Indian Empress

16.03.2012 - 18.05.2012 Captain

20.09.2011 - 17.01.2012 Captain

29.05.2011 - 07.09.2011 Ch Mate
20.12.2010 - 16.03.2011 Ch Mate
m/y Indian Empress (ex Al Mirqab, today H3)

Indian Empress (courtesy Charterworld)

As I was working for same owner on m/y Kalizma I heard from time to time about his larger yacht Indian Empress from the owners rep, a retired Commodore from Indian Navy. After some years on Kalizma I was requested to join Indian Empress as Chief Officer for one turn to get familiar with her and then be promoted as Captain. I gladly accepted the challenge and it was the day after my birthday that I handed over command to my first mate Saini on Kalizma (where he still is) and shifted to Indian Empress for a trip to Maldives.

Indian Empress (courtesy Charterworld)

Then I was jumping in between Kalizma and Indian Empress for awhile and it was quite hectic and tiring to change your mindset from one crew to another and also to deal with the numerous smaller yachts the owner had. Anyway, eventually I was promoted with the other Chief officer to back to back rotating with each other and it all looked good until the bankruptcy came to Kingfisher airlines.

Indian Empress and her tender (courtesy Charterworld)

Luckily I was not anymore under the employ when Dr Mallya was declared totally default and assets were being detained left, right and center but I followed the process in the media. Progress was slow and in the end the whole fleet was dissolved. Indian Empress was sold in an auction, crew was paid off, the yacht towed to Netherlands and completely converted under the project name Neom (linked to Saudi Arabia). 

It had been a great time to charter in the Med for summers, winters in Indian Ocean or refitting in Malta. The unforgettable trip to the Indian Laccadives and their islands. One winter went sitting in Abu Dhabi and the transits on top via Suez canal. Always busy and happy crew. Still, I saw the writing on the wall and so I resigned to join the newbuild project Czar in Greece.

Description of Indian Empress by charterworld (these sites never clean up their listings?):

Length 95 metre 312 (ft)

Beam 15.18 m (49.8 ft)

Draught 4.3 m (14.1ft)

Speed 26 kts, cruising 22 kts

Built by Oceanco Yachts (Alblasserdam Yachtbuilding) 

Hull steel with aluminium superstructure

Launched 2000

Class Lloyd's register

Registry: Isle of Man, Douglas

Capacity of 32 guests/ 32 crew

Interior design Richard Hein / The A Group
Power: 3 x MTU engines, model 20V 1163 TB93 diesel @7358 kW each

Overall output: 30000 HP /22075 kW 
Range 6700'

Owned by Indian business baron Vijay Mallya of Kingfisher Airlines. She was previously owned by a Qatari Royal Family member.