russian yacht antigua

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

The long tale of the yacht linked to a Russian oligarch and abandoned in the Caribbean for more than 2 years finally draws to a close

An undisclosed buyer picked up the Alfa Nero for $40 million last week.

The yacht was originally seized from a Russian oligarch in 2022.

The sale ended an ownership tug-of-war, which included ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

An undisclosed buyer has finally stepped up to the helm of the Alfa Nero superyacht, ending a two-year-long saga, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

That buyer agreed last week to pay $40 million, a huge discount to the $67.6 million that former Google CEO Eric Schmidt bid last year, a deal he eventually abandoned.

The Antigua and Barbuda government sold the superyacht, which houses an infinity pool that converts to a helipad or dancefloor.

The massively discounted price can be attributed to authorities' need "to get the boat sold," Richard Higgins, a broker who represented the buyer, told Bloomberg.

Higgins said the European buyer, whose identify was kept secret, intends to put the superyacht on the charter market.

The person "is not included in the sanctions list of any country or institution," Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador to the US, told Bloomberg.

The 267-foot-vessel was seized by Antigua and Barbuda authorities after it was linked to Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev, who was accused by the US Treasury Department of having close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Guryev is the founder of Phosagro, Europe's largest producer of phosphate fertilizers, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index .

The Alfa Nero was among dozens of superyachts seized following global sanctions against Putin's closest associates, which led to billions of dollars in frozen assets.

The Alfa Nero's maiden owner was Guryev, who purchased the vessel for $120 million, according to the US Treasury and the Antigua and Barbuda government . The Russian billionaire had adamantly denied ownership.

After the vessel was seized in 2022, it remained docked in Antigua's Falmouth Harbour, which cost residents of the Caribbean nation $28,000 in weekly tax dollars for maintenance, which took as many as 44 crew members . The superyacht was then valued at $81 million.

In 2023, the Antigua and Barbuda government put the Alfa Nero up for auction, citing hazards due to a lack of maintenance.Eric Schmidt initially won the bidding, for $67.6 million , but eventually backed out after Guryev's daughter claimed ownership of the superyacht.

The most recent acquisition of the Alfa Nero finally ends its ownership limbo, during which it racked up millions of dollars in port fees under the custody of the Antigua and Barbuda authorities, Darwin Telemaque, the Alfa Nero's port manager, told Bloomberg.

Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Antigua and Barbuda taxpayers were footing a $28,000-a-week bill to maintain the Alfa Nero, including the salary of an Italian captain and $2,000-a-day in diesel to keep its air conditioning running. That's because if the AC is turned off, it could let mold spread throughout the vessel and ruin the hardwood interior or a Joan Miró painting onboard, per the WSJ.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Recommended Stories

How google built a potentially lifesaving feature into a smartwatch.

Google's Pixel Watch 3 features a loss of pulse detection function that can potentially save your life.

Google just made a $250M deal with California to support journalism — here's what it means

This week, Google joined a $250 million deal with the state of California to support California newsrooms. The Media Guild of the West (MGW), the local chapter of the journalism labor union the NewsGuild-CWA, denounced the deal in a post on X, calling it a shakedown.

Valve finally confirms its next game, Deadlock, with a bare-bones Steam page

The company has finally confirmed the game’s existence with an official Steam page, which notes that Deadlock 'is in early development' and in the hands of playtesters.

New tech features can cause significant headaches for buyers, study says

J.D. Power's recent study found that automakers' push to include everything and the kitchen sink for tech might not be the best approach.

Do you know where your children are? Maybe on X

A surprising number of “iPad kids” — aka Generation Alpha’s 7- to 9-year-old demographic — are using X, according to new data from parental control software maker Qustodio. Qustodio theorizes that X may be gaining the attention of this young crowd thanks to its integration with Google Search, which features X posts directly in the search results. The family of powerhouse VC Marc Andreessen, one of the investors behind the hoped-for California Forever utopian city, is planning to build a large planned community in the area as well, TechCrunch has learned.

Women 50+ love these stylish, forgiving jeans — now on sale, starting at $18

Lee, Gloria Vanderbilt and more: Here's the skinny on these denim delights.

Walmart's early Labor Day sale has dropped: Score rare deals on HP, Beats, Dyson and more

Snag an HP laptop for under $200, fan-favorite Beats headphones for nearly $200 off and a cute-but-tough chainsaw for just $43.

Junkyard Gem: 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage S Coupe

A 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage S Coupe, twin to the Dodge and Plymouth Colt, found in a Colorado wrecking yard.

As inflation cools, employee pay raises are on the decline

Fewer employers plan to bump up salaries next year, and signing bonuses are few and far between, according to several new surveys. Even job switchers aren't getting pay bumps.

New COVID vaccines, plastic in our brains and why baby food isn't meeting nutrition standards: Catch up on the week's health news here

Here's the health news you need to know this week.

The top AI deals in Europe this year

Startups overall are still facing strong headwinds when it comes to raising venture capital funding. Europe, however, is not too far behind: Our research shows that as of August, Europe has seen 14 investments valued at $100 million or more for AI companies, with one company snagging two investments. AI is driving the European long-tail startup ecosystem in a big way.

This week in Bidenomics: It’s about time

Interest rate cuts are finally on the way. It might give voters a bit more confidence in Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

2024 NFL preseason: How to watch the Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks game today

Here's how to watch the Browns vs. Seahawks in their final game of the NFL preseason this weekend.

2024 NFL preseason: How to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs. L.A. Chargers game today

Here's how to watch the Chargers vs. Cowboys in their final game of the NFL preseason this weekend.

2024 NFL preseason: How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game today

Here's how to watch the Lions play Russell Wilson and the Steelers in their final game of the NFL preseason this weekend.

Tennessee makes Tony Vitello highest-paid coach in college baseball after winning national championship

Following Tennessee's first-ever national championship in baseball, the school rewarded coach Tony Vitello with a new contract that makes him the highest-paid coach in college baseball.

Trevor Lawrence throws a couple of TDs as Jaguars end the preseason on high note

Trevor Lawrence's night included a tremendous touchdown pass.

How Kamala Harris's historic firsts are inspiring Americans across the country

Americans share how Kamala Harris's historic nominations and other firsts have inspired their lives and how she serves as a reflection of their own aspirations.

VC Neil Mehta, who's quietly nabbing prized SF property, plans a “Y Combinator for restaurants”

Neil Mehta, the VC behind the acquisition of a string of properties on San Francisco's tony Fillmore Street, made waves earlier this week for reportedly throwing long-established local restaurants to the curb to bring in more high-end retailers. The San Francisco Chronicle talked, for example, to the owner of Ten-Ichi, a neighborhood sushi restaurant for almost 50 years that now has to vacate its space next month. "This is the opposite of what San Francisco does to long-term, legacy business tenants,” the restaurant owner told the outlet.

Amazon will discontinue the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition’s main reason for existing

Amazon sent an email to its customers that the home page on their Echo Show 8 will only show ads starting in September.

Billionaire Eric Schmidt just paid $68 million for a Russian oligarch’s sanctioned superyacht that features a helipad and baby grand piano

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt bought the Alfa Nero superyacht that was ditched in Antigua in March 2022 after Russian troops invaded Ukraine.

The billionaire “won the auction this morning in a fully transparent process,” buying the vessel for $67.6 million, according to Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the US. 

The 267-foot vessel, complete with a baby grand piano and a swimming pool that turns into a helipad, was abandoned in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour after the US Treasury sanctioned Russian fertilizer billionaire Andrey Guryev. The department last year said he bought the Alfa Nero in 2014 for $120 million — which he denies.

Schmidt’s foundation didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The Alfa Nero was auctioned Friday even after Guryev’s daughter filed a last-minute injunction claiming the yacht was hers, Antigua Port Manager Darwin Telemaque said in an interview. 

Some of the proceeds will cover maintenance and other bills that the Alfa Nero has piled up while in the harbor, with crew expenses alone running $112,000 a month. Telemaque said the sale price would cover “all liabilities.”

Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the US and its allies have imposed sanctions on many of the country’s wealthiest people, causing more than two dozen superyachts worth about $4 billion to be frozen in ports around the world.

Schmidt, who served as Google’s chief executive for about a decade, has an estimated net worth of $25 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Two years ago he was  named  chair of the Broad Institute, a research organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Latest in Tech

NASA to bring stranded astronauts back on SpaceX capsule, not Boeing Starliner

Ship captain who saw Mike Lynch’s yacht sink blames ‘extreme mast’

Passengers on Mike Lynch’s yacht were likely asleep when storm hit, prosecutor says

Meta blocked an Iranian hacking network posing as tech support from Microsoft and Google

Apple to unveil new iPhones and big upgrades to wearables on Sept. 10

Microsoft is organizing a special summit with CrowdStrike, government officials, and tech firms to prevent another global computer meltdown

Most popular.

The stranded Boeing Starliner astronauts planned to hitch a ride home with SpaceX, but their space suits aren’t compatible with Elon Musk’s spacecraft

Mike Lynch was ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’—but the late tech millionaire would spend many of his final months under house arrest

After postage price hikes and $87 billion in losses, critics of the USPS leader say latest gambit could lead to death spiral

U.S. Olympic gold medalist went from $200,000-a-year sponsorship to $12-an-hour internship

Elon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the list

Shoppers are so scarred by inflation they’ve cemented new habits to save money—and discount retailers are the big winners

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Chase United
• Disneyland Resort
• Gateway Bronco
• Royal Salute
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

This Abandoned 267-Foot Superyacht Has Links to a Russian Oligarch. Now It’s Heading to Auction.

