Oligarchs sure love their superyachts. The sanctioned billionaires left no stone unturned to save their beloved pleasure vessels from the authorities. Be it spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on fuel and sailing their yachts halfway across the globe to even going dark by turning mandatory location transponders.
Few Russian tycoons are taking all these pains to save their luxury boats while there are other pressing matters like property seizures and courtroom dramas to attend to. Strapped for cash Roman Abramovich was pleading with friends for millions to pay superyacht staff, while the island nation of Jersey seized a whopping $7 billion of his assets.
Sanctioned oligarch Alexei Mordashov is another tycoon who left no stone unturned to ensure his tuxedo-donning warship $500 million Nord sailed back home to Russia. The megayacht sailed full steam ahead despite the risk of its location transponders being turned off.
Turning off the transponders makes tracking these vessels challenging and increases the fatal danger of accidents as it masks the ship’s presence. This kind of action is seldom expected in real life and sounds more like the premise of a Hollywood blockbuster. To whisk the Nord yacht away from the grasp of authorities, the steel billionaire had her cruising for no less than 6,701 nautical miles.
These miles have been recorded mostly on her voyage to get back home to Russia’s Vladivostok port in March. As per Bloomberg, Nord spent winters in the Maldives and Seychelles. It left Seychelles on March 12 and cruised toward Sri Lanka. The turning point, pun intended, was when Nord took a distinctive 90-degree left turn before arriving. The yacht arrived in Vladivostok on April 11, where it’s still docked as per Marine Traffic. The boat carries 345,000 liters of fuel, and a full tank for its Russia trip would cost about $465,000.
Why would this little expense ruffle Alexei Mordashov, if it helps save his beautiful luxury vessel? After all the tycoon is worth $21 billion. Not only did he manage to keep a 464 feet long megayacht costing $500 million out of the sight of EU and US authorities. He also safely docked his yacht home in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.
Serious yet stunning Nord megayacht:
Nord, the 464-foot behemoth, was made in the German shipyard Lürssen. The yacht’s exterior and interior design are the work of Nuvolari & Lenard. Formerly known as Project Opus, this $500 million ship comprises six decks and accommodates 36 guests in 20 luxurious cabins. Its praise-worthy features include a large swimming pool, Jacuzzi on the sun terrace, spa, diving center, cinema, beach and barbecue area, and tender garage.
The most striking aspect of this feature-rich Motoryacht is the two helipads on the bridge deck level. Dan Lenard of the Italian design studio Nuvolari & Lenard said, “Nord was designed with one idea in mind: she must cause strong emotions in every observer, not only through her sheer size but with the design itself.
No one should be left indifferent.” While many find its champagne-tinted hull appealing, we think the imposing nameplate denotes this boat means business. The aft nameplate lights up as night falls, ensuring the Nord shines bright even in darkness.
About Alexei Mordashov:
The Russian billionaire businessman is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company. With a net worth of $21 billion, he is among Russia’s richest men, second only to Putin himself. Mordashov made it big despite humble beginnings as the son of parents who were both steel mill workers. In addition to the $500 million Nord Yacht, the billionaire owned the $71 million, 215-foot yacht, ‘Lady M,’ seized by Italian authorities. Mordashov’s building complex located in Portisco, on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, worth $116 million, was also taken by Italian authorities in March.
