'Super yacht' arrives in Tampa

TAMPA — A yacht that trumps all others piloted by captains of industry navigated into the Port of Tampa Monday for a three-day visit.

Built in Norway, the 43,188-ton ship, named “The World” will remain at Cruise Terminal 3 during the visit, according to the Tampa Port Authority. The yacht, which the Port Authority says is the largest private yacht in the world, measures 644 feet long, 96 feet wide, and has a draft of 22 feet. It boasts 12 decks with 165 residential units, and its speed can reach up to 18.5 knots.

The ship is owned by its residents and operates like a water-borne city, with an elected board of directors, a management team, and a crew of 250, the Port Authority says in a statement. Amenities include a library, grocery store, casino, and a tennis court.

Individually valued in the millions, many of the boat's residences are also available for rent. Miramar-based ResidenSea Ltd. runs The World's operations.

Charles Klug, Tampa's interim port director and CEO, says in the statement he's pleased to welcome “The World” back to the city. The last time the ship visited was in 2009, during Super Bowl weekend.

The Port of Tampa is Florida's largest seaport and a prime destination for cruising vessels, according to the authority. It welcomed a record-breaking 974,259 passengers in fiscal year 2012, which ended Sept. 30.