‘Going nowhere’: Russian’s £38m superyacht seized
A SUPERYACHT moored in London has been impounded as part of Britain’s sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The £38million vessel, owned by a Russian businessman, was boarded by National Crime Agency officers at Canary Wharf yesterday.
It is the first to be impounded since sanctions were brought in targeting rich allies of president t Vladimir Putin.
At 190ft long, the yacht – called Phi – dwarfs other boats moored in the east London marina.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said Phi was in London for a refit but ‘won’t be going anywhere’. He added: ‘It’s another indication that we will not stand by while Putin’s cronies are allowed a to sail around a the world in these kinds of yachts. When you see what he’s doing to Ukraine, it can’t be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away, and that is why we’ve impounded it and denied its ability to go anywhere right now.’
Mr Shapps did not name the businessman but the Financial Times reported it was Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, founder of the Motiv Telecom network. The Netherlands-built boat – which made its maiden voyage last year – has what is described as an ‘infinite wine cellar’ and a freshwater swimming pool.
It is registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean and carries a Maltese flag. The National Crime Agency, which worked with the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to impound the vessel, said its ownership was ‘deliberately well hidden’. The Department for Transport added the UK’s ‘strong stance sends an example to international partners’.