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The South African Government Just Let a Russian Oligarch Dock His $500 Million Megayacht

A spokesman for president cyril ramaphosa said the nation was under "no legal obligation" to comply with western sanctions., rachel cormack.

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After making waves on an international scale, Alexey Mordashov’s $500 million megayacht appears to have found safe haven in South Africa .

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Western authorities have imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 Russian individuals and businesses in response to President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. South Africa has so far avoided directly criticizing Russia and abstained from several UN votes condemning the war.

Mordashov—the largest shareholder in the steelmaker Severstal and the third-richest man in Russia—has been targeted by the Western sanctions due to his ties with Putin. The billionaire maintains he has had no involvement in Russian politics and has been fighting the sanctions since May.

Mordashov lost his 215-foot superyacht , Lady M , back in March after it was seized by Italian police. Nord is believed to be his biggest yacht asset, though. Indeed, the vessel, which is larger than a football field, features two helipads, a retractable hangar, a diving center, a swimming pool and 20 staterooms across six decks. It was delivered by German yard Lürssen in November 2020.

After leaving Hong Kong earlier this week, Nord is now en route to South Africa and is expected to moor in Cape Town on November 9, according to Marine Traffic data. The yacht was west of Indonesia as of Wednesday. You can track Nord ’s journey via Spire Maritime .

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…

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South Africa to let Russian billionaire's $500 million superyacht dock, despite mayor's request to block entry

South Africa will allow a $500 million superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov to dock in Cape Town, despite a bid by the city's mayor to block its entry.

Key points:

• The South African government will allow the $500 million Russian superyacht to dock in Cape Town
• It believed to be owned by Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, who is thought to have close ties with Vladimir Putin and is sanctioned by the US and the EU
• Cape Town's mayor asked his country to block the yacht from docking

On Tuesday, the South African government announced its intention to let the mega yacht, Nord, to dock amid claims that steel and mining magnate Mr Mordashov was seeking a new harbour to shield it from seizure.

A day later, a South African official said Cape Town was perfect for the 141.6-metre-long boat because it has the technical means to maintain luxury yachts that many other harbours do not.

"If you're parking a $500-million asset, you need it looked after properly," the official told the Associated Press, on the condition of anonymity because he's not permitted to speak publicly on the issue.

Vincent Magwenya — spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa — said there was "no reason" for South Africa to deny the Nord entry as Mr Mordashov was not the subject of United Nations' sanctions — only sanctions imposed unilaterally by the United States and the European Union.

The mega yacht — which left Hong Kong on a journey across the Indian Ocean to South Africa last week — would be allowed to dock in Cape Town harbour, as long as those on board "abide by our immigration laws", Mr Magwenya said.

Mr Mordashov is not believed to be on board the yacht.

"Currently there are no UN-imposed sanctions on the particular individual and, therefore, South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by the sanctions that the US and the EU have decided to impose within specific jurisdictions," Mr Magwenya said. 

Mr Mordashov is thought to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was sanctioned by the US and the EU because of the war in Ukraine.

He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia's largest steel and mining company, and one of Russia's richest men, with a net worth of more than $20 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index.

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the Russian has benefited financially from the war in Ukraine and was "an accomplice to the unconscionable crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians".

He asked the South African government to block the Nord from docking, eliciting the response from President Ramaphosa's spokesman.

South Africa has adopted a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, frustrating Western partners, who had hoped that Africa's most-developed economy would also condemn Russia's invasion and act as a leading voice for the continent.

The country abstained from a UN vote condemning Russia's actions and called, instead, for dialogue and diplomacy.

Mr Hill-Lewis is a member of South Africa's main opposition party, which has been fiercely critical of the neutral stance taken by Ramaphosa's government.

The fate of the yacht has captured attention since it arrived in Hong Kong from Vladivostok, Russia, earlier this month, sparking a diplomatic row between the US and Hong Kong authorities over the enforcing of sanctions.

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South Africa will allow a Russian oligarch to moor his superyacht in Cape Town as it continues on epic global cruise avoiding Western sanctions

• A $500 million oligarch-owned superyacht has cruised between the Seychelles, Russia, and Hong Kong.
• The yacht, owned by sanctioned billionaire Alexei Mordashov, is now headed to Cape Town, South Africa.
• Cape Town's mayor and the South African president are at odds over allowing the yacht to dock.

A $500 million superyacht will be allowed to dock in Cape Town, South Africa despite its Russian oligarch owner being sanctioned by the US, UK and EU. 

Nord, the 465-foot vessel owned by billionaire steel magnate Alexei Mordashov , has made multiple stops across the eastern hemisphere since he was sanctioned in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Data from Marine Traffic shows that Nord left the Seychelles in March before staying in Vladivostok , in the Russian far east, until September 28, when it made its way to Hong Kong . 

At the time, Washington warned Hong Kong against providing a "safe haven" for sanctioned oligarchs, questioning the city state's reputation as an international financial center.

