Sanctioned Russian Billionaire’s $500M Superyacht Crosses Hormuz Despite US Naval Blockade

A $500 million superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and reached Oman, despite strict maritime restrictions and rising tensions between the United States and Iran in the region.

The 142-metre yacht Nord left a marina in Dubai on Friday, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, and arrived at Al Mouj marina in Muscat early Sunday, according to shipping data.

The movement stands out because very few private vessels have been able to pass through the waterway in recent months due to reduced traffic and security controls.

The Strait of Hormuz, which handles about one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, has seen a sharp fall in daily vessel movement since conflict began on February 28.

Before that, around 125 to 140 ships passed through the strait each day. Now, only a limited number of mainly authorised or commercial vessels are crossing.

The situation tightened further after the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports from April 13 during the ongoing US-Iran standoff.

Per reports, US naval forces have intercepted or redirected more than 37 vessels in the past two weeks under its maritime enforcement measures.

The yacht has been linked to Alexey Mordashov, the chairman of Russian steel company Severstal and one of the country’s richest businessmen. He is under US and European Union sanctions due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Although Mordashov is not officially listed as the owner, shipping records show the yacht is connected to a company owned by his wife. The vessel was re-registered under this structure in 2022 after sanctions were imposed.

The yacht sailed south of Larak Island during its transit, alongside other sanctioned tanker traffic reported in the area, including Ocean Jet and Lumina Ocean. It is not clear how the vessel was allowed to pass through the restricted route.

Built by German shipyard Lürssen, Nord is one of the largest superyachts in the world. It has 20 cabins, two helipads, a swimming pool, and a private submarine.

After sanctions in 2022, it shifted from Cayman Islands registration to a Russian flag, which allowed it to operate more freely from selected ports such as Vladivostok and Hong Kong.

The US State Department has not made any specific comment on the yacht’s transit.

At the same time, President Donald Trump has said the blockade is costing Iran around $500 million per day, though this figure has not been independently confirmed in official reports.

Tracking data shows that enforcement in the region still has gaps. According to TankerTrackers.com, nearly four million barrels of Iranian oil bypassed restrictions on April 24 alone.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently travelled to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin after a 2025 agreement that expanded security and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, mediation efforts involving Pakistan and Oman were also reported.

References: FirstPost, moneycontrol