€70 million Bond-inspired superyacht Spectre spotted at Vittoriosa

Malta continues to make a case as a superyacht destination du rigueur as another famed vessel has been spotted at the Grand Harbour Marina.

Spectre is a 69-metre fully custom yacht built by the acclaimed shipbuilding company Benetti for the New York businessman John Staluppi.

Both the vessel and its owner have regularly made headlines.

The superyacht came at a €70 millioin price tag, and is named after the shadowy organisation featured in the James Bond novels and movies. It is actually the 18th yacht for Mr Staluppi – all of which have had names inspired by the great British spy series, such as Octopussy and Diamonds are Forever.

Starting out as a petrol station mechanic in his native Brooklyn, Mr Staluppi eventually became a station owner before convincing Honda to become an agent for its motorcycles and cars, eventually going on to build an autodealer empire with over $2 billion in annual revenue.

His passion for motors led him to acquire a strip mall in Florida to house his collection of American cars, called Cars of Dreams, complete with an onsite hot dog stand and restaurant.

In 2004, he set up Millenium Superyachts, turning his passion for motors into something bigger.

Spectre includes input from Mr Staluppi and his wife Jeanette Staluppi, along with that of Dutch naval architect Frank Mulder and exterior stylist Giorgio Cassetta.