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Superyachts tracked: Abramovich’s boat heads east after sanctions

Solaris is tracked off coast of Sicily, joining hurried sailings of Russian yachts to avoid seizure

• Ukraine-Russia war – latest updates
• The oligarchs and business figures on western sanction lists

Roman Abramovich’s superyacht Solaris was heading east across the Mediterranean on Thursday after sanctions were extended to the Chelsea FC owner.

His $600m vessel, tracked off the coast of Sicily on Thursday, appeared to have joined the hurried sailings of Russian oligarchs moving their superyachts across the world to avoid seizure by governments enforcing sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine .

The Solaris left the Barcelona port where it had been undergoing repairs on Tuesday, according to Reuters, and by Thursday afternoon it was rounding the southern coast of Sicily. Abramovich’s other yacht, the even more luxurious Eclipse – estimated to be worth more than $1bn after extensive renovations – set sail east from the Caribbean island of St Maarten towards international waters shortly after other oligarchs’ yachts were seized.

The Eclipse had crossed much of the Atlantic by midday Thursday when it was located to the west of the Canary Islands according to vesselfinder.com.

Abramovich was sanctioned by the US in 2018 but joined the UK list on Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Abramovich said earlier this week: “We never comment on the movements of the yacht or any other vehicles or vessels.”

The 163-metre Eclipse, which includes nine decks, two helipads and a 16-metre swimming pool that can be converted into a dancefloor, is the most expensive vessel owned by individuals on the growing US, EU and UK sanction lists.

Many super-rich Russians – including some not yet on the sanctions list, but with links to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin – appear to be attempting to move their superyachts to countries without formal extradition agreements with western governments.

French and Italian authorities last week seized three yachts worth more than $225m (£170m).

Tracking data from the shipping intelligence service MarineTraffic shows that Titan, a $100m superyacht owned by Alexander Abramov, a billionaire iron and steel magnate, arrived in Maldives waters last week after sailing from Fethiye in Turkey. Its owner, who holds a big stake alongside Abramovich in the London-listed coal and steel group Evraz, is not on any sanctions lists.

Clio, a $65m superyacht owned by the aluminium billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who has been subject to US sanctions since 2018, was reported last week to be heading for Raa Atoll in the Maldives. The Maldives is an Indian Ocean island nation with no extradition treaty with the US or the EU.

The US president, Joe Biden, said last week the US was actively working to seize the superyachts, luxury apartments and private jets of oligarchs linked to Putin. “We are coming for your ill-begotten gains,” he said in his State of the Union address .

The White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, added: “We want [Putin] to feel the squeeze, we want the people around him to feel the squeeze.”

Three ways you can help the people of Ukraine from the UK

Support local charities

There are several Ukrainian charities working on the ground.  Sunflower of Peace  is a charity that helps paramedics and doctors, and has been fundraising for supplies, which includes first aid medical tactical backpacks.

United Help Ukraine  focuses on providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid, and raising awareness of the conflict.

Voices of Children  aims to help children affected by the war in eastern Ukraine, providing support through art therapy, psychologists, video storytelling and a number of other methods.

The  British Red Cross  has launched an emergency appeal to help Ukraine. The charity will be updating its webpage with news on the work its team is doing, and how support will be used to help people.

Support local journalism

English-language news outlets based in the country, such as  Kyiv Independent  and the  New Voice of Ukraine , are covering developments on the ground as the conflict unfolds, using local journalists. The Kyiv Independent says it was created by journalists in order to defend editorial independence. This  site on Twitter  covers many local journalists in Ukraine.

Write to your local MP

This can be a way to lobby the British government to place further sanctions on the Russian government and its associates. You can get in touch with your local MP via email or post to their constituency address. Instructions on how to get in touch can be found on  parliament.uk.

Grant Shapps, the UK transport secretary, said the government would detain any yachts suspected of being Russian-owned if they entered UK waters. “I want to make it impossible for individuals with links to Putin to use their aircraft in UK airspace, at UK airports or airfields, and any aircraft suspected of being linked to Russia will be detained,” he said. “Likewise, their yachts. Any of these floating gin palaces with an identifiable Russian connection will be detained if it attempts to dock in a British port.”

France detained Amore Vero , a 280ft, $120m superyacht they said was owned by Igor Sechin, in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat. Sechin, who is also facing sanctions, is the chief executive of the Russian oil producer Rosneft and a close ally of Putin. Amore Vero, which means “true love” in Italian, can accommodate 14 guests and 28 crew.

French police, who boarded the vessel at night last week, said the ship was in port for repairs, but its crew were “making arrangements to leave in a hurry, without having completed the planned work”.

Italy’s Guardia di Finanza boarded and impounded Lena , a 41-metre, $45m yacht owned by Gennady Timchenko, a close friend of Putin who has an estimated $21bn fortune held in several large Russian raw materials companies, in Sanremo. Lady M, a 64-metre, $60m yacht owned by Alexei Mordashov, was seized in the nearby Ligurian port of Imperia.

Dilbar , the world’s largest superyacht by gross tonnage, which the US government said is owned by Alisher Usmanov , was reported to have been seized in Hamburg. However, German authorities later clarified that the 156-metre vessel, which has been valued at $600m, has not been impounded but requires an export waiver to leave the port.

Usmanov, who reportedly owns Witanhurst, the second biggest private home in the UK after Buckingham Palace, was added to the EU’s sanction list on Wednesday. The US imposed sanctions on him last week after the White House described him as a “one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals and a close ally of Putin”.

