Here’s something you may or may not care about.  Roman Abramovich’s new mega yacht Eclipse has had its preliminary launch from it’s shipyard in Hamburg after more than two years’ construction.  It cost $350 million.  I’ll say that again.  It cost $350 million.  Read more after the jump.

According to Bornrich:

The 170-meter yacht (557.6 feet) will feature 2 heli-pads, 20 water jets, a pool with large Havana bars surrounding it, a cinema, library, restaurant, private garden, 5,000-square-feet master suite, a private submarine boarding from the bottom of the yacht for a secret escape, and a missile-detection system to deflect pirate attacks safely. The 9-deck megayacht has at least five possible exits, which literally makes it the safest yacht ever built. This 557-foot Eclipse has literally eclipsed all other vessels, including the 525-foot vessel “Platinum 525” owned by the Crown Prince of Dubai, earlier known as world’s biggest yacht. The $350 million mega yacht will undergo further construction and will be delivered to her owner in 2010.

But it turns out that old Abramovich has lost half of his fortune, due to the disastrous performance of Evraz, Russia’s second biggest steel company, in which he has a significant stake.  Russia even had to bail out Evraz following a hefty tax bill.  Presumably they were taxed alot on the massive profits they made – that’s usually how it works.  And they can’t afford to pay it?  Where did all that money they made go?  Mega yacht anyone?