An Airbus H145 VIP helicopter belonging to WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum was removed from his support vessel, Nebula, in Barcelona's Port Vell on 13 May 2026. A large crane lifted the multi-million euro aircraft from the 68-metre catamaran, which has been moored in Barcelona for several weeks.
The operation, described as precision aeronautical logistics, saw the helicopter, with its blades detached and yellow fuselage, carefully placed onto a specialised transport truck. The Nebula, a Spanish-built support vessel, carries auxiliary boats, diving equipment, expedition gear, and an hangar for two aircraft. This hangar had housed Koum's VIP helicopter, a model also used by the Catalan government for air ambulance services, according to officials.
Discretion in Port Vell Operations
The removal took place near the Barceloneta restaurant and the port's control tower, observed by heavy trucks waiting on land. Marina Port Vell maintains strict privacy for its clients, never publicly revealing the identities behind each mooring. This unwritten rule, sometimes formalised, protects owners' privacy, even though their vessels are visible from various points in Barceloneta and Moll d’Espanya.
However, the ownership of the Nebula is known within the superyacht market. It serves as the auxiliary vessel for the Moonrise yacht, both belonging to Jan Koum. Koum, born in Kyiv in 1976, co-founded WhatsApp with Brian Acton after years at Yahoo. Facebook, now Meta, initially rejected them as employees but later acquired WhatsApp for approximately $19 billion in 2014.
Koum and Acton later left Facebook due to disagreements over the privacy values embedded in the application. Acton subsequently invested $50 million in Signal, an encrypted messaging app, a move widely seen as a clear statement.
The Moonrise Superyacht
The main yacht, Moonrise, measures almost 99 metres, a symbolic length separating large superyachts from others. Built by Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered in 2020, it accommodates sixteen guests with a crew of thirty-two. It features a deck pool, a certified helipad, and lounges designed by French designer Rémi Tessier, known for 'silent luxury'.
The Moonrise was recently listed for sale at €325 million. This sale is because Koum has commissioned a new, larger Moonrise, measuring 101 metres, also from Feadship. The new vessel will include an integrated Starlink satellite system, a gym, a massage room, a hair salon, a private cinema, and improved propeller design to reduce underwater noise further.
Barcelona has solidified its position as a key port for superyachts in the western Mediterranean. It offers the necessary infrastructure, technical services, and discretion to attract vessels that use locations like Monaco or Palma as operational bases. The helicopter operation, while impressive in its logistics, was conducted with professional indifference by those involved, highlighting the routine nature of such manoeuvres in this sector.