The yachts identified by the Guardian as linked to oligarchs are worth more than $3bn. The ultimate ownership of superyachts can be difficult to confirm as many are owned through shell companies registered in tax havens.

Additional reporting by Pamela Duncan , Joanna Partridge and Georgina Quach

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Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich’s Two Superyachts Are Sailing Towards Each Other in the Mediterranean

Ship tracking platforms show that the billionaire’s yachts "eclipse" and "solaris" are relocating to the mediterranean, with no port destination specified., emma reynolds, emma reynolds's most recent stories.

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Russian oligarch and billionaire Roman Abramovich is on the move—and so are his superyachts.

After being slapped with sanctions in response to Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine, the billionaire was last seen on March 14 at an airport in Israel, where he has dual citizenship, according to Reuters .

Abramovich, who is currently worth an estimated $7.1 billion, according to Forbes , appears to be moving his yachts to safer waters. His 533-foot superyacht Eclipse , normally anchored year-round in the Caribbean, has been sailing east towards the Mediterranean since February 21, according to global ship tracking platform MarineTraffic. As of Wednesday, the ship is located off the coast of Algeria and is still sailing east with no port destination specified. The yacht, estimated to be worth over $600 million, is one of the largest and most expensive in the world , and seems to be cruising towards Abramovich’s other yacht, Solaris , in the Ionian Sea.

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Roman Abramovich’s “Solaris” superyacht.  Courtesy of Lloyd Werft

The 461-foot Solaris  is currently located in the Ionian Sea off the western coast of Greece and heading south. Solaris was most recently at a port in Barcelona, where it had reportedly been receiving repairs since late 2021 . The ship left without declaring a destination. However, it’s possible both Solaris and Eclipse are heading towards each other and are even eyeing ports in Israel where Abramovich is considered safe from sanctions.

Though a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Abramovich has denied having close ties to the Kremlin. This hasn’t stopped dozens of nations, including the US, UK and several EU countries, from implementing sanctions and asset freezes on the oligarch. The sanctions are part of a concerted multinational effort to pressure Russia’s wealthiest and most powerful individuals to help bring Russia’s war on Ukraine to an end.

Perhaps sensing the economic pressures to come, Abramovich made headlines just days after the Ukraine invasion for stating his intention to sell his beloved Chelsea Football Club in London for $2.5 billion. The billionaire said all proceeds would benefit Ukrainian refugees and “victims of the war,” which, notably, may also include Russian soldiers.

Russian oligarch and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich appears to be seeking cover from international sanctions in Israel, where he has dual citizenship.  Associated Press

Russians own up to 10 percent of the world’s megayachts, so Abramovich is just one of many Russian billionaires who are moving their assets to avoid seizure by international authorities. This week, Italian police seized Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko’s 486-foot Sailing Yacht A, and earlier this month, France impounded the yacht Amore Vero , owned by Russian oil billionaire Igor Sechin. Other Russian billionaires have had their yachts impounded in other EU countries.

This isn’t the first time Russian oligarchs’ whereabouts have been made public. Florida teen Jack Sweeney, who once tracked Elon Musk’s jet, created a Twitter account —@RUOligarchJets—dedicated to tracking the private jets of Russian oligarchs, which is updated daily.

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Take a closer look at Russian oligarch's $700 million superyacht that is one of the largest in the world

• Roman Abramovich had seemingly scrambled to avoid sanctions from the UK by moving his superyachts.
• One of those is The Eclipse, which cost $700 million to build and was once the biggest in the world.
• That yacht was once in New York City and we took some photos.

Like other Russian oligarchs, Roman Abramovich had seemingly scrambled to avoid sanctions and that included quickly moving his superyachts to more friendly waters.

Many of the 55-year-old billionaire's assets — such as the Chelsea Football Club and several homes — have been sold or frozen since Russia launched an unprovoked war on Ukraine, Bloomberg reported . 

While Abramovich couldn't move the Premier League football club Chelsea FC and sold the $3 billion club , his yachts are another matter. 

Abramovich's 553-foot-long flagship is The Eclipse, estimated to have cost $700 million when built. After sanctions were initially dropped by the UK against Abramovich, his second "smaller" $600 million superyacht, Solaris, left Barcelona, Spain, and moved to friendlier waters in Turkey.

Solaris was joined in Turkey by The Eclipse, which arrived from the Caribbean .

While the superyacht Eclipse was photographed in Turkish waters in early August , it was once docked at Manhattan's Pier 90, and Robert Johnson was able to get some pictures. Take a tour of the superyacht below. 

Robert Johnson contributed to this post.

Just south of this public parking lot on the roof of the Pier 90 terminal in New York City sat Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's flagship yacht, the "Eclipse."

536-feet long and styled after military vessels.

The 2010 Eclipse cost $700 million and was the world's largest yacht when built.

The vessel has amenities to rival any ship on the sea — like its own mini submersible, perhaps similar to this— able to dive down 150-feet.

The Eclipse has two helipads.

Bulletproof glass and armor plates wrap the length of Roman's master suite and the bridge.

And a German-built missile defense system.

The ship's also supposed to have a laser defense against paparazzi trying to photograph the yacht's guests, but saw no evidence of the device when we were there.

The Eclipse has three launch boats.

That looked to be stocked with medical supplies and a variety of handheld radios.

