Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko has christened his futuristic superyacht 'A'. It's highly unusual shape has been likened to both a first world war battleship and a submarine. Launched by the same German company that built the Bismarck, the second world war battleship, the 390ft steel yacht is like a modern-day Dreadnought. The razor-sharp bow will cut through Arctic ice. Clamshell doors at the rear open upwards to release two 30ft speedboats, ideal tenders for the Mediterranean.

The Rolls-Royce steering system can guide it across the Atlantic in less than seven days. The lack of railings will deter any modern-day pirates of the Caribbean trying to grapple onto the side of the boat . A spokesman said: “This is the most technologically advanced private yacht in the world with a brand new design that enables her to cruise at 25 knots without creating a wash, a first in nautical design.”

Most of the necessary, but uninspiring-looking, nautical gear, such as anchors, capstan, mooring chains and life rafts are concealed. A yachting insider said that Philippe Starck, the designer, “got the inspiration from warships, in particular a concept on which the Americans have been working on. British and German naval architects spent another five years perfecting the boat.

The A has a range of 6,500 nautical miles, enough to sail from London to Cape Town before refuelling. Melnichenko’s superyacht cost him £200m.

(Another Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, has three superyachts with a fourth due to be launched at the end of 2008 at a cost of £240m. At 613ft long and weighing 13,000 tons, it will be the world’s largest superyacht.