A superyacht associated with one of President Vladimir Putin’s main allies has navigated the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway that is largely shut to commercial vessels currently.
The Nord, a 465-foot luxury yacht valued at over $500 million and linked to Russia’s wealthiest individual, Alexei Mordashov, was able to traverse the strait after maintenance in Dubai. Sources indicate there were no objections from either Iran or the United States.
This yacht, which flies the Russian flag, departed Dubai on Friday and successfully crossed the strait on Saturday, marking one of the rare instances of a civilian vessel doing so since the onset of the Iran war.
It reached Muscat, Oman’s capital, on Sunday morning, according to data from Marine Traffic Platform.
An official informed Reuters that “Iran did not obstruct the yacht’s passage as it is a civilian ship from a friendly nation traveling peacefully. Moreover, the US did not raise concerns since it didn’t dock at any Iranian port or have links to Iran.”
Currently, Iran has restricted traffic through the strait, and the US has established a naval blockade in the area.
A limited number of vessels, mainly commercial, have managed to navigate this strategic waterway, which usually handles about one-fifth of the globe’s oil and gas shipping.
This situation is a stark contrast to prior conditions when an average of 125-140 ships would pass through the Strait before the conflict escalated on February 28.
At 60, Mordashov heads Severstal, Russia’s top steel and mining firm, with an estimated wealth of around $37 billion, as reported by Forbes.
The Nord yacht is among the world’s priciest superyachts, featuring two helicopter landing zones, an opulent lounge deck, and an impressive 80-foot pool at the rear.
It also includes a gym, a home theater, a Jacuzzi, and accommodates submarines and smaller boats.
The vessel can host 36 guests along with 42 crew members.
Though Mordashov isn’t officially listed as the owner of the Nord, documentation indicates it was registered in 2022 under a company related to his wife.
Putin, who has maintained a close relationship with Iran, recently had high-level discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St. Petersburg, following meetings in Pakistan and Oman over the weekend.
Mordashov backs the Russian president but has been subjected to Western sanctions due to his financial support for the war in Ukraine.
Earlier in the conflict, in March 2022, Italian police seized one of Mordashov’s smaller vessels, the 215-foot Lady M, at the port of Imperia.
