When a gargantuan luxury vessel like Alexey Mordashov’s Nord moves, the world notices. Blame it on her 10,000 GT volume (over 111,000 sq ft of enclosed space), her $500 million price tag, or her celebrity status among yachts, but there is no escaping attention. Built by Lürssen in Germany, with exterior and interior by Nuvolari & Lenard, this six-deck behemoth embodies pure naval prowess and opulent comfort.
Earlier this year, the affluent owner of this magnificent 470-foot motoryacht, received a special permit from Russia’s federal agency GlavSevmorput to sail in Arctic waters. The vessel was among the rare few to get a chance to cover a vast 595,000 km² expanse that remains ice-free for barely four months each year. It is unclear whether he used it; instead, the mighty Nord yacht now appears bound for the Maldives as winter grips Russia.
The ship is currently cruising through the Malacca Strait and will soon arrive at Malé, according to Marine Traffic. What’s refreshing this time is that the pleasure craft belonging to Russia’s richest man, Mordashov, a majority shareholder in steel company Severstal and worth around $28 billion, is going bold and not dark. Gone are the days of turning off the transponders; this time, the route is declared, and the coast is clear.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many oligarchs’ yachts were seized. The Nord managed to evade this fate by making long voyages, frequently turning off her AIS tracking system and seeking refuge in friendly or neutral ports across Asia and Africa. The yacht features six decks, a helicopter landing pad, a full diving and sports center, and multiple tenders, accommodating up to 36 guests in unmatched luxury. It is also one of the largest superyachts to fly under the Russian flag.
This is a trip she last made three years ago after a short stay in Hong Kong. Back then, the luxury vessel undertook a 19-day journey from Hong Kong to Cape Town. However, owing to South African officials taking a rigid stand on how unwelcome the Nord motoryacht was, she rerouted to the Maldives and never made it to South Africa. Whether she arrives at Malé this time with the AIS on is yet to be seen, and that would be another first for the vessel known for setting precedents.