From the cruise ship parking lot it felt like we were almost on the Eclipse itself.

But with little chance we'd be invited aboard through the ship's door here ...

... We hoped to find one of the 70 crew members required to sail the Eclipse and see if they'd tell us what ship life was like.

But we found no one interested in talking.

But we certainly didn't feel like paparazzi, or that we'd be lasered, when we were in the parking lot tourists use when they arrive to board their cruise.

From up here, the ship was simply stunning and the amount of work required to keep her that way apparent.

The Yacht Report says owning a superyacht costs about 20% of the ship's initial value every year.

But experts believe that Roman probably pays $75 million a year to run the private cruise ship with 24-guest suites.

Looking at the layout of the ship gets us talking about the two swimming pools inside, the disco, cinema, hair salon, and restaurant.

The billionaire's guests would use this door to enter any fore part of the deck.

Perhaps noting where the life rings were as they made their way about the ship.

At 13,000 gross tons, the Eclipse was, at the time, the largest vessel to use a special stabilization system to keep it calm in rough waters while anchored or moving slowly through the sea.

Roman faced a $150,000 tab for parking the Eclipse in New York City while possibly visiting his daughter and her new baby — about $2,000 a day.

A large yacht like the Eclipse can hold over 100,000 gallons of fuel.

Depending on the current price of fuel, a five-hour cruise each way could cost about $30,000.

None of those numbers are likely to concern Roman Abramovich, however, who has an estimated net worth of nearly $8 billion.

Source: Forbes

Here is some drone footage of the superyacht.

You can see interior photos of the luxury yacht at Boat International

Step on board the 162.5m Eclipse - the second largest superyacht in the world

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Roman Abramovich’s $1bn five-yacht fleet revealed

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Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich owns or is linked to a collection of five yachts estimated to be worth almost $1bn, including several vessels whose ownership remained secret until this week.

A Financial Times investigation into the billionaire’s assets has lifted the veil of secrecy he maintains over his wealth, even after the UK and EU imposed sanctions on him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for his allegedly close relationship with President Vladimir Putin.

Authorities in the UK and EU are attempting to identify all of the assets owned by sanctioned oligarchs. Abramovich was already widely reported to be the owner of Solaris and Eclipse — worth $474mn and $437mn, respectively, according to yacht data service VesselsValue. But the FT revealed this week that he also owns Halo and Garçon, which are both moored in Antigua.

The Antiguan government was unaware of the ownership of the boats docked on the island before inquiries from the FT, highlighting the scale of the challenge UK and EU authorities face in enforcing sanctions.

Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank said governments, banks and other institutions trying to enforce sanctions had to navigate a world where “ownership trails run cold and morph into a haze of front companies, nominees and cut-outs”.

Halo and Garçon are valued at $38mn and $20mn, respectively, and are now at risk of being seized.

In a letter to the British high commissioner to Barbados regarding the yachts, Antiguan minister of foreign affairs Paul Chet Greene said the island would “provide full assistance to the government of the United Kingdom” if it receives a request under the two nations’ Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

The letter noted that Antigua had requested information on the company that owns the two boats — British Virgin Islands-registered Wenham Overseas Limited — after “persistent allegations by the Financial Times that the vessels could be owned by Mr Roman Abramovich”.

In response, the British high commission provided Antiguan authorities with a letter, seen by the FT, “from the Financial Investigation Agency of the British Virgin Islands which states the beneficial owner of Wenham Overseas Ltd is Roman Abramovich”.

The letter also shows the billionaire’s address in Switzerland is listed simply as “Immeuble, Gatzby Le Magnifique”, which translates as “The Great Gatsby Building”.

Keatinge described the UK’s ability to demand full ownership information of companies registered in any of its overseas territories or crown dependencies as its “most powerful global weapon” in combating financial secrecy.

However, he asked: “How much is that weapon being used?”

A person with knowledge of Abramovich’s boat collection and documents seen by the FT indicate that the oligarch may also still be the owner of Sussurro, the first yacht he bought in 1998, despite reports he had given it to an ex-wife in a divorce.

The person who correctly identified the two yachts in Antigua as belonging to Abramovich told the FT the oligarch still owned Sussurro.

The vessel’s owner is listed in maritime registers as Vesuvius International Limited in the British Virgin Islands. BVI documents show this company was deregistered there in 2017. Another Vesuvius International was registered in Jersey the same year.

The owner of Jersey-based Vesuvius International is listed as Wotton Overseas Holdings Limited. This entity — which shifted from the BVI to Jersey in 2017 — is also the owner through a subsidiary of a helicopter that has been photographed landing on Abramovich’s Solaris several times.

Maritime tracking services show Sussurro, which means “whisper” in Italian and is valued at $11mn, is moored in La Ciotat in the south of France — the same port where the French government last month seized a $116mn superyacht belonging to a company tied to Igor Sechin, head of Russian oil group Rosneft.

Sussurro’s management company is Blue Ocean Management, a Cyprus-based company that also manages Le Grand Bleu, a 113-metre superyacht that Abramovich reportedly gave to his business associate Eugene Shvidler.

The UK placed Shvidler under sanctions last week.

The letter from the BVI’s financial investigation agency to its British counterparts also reveals that the owner of Le Grand Blue — Ashchurch Holdings Limited — is owned by “Zarui Shvidler”. Shvidler’s wife is commonly known as Zara Shvidler.

