Someone has hit the jackpot by becoming the new owner of this impressive icebreaker-turned-superyacht. They have purchased a luxurious pleasure craft in excellent condition for pennies on the dollar. Converted in the early 2000s and recently refitted for even more glamour and comfort, this venerable vessel came onto the market at an incredibly low price, well below its capabilities and potential.
Luxurious accommodation for up to 14 guests, including a luxurious master stateroom on the upper deck, an exquisite alfresco dining area on the sundeck, a huge main saloon and dedicated spa facilities including a Turkish bath – all of these amenities would immediately remind you of a fabulous superyacht worth tens of millions, but that’s not quite the case.
Prometej is indeed a beautiful superyacht, but not a typical one. It began life as a sturdy commercial vessel with an ice-strengthened hull, built in a Romanian shipyard virtually unknown in the niche superyacht sector. Moreover, it was born almost seven decades ago, in 1956.
A visionary shipowner, willing to invest a lot of money in an old icebreaker, changed its destiny, transforming it into a luxury pleasure vessel. 2002 marked the turning point, but it would be another three years before the old ship re-emerged as a superyacht.
According to industry experts, the converted Prometej could be considered a brand new construction from 2005. Knowing that the conversion process was carried out by the Italian Cantieri Navali di Pesaro, with interior styling by Alberta Ferretti, we could also consider the new Prometej an Italian yacht.
The complex changes included hull modifications, a completely new superstructure, new engines and generators, but Prometey also retained the advantages of an icebreaker, primarily a robust profile, exceptional seakeeping, and a long range of up to 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km).
Contemporary neutrals and minimalist furnishings transformed the former icebreaker into a sophisticated floating villa, while the generous 469GT volume was perfect for sumptuous living areas (both inside and out) as well as luxurious amenities. These included both a Turkish bath and a massage room, the kind of wellness facilities typically found on larger, more contemporary superyachts.
This was all the result of a 2005 rebuild and a more recent refit completed in 2022, making the yacht’s last known asking price even more astonishing. There’s no way anyone could get a newly built or recently refitted 147-foot (45-meter) luxury yacht with these fabulous amenities, accommodations for 14, and explorer-like capabilities for just $6 million.
However, the fact that all these extras are attached to a 68-year-old vessel makes her even more extraordinary. But more importantly, it makes her a real bargain: the new owner of Prometej will be able to enjoy all the benefits of a luxury pleasure craft/modern explorer after paying just $6 million. It was a great opportunity and they jumped at it. Furthermore, this 1956 icebreaker-turned-superyacht is a smart investment due to her charter potential. Prometej was introduced to the luxury charter market immediately after her refit with weekly rates of over $120,000 in high season. In other words, for less than $10 million, the new owner got his hands on a fabulous floating villa and a profitable charter yacht. We can see Prometej reaching her 100th birthday in top form and ready for adventure as ever.