In the sparkling azure waters of Antigua, the glittering $ 95 million superyacht Alfa Nero could be seen at anchor last week from sights enjoying the Caribbean coastline. But few tourists who have noticed its shiny black hull would appreciate that it is a real find.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the superyacht linked to Russian billionaire Andrei Guriev has disappeared from global tracking maps used to locate maritime traffic.
An Observer investigation this weekend revealed that this is one of at least six superyachts linked to UK-sanctioned oligarchs that have “darkened” in ocean tracking systems. The owners of these yachts will almost certainly realize that they are at risk of being hunted globally for the assets of the super-rich in Russia.
At least 13 such ships, worth a total of nearly £ 2 billion, have already been confiscated since the invasion of Ukraine, from southern France to Fiji. In the latter case, the Amadea superyacht, allegedly linked to gold billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, was detained on behalf of the United States.
Analysts report an increase in Russian-related yachts, which excludes automatic identification system (AIS) equipment used to track large vessels. The system may be shut down for good reasons, but experts say some vessels want to avoid detection.
Map showing the last location of six superyachts in AIS
An analysis of Observer of AIS data collected by maritime and aviation market intelligence firm VesselsValue reveals other superyachts that have “darkened” for more than a month include:
The 72-meter (238-foot) Clio superyacht, linked to industrialist Oleg Deripaska, sailed from the Indian Ocean to Turkey after the invasion. The last location handed over to him was on April 18 in the Black Sea, near the Russian ports of Sochi and Novorossiysk.
The 70-meter Galactica Super Nova is linked to oligarch Vagit Alekperov, the sanctioned former president of Lukoil. The last reported location of the ship was on March 2nd off the Croatian coast.
The 140-meter Ocean Victory, linked to sanctioned oligarch Viktor Rashnikov, last handed over its location to the Maldives on March 1st.
A member of the crew of a superyacht linked to a Russian oligarch sanctioned by the United Kingdom told the Observer last week: “We have been told to shut down AIS. We removed the screws on the plug and took it out. “
There are about 9,300 superyachts worth more than £ 50 billion at sea, according to industry figures. Approximately 10% of this fleet is owned by Russians.
The swimming pool with a waterfall is located on Galactica Super Nova, which last transmitted its location via AIS on March 2. Photo: Bloomberg / Getty Images
One of the first superyachts to be confiscated was the 86-meter Amore Vero, linked to oil tycoon Igor Sechin, who was detained by customs officials at a shipyard in La Ciotat, near Marseilles, on March 2nd.
Italian authorities also confiscated the 143-meter sailing yacht A on 12 Marchin Trieste. It is believed to be owned by billionaire entrepreneur Andrei Melnichenko. He was sanctioned by the United Kingdom on March 15.
Melnichenko’s other superyacht, the £ 240 million futuristic motor yacht A, has disappeared from the global tracking system. His last confirmed location was on March 10 in the Maldives.
Alfa Nero’s last registered location with AIS was in the Caribbean on March 3, when he was anchored in Philipsburg in Sint Maarten. The yacht works with a skeletal crew and has placed its tender, Alfa Fish, in stock.
Guriev, 62, a Russian man who made his fortune with Russian fertilizer giant PhosAgro, owns the ship, according to marine sources. He was revealed to have bought London’s largest private residence, the 25-bedroom Witanhurst mansion, for £ 50 million in 2008.
He regularly enjoyed sailing the Alfa Nero. The court is also used by his family, including his son (also Andrei) and his son’s wife Valeria, who studied at the London College of Fashion and once reportedly said on Instagram that she was “too beautiful to work with.” Like many yachts, it is owned through an opaque offshore structure, and Guriev has denied ownership.
Other yachts that have not been tracked by AIS for more than a month include the Galactica Super Nova, which has a glass-bottomed swimming pool and a waterfall. He left Tivat in Montenegro on March 2nd and immediately disappeared from the system.
The Clio, linked to Deripaska, sailed more than 3,000 miles after the invasion, from the Maldives, across the Suez Canal, across the Mediterranean and into the Bosphorus, a gateway to the Black Sea and its Russian ports. In the case of the Clio, one of the reasons it darkened may be the dangerous situation in the Black Sea resulting from the war.
Amore Vero, who is linked to oil tycoon Igor Sechin after being captured in La Ciotat near Marseilles in March. Photo: Albert Gea / Reuters
Other yachts that have not transmitted a confirmed location via AIS for at least a month include My Sky, linked to cigarette mogul Igor Kesaev, who last announced his location in the Maldives on March 30th. The Maldives has no extradition treaty with the United States, and at least five yachts linked to Russian owners have gone to their waters since the invasion. Other vessels, including two owned by Roman Abramovich, have sailed for Turkey.
According to maritime rules, AIS must always operate when ships are in motion or at anchor. All vessels of 300 gross tonnage and upwards must be equipped with it. A cruiser usually transmits its location frequently, but can turn off the system when in port. The data is transmitted by radios and satellites.
Sam Tucker of VesselsValue said: “There are some vessels where we used to receive a signal every few minutes from transponders, but now we see gaps for months. It is very likely that some have turned off the switch and switched to stealth mode.
None of the sanctioned oligarchs linked to the six superyachts suspected of shutting down their AIS responded to a request for comment.
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