There is growing speculation about the actual size of Roman Abramovich's new yacht Eclipse which left the Blohm Voss shipyard in April.

In the last few days, reports from the press (including the Wall Street Journal) have suggested that rather than being more than 7m longer than Dubai — currently considered to be the world's largest superyacht — the margin may be as little as half a metre.

The speculation has been fired by the recording of Eclipse's length in the latest CNI Superyachting Index which suggests that the Russian entrepreneur's yacht is a mere 162.5m instead of 167.5m.

Dubai — owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashi-Al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai — is 162m long and it has held the position of world's largest yacht for the last four years.

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Superyacht Business / David Robinson / SuperYachtWorld, 31 August 2010