 In the above Photo Polaris T103 can be seen speeding through the waves at over 42 knots, Powered by 3 x 4000 Hp Mercedes Diesels there were no gear boxes at all and the drive train was a "direct drive" coupling from each Main Engine direct to the 3 x huge Propellor Shafts. Speed was not an issue but stopping was because In "dead slow" ahead and only with ONE engine engaged she would thrust forwards at 16 kts. In 1976 Polaris T-103 was one of the last Pliejad Class to be de-commissioned from the Military. It was told that she was then converted into a "White Boat" and used by an government organization for "Whale Watching" which was a more politically acceptable way in those days to discreetly be active in various spying reconaissance and intelligence gathering missions which still today remain highly classified and top secret. In 1986 she was purchased by a gentleman in Sweden and spent the next 10 years cruising all around the Scandanavian Islands. In 1997 Polaris left Swedish waters and cruised around the Mediterranean until she was bought by Wavemaster Shipyard in Lankawi. This is where we found her lying in a corner of the shipyard, unwanted totally neglected with most of the major part of the ship having been stolen or "borrowed". After an extensive refit and major overhaul of all the main and auxiliary machinery, pumps, tanks and systems to operate the ship, she then re-enter service as the largest Superyacht in Asia available for Charter. In Jan 2009 Polaris was the very first Luxury Superyacht to be granted an SP "Special Passenger Permit" by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore to carry 60 x Passengers and 12 x Crew. The yacht now operates out of Singapore Port as home base and travels around the SE Asia region with corporate guests and private corporate functions.
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