Alfa nero will be sold to the highest bidder if it remains unclaimed., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

• Chanel Now Owns a 25% Stake in Swiss Watchmaker MB&F

This Revamped 161-Foot Trinity Superyacht Could Be Yours for $16 Million

• This Blinged-Out Patek Philippe Nautilus Was Seized by U.K. Police. Now It’s up for Auction.
• Share This Article

One seafarer’s loss could be your gain.

Related Stories

• Acura Is Working on an All-Electric Sports Car to Replace the NSX
• BMW Just Sold More EVs In Europe Than Tesla for the First Time
• ‘They Should Feel Like They’ve Risked Death’: The Hypercar Startup That Wants to Deliver Old-School Fear on the Road

“A notice to the newspapers and other media will be published for a period of 10 days, notifying the sale of the Alfa Nero vessel in order to satisfy the requirements under the law for a forced sale,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda read. “If the owner fails to claim the vessel within that time period, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will sell it to the highest bidder.”

Delivered in 2007 by Oceanco, Alfa Nero features a striking exterior by Nuvolari Lenard and interior styling by Alberto Pinto that together have landed the yacht a number of awards. The beautiful behemoth notably features six staterooms, accommodation for 28 crew, a hydraulically operated pool and a large helipad aft. Alfa Nero was sold in 2011 to its current owner with an asking price of $115 million, according to Marine Industry News . The Guardian has previously reported that the yacht is linked to the Russian oligarch (and Putin ally) Andrey Guryev.

The Antigua and Barbuda government reportedly consulted with the US authorities prior to taking the action. During a media briefing, Information Minister Melford Nicholas told reporters that any proceeds from the sale of Alfa Nero would remain in the Antiguan government’s hands, but the US could request access to the funds in the future.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

Read More On:

More marine.

Rescuers Find Remaining Missing Aboard the Sunken ‘Bayesian’ Superyacht 

Tech Mogul Mike Lynch and 5 Others Are Missing After a Yacht Sinks in Italy

A Fleet of Candela’s Electric Foiling Yachts Is Rolling Out to the Red Sea in 2025

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

‘La Dea II’ Superyacht in Photos

12 Must-See Yacht Debuts at This Year’s Cannes Fest

More from our brands, what was kamala harris trying to relay with her chloé designer suit at the dnc, why nba is seeking dismissal of tbs, wbd lawsuit, drew barrymore says she will ‘try to practice physical distance’ with her talk show guests: ‘not my strong point’, christie’s first sale at new asia headquarters led by $35 m. monet, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

• The Inventory
• Beyond Cars

Antigua Stuck With $100,000 a Month Maintenance Costs for Abandoned Russian Superyacht

Antigua is desperate to sell the superyacht, but u.s. sanctions might make getting rid of it it a little complicated..

Sadly the Russian invasion of Ukraine is still ongoing, and Russian oligarchs around the world are still seeing their assets hit hard by sanctions. One of the main targets of these sanctions have been their superyachts . These multimillion dollar ships have been either seized by authorities or investigated over ownership. And while ships are removed from their owner’s hands, they also become massive headaches for countries to deal with, who are now spending upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain them.

Suggested Reading

One example is docked in Antigua, named the Alfa Nero which has been hanging out since March 2022. Bloomberg reports the country is desperate to sell the yacht because of the exorbitant maintenance costs. That bill totals over $100,000 a month and doesn’t include expenses for the skeleton crew that has been living aboard, which is another $112,000 a month. The 25-member crew is also suing for $2.1 million in unpaid wages.

Related Content

But sanctions are complicating matters. Antiguan officials say that the country has received 20 bids from unknown potential buyers, and they’re even willing to share bidders’ identities with the U.S. if it allows the feds to ease up so the sale can go through.

Until then, the Alfa Nero will continue to sit and be an expensive nuisance for the island nation. And as Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the US told Bloomberg in an interview, it’s a waiting game.

“Nobody’s laid claim to it, nobody’s been paying its bills. It’s been running up money left, right and center, and it has become a risk to the harbor itself.”

$120 Million Russian Ghost Ship, No Passengers, 6 Crew Members

What's left of the alfa nero's crew, it turns out, has partly commandeered the master suite. the captain sleeps in a guest bedroom, but otherwise the crew mostly remain below deck..

It's been more than a year since the Russian superyacht Alfa Nero — all 267 feet and 2,500 gross tons of it — was abandoned in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua.