VesselsValue pegged Le Grand Bleu’s market value in a range of $110mn-$130mn, noting that the boat had last been tracked this week in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Puerto Rico.

Representatives for Abramovich and Shvidler did not respond to requests for comment.

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International Edition

First Look at Billionaire Roman Abramovich’s ‘Secret’ Superyacht 

A new superyacht is making waves before it’s even completed. Solaris , reported to be owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, was photographed in June 2021 undergoing testing in the North Sea.

The 455-foot-long explorer yacht has been shrouded in secrecy from the start—despite being relatively hard to hide. 

With eight decks, Solaris —which can sleep 36 guests and a crew of 60—is said to have been built in a yacht shed bigger and taller than Buckingham Palace.

As for amenities, Solaris is helicopter-friendly with a landing pad and hangar, while her beach club beckons sunbathers.

With two massive, 9-megawatt electric Azipod propulsion systems, she’s expected to be one of the most powerful superyachts in the world.


Still, Solaris isn’t even the biggest ship Abraomovich owns: That honor goes to the 533-foot-long Eclipse , the second-longest yacht in the world.

Inside an Outrageous 351-Foot Superyacht

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Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s stunning new £430million Solaris yacht pictured for first time

• Published : 7:18, 26 Feb 2021
• Updated : 7:18, 26 Feb 2021
• Published : Invalid Date,

ROMAN Abramovich’s new £430million superyacht is pictured in all its glory for the first time.

The 460ft Solaris , which will have eight decks including a helicopter pad, is nearing completion.

No expense has been spared and its two advanced electric engines will make it the most powerful yacht in the world.

Solaris is almost ready for sea trials and should be handed to the Chelsea owner, 54, by the summer.

A source said: “This will be the yacht of the year when she is launched later this year.”

The yacht is being built at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.

The shed it is being constructed in is larger than Buckingham Palace.

Solaris will have 48 cabins, accommodating up to 36 passengers, and a crew of 60.

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But Abramovich , who already has £475million superyacht Eclipse , will not be setting sail for Britain often as he has visa issues over his Russia links.

The source added: "Details are being kept top secret but she will be a magnificent addition for the owner.

'To give you an idea of the size of Solaris the yacht shed she is being built in is bigger and taller than Buckingham Palace so you have some idea of the dimensions.''

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Roman Abramovich’s luxury yachts, from Chelsea owner’s new £430m Solaris to the £1BILLION Eclipse

• Published : 4:37 ET, Mar 9 2022
• Updated : 4:43 ET, Mar 10 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH certainly doesn't do things in halves.

The Chelsea owner, worth a cool £10bn, was sanctioned by the UK government as part of attempts to crackdown on wealthy Russians with assets in the UK - but what yachts does he own?

The Russian, 55, who has faced calls to be barred from owning Chelsea and his £152m home amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine , must love travelling by sea.

He has had a private navy of yachts - with SunSport believing Solaris to be his EIGHTH over the years.

The latest yacht was completed last year and is believed to have cost £430million to build .

A 460ft beast of the sea, it features eight decks, as well as a helicopter pad and was seen cruising the French Riviera last summer.

The yacht was built at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany and the shed it was constructed in was larger than Buckingham Palace.

Solaris has 48 cabins, accommodating up to 36 passengers, and a crew of 60 plus and boasts two advanced engines to be the most powerful yacht in the world.

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Roman's current superyacht , the Eclipse - with all the work that's been done to it - is said to now be worth £1billion.

Built in 2010, it was completely rebuilt in 2015 to cater for the high-spec needs of a multi-billionaire.

Incredibly, the 553ft Eclipse has its own missile defence system - should it come under attack.

There are 24 guest cabins, two swimming pools, hot tubs, a sauna, and even a nightclub.

It also boasts a cinema, conference room, children's playroom, hair salon, and a mini-submarine that can dive to 50m. Yes, that's right. It's a yacht that boasts its own submarine.

LE GRAND BLEU

Worth £135million, Le Grand Bleu was once Roman's pride and joy.

Twenty guests can stay in luxury onboard, and enjoy it's many amenities.

Astonishingly, as is the theme with these yachts, there are more boats on board.

As well as a 73-foot sailboat, guests can also enjoy taking a 68-foot powerboat for a spin. And there are two more boats in its internal garage on top of that.

It is now owned by Abramovich's friend Eugene Schvidler.

Currently available to buy for £16million, the Sussurro is now over 20 years old.

It was built by Feadship, measures over 163 feet long and boasts six luxury cabins that can house 12 guests.

Rarely used, it has been reported that the Sussorro was given to Roman's ex-wife Irina Malandina, as part of a divorce settlement.

With 15,000 combined horsepower, it is capable of reaching speeds of 46 knots.

Valued at around £110million, the Ecstasea is still one of the fastest superyachts around - boasting 43,000 horsepower and measuring 282-feet.

Abramovich was the original owner from 2004, before it was sold to Pakistani businessman Alshair Fiyaz in 2009.

There's room for 14 guests, can be staffed by a crew of 25, and can be reached by helicopter, which can park on one of two helipads.

The Ecstasea suffered damage in 2019 when it clipped the Simpson Bay Bridge in the Caribbean island of St Maarten.

So that's what £270million gets you.

Built in 2003, the 377-foot long Pelorus was briefly owned by a Saudi Arabian businessman before Abramovich got his hands on it in 2004.

A year later, he lent it to Chelsea legends John Terry and Frank Lampard for two weeks as a bonus for helping the club win Roman's first Premier League as owner.