Nord has now left the city state, and is sailing towards South Africa where it is expected to moor on November 9, Marine Traffic data shows. The yacht's last reported position was west of Indonesia on Wednesday, per Spire Maritime .

When it arrives in South Africa, it will be allowed to dock, despite outcry from some in the country.

Related stories

The mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, told the Wall Street Journal that the city could become "a new favorite destination for Russians fleeing sanctions in the rest of the world" if Nord is allowed to dock.

Hill-Lewis also said that he had received conflicting reports as to whether Mordashov is on board his superyacht, but the oligarch's spokesperson said he remains in Moscow, per the Journal.

The mayor, a member of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance party, added: "South Africa has a moral duty to do what it can to protest unjust war, state terrorism, and the gross violation of human rights."

However, the country's government has rejected his call to turn away Nord, which has two helicopter pads and a swimming pool among other luxuries. 

"South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by sanctions imposed by the US and EU," Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, per the BBC.

"South Africa's obligations with respect to sanctions relate only to those that are specifically adopted by the United Nations."

South Africa was among the 35 countries which abstained from a UN resolution in March which demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Mordashov's smaller superyacht, Lady M, was seized by Italian authorities in March due to EU sanctions. Bloomberg also reported that Nord changed its flag from Russia to the Cayman Islands in June.

• Main content

Sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov allowed to dock superyacht in Cape Town

Before the West imposed sanctions on oligarchs over Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, Alexey Mordashov was the richest man in Russia with an estimated net worth of $29.1bn, according to Forbes.

OSINT producer @OliveLineham

Wednesday 26 October 2022 13:27, UK

A superyacht owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch will be allowed to dock in South Africa.

The country has "no legal obligation" to abide by sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, a spokesman for Cyril Ramaphosa, the president, said.

Nord, a luxury 465ft yacht worth more than $500m, is owned by Alexey Mordashov, a billionaire ally of Vladimir Putin, and will be allowed to dock in Cape Town.

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The case exemplifies the limits of sanctions imposed by the US and the EU in response to Mr Putin's war in Ukraine.

Mordashov was one of several oligarchs targeted with sanctions by the US and EU, but not the United Nations, after the invasion of Ukraine in February for their ties to Mr Putin.

Vincent Magwenya, Mr Ramaphosa's spokesman, said South Africa's obligations on sanctions "relate to only those specifically adopted by the United Nations" - of which it is a founding member.

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The yacht, which has six decks and a helipad, left Hong Kong last Thursday and is en route to Cape Town, according to MarineTraffic, a maritime tracker.

The decision has been criticised by South African opposition leaders, including the mayor of Cape Town, who urged the government to block Nord's entry.

Geordin Hill-Lewis, a member of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, tweeted: "There is no place in our city for accomplices to, and enablers of, Putin's war."

Mordashov had an estimated net worth of $29.1bn before sanctions hit, according to Forbes, which made him the richest man in Russia.

The yacht docked in Hong Kong after a seven-day voyage from Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East near the border with China, down through the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.

I have asked Minister Pandor to block the entry of a R9 billion superyacht, owned and sailed by sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov, to Cape Town's port. There is no place in our city for accomplices to, and enablers of, Putin’s war. https://t.co/yTqZGs1Eka pic.twitter.com/MAxOFf267t — Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) October 24, 2022

Before its arrival, John Lee, the Beijing-backed leader of Hong Kong, said the authorities would not act on unilateral sanctions imposed on Mordashov by individual jurisdictions.

"We cannot do anything that has no legal basis," said Mr Lee, who himself has been sanctioned by the US for his role in a crackdown on local freedoms.

China, a traditional ally of Russia, has opposed economic sanctions against Russia and refused to condemn Mr Putin's invasion, though last month at the UN General Assembly it called for a negotiated end to the war.

In a statement to Sky News Mr Mordashov said: "It is terrible that Ukrainians and Russians are dying, people are suffering hardships and the economy is collapsing. I sincerely hope a way can be found in the very near future to resolve this conflict.

"I have absolutely nothing to do with the emergence of the current geopolitical tension and I do not understand why the sanctions were imposed on me."

Read more: How a KGB agent from Leningrad rose to the top of the Kremlin Russia could take 10 years to recover from sanctions

Mordashov built his wealth around the Russian steel producer Severstal.

Multiple Russian-owned superyachts have been seized since the start of the war in Ukraine.

In recent months, a number have been moved to parts of the world considered beyond the reach of Western sanctions, including Turkey, parts of Asia and the Caribbean.