Cross the gangway and this $120 million floating palace still looks shipshape, even with just a skeleton crew. Red, white and gray Alfa Nero polo shirts are folded just so atop the baby grand piano. On the wall hangs a Miro. The infinity pool — which converts, via hydraulics, into a helipad — sparkles under the Caribbean sun.

And then, on the upper foredeck, in the wood-paneled study of the master suite, lies a clue that life aboard Alfa Nero has taken a very strange turn.

It's a PlayStation with video games like "Call of Duty." It's for the bored crew, since no passengers come aboard anymore.

Here on the southern shores of Antigua, where the British navy once chased real-life pirates of the Caribbean, Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has collided with the hyper-wealth he's helped mint in today's Russia.

What's left of the Alfa Nero's crew, it turns out, has partly commandeered the master suite. The captain sleeps in a guest bedroom, but otherwise the crew mostly remain below deck, leaving the five other luxury cabins, the spa, the gym, the elevator and everything else on board largely unused.

Alfa Nero has been docked here since early March 2022, a ghost ship of the war in Ukraine, 5,500 miles (8,851 kilometers) away. Not long after Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine, the UK slapped sanctions on its purported owner, fertilizer billionaire Andrey Guryev. The US followed in August, sending FBI agents to search the vessel with local law enforcement.

Washington named Guryev as the owner, an allegation the magnate denies. A lawyer for Guryev said he's used Alfa Nero "from time to time" since 2014. Built in the Dutch shipyard Oceanco in 2007, it was until recently available for charter for about $1 million a week.

Just who is the owner is almost impossible to determine from public records given the labyrinthian means many of the world's ultra-rich employ to mask their wealth and assets. The notice of the ship's seizure by the Antiguan government is addressed to Guryev, as well as companies in the British Virgin Islands and Channel Islands. On board, Bloomberg saw notes for the crew that had references to "Mr. and Mrs. G."

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the US and its allies have issued sanctions against dozens of wealthy Russians to punish Putin and those close to him. In the process, luxury yachts linked to Russia have been transformed from billionaire playthings into symbols of the growing enmity between Russia and the West. More than two dozen vessels worth about $4 billion have been impounded in ports around the world.

Now, Antigua wants to get rid of what it considers an abandoned ship. It formally seized Alfa Nero in April, hoisted an Antiguan flag and, for good measure, posted two security guards on the dock.

The harbor-bound Alfa Nero has become a floating hazard, officials say, and an expensive one at that. The crew wants back pay. Diesel for the generator costs a small fortune. Bills have been piling up since Antigua took it over in April, with crew expenses alone costing $112,000 a month.

Authorities here have asked the US to lift its sanctions on the yacht so Antigua can auction it off to the highest bidder. They say they've received roughly 20 bids already.

'Blocked' Property

But as long as Washington continues to designate Alfa Nero as a "blocked" property, the Antiguans worry the proceeds of any sale might end up frozen as banks obey the letter of the law.

So they wait.

"Nobody's laid claim to it, nobody's been paying its bills. It's been running up money left, right and center, and it has become a risk to the harbor itself," Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua's ambassador to the US, said in a telephone interview.

Antigua has offered to share the identities of potential bidders with the US to ensure any sale complies with Treasury's rules, Sanders said. Treasury officials declined to comment.

And so, day after week after month, the Alfa Nero bobs in the water at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina. The remaining crew scrubs its teak decks. They polish its black hull to a glossy sheen. Other yachts come and go through the bay.

For the time being, the stranded Alfa Nero offers a glimpse into the astronomical expense of simply keeping a superyacht afloat.

Its normal crew of 44 has been reduced to six. Twenty-five members have sued to recover $2.1 million in unpaid wages, according to Craig Jacas, a local lawyer representing them.

"Our clients' objective is simply to secure what is lawfully owed to them," Jacas said.

Occasional Dip

The six hands still living aboard take meticulous care of Alfa Nero. They occasionally take a dip in the pool.  

The captain passes idle hours in a folding lawn chair on the port side deck. From his perch, he can spy a fleet of other superyachts gliding through the aquamarine harbor. In April, Mogambo, a 241-footer (73 meters) owned by Jan Koum, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who co-founded WhatsApp, pulled into a slip nearby.

Even here, in the relative safety of the marina, sun and sea are a constant menace. Saltwater takes a toll. Alfa Nero must burn diesel constantly to power everything on board. The air conditioning runs 24/7 in order to protect the precious wood, mother of pearl and soft leather adorning the high-design interiors.

"You can't even open the doors on Alfa Nero without diesel," said Tom Paterson, the dockmaster at the Antigua Yacht Club. "These boats, from the day they launch to the day they die, are burning fossil fuels."

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Another growing worry: the calendar. Hurricane season is approaching once again. Other yachts have already begun to clear out. In September, when Tropical Storm Fiona rolled through, heavy seas threatened the dock-bound Alfa Nero. The marina asked the crew to take the ship out to sea — provided Dockmaster Paterson went along, too, to ensure Alfa Nero didn't make a run for it.  

