A fleet of superyachts owned by oligarchs are scarpering all over the globe as sanctions loom large for wealthy Russians with alleged ties to Vladimir Putin.
The lavish lifestyles and excessive wealth of these individuals is being laid bare as authorities move to seize assets, including their floating mansions.
Russians own up to 10 percent of the global fleet of mega-yachts, according to SuperYachtNews.
On Wednesday, US Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced the Bringing Oligarch Accountability Through Seizure (BOATS) Act, which specifically targets Russian superyachts.
This coincides with France's seizure of one of these vessels, with two more held by Italian authorities. The status of another Russian superyacht in Germany is in dispute.
Putin himself is said to own four yachts. One of them, the £73.2million vessel named Graceful, was spotted leaving a German port last month before Western sanctions on Russia.
Its last known location is reportedly Kaliningrad, the Russian oblast sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania along the Baltic Coast. It's worth around £76 million and is 262 feet long.
Special features included a 15 meters long indoor pool, which can be converted into a dance floor. The yacht can accommodate 12 guests and has a crew of 14.
A man who may or may not be friends with Putin, Roman Abramovich, has an even more luxurious vessel that was last spotted sailing near Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea.
The mega boat has room for three helicopters, two restaurants, plus a high-tech “anti-paparazzi” system designed to disrupt efforts to photograph passengers or its crew of 70.
It's worth a huge £529 billion, according to reports.
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Alisher Usmanov, 68, of steel and mining fame has his own 511 feet floating palace. Its last known location is Hamburg, Germany.
The ship, named after his mum, boasts two helipads, a crew of 100, a range of 6,000 nautical miles and the largest indoor pool ever placed on a yacht, at more than 6,300 cubic feet.
It's also thought to be the world’s largest superyacht by interior space and volume (16,000 tons).
Victor Rashnikov, 73, another steel magnate still has room for activities in his admittedly smaller boat.
The 459 feet long Ocean Victory – which is in the Maldives – is worth £227 million and has a helicopter hangar, tender dock, six pools and an underwater observation suite.
Eugene Shvidler, 57, who made his money in oil, owns the eye-catching £113 million Le Grand Bleu, after he reportedly won it in a high stakes bet with the aforementioned Ambramovich in 2006.
It boats an aquarium, landing craft with Land Rover 4×4 for onshore excursions, and a “veritable arsenal of tenders and watertoys” according to Boat International, including two sports boats capable of speeding across the water at 60 knots (69 MPH).
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Andrey Kostin, 65, the chairman of VTB Bank owns the 216 feet Sea Rhapsody. Last spotted in the Gulf of Suez, destined for Seychelles, it cost £49 million.
It has a gym, infinity pool, cinema, and an array of fun toys: wave runners, water skis, paddle boards, kayaks, waterslides, towable tubes and a “range of children’s beach toys and games.”
Oleg Deripaska, 54, the Rusal founder reportedly splashed the same amount on Clio, a 238 feet vessel that boasts a cozy piano lounge that seats at least 12. It reportedly arrived in Maldives Monday.
Alexander Mijeev, 60, a weapons industry executive, owns Lady Anastasia, the 157 feet vessel that was sabotaged by its mechanic last week.
The unnamed 55-year-old mechanic said he scuppered 156ft luxury yacht, worth £58 million, in Mallorca after war broke out at home because he claims his boss's weapons are being sold to Vladimir Putin and used to kill and maim his countrymen.
Andrey Melnichenko, 49, who made his money in chemicals and coal, spared no expense on the 469 feet Sailing Yacht A – which cost a humongous £453 million. It has an eye-catching design of three composite masts that tower above the deck more than a football field in height, believed the largest in the world.
Anna, a 360 feet, £189 million vessel is owned by Dmitry Rybolovlev, 55, who made his money in fertilizers and sports. Its last known location is Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Royal Romance, 303 feet, cost Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, 67, a cool £151 million. The boat, which has an onboard waterfall, is believed to be in Rijeka, Croatia.
Alexei Mordashov, 56, the Severstal chairman owns Nord, a 465 feet boat with a helicopter hangar, two elevators, gym, sauna and cinema cost £378 million. It's last known location is Seychelles.
Igor Sechin, 61, Rosneft CEO, owns Amore Vero, a 281 feet vessel that was seized by French authorities in a Mediterranean port on Wednesday. It cost £90 million.
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