Who would’ve thought we’d ever read this line, “The auction of Amadea is actually happening.” If you’ve followed the journey of this 348-foot superyacht commissioned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, you’d know it’s been locked in legal limbo, not out at sea. But that’s about to change. The pristine-as-new vessel (American taxpayers’ $850,000-a-month maintenance surely paid off) is now heading to the auction block, without interference from the Kerimovs or straw owners like Eduard Khudainatov. In an unprecedented move, the U.S. government is auctioning off one of the most beautiful, custom-built Lürssen yachts ever made, originally priced at $325 million, and worth every penny.
Yes, she has been out of her sailing routine, but rest assured, the Amadea is better maintained than a brand-new ship, and the winner will be lucky to have this palatial pleasure craft for a far lesser price. That is possible only when the bidders put down $10 million deposits for the Sept. 10 sealed-bid auction. Administered by National Maritime Services, a Florida-based company in collaboration with Fraser Yachts, the 2017 vessel features eight staterooms.
Amadea has been in U.S. custody since 2022, and after three years, one might expect her to look more beastly than beautiful, but that’s far from the case. The six-deck luxury vessel underwent routine maintenance at Everett Ship Repair in both 2024 and 2025, including two months of scheduled dry-dock repairs, hull work, machinery servicing, and detailed inspections. It’s nothing short of incredible to see a yacht as stunning as Amadea finally preparing to sail the high seas, just as she was meant to.
For the past three years, she’s been on an indefinite sabbatical since being impounded in Fiji under the now-disbanded Operation KleptoCapture. Designed by Espen Øino with interiors by François Zuretti, this breathtaking pleasure craft truly deserves a second lease on life. The official auction page even highlights some of her lesser-known features, which we’ve explored in detail below:
Amadea, a superyacht that oozes class:
Amadea yacht is 4,402 gross tons of gorgeousness with eight rooms, separate elevators for guests and crew, a main salon, 10-meter infinity pool with swim-up bar, and a helipad. But that’s no secret; this was known for many years. Did you know this motor yacht boasts a spa fit for royalty, complete with trellis windows, white marble, a sauna, hammam, chromotherapy dip pool, and a sea terrace that opens directly to the ocean? Or that its lavish cinema room features a 160” screen, D-Box motion seating and even a popcorn machine?
The thrills of Amadea extend well beyond the owner’s suite, which is lavishly appointed with a forward-facing master cabin framed by more than 10 oversized windows, welcoming sweeping sea views, and fresh air.
The suite connects to an outdoor Jacuzzi, dressing room, beauty salon, office, gym, living and dining areas, bar, and a spacious skylounge. While the Michelangelo-inspired ceilings have drawn plenty of attention, it’s hard not to admire the 12-seat dining table crafted in fine woodwork, crowned by three ornate chandeliers.
An intricate hand-painted Pleyel grand piano in the main lounge evokes the kind of elaborate flourishes usually reserved for fairytales and grand European castles. In this regard, one must mention the double-height atrium and the Winter Garden on the top deck, which features a live lobster tank and an adjacent chef’s galley. It seats up to 24, dressed with ferns and painted lianas, with water trickling down a slate wall.
Moving outward, the tender garage beside the helipad houses a 10-meter limousine tender, a 10.5-meter sports tender, and a 9.1-meter beach landing craft. Amadea is powered by twin MTU 20V diesel engines, delivering a top speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 13 knots, with a range of 8,000 nautical miles.
Truth be told, it would take pages of prose to fully capture the beauty of the Amadea, but the auctioneers have done a splendid job with images that truly speak for themselves.
The full gallery can be viewed here. In addition, private inspections of the awe-inspiring Amadea are available by appointment ahead of the auction. Bob Toney of National Maritime Services summed it up perfectly, “This is perhaps the most spectacular, exacting and beautiful ship any of us will ever see… maybe once in a lifetime.”
According to court records from the arrest and forfeiture proceedings, the vessel has been appraised at $230 million, shared megayachtnews.