"At this point, the marina would like to get paid," Paterson said.

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

India Elections | Read Latest News on Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live on NDTV.com . Get Election Schedule , information on candidates, in-depth ground reports and more - #ElectionsWithNDTV

Watch Live News:

Antigua officially seizes Russian super yacht

More than a year after the US and western nations had imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs linked to the regime of President Vladimir Putin, Antigua’s government this week officially took possession of a super yacht that was left stranded in its main harbor, apparently abandoned by its frightened owner.

Authorities say they are anxious to dispose of the 267-foot Alfa Nero as it is costing taxpayers millions of dollars to maintain its onboard crew as well as the vessel while being a hambug to the marina where it has been tied up since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine more than a year ago. Boat owners whose vessels also use the marina say they are upset that the vessel has a malfunctioning sewage system, meaning that they crew rather than properly disposing of waste simply dumps it overboard, much to the chagrin of others.

Before making the move to officially seize the vessels and prepare it for international auction, parliament had to amend local legislation allowing for such and to cover other legal loopholes in this unprecedented case that could put Antigua smack in the middle of Cold War era like politics. Prime Minister Gaston Browne says money from the sale will be used for national development. The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) has warned him not to do so, suggesting it be placed in escrow in case there are overnight international situations that could lead to near future demands for the payment. Browne also says he is worried that the vessel is now uninsured. No one will be paid if a fire breaks out and other vessels are damaged, he said.

“There are five things that we must do now, one is to resolve the issue of the crew which is our primary responsibility under international maritime law, and also because we have designated seafarers in Antigua as essential workers. When that is done, we will engage in the process of maintaining and sustaining the ship. Third, we will engage with security personnel. Fourth would be the flagging of the ship. The final component is to discuss the issue of liability insurance is very important for the vessel, marina and the crew,” he told reporters.

About the Author

Caribbean events in nyc.

Post an Event

Eggo Coffee Cafe Eggo Coffee Cafe Pop Up

Exhibition of Antiguan Artist Frank Walter | The Drawing Center | through Sep 15

Tribeca Pediatrics Staten Island – Resource & Community Baby Shower Tribeca Pediatrics – Midland Beach

Machel Montano Live at The Apollo Apollo Theater

White Plains Road Farmers Market & DOT NYC Open Streets

View All Events…

Jobs in New York

Add your job.

• Cardinal McCloskey Community Service Care Manager – Westchester County
• Variazioni Sales position
• Cardinal McCloskey Community Service Community Based Service Provider

View all jobs…

From around the caribbean.

Get Caribbean Life in your inbox

Submit an event.

Got a hot tip for our calendar? Tell us about it!

New York Local

Related Articles

Find a Job in New York

More from around nyc.

Sky Zone: Bouncing into the Bronx early 2026

When the Myrtle Avenue El connected Ridgewood to Downtown Brooklyn: Our Neighborhood, The Way it Was

“We feel the heightened energy”: Unity Democratic Club hosts convention watch party in Riverdale

Op-Ed | How the 2025-2029 Capital Program can help the MTA achieve its goals

A $120 million superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian oligarch has appeared in Antigua more than 2 months after turning its tracking off

• A superyacht linked to Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev has appeared in Antigua, The Observer reported.
• Alfa Nero's tracking system has been turned off since March 3, just before Guryev was sanctioned.
• The UK described him as a "known close associate of Vladimir Putin."

A $120 million superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev Sr. has appeared in Antigua more than two months after it turned its location-tracking systems off, according to a report by The Observer .

Freelance journalist and photographer Gemma Handy snapped a photo of the Alfa Nero, the almost 270-foot vessel, anchored by the Caribbean island in the Lesser Antilles in the week ending 22 May.

The vessel's last confirmed location was in Sint Maarten on March 3 . Since then, the location transmitter has been turned off, The Observer reported.

The West  imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and many of its oligarchs after the country invaded Ukraine in late February in the hope of putting pressure on President Vladimir Putin to call off the war. The UK sanctioned Guryev on April 6 , calling him a "known close associate of Vladimir Putin."

Guryev, whose wealth Bloomberg puts at around $10.1 billion, is the cofounder of fertilizer giant PhosAgro. Through his former position as the deputy chairman of its board he supported the Kremlin by working for a company "carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance to the Government of Russia, namely the Russian chemicals sector," the UK said. Guryev's son, Andrey Guryev Jr., is the current CEO of PhosAgro and has also been sanctioned by the UK.

Under the sanctions targeted at wealthy oligarchs, western nations have been seizing some of their assets, including money , properties , and superyachts . Tracking down their vessels is possible thanks to AIS (automatic identification system) transmitters, which automatically share information about the vessel's location, speed, and direction of travel with other ships alongside coastal authorities.