Then in 2007 he allowed Terry and his wife Toni to enjoy their honeymoon on board.

However, it was also reportedly handed to Irina in the divorce settlement, who sold it to American film exec David Geffen in 2011.

Currently the second largest expedition yacht in the world, the Luna was delivered to Roman in 2010.

It boats 10 VIP cabins, that are 100 square metres each, as well as a 20-metre outdoor pool.

Like the Eclipse, it also has an anti-missile system, as well as bulletproof windows.

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In 2014, it was sold to Azerbaijani billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov for £210 million.

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Roman Abramovich's new £430million superyacht Solaris - complete with eight decks, a helicopter pad and 48 cabins - is launched for the first time at German shipyard

• The 460ft Solaris will soon undertake sea trials before the 54-year-old Chelsea owner sets sail in the summer
• Russian billionaire's eight-deck boat has been fitted with 48 cabins and is able to sleep 36 guests and 60 crew
• Two high-tech electrical engines called Azipods will drive the colossal boat. The super-efficient propeller pods can turn through 360 degrees, providing incredible manoeuvrability, and render a rudder unnecessary
• Abramovich already owns a 530ft yacht, Eclipse, which was the world's largest superyacht when it launched

By James Robinson and Ross Ibbetson For Mailonline

Published: 17:08 EDT, 1 March 2021 | Updated: 08:31 EDT, 2 March 2021

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Roman Abramovich's new £430million superyacht hit the water for the first time today after being launched at a German shipyard. 

The 460ft Solaris was moved into the water from the drydock at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, north of Bremen, where engineers had pieced together the colossal vessel.

The superyacht, equipped with a helipad and swimming pool, is set to undertake sea trials before the 54-year-old Chelsea owner sets sail in the summer.

The Russian billionaire's eight-deck yacht has been fitted with 48 cabins and is able to sleep 36 guests, as well as 60 crew.

Two high-tech electrical engines called Azipods will drive the colossal boat. The super-efficient propellers can turn through 360 degrees, providing incredible manoeuvrability, and render a rudder unnecessary.

Despite its incredible size, Abramovich's new vessel is actually smaller than the superyacht he already owns - the 533ft Eclipse. 

As well as Solaris and Eclipse, the Russian is reported to have previously owned at least five other superyachts, including the 162ft Sussurro, the 282ft Ecstasea, the Luna and the Pelorus, both 377ft, and the 371ft Grand Bleu.

Roman Abramovich's new £430million superyacht hit the water for the first time after being launched at a German shipyard (pictured)

The 460ft Solaris, equipped with a helipad and swimming pool, is set to undertake sea trials before the 54-year-old Chelsea owner sets sail in the summer

The Russian billionaire's eight-deck yacht (pictured) has been fitted with 48 cabins and is able to sleep 36 guests, as well as 60 crew

Roman Abramovich's new £430 million superyacht pictured earlier this week for the first time as it neared completion at a German shipyard

Two high-tech electrical engines called Azipods will drive the colossal boat. The super-efficient propellers can turn through 360 degrees, providing incredible manoeuvrability, and render a rudder unnecessary

The Solaris will be Abramovich's second superyacht and not as large as the Eclipse, a 533ft vessel. He has previously owned at least five other colossal yachts, the 162ft Sussurro the most recent to change hands in around 2017.

As well as Solaris and Eclipse, the Chelsea owner (pictured) is reported to have previously owned at least five other superyachts, including the 162ft Sussurro, the 282ft Ecstasea, the Luna and the Pelorus, both 377ft, and the 371ft Grand Bleu

Solaris was pictured surrounded by scaffolding and cranes at the end of December as she neared completion at the Lloyd Werft shipyard.

A source told The Sun : 'This will be the yacht of the year when she is launched.'

Solaris will have a top speed of 18 knots (20mph) and feature an outdoor beach club area, with a jacuzzi and spa to accompany the swimming pool.

Mr Abramovich is already the owner of a £540 million superyacht, Eclipse, which he uses for cruises around the French Riviera where he owns a villa in Antibes.

The 533ft yacht, at time of launch the largest privately owned superyacht in the world, is more than 70ft longer than Mr Abramovich's new yacht. 

The Eclipse is reportedly equipped with an anti-missile system, bullet-proof glass and armour-plating around Mr Abramovich' quarters. It's not clear how the new smaller ship will differ.

The source added: 'Details are being kept top secret but she will be a magnificent addition for the owner.

'To give you an idea of the size of Solaris the yacht shed she is being built in is bigger and taller than Buckingham Palace so you have some idea of the dimensions.' 

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The billionaire has owned a series of other luxurious yachts before Solaris and Eclipse. Three of them - including the £110million Le Grand Bleu, the £274million Pelorus and the £276million Luna - measured more than 370ft.

The Luna and Le Grand Bleu are both 'expedition' class yachts, meaning they have very strong hulls which are capable of navigating through high seas while providing comfort to passengers in the most inhospitable climates, such as at the North and South Poles.

Like Eclipse, Luna is also fitted with missile detection apparatus, as well as bullet-proof glass windows.

Others vessels owned by Mr Abramovich have included the 282ft, £110million Ecstasea with a top speed of 25 knots and the smaller 162ft, £16million Sussurro. 

