As if tracking scrambling superyachts sailing from one destination to another to avoid capture wasn’t confusing enough, there is even more obscurity over ownership of the oligarch-owned luxury yachts. The U.S. has been straining to seize sanctioned billionaire Suleiman Kerimov’s prized $325 million megayacht Amadea. However, its registered owner, Millemarin Investments, named Eduard Khudainatov as the owner. The saga of seizing Amadee has been on for a while now. First, the luxury boat traveled for 18 days from Mexico and crossed the Pacific to end up in choppier waters. On reaching Fiji, Amadea got in trouble as it arrived at the Pacific island nation without customs clearance.
It may be difficult to prove ownership of the stunning yacht; however, Amadea is now barred from leaving Fiji’s waters under a restraining order granted by the country’s high court in Suva. Fiji’s director of public prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, applied to the High Court to prevent Kerimov’s 347-footer from leaving Fiji. It is believed even the onboard crew, including the ship’s captain, was detained and interrogated.
Defense lawyers claim the ship is owned by Eduard Khudainatov, former chairman and CEO of Kremlin-controlled energy giant Rosneft, who conveniently isn’t on any sanction list. Let’s explore the stranded yacht Amadea in detail:
Lurssen-built Amadea is truly one-of-a-kind!
Amadea superyacht is a gliding epitome of elegance owing to special touches, not in one area but by establishing the interiors on several eye-catching elements. It welcomes guests by opening into an imposing double-height atrium. French designer Francois Zuretti gave the interiors a refreshing appeal with hand-painted Michelangelo clouds on the ceiling above the dining table, backlit whiskies, brandies, and rums in clear bottles behind the bar.
As per Boat International, outdoor living is a significant theme on board. The main deck converts into a party space with 20,000 watts of built-in speakers, lights, and lasers. This is witnessed in the rare inclusion of a galley on the top deck, glistening with copper pots and pans, a huge grill area, and even a live tank for lobsters.
The winter patio, a stunning space decorated with ferns and painted with lianas, is a dining area that can seat up to 24. The spa pool also transforms into a stage where bands and D.J.s plug straight into the ship’s audio system.
Inside, as one would imagine, the larger-than-life owner’s deck accommodates a vast dressing room, a bathroom with an ornate bath recessed slightly into the floor, a beauty salon, and a gym. So luxurious is the vessel that the roof of the owner’s cabin recreates the night sky using 2,000 fiber-optic cables.
The owner’s deck holds a separate saloon, bar, and dining area. The beautiful boat has a large pool, a Jacuzzi, and a helipad. Besides the grand private quarters, the schooner accommodates 16 guests across eight cabins designed opulently with the best materials like marbles, rare woods, exceptional stone, and wood inlay work.
Who owns Amadea? Suleiman Kerimov or Eduard Khudainatov?
Suleiman Kerimov is worth $13.7 billion and credits most of his wealth to a 76% stake in Russia’s biggest gold producer, Polyus. The U.S. believes $325 million Amadea is the prized possession of sanctioned Russian oligarch Kerimov who is close to the Kremlin and faces accusations of money laundering and failing to pay taxes. In court, defense lawyers have claimed that the vessel is owned by Eduard Khudainatov, former chairman and CEO of Kremlin-controlled energy giant Rosneft. What comes to notice is how the lawyers have conveniently mentioned Khudainatov as the owner. As noted by Business Insider, he is not on a sanction list and is close to the Kremlin like Kerimov.
This reminded us of the incident when Roman Abramovich passed the ownership of the 165-ft long, $40.3 million Aquamarine to his close friend precisely on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. In the case of Amadea, the vessel is registered in the Cayman Islands and owned by Cayman Islands-based Millemarin Investments. The high court has ordered Fijian prosecutors to add Millemarin as a respondent in the case alongside Kerimov, per A.P. As per Business Insider, the legal ownership of the Amadea was “still subject to investigation.” The U.S. authorities believe that the actual owner is Kerimov behind all the various fronts. Besides the luxury vessel Amadea, the sanctioned billionaire Kerimov is also trying to save his 295 feet superyacht ‘Ice’ by not letting it dock anywhere. It has been lingering off the coast of Italy for more than a week now.
