The mega-yacht wars have escalated, with a Middle-Eastern billionaire building a 590-foot ship that’s expected to be the largest yacht in the world when it launches next year.

The ship, called Azzam, is under construction at a shipyard in Germany, according to SuperYachtTimes.com . It’s expected to measure 180 meters, or around 590 feet — or the size one-and-a half football fields, plus a basketball court.

That length would surpass the world’s current largest yacht, the 546-foot Eclipse, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Lurssen , the German mega-yacht company that’s building the yacht, declined any comment on the boat or its owners. Despite its size, Azzam has remained a closely kept secret in the yachting world. Lurssen is known for its near obsessive discretion.

Yet photos taken by SuperyachtTimes.com show the boat to be at least six stories tall, with sweeping windows on the rear deck and several upper decks dedicated to staterooms. The vessel is expected to cost more than $500 million. It is still under construction at a shipyard in Bremen, Germany and is scheduled to be delivered in 2013.

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