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South Africa to let Russian billionaire’s superyacht dock

FILE - In this image taken from a video footage run by TVB, the megayacht Nord, center, worth over $500 million, is seen off Hong Kong Island outside Victoria Harbour on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. The Nord, linked to sanctioned Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov, left Hong Kong for South Africa Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, nearly two weeks after the U.S. chastised the city for operating as a “safe haven” for sanctioned individuals. (TVB via AP, File)

FILE - In this image taken from a video footage run by TVB, the megayacht Nord, worth over $500 million, is seen off Hong Kong Island outside Victoria Harbour on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. The Nord, linked to sanctioned Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov, left Hong Kong for South Africa Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, nearly two weeks after the U.S. chastised the city for operating as a “safe haven” for sanctioned individuals. (TVB via AP, File)

Russian President Vladimir Putin leads a meeting of the Coordination Council via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Speaking via video link at a meeting of the council he created last week to help coordinate the delivery pf weapons and supplies to the troops fighting in Ukraine, Putin noted that the country is facing “new serious challenges,” and emphasized the need to “gain higher tempo in all areas.” (Alexei Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

FILE - Recruits carry ammunition during a military training at a firing range in the Rostov-on-Don region in southern Russia, Oct. 4, 2022. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his mobilization on Sept. 21 for the war in Ukraine, independent media, human rights activists and draftees themselves have painted a bleak picture of a haphazard, chaotic and ethnically biased effort to round up as many men as possible and push them quickly to the front, regardless of skill or training. (AP Photo/File)

• Copy Link copied

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Cape Town port is ideally suited to host a $500 million superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, a South African official said Wednesday, after the country announced its intention to let the vessel dock there despite a bid by the city’s mayor to block its entry.

The South African government made the announcement Tuesday amid claims steel and mining magnate Alexey Mordashov is seeking a new harbor to shield the superyacht from seizure.

The official said Cape Town was perfect for the Nord because it has the technical means to maintain luxury yachts that many other harbors don’t.

“If you’re parking a $500-million asset, you need it looked after properly,” the official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he’s not permitted to speak publicly on the issue.

Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said Tuesday that there was “no reason” for South Africa to deny the Nord entry as Mordashov wasn’t the subject of United Nations sanctions, only sanctions imposed unilaterally by the United States and the European Union.

The Nord, which left Hong Kong on a journey across the Indian Ocean to South Africa last week, would be allowed to dock in Cape Town harbor as long as those on board “abide by our immigration laws,” Magwenya said.

Mordashov is not believed to be on board the yacht.

“Currently there are no U.N.-imposed sanctions on the particular individual and therefore South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by the sanctions that the U.S. and the EU have decided to impose within specific jurisdictions,” Magwenya told reporters in the South African capital, Pretoria.

Mordashov is thought to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU because of the war in Ukraine. He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company, and one of Russia’s richest men, with a net worth of over $20 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire’s Index.

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said Mordashov has benefited financially from the war in Ukraine and is “an accomplice to the unconscionable crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians.” Hill-Lewis had asked the South African government to block the Nord from docking, eliciting the response from President Ramaphosa’s spokesman.

South Africa has adopted a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, frustrating Western partners who had hoped that Africa’s most developed economy would also condemn Russia’s invasion and act as a leading voice for the continent. South Africa abstained from a U.N. vote condemning Russia’s actions and called, instead, for dialogue and diplomacy.

Hill-Lewis is a member of South Africa’s main opposition party, which has been fiercely critical of the neutral stance taken by Ramaphosa’s government.

“It must be said that, so far, our country’s foreign policy conduct in relation to Russia’s illegal, imperialist war has been nothing less than shameful,” Hill-Lewis said.

The Nord flies a Russian flag, is 141.6 meters (465 feet) long and has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins. It sailed out of Hong Kong after the U.S. accused that city of operating as a safe haven for sanctioned persons. It is expected to arrive in Cape Town on Nov. 9, according to the Marine Traffic shipping website.

The fate of the yacht has captured attention since it arrived in Hong Kong from Vladivostok, Russia, early this month, sparking a diplomatic row between the U.S. and Hong Kong authorities over the enforcing of sanctions.

Russian oligarchs have been looking for suitable harbors for their luxury yachts since they were targeted by American and European sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Some have also found new homes in Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia.

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South Africa to let Russian billionaire's superyacht dock

South africa will allow a $500 million superyacht linked to sanctioned russian billionaire alexey mordashov to dock in cape town despite attempts from the city’s mayor to get its entry blocked, article bookmarked.

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Cape Town port is ideally suited to host a $500 million superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, a South African official said Wednesday, after the country announced its intention to let the vessel dock there despite a bid by the city's mayor to block its entry.

The South African government made the announcement Tuesday amid claims steel and mining magnate Alexey Mordashov is seeking a new harbor to shield the superyacht from seizure.

The official said Cape Town was perfect for the Nord because it has the technical means to maintain luxury yachts that many other harbors don't.

“If you’re parking a $500-million asset, you need it looked after properly,” the official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he's not permitted to speak publicly on the issue.

Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa , said Tuesday that there was “no reason” for South Africa to deny the Nord entry as Mordashov wasn't the subject of United Nations sanctions, only sanctions imposed unilaterally by the United States and the European Union.

The Nord, which left Hong Kong on a journey across the Indian Ocean to South Africa last week, would be allowed to dock in Cape Town harbor as long as those on board "abide by our immigration laws," Magwenya said.

Mordashