UK seizes first Russian superyacht with 'infinite wine cellar' and fresh-water pool
dailystar.co.ukRussian businessman currently bobbing about in British waters.The yacht which is valued at £38million and named Phi, has a considerably hard to track owner, which the transport secretary described as "deliberately well hidden".UK transport secretary Grant Shapps added that the move was a "clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies".
The UK had already introduced a slate of sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February this year. Phi was identified as a potentially Russian-owned vessel on March 13, the government has said.They added that to hide its origins the boat was fitted with Maltese flags and registered to a company based on the islands of St Kitts and Nevis.
The 58.5m (192ft) long yacht includes an "infinite wine cellar" and a fresh-water swimming pool in a build from Royal Huisman.Under new legislation against Russia, the UK enforced sanctions that made it possible to seize the ship in what the government said was the first maritime action under the new legislation.
Identifying the vessel, The Department for Transport worked with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau and subsequently detained the vessel.The department and law enforcement agencies are also looking at a number of other vessels, BBC reports.At least eight superyachts have reportedly been seized so far worldwide, with other ships taken by authorities in France, Spain and Italy, with the UK, US and EU all saying they will use sanctions to seize the vessels.
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