Some of the vessels have been loaned out to top Chelsea footballers over the years, including John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Terry and Lampard were given use of the Pelorus as a 'bonus' following their victorious league campaign in 2005, while Terry and his wife Toni set sail in the yacht two years later for their honeymoon.

When he gets his new yacht, the Russian won't be sailing to Britain anytime soon after his visa expired two years ago.

Mr Abramovich, who owns a £200million property empire in London, became an Israeli citizen in 2018 after he announced that he had withdrawn his UK visa application. 

It came amid heightened tensions between London and Moscow over the Salisbury Novichok attack. 

Value: £430 million

Length: 460ft

Tonnage: 11,000

Top speed: 18 knots (20mph)

Engines: Two Azipod electrical propellers

Extras: Helipad, swimming pool, beach club area, jacuzzi and spa 

Value: £540 million

Length: 533ft

Tonnage: 13,000

Top speed: 22 knots (25mph)

Cabins: At least 24 guest cabins, but dozens more for the crew

Engines: Four MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesel engines

Extras: Two helipads, a submarine and three landing craft, two swimming pools and a dance floor

Abramovich's Eclipse yacht off the coast of Portofino, Italy, in September 2013. The yacht is valued at £540million and is the largest which the Chelsea boss has owned

Abramovich's previous yachts  

Value: £16 million

Length: 162ft 

Tonnage: 480 

Top speed: 36 knots (41mph) 

Engines: Twin 4,000 horse power Textron TF4 gas turbines and twin 3,442hp Paxman diesel engines

Value: £110 million 

Length: 282ft

Tonnage: 2,100

Top speed: 25 knots (29mph) 

Engines: Quad 3,000 horse power MTU diesel engines, and a single GE LM2500 gas turbine 1 

Le Grand Bleu

Value: £110 million

Length: 371ft

Tonnage: 5,600

Top Speed: 17 knots (20mph) 

Cabins: 10 

Guests: 20 

Engines: Twin Deutz-MWM SBV16M 628 diesel engines   

Value: £276 million

Length: 377ft

Tonnage: 5,800

Top speed: 23 knots (27mph)

Engines: Twin Wartsila 4,500kW electric engines and propelled by twin Azipods

Extras: Helipad, 20-metre outdoor swimming pool, dance floor, spa, elevator, deck jacuzzi, gym

Value: £274 million 

Tonnage: 5,300

Top speed: 19 knots (22mph) 

Engines: Twin Wartsila 3,900kW diesel-electric engines

Extras: Two helipads, large swimming pool, various water sports craft, including jet skis

The yacht Sussurro is surrounded by sightseers in 2013. The 162ft vessel is valued at around £16million and was let go by Abramovich in around 2017

The Pelorus superyacht. The 377ft vessel has two helipads and a large swimming pool. It is valued at around £270million

Luna at port in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. The £276million vessel was delivered to Abramovich in 2010 and sold four years later to Azerbaijani billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov

Abramovich's former yacht Ecstasea sails through the Bosphorus, Istanbul, in 2010. The £110 million boat can accommodate 14 guests and 25 crew

In January, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny called for the freezing of Mr Abramovich's assets over his poisoning and detention.

A representative of the 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner accused the Chelsea owner of being associated with the Kremlin.

Mr Abramovich's representatives poured scorn on the claims.

He is worth a reported £10 billion and has overseen years of lavish spending at Chelsea Football Club since taking over in 2003.

Under his ownership, the London club have won five Premier League titles, the Champions League and become one of world football's most valuable clubs.

The Russian owns a 15-bedroom mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens on what is known as 'billionaire's row.'

He paid £90 million for the home which is now believed to be worth £125 million.

Mr Abramovich made his fortune by selling assets purchased from the state after the fall of the Soviet Union. 

• Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's stunning new £430 million superyacht seen for the first time

Share or comment on this article: Roman Abramovich's new £430million superyacht Solaris is launched for the first time

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Chelsea owner roman abramovich's new £430m superyacht has been unveiled.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's new £430m superyacht has been unveiled

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich recently splashed out close to £100m to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge, but parting with that sort of sum likely won't worry the Russian billionaire too much. 

Abramovich has some serious wealth behind him and, as you might expect, isn't afraid to be extravagant with his cash - especially when it comes to his yachts

Most of us mere mortals can only dream of owning such luxury items, but the 54-year-old tycoon has an entire fleet of yachts at his disposal - and video footage has recently emerged on social media of the latest addition to his collection.

Abramovich's newest vessel, known as Solaris, is an absolute beast. Boasting two advanced electric engines, it is believed to be the most powerful yacht in the world.

Its accommodation isn't bad, either, with the entire structure measuring a whopping 140 metres in length. This means that there's plenty of space on board for 48 cabins, a pool, jacuzzi and spa and an outdoor beach club.

Abramovich and his guests will also have their pick of eight decks from which to enjoy the sea views including one which has its own helicopter pad.

Read more: Premier League 2021/22: Start Date, Fixtures, Odds, Ball, Tickets And Everything You Need To Know

ENTER GIVEAWAY

As impressive it sounds on paper, the Solaris looks even more spectacular in a viral clip tweeted by American entrepreneur Joe Pompliano . The video, which can be seen below, does true justice to the sheer scale of the monster vessel. Sources have previously revealed that the superyacht had to be built in a facility that was both bigger and taller than Buckingham Palace. Judging by this latest footage, we can see why!

