Russians are turning to the Moscow Shipyard to feed their appetite for customised super yachts and the popular new toy for Russia’s elite can now be seen sailing the waters of the Moscow River.

The country now has the second highest number of billionaires in the world and an increasing number of millionaires.

Moscow may be a long way from the traditional boating territories but the trend has reached the banks of the Moscow River.

Founded by Peter the Great, the Moscow Shipyard used to make passenger boats but now makes custom-made yachts.

“In general I'd rather make boats for use by the masses, of course. The current fleet of boats is getting old and you can only repair them so often. But this is now a private enterprise and at least they pay my salary in time,” says the Chief Electrician, Moscow Shipyard Anatoly Selikovsky,

In April their first oceanic Super yacht was launched. And it was a typically Russian affair

40 meters long, and weighing 400 tons the captain says it can compete on the international yacht scene

“The quality of the work is already of the highest standard, as you'd find in Holland or Italy for example,” states Mathieu Legat, Captain

Moscow is home to more than a dozen private yacht clubs. The whole point is to show off to your fellow Russians…

“It's lifestyle. We have a new fashion these days which is that Russians take great pleasure in using luxury products,” insists associate Publisher of the Russian edition of “Yachts” Magazine Arthur Klyanitsky.