Russian Superyacht Slips Through Hormuz Blockade

A $500 million Russian superyacht just slipped through one of the world's tensest waterways. Shipping data show that the 465-foot-long Nord, which is tied to sanctioned steel billionaire Alexey Mordashov, left Dubai on Friday, traversed the heavily restricted Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, and reached Oman early Sunday. How the luxury vessel secured passage through a corridor largely closed since February by Iran—amid a standoff with the US—is unclear, reports Reuters. The strait normally sees 125 to 140 ship transits a day; traffic is now down to a handful of mostly merchant ships, as Iran clamps down on movements and the US blocks Iranian ports in response.

Mordashov's representative declined comment. Though he is not the yacht's listed owner, corporate records indicate the Nord was registered in 2022 to a company owned by his wife in Cherepovets, the same Russian city where his steel group Severstal is based. The voyage comes as Iran's foreign minister visits Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin, underscoring tightening ties between Moscow and Tehran. Mordashov is believed to be very close to Putin, notes i24News, and was among those sanctioned by the US following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Nord ranks among the world's largest yachts, outfitted with 20 staterooms, a pool, helipad, and even a submarine.