Related stories

All ships with a gross tonnage of 300 or more are required to have AIS transmitters turned on for international sailings. Alfa Nero has a gross tonnage of more than 2,000 .

"Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in operation at all times except where international agreements, rules, or standards provide for the protection of navigational information," according to the International Maritime Organization .

But some  superyachts linked to sanctioned Russian oligarchs , including industrialist Oleg Deripaska, fertilizer magnate Andrey Melnichenko, and former Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov, are  vanishing from global tracking systems in what appears to be an attempt to avoid sanctions.

The Observer reported that six yachts linked to Russian oligarchs, including Alfa Nero, had disappeared from tracking systems after they were sanctioned by the UK, citing AIS data from tracking company Vessels Value.

Guryev Sr. is purported to be the owner of Alfa Nero. The Observer reported that both he and his family have regularly sailed on the vessel in the past, but that he has denied being the owner.

"The only reason why you would turn off your AIS transponder is if you don't want to be found" or if you want to "sow confusion," John Lusk, COO at vessel-tracking site Spire, previously told Insider .

Watch: The rise and fall of Russian oligarchs

• Main content

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Trying to sell Russian oligarch's seized luxury assets is running into trouble

Jackie Northam

After Western governments seized millions in assets from Russian oligarchs, a question remains: What should be done with their yachts?

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

• Announcements
• Agriculture
• Having troubles with your homework, then go to –
• Privacy Policy

New Watercraft Ordered to Fight Crime

WATCH TV LIVE

Newsmax Plans Public Offering, See Details, More

Wsj: russian yacht costing antigua, barbuda $28k a week.

By Nick Koutsobinas    |   Monday, 25 September 2023 06:39 PM EDT

A $120 million Russian yacht, seized on behalf of U.S. interests as part of the sanctions imposed from the war in Ukraine, is costing the Caribbean dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda — which sports a GDP of $1.8 billion — roughly $28,000-a-week to maintain, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Christened the Alfa Nero, the football field-sized megayacht seized from Russian oligarch Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev, according to the U.S. Treasury Department , serves as a "floating reminder of the West's economic war against Russia and the difficulties in managing and offloading billions in seized Russian assets." And "has also become a nightmare for this tiny country of 93,000," The Journal reported.

In August 2022, when calls for sanctioning Russia were kicking off, a cohort of FBI agents early one morning took control of Antigua's Falmouth Harbor, raiding the Alfa Nero. Almost six months later, back in March, the government of Antigua and Barbuda issued a warning that they planned to sell the yacht due to its "hazard" to maintain, The Guardian reported.

Soon, Antigua and Barbuda's government, the Journal continued, "decided to pass emergency legislation to seize the vessel, auction it, pay off maintenance expenses and keep the staff on board, retaining the surplus for the country's treasury. The government of Antigua petitioned the US Treasury to allow the boat to be sold, a move the US took in June."

"The chance to buy a top-class yacht at a knockdown price caused a flurry of interest. [Darwin Telemaque, the CEO of the Antigua port authority] said he got WhatsApp messages from as far afield as Algeria. [Eric] Schmidt, the former Google CEO, won the ensuing auction with a $67 million bid."

But a tangle of litigious complexities through the navigation of shell companies ultimately costs the deal its downfall.

And it's not just an island in the Caribbean that's having issues selling off sanctioned Russian assets; in Italy, last year, the Scheherazade, one of the world's largest and most expensive yachts, with alleged ties to Russian oligarchs which may even link to Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, is leaving a $690 million question for how to manage it after it was sanctioned.

But as for the status of the Alfa Nero, according to 28-year-old Deidra Cochrane, an office assistant at the Antiguan marina, she says the boat is a source of gossip on the island.

People don't think the government can sell it, and if they can, they don't see how it will benefit them, she said. "It's a boat that creates a lot of scandal and opinion."

In Andrea Maccaferri, the Alfa Nero acting captain's opinion, whoever decides to set sail to the vessel, "I wouldn't be surprised if there is a submarine with a red star waiting for it."

Nick Koutsobinas ✉

Nick koutsobinas, a newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. a graduate from missouri state university’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship..

• West Freezes $1 Trillion in Russian Assets
• Moscow's Strict New Controls on Foreigners Selling Russian Assets

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

• Sci & Tech

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

Download the NewsmaxTV App

Antigua and Barbuda Launches Exciting 2024-2025 Yachting and Marine Events Calendar

Antigua and Barbuda Yachting & Marine Association (ABYMA), August 19, 2024 – The ABYMA is proud to announce the launch of its highly anticipated 2024-2025 Yachting and Marine Events Calendar. Known for its enviable yacht racing events, Antigua & Barbuda offer a diverse range of regattas. It’s the only island which has not just one but six incredible international racing events including the RORC Caribbean 600, the RORC Nelson Series, The Superyacht Challenge Antigua, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua Sailing Week and in 2025 the Oyster Rally along with a plethora of one day and weekend fun events.

