What happens on Motor Yacht A stays on Motor Yacht A, at least, that appears to be the wish of its owner. Sanctioned billionaire Andrey Melnichenko has kept the luxury vessel shrouded in secrecy, and for good reason. You might be familiar with its ever-changing flag states, shifting from the Isle of Man to Sierra Leone and now settling under Malaysia. But one thing remains elusive, its final destination.
Just last month, Motor Yacht A, valued at $300 million ended a two-year spell of being motionless in Dubai, briefly setting sail under its new Malaysian flag state before returning to base. But now, for the first time in two years, the Philippe Starck vessel has truly left Dubai, for good this time. Its AIS last indicated a route toward Oman before it mysteriously went dark.
However, what hasn’t escaped the sharp eyes of YouTube channel The Yacht Report, is a critical change in the listed owner.
The vessel now belongs to LGA Charter Ltd.. A new flag state, a new owner, and a sudden departure from Dubai all suggest that Motoryacht A may have discreetly changed hands. Of course, nothing is certain until the ship officially enters the charter market.
Does this mean the shadow of sanctions no longer looms over the 394-foot yacht, named after Aleksandra Melnichenko, the wife of the $17 billion tycoon? Only time will tell. One thing is clear, the founder of fertilizer producer Eurochem will tread carefully with this vessel, as it may be the only one left under his control. His other prized yacht, the $580 million Sailing Yacht A, has been seized and gathering dust in Italy for nearly three years.
Confiscated by Italian authorities in March 2022, the 469-foot behemoth, larger than Jeff Bezos’ Koru, was placed in a special dry dock in Trieste, guarded by armed ships. Even when it was temporarily moved to an anchorage in Venice due to rough weather, the yacht remained under heavy escort by the Italian military vessel Guardia di Finanza’s G222.
With Sailing Yacht A has been gathering dust in Italy for close to three years now and out of the reach of Melnichenko, Motor Yacht A is his last remaining link to life at sea, if he still owns it, that is. While it may not rival Sailing Yacht A in sheer size (which was the world’s largest sailing yacht until Jeff Bezos’ 416-foot Koru launched), its opulence is undeniable.
From stainless-steel whirlpool baths and $40,000 bath knobs to Baccarat-crystal tables, white stingray hides, and calf’s leather-lined walls, every inch of the yacht screams excess. Even the chairs, crafted from alligator hides and Kudu horns by Michel Haillard, are as extravagant as they come. Whoever now commands this floating palace is undeniably fortunate.
