A £38m superyacht, owned by a Russian national, has been seized by officers from the UK's National Crime Agency as part of sanctions against Russia. The yacht, named Phi, is owned by an unnamed Russian businessman.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the individual was not currently sanctioned but had "close connections" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is the first detention order of a superyacht in UK waters.
Owned by a Russian businessman, Phi is the third biggest yacht built by prestigious shipbuilders Royal Huisman and includes what the builders call an “infinite wine cellar” and patented fresh-water swimming pool.
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The National Crime Agency says that ownership of the yacht was deliberately well hidden. The company the ship is registered to is based in the islands of St Kitts and Nevis and it carried Maltese flags to hide its origins.
UK officials boarded Phi in Canary Wharf, east London on Tuesday. The vessel was in the capital for a superyacht awards ceremony and was due to depart afterwards.
Andy Devine, from the NCA, said: “his demonstrates the NCA’s ability to react at pace. We have surged officers to establish the Combatting Kleptocracy Cell, and the results of this are already bearing fruit.
“The NCA plays a vital role in targeting suspect assets, pursuing enablers of illicit wealth and supporting government partners in the delivery of the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said: “We’ve detained a £38m superyacht and turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.
“Detaining the Phi, proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from Russian connections.”
Earlier this month, French authorities seized a super yacht owned by an oligarch as part of the sanctions against Russia. A yacht owned by Igor Sechin, boss of Russian state energy company Rosneft, was grabbed by French customs officers near Marseille.