In addition to the thrilling yacht racing events, Antigua also hosts the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, two Fishing tournaments and the World’s Toughest Row, making it a hub for international marine events. In addition, it is a destination for rallies such as the Salty Dawg Rally which brings around 100 boats directly from the US to Antigua’s shores in November.

Antigua’s strategic position in the island chain, natural safe anchorages, and the presence of the only Georgian Dockyard in the region with a UNESCO designation make it a top yachting destination. Boat yards with improved facilities, including Jolly Harbour Marina & Boatyard, North Sound Marina, Slipway Antigua and Baileys Boatyard, provide excellent options for boat maintenance and repairs.

President of the ABYMA, Franklyn Braithwaite says, “I invite owners and captains to consider Antigua and Barbuda as their base. Whether competing in regattas or cruising the region, the marinas and marine services in Antigua are considered the best in the region, offering top-notch service and amenities. As competitive & cruising sailors ourselves, we understand what you need and the importance of quality service.”

He goes on to say, “The industry is so critical to our economy that we are also hosting our third edition of Discover Antigua and Barbuda Yachting & Marine. This showcase brings together all the ABYMA members in a trade show type format which invites school leavers and other interested residents to find out about the career, training and development opportunities in the industry. A critical component of us being able to continue to offer world-class marine services is the development of our people within the industry, a mandate we take very seriously”.

For more information on the 2024-2025 Yachting and Marine Events Calendar in Antigua and Barbuda, please visit ABYMA.ag .

Info Mainstay Caribbean

Annual antigua and barbuda hamptons challenge regatta, a sailing success, national parks authority enhances falmouth harbour with phase two of development project, you may also like, national parks authority enhances falmouth harbour with phase..., annual antigua and barbuda hamptons challenge regatta, a..., english harbour remains open for summer 2024, notice of race and registration open, marine directory advertising, spirit and competition shine at antigua sailing week, classic conditions for antigua sailing week – antigua..., dawn treader win peters & may round antigua..., sanchez to rock reggae in the park at..., inspiring women in sailing.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Who was on superyacht that sank off Sicily?

Twenty-two people were on board the Bayesian superyacht including British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, his wife and 18-year-old daughter, and Morgan Stanley International boss Jonathan Bloomer.

Friday 23 August 2024 12:34, UK

Details have emerged of the 22 people who were on board the superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily.

The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of crew when it got into difficulty in the early hours of Monday.

Seven bodies have now been recovered. The other 15 people on board were rescued.

Here's what we know about those who were on the yacht.

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch was among the original six people missing. On Thursday, divers confirmed his body had been recovered.

Raised in Ilford, east London by Irish parents, the 59-year-old made millions with the software company Autonomy he set up in 1996.

He had an estimated net worth of £852m, according to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, and is believed to have owned the yacht.

Off the back of Automomy's global success, Mr Lynch was given the roles of science adviser to former prime minister David Cameron and non-executive director of the BBC.

The Cambridge maths and sciences graduate sold the firm for £8.64bn to US giant Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2011.

Dubbed the "British Bill Gates", Mr Lynch has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case related to the sale of Autonomy to HP in 2011.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American technology firm. Mr Lynch denied any wrongdoing.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges .

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht disaster

Hannah Lynch

Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch was also on board. A body believed to be that of the teenager was recovered on Friday from the yacht wreckage.

She had been on holiday with her parents, having secured a place to study English at the University of Oxford, according to reports.

Her former school, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said they were "incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic accident" when the yacht first sank.

Angela Bacares

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares was on board the yacht and was rescued.

The 57-year-old said she and Mr Lynch were awoken by the boat "tilting" at 4am - half an hour before it sank.

Jonathan Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International, was confirmed dead on Thursday.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Bloomer appeared as a defence witness for Mr Lynch during his US criminal trial and the pair were good friends. He also chaired Autonomy's audit committee.

The 70-year-old was the chief executive of UK-Hong Kong insurer Prudential until he was ousted by the board in 2005.

He was also chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox.

Judy Bloomer

Mr Bloomer's wife Judy was on the yacht trip with her husband. Divers confirmed they found her body on Thursday.

Mrs Bloomer was a former board member at The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynaecological cancers.

The charity described her as a "brilliant champion for women's health and medical research... an incredible supporter, committee member, and trustee of our charity for over 20 years".

Read more: 'Alarming' potential cause of superyacht disaster What we know about superyacht that sank

Recaldo Thomas

The yacht's on-board chef Recaldo Thomas died in the sinking.

