The 58.5-metre-tall monster is collecting dust in London’s Canary Wharf and is banned from venturing outside British waters. Royal Huisman Motor yacht fi She is still making headlines three years after her ongoing legal troubles. The yacht was first launched in 2021 and is currently subject to a long-term detention order, and is at the center of a long battle over the UK’s Russian sanctions regime.
Although its owner does not explicitly appear on any sanctions lists, British authorities conclude that the ship is somehow “linked to Russia” and depart. fi It is in a state of maritime limbo until a final ruling is issued by the courts. Below is an overview of the yacht’s features, followed by a closer look at the ongoing sanctions and appeals process.
fi Fast facts about luxury yachts
| Constructor | Royal Huisman (Netherlands) |
| price | $55 million USD / $88 million AUD |
| Exterior design | Coeur de Rover Design |
| Interior design | Lawson Rob |
| Naval architecture | Naval Architects Van Oosanen |
| Hull and superstructure | Aluminum |
| top gear | 22 knots (powered by two MTU engines) |
| Guests and crew | Accommodation for up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms, plus 11 crew |
fi Super yacht specifications
Delivered by Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman in 2021, fi It spans an impressive length of 58.5 meters (about 192 feet), with a width of 9.73 meters and an internal volume of 495 feet. Total tons. The fifth largest yacht built by Royal Huisman – and proud to hold the title – she is ranked 594th in the world rankings of the largest yachts.
Although Phi is not currently for sale – making her different from the 2,000 megayachts currently listed on the market – her future remains uncertain, as the rest of this article will demonstrate. When its legal troubles are eventually over, it may be put up for sale in very short order, its owner keen to forget the trouble it caused, or the couple may finally be able to sail off into the sunset together. turning a blind eye, fi She also features a cruising speed of up to 22 knots and accommodation for up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms, plus 11 crew members.
fi Detention in London
Fay’s problems began in March 2022, very shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps exercised his powers under the so-called 2019 Russian regulations, making sure not to miss a good photo opportunity, as was the case. – A political style that is remembered fondly. consideration fi As an asset “likely to belong to Russia”, the vessel was justified indefinitely being detained in British waters. since then, fi It was docked at Canary Wharf. According to its captain, the yacht suffered hull deterioration, expiring insurance, and even intruders during its long and hesitant stay.
Although the yacht’s owner, Russian businessman Sergei Georgievich Naumenko, does not appear directly on any official sanctions list, the UK government went ahead with the restrictions on the basis of a distant but tangible connection to the Russian regime, scoring some easy political points. In this process. Officials in the United Kingdom confirm this fi It remains subject only to restrictions on use, not absolute expropriation. All of this means that maintenance, crew presence, and even a sale to a non-Russian buyer are theoretically permitted, but for now, the yacht must remain where it is.
Supreme Court and Court of Appeal
In 2023, a High Court judge upheld the UK government’s decision, ruling that – although the expropriation interfered with the owner’s property rights, to put it politely – it did not breach human rights obligations and was valid in the context of the national government. – Supported sanctions policy. In early 2024, the Court of Appeal approved his imprisonment decision fi It was a proportionate response to broader concerns about Russia-linked real estate.
The case eventually went to the UK Supreme Court, where a final hearing begins on January 16. Solicitors representing Dalston Projects Ltd (fi legally registered owner) and Mr. Naumenko challenged the assumption that he is “connected with Russia” only on the basis of wealth or residence and that there is insufficient evidence fi The arrest would achieve the intended goal of putting pressure on the Russian regime.
On the other hand, representatives of the UK government reiterated their position that the detention does not constitute a complete expropriation, stating that the yacht can be sold to a non-Russian buyer at any time or kept as long as the detention continues, as long as it is not transferred. The Supreme Court has now adjourned, with a final ruling expected within six to eight weeks.