What might be most insane about Abramovich's newest toy is that it's not even his largest or most expensive yacht. The Solaris is believed to have cost him somewhere in the region of £430m, but that is pocket change to the billionaire when compared with his 160-metre vessel called Eclipse which set him back more than a billion pounds in 2010.

Crazy numbers, but life certainly looks good for the Chelsea chief.

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U.S. Eyes $156 Million Yacht in Dubai Linked to a Russian Oligarch

The U.S. Justice Department is taking steps to seize the Madame Gu, a 324-foot luxury yacht, but it will be diplomatically thorny.

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By Kate Kelly ,  Michael Forsythe and Julian E. Barnes

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On a clear morning in late October, the jewel-blue hull of the Madame Gu, one of the world’s most luxurious superyachts, gleamed, its aluminum rails shimmering in the sun. Workers on the pier said they had recently seen people painting, cleaning and generally keeping the ship with its helipad and six guest staterooms in pristine condition.

In past years, such a scene would not have been noteworthy. Many superyachts come and go from Dubai’s Mina Rashid Marina, best known as the home of the Queen Elizabeth 2, the trans-Atlantic ocean liner-turned-hotel that dominates the waterfront here.

But Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned an otherwise routine tableau into a diplomatic battleground between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, an important American ally that has established itself as a safe haven for Russian money and assets out of the reach of U.S. sanctions.

The $156 million Madame Gu epitomizes the problem. In June, the United States designated the vessel, which is linked to Andrei Skoch, a Russian steel magnate and lawmaker under sanctions, as blocked property. That means the yacht cannot use American companies for its upkeep, employ U.S. citizens or even use the dollar. The Justice Department is now taking steps to seize the Madame Gu, according to people with knowledge of the plan.

But the United States can’t seize property in a sovereign nation without permission from its government. The Emirates, which has taken a friendlier position toward Moscow, is balking at cooperating with the United States to pursue oligarchs, American officials said. The Kremlin is also using oligarch-controlled companies in the Emirates to acquire war supplies that the West is trying to keep out of Russia’s reach, according to a Western official involved in the sanctions effort against Russia.

Emirati officials did not comment specifically on the Madame Gu but said in a statement that they took their role “protecting the integrity of the global financial system extremely seriously.”

A closer examination of Russian assets in the Emirates shows that even before the war in Ukraine, Dubai had become a playground for Russians with links to President Vladimir V. Putin. At least 38 businessmen or officials with ties to the Russian president own homes in Dubai that are collectively valued at more than $314 million, according to the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Five of those owners are under U.S. sanctions.

Since the Russian invasion, Dubai has established itself as a safe haven for Russian yachts and aircraft unable to sail or fly elsewhere. After Russian jets were barred from the European Union in late February, the Emirates became the destination for 14 percent of all private flights leaving Russia, up from 3 percent before the invasion.

“It’s frustrating when you see huge assets that are sitting out there and it appears that the country is not cooperating,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, referring to the Emirates. “It would be nice if there were more common cause against Putin while he’s busy shelling hospitals and schools.”

Mr. Whitehouse is sponsoring legislation that would use proceeds of the sales of seized Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine. Senior officials at the Treasury and State Departments have also complained publicly about the situation.

U.S. officials view the presence of superyachts in places like Dubai and Bodrum, Turkey , as a symptom of wider Russian circumvention of sanctions and continued access to financial markets. Yachts have also come to symbolize the decadence of Russia’s oligarchs, especially at a time when Russian soldiers are scrounging for body armor and sleeping bags on the front lines.

Pursuing the Madame Gu

Built by the Dutch firm Feadship and put into service in 2013, the Madame Gu has a large helicopter pad on its forecastle with a hangar underneath that can double as a squash court when the chopper isn’t on board. The vessel has berthing for 36 crew members, according to one trade magazine.

Mr. Skoch, a member of Russia’s Parliament who is linked to assets worth billions of dollars, according to U.S. court filings, has had sanctions imposed on him twice by the United States, first in 2018 and then after Russia’s invasion this year. The Treasury Department has cited his “longstanding ties to Russian organized criminal groups.”

Mr. Skoch could not be reached and did not respond to messages left at his office at Parliament.

In an interview in October about the government’s broader efforts to go after the assets of oligarchs, Andrew Adams, a federal prosecutor leading the Department of Justice’s KleptoCapture task force, declined to discuss the Madame Gu. But the United States, he said, is warning companies they must not do business with individuals and assets under sanctions. The government, he said, will pursue oligarch-owned assets whose sale could be used to aid Ukraine.

“Where we know there is an asset that can potentially provide significant remuneration for Ukraine, that obviously is an attractive case to pursue,” he said.

U.S. officials are likely to use the case they made for impounding a $90 million Airbus business jet linked to Mr. Skoch in August as a blueprint for seizing the Madame Gu, said people familiar with the plan.

That means investigators will aim to show that the owner of the vessel, or the companies that have been providing services to it, have intersected with the U.S. financial system.

“If there are U.S. dollars or a U.S. nexus associated with supporting this vessel, massive enforcement actions could take place,” said Adam M. Smith, a former official overseeing sanctions at the Treasury Department. Companies that provide support to entities under sanctions could potentially face their own sanctions, said Mr. Smith, who is now a lawyer at Gibson Dunn in Washington.

This year the United States has carried out two high-profile seizures of yachts tied to Russians under sanctions, working with cooperative governments. The $300 million Amadea was taken in Fiji in May and sailed to San Diego under an American flag. In April, the United States worked with Spanish police to seize the $90 million Tango.

