Every superyacht has a story to tell. Some are testaments to rags-to-riches tales, while others are floating emblems of hedonistic billionaires. Yet some, though innately incredible, are sagas of sanctions and stagnation. The Amadea, a $325 million superyacht allegedly owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, is an example of the latter. In May 2022, the yacht was seized by Fijian authorities at the request of the United States. This was followed by a painfully long bout of legal proceedings, with the magnificent Amadea finally being transferred to U.S. custody. It has been in San Diego since June 2022, and the only thing it has been racking up ever since are bills. If great power brings great responsibility, this lavish vessel is bearing a long list of expenses, proving that maintaining the Amadea is no small feat.
An October 2023 public filing revealed the regal demands of the 348-footer, which boasts a pool, wine cellar, and outdoor cinema. The U.S. government has spent tens of millions of dollars over more than two years maintaining the mammoth yacht. While some expenses seemed trivial, like $52,717.08 for food and groceries for the crew, $1,000 for iPhone 11s for the bridge captains, and $988.42 for crew uniforms, others were more outlandish. Among them was a $1,216.24 bill for special toilet brushes, as uncovered by The Washington Post.
All in all, it is now common knowledge that the U.S. government is spending $600,000 a month on maintaining the luxury vessel. It is astonishing to see the true costs of owning and maintaining a superyacht. Below are some of the bigger numbers that raise the question: was seizing this luxury vessel truly a logical move for the U.S. government?
The luxuries of Amadea are aplenty-
The six-decker Lürssen boat is a floating mansion in the truest sense of the term. From a winter patio laced with ferns to leather-clad walls, a double-height atrium, and walls adorned with expensive artwork, Amadea is a prime example of insane wealth. The hand-painted ceiling with Michelangelo-esque clouds and even a Pleyel grand piano are just some of its lavish features.
It doesn’t even spare the hardware when it comes to extravagance, which is why everything from the hinges to the pedals is clad in 24-karat gold. While all these niceties reflect the alleged deep-pocketed Russian owner, they don’t bode well for the U.S. government. These lavish comforts demand hundreds of thousands of dollars in upkeep, in addition to essential costs like food and crew supplies, docking fees, and fuel.
The vessel’s infinity pool, silk carpets, and furnishings require Amadea to keep the air-conditioning running constantly, resulting in high fuel costs. A staggering $112,665 was spent in December 2022 alone to power the air conditioning with the generator, and another $60,000 was spent on fuel. Crew salaries amounted to $334,009, with an additional $25,800 spent on gangway watch. As a seized vessel, it is imperative to monitor only authorized personnel boarding the ship, report any security incidents or breaches, and verify visitors’ photo IDs against the guest list.
To keep Amadea in shipshape requires multimillion-dollar paint jobs, as well as scheduling dry dock visits. That alone set the U.S. government back by $5.6 million. However, it is mandatory to take superyachts out of the water for required repairs to maintain insurance coverage and uphold the vessel’s classification, which directly impacts its value.
The Amadea was appraised at $230 million, according to federal court filings. While this may be a significant expense, it is a necessary one, especially with the U.S. desperately trying to sell the pleasure craft. The Amadea’s story serves as a stark reminder of the immense costs tied to luxury, even when it’s involuntary. While seizing the yacht may have been a strategic move against sanctioned Russian elites, the ongoing expenses raise valid questions about the practicality of such measures.
As the U.S. government continues to shoulder the hefty maintenance bills, one wonders whether the eventual sale of the Amadea will justify the financial strain it has placed on taxpayers, or if it’s just another symbol of opulence that comes at a price too high to bear.
