How Big Can a Super Yacht Become

Stretching the term super yacht just a little comes news that the French Compagnie du Ponant have ordered two new super yachts form the Italian ship building yard, Fincantieri where construction has already begun.

Le Boréal, the first of two, 264-passenger sister-ships has been ordered for delivery in spring 2010. The second, L’Austral, will follow in 2011.

But are they small ships or large yachts?  With an overall length of 140 metres, carrying 264 passengers and 140 crew they have to be built and operated under Passenger ship rules so why are they to be called superyachts?