at that time, but by popular convention is still often used...
(1933–77). Earlier vessels included the USS Mayflower
USS Mayflower (PY-1)
USS Mayflower was the second ship in the United States Navy to have that name. Mayflower — a luxurious steam yacht built in 1896 by J. and G. Thompson, Clydebank, Scotland — was purchased by the Navy from the estate of Ogden Goelet and commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 24 March 1898,...
(1906–29), damaged by fire during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
The President of Finland
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
has a small private yacht.
The Principality of Monaco owned the royal yacht Deo Juvante II between 1956-1958. The Camper and Nicholsons
Camper and Nicholsons
Camper and Nicholsons are the oldest leisure marine company in the world, producing and managing yachts for the world's richest people.As Camper and Nicholsons was founded at Gosport, Hampshire before organised seawater yachting had even started, John Nicholson of the founding family once overheard...
yacht was a wedding gift from Aristotle Onassis to Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly and was used on their honeymoon. The yacht, now called the M/Y Grace, is now owned and operated by Quasar Expeditions.
Italy had a royal yacht called Trinacia, the ex America.
See also
- Royal TrainRoyal TrainA royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
- Official state carOfficial state carAn official state car is a car used by a government to transport its head of state in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. On a state visit, the official state car might be transported...
- Air transports of heads of state and government