A superyacht linked to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's key allies has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing blockade of the critical shipping channel. The 142-meter luxury vessel, named Nord, is connected to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov. It traveled from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, over the weekend, becoming one of the few private vessels to transit the strait in recent months.
Iran held high-level talks with Russia this week as its standoff with the US over the strait's reopening continues. Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass through the waterway. Mordashov, who has close ties to Putin, is not listed as the formal owner of the Russian-flagged boat. However, Nord's records indicate it was registered to a firm owned by his wife in 2022. The yacht is estimated to be worth over $500 million.
Nord left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj marina in Oman's capital on Sunday morning, according to Marine Traffic data. The route shown on the tracker has been used by vessels crossing with agreement from Iran. It is not clear whether Nord gained permission from Iran to sail through the route. Mordashov made his fortune largely through his steel and mining company Severstal. With an estimated net worth of about $37 billion, he is the richest Russian national listed by Forbes.
Iran has severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28. Earlier this month, Tehran warned that any vessel approaching the strait would be targeted. The US then announced its forces would intercept or turn back vessels traveling to or from Iran's ports. Maritime traffic through the Gulf channel is currently at a fraction of pre-war levels. The conflict has contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices.
The Nord has a swimming pool, submarine, and helipad, according to Superyacht Times. Mordashov has been targeted by Western sanctions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hong Kong and the Maldives have previously not seized Nord despite calls from Western nations to freeze his assets. Several Russian oligarchs' boats have been seized or denied entry to European ports under sanctions, prompting movement of such vessels to areas beyond reach, including ports in the Middle East and Asia.
Source: www.bbc.com