A Problematic Partner

Diplomatically, the Emirates has been reluctant to take a clear anti-Russian position when it comes to the war in Ukraine. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, recently met with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg, and the Emirati foreign minister recently hosted his Russian counterpart. Yet Sheikh Mohammed has also talked with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, more than once and recently gave the country $100 million in humanitarian aid.

The United States has publicly expressed dismay over the mixed messages.

During a visit to Dubai in June, Wally Adeyemo, the U.S. deputy treasury secretary, warned of the need for vigilance and proactive steps in combating Russian evasion. That same month Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s under secretary for Near East Affairs, said at a congressional hearing that regarding the Emirates, she was “not happy at all with the record at this point” on sanctions enforcement. Mr. Adeyemo reiterated his concerns in a meeting with Emirati officials in October in Washington.

A senior State Department official said in a statement to The New York Times that the agency continues “to reinforce the importance of conducting enhanced due diligence to prevent sanctions evasion and investigating allegations of such activity” to the Emirates.

The Treasury Department declined to comment on the Madame Gu or the relationship with the Emirates.

Last month, the Treasury Department announced it had placed sanctions on an Emirates-based company, Constellation Advisors Ltd., that the American government said was operating on behalf of a nephew of another Russian oligarch, Suleiman Kerimov. Mr. Kerimov, according to American court documents, was the owner of the Amadea superyacht .

American officials are also worried the Russian government is using the Emirates to acquire military supplies for its war in Ukraine. On Nov. 15, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Emirates-based transportation firms that had worked with another Iranian firm under sanctions, which in turn had helped transport drones and personnel from Iran to Russia.

Moored in Dubai

Based on a recent visit to Dubai’s Mina Rashid Marina , where the Madame Gu is moored, it is clear that international companies are playing a critical role in its care.

The Emirates-based company DP World, through its subsidiary P&O Marinas , oversees the pier where the Madame Gu is moored. Employees from another DP World subsidiary , World Security, staff the small guard box at the entrance. That makes DP World, which is owned by Dubai’s royal family, potentially vulnerable to American sanctions.

DP World “fully complies with all applicable local and national laws and intends to continue doing the same regarding the Madame Gu and other vessels utilizing our services,” said Adal Mirza, a spokesman for the company. He added that DP World had not yet heard from the United States or other countries that had placed Mr. Skoch under sanctions, including Britain and the European Union.

A generator set that dock workers said in late October was powering the Madame Gu — two container-like structures near its stern — bore the distinctive orange logo of Aggreko , a British company. The generator set was connected to the superyacht by thick cords; one of the containers was emitting grayish exhaust.

At the Mina Rashid Marina, soon after Aggreko was contacted by The Times, workers removed the generator. “Having identified that the generator was being used to power a vessel that is allegedly connected to a sanctioned person, we immediately terminated this rental and have since recovered the generator,” the company said in a statement.

Mr. Mirza, the DP World spokesman, said the Aggreko generator had been replaced with one from a local supplier.

P&O Marinas arranged for the diesel generator to provide power for the Madame Gu because that part of the pier, a holding area, has no shore-supplied electric power, said a port official in Dubai, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the press.

“At the end of the day, if the U.A.E. hasn’t imposed sanctions, it’s not really their job to enforce other countries’ laws within their borders,” said Nabeel Yousef, a Washington-based partner at the law firm Freshfields, where he runs the sanctions practice. Nevertheless, “companies should not take comfort in the fact that their country has not imposed sanctions,” he added, “because even the smallest connection to the U.S. can lead to U.S. penalties.”

There has also been a notable absence onboard the Madame Gu in recent weeks: a flag. Unlike other ships moored nearby, including the Quantum Blue, a superyacht linked to the billionaire Sergei Galitsky, the Madame Gu appears to be stateless, apparently having been deflagged by the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands officials didn’t respond to an emailed inquiry about the ship’s status.

If DP World were to face fallout from U.S. sanctions enforcers, it wouldn’t be the first time the company has been the focus of attention in Washington. In 2006, DP World was seeking to manage some terminal operations at six American ports but dropped out of the deal after a bipartisan uproar in Congress.

Anton Troianovski contributed reporting from Turin, Italy, and Oleg Matsnev from Berlin.

Kate Kelly covers money, influence, and policy as a correspondent in the Washington bureau of the Times. Before that, she spent twenty years covering Wall Street deals, key players and their intersection with politics. She is the author of three books, including "The Education of Brett Kavanaugh." More about Kate Kelly

Michael Forsythe is a reporter on the investigations team. He was previously a correspondent in Hong Kong, covering the intersection of money and politics in China. He has also worked at Bloomberg News and is a United States Navy veteran. More about Michael Forsythe

Julian E. Barnes is a national security reporter based in Washington, covering the intelligence agencies. Before joining The Times in 2018, he wrote about security matters for The Wall Street Journal. More about Julian E. Barnes

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

A day after securing a new term in a rubber-stamp presidential election, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he would not back down in Russia’s war against Ukraine .

With additional American aid still in doubt, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, called for “creative, adaptable and sustainable ways” to continue arming Ukraine  and praised European allies who were trying to bolster Kyiv’s military.

Ukraine fired a volley of exploding drones  at Moscow and other targets on the final day of Russia’s presidential vote, the local authorities said, continuing a flurry of attacks timed for the election .

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

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