For an alpha male, it is an ideal statement of one-upmanship. A Russian billionaire has christened his futuristic superyacht 'A' so nothing can precede it in the list of all-time great vessels.

Andrey Melnichenko, 36, has had it custom-built so he and his wife can traverse the world’s oceans in luxury – and cast-iron safety.

The extraordinary shape – the handiwork of Philippe Starck, the French interior designer whose work takes in everything from boutique hotels to kitchen appliances – has been likened to both a first world war battleship and a submarine.

Launched by the same German company that built the Bismarck, the second world war battleship, the 390ft steel yacht is like a modern-day dreadnought. The razor-sharp bow will cut through Arctic ice. Clamshell doors at the rear open upwards to release two 30ft speedboats, ideal tenders for the Mediterranean.

The Rolls-Royce steering system can guide it across the Atlantic in less than seven days. The lack of railings will deter any modern-day pirates of the Caribbean trying to grapple onto the side of the boat.

A spokesman for Melnichenko said: “This is the most technologically advanced private yacht in the world with a brand new design that enables her to cruise at 25 knots without creating a wash, a first in nautical design.”

Melnichenko and his wife Aleksandra, 31 – the inspiration for the name A – can relax in a loft-style apartment that runs more than 80ft, the length of the top deck, and opens onto a balcony at the rear. Should he need to get to his Moscow office in a hurry, there is a helicopter pad on the foredeck.

The couple’s bed sits on a revolving floor so they can turn it to get the best view from the semicircle of full-height windows at the front.

There is the choice of a stainless steel bathtub on a marble floor or a marble shower room.

A door opposite leads to a stairwell and private lift. The steps lead up to the couple’s splash pool on a mini-deck beneath the radio and radar masts. The lift goes down one floor to a gym tucked behind the wheelhouse and bridge.

Below this is the main living space, with a sofa large enough for 10 people and a dining table that can seat 16.

The bulkheads are scalloped and covered with silver leaf, which scatters shards of light around the room like sunlight on water.

The room opens on to a giant “shade” that forms part of the superstructure and covers the main swimming pool, which has a built-in countercurrent.

A third pool on the aft deck has a glass bottom that can be viewed from below by dancers when the garage that houses the speedboats is turned into a discotheque.

Below deck, there are six guest cabins to accommodate up to 14 friends or relatives. Giant tinted oval windows allow them to see out, but stop people prying in, when the 5,900-ton yacht is moored.

As well as the 37-strong crew, the yacht has cabins for five of the Melnichenkos’ staff, including a secretary.

Onboard devices include satellite television, CCTV for security, electronic alarms and a gas detection system.

Most of the necessary, but less sightly, nautical gear, such as anchors, capstan, mooring chains and life rafts are concealed. Even the main navigation lights fold flush into the superstructure, while the front mast retracts into the deck.

David Pelly of Boat International, the “bible” of superyacht owners, called it “the most extraordinary yacht launched in recent memory”. He said: “It is stunning. It reminds me of a world war one battleship while being slightly submarine-like as well.”

The initial shape came from Starck, whose work ranges from designing the Virgin Galactic “spaceport” in New Mexico to developing a stylish juicer. He claims to have come up with the idea for A in 3½ hours.

A yachting insider said: “Philippe got the inspiration from warships, in particular a concept on which the Americans have been working on. All designers need inspiration on which to project their imagination.”

Naval architects, including Britain’s Martin Francis, and Blohm and Voss, the German shipbuilders, spent another five years perfecting the boat.

A miniature version was built and floated in a ship tank on the Isle of Wight to test for seaworthiness.

Then a radio-controlled model was produced and sailed on the Solent to ensure the design’s elongated bulbous bow would not dive like a submarine in heavy seas. Finally, the vessel was built at a Kiel shipyard.

The A has a range of 6,500 nautical miles, enough to sail from London to Cape Town before refuelling.

Melnichenko’s superyacht has cost him £200m, but he is used to splashing out. He paid £1.5m to Christina Aguilera to sing two songs at his wedding on the Côte d’Azur in 2005 and paid Jennifer Lopez £500,000 to entertain at Aleksandra’s 30th birthday party in Britain last year.

“Andrey is a self-made man and hates being called an oligarch,” said a friend. “His money has nothing to do with oil.”

Melnichenko has made all those involved in the creation of A agree to confidentiality clauses forbidding them to talk about the craft.

A spokeswoman for Blohm and Voss said: “It’s a wonderful ship and we are very proud of her, but we are not allowed to give out any information.”

Starck said: “I’m sorry, but the owner of the boat doesn’t wish to communicate on the boat.”

The launch of A has put Melnichenko on collision course with Roman Abramovich, Russia’s best known oligarch and is likely to spark a race to see who can sail the best yacht. The winner is hardly in doubt: at the most recent calculations, Melnichenko, who founded the MDM Bank in 1993, which handles Abramovich’s accounts, was valued at £2.3 billion to the Chelsea football club owner’s £11.7 billion.

The A is 13ft longer than the Pelorus, the largest of Abramovich’s three super yachts.

However, Abramovich, 41, now has another on order which is due to be launched at the end of this year at a cost of £240m. At 613ft long and weighing 13,000 tons, it will be the world’s largest superyacht. Not for nothing will it be called the Eclipse.

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