He was Canadian-Antiguan and part of the crew of the Bayesian.

His body was the first to be recovered from the wreckage.

Chris Morvillo

US lawyer Chris Morvillo was among those divers found dead on Thursday.

The father-of-two worked on Mr Lynch's US fraud trial and was a partner of law firm Clifford Chance's US branch.

Mr Morvillo was assistant attorney for the Southern District of New York between 1995 and 2005 and worked on the terrorist investigation into the 9/11 attacks.

In a recent LinkedIn post, he thanked the legal team that helped win Mr Lynch's trial.

Signing off the post, he said: "And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.

"None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after…."

Neda Morvillo

Mr Morvillo's wife Neda died in the disaster alongside her husband.

The 57-year-old had a luxury jewellery brand, which she ran under her maiden name Neda Nassiri.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Ayla Ronald

Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at Clifford Chance, survived the yacht disaster, the law firm confirmed.

The 36-year-old worked alongside Chris Morvillo in helping defend Mike Lynch in court.

Clifford Chance said in a statement: "Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident."

She is originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, but lives in London, her father told local media there.

He said she was left "very shaken" but "she and her partner are alive".

Charlotte Golunski

Charlotte Golunski was on board the yacht and was rescued along with her one-year-old daughter, Sofia.

She spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, confirming she survived the yacht sinking and told how she kept her daughter alive after she was rescued.

"I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning," she said.

"It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others."

The 35-year-old is a partner at one of Mr Lynch's firms - Invoke Capital - and has worked there since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She also worked at Hewlett Packard, which acquired Autonomy in 2011, for 11 months.

Before that, she studied history at the University of Oxford.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

James Emsley

Ms Golunski's partner James Emsley was also rescued from the yacht, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

The 36-year-old is the father of her one-year-old daughter.

James Cutfield

The 51-year-old captain of the yacht spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica after he was rescued.

Mr Cutfield, from New Zealand, was taken for treatment at the Termini Imerese emergency unit, where he told the newspaper: "We didn't see it coming."

Leah Randall

Leah Randall was part of the Bayesian crew and survived the sinking.

She was pictured going ashore in Porticello on Monday morning and is from South Africa.

Her mother Heidi told Sky News said she was "beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God".

"It doesn't make it any easier living with the heartache of those who have lost their lives [or are] missing. My very deepest condolences to the chef's family as they formed a great friendship," she said.

Katja Chicken

Katja Chicken was another South African member of crew on board the Bayesian and was pictured being brought to safety in Porticello on Monday.

The Italian coastguard confirmed on Tuesday evening that Leo Eppel, a crew member, also survived the yacht sinking.

Related Topics

• Superyacht sinking

trending now in World News

15-year-old arrested in connection to horror knife attack in...

Italian prosecutors open shipwreck, manslaughter investigation...

Mike Lynch's family break silence after bodies of tech mogul and...

Investigators probe whether subtle mistake could have caused...

Maker of doomed Bayesian yacht blames crew for 'indescribable,...

AI recreates 'face of Jesus' from the controversial shroud of...

Ex-pilot who tried to down flight while on magic mushrooms trip...

Police officer injured after two cars are lit on fire outside...

Breaking news, 8 dead, including 4 guards, in attempted russian prison uprising by isis prisoners.

ISIS prisoners at a remote Russian prison staged an attempted revolt Friday that left eight dead, officials said.

The four terrorists were gunned down by snipers at the IK-19 Surovikino facility in the southwestern Volgograd region after they took four inmates and eight prison guards hostage — fatally stabbing four of the guards, according to the Federal Prison Service (FSIN).

Three other guards were hospitalized with injuries.

Special force snipers “neutralized” the inmates, who identified themselves as Islamic State militants, with “four precise shots,” the agency claims.

Videos that purportedly came from the scene show the knife-wielding attackers pacing in a prison yard with their victims laid in pools of blood.

Some shouted that they were acting to avenge the persecution of Muslims.

The attempted coup began during a disciplinary commission meeting, BBC reported , citing FSIN.

Some local reports indicate the prison’s director and deputy director were among those seized.

The dead assailants were identified as Ramzidin Toshev, 28, Rustamchon Navruzi, 23, Nazirchon Toshov, 28, and Temur Khusinov, 29. All were from former Soviet Central Asian countries, local media stated.

The FSIN denied that the attackers had taken control of the entire prison, saying: “The criminals took hostages and occupied one single room on the territory of the colony.”

The uprising is the second such incident this summer — six ISIS prisoners took two guards captive at a facility in the neighboring Rostov region. Five were killed and the survivor was sentenced to 20 years.

IK-19 Surovikino is a high-security penal colony that has a population of about 1,200 inmates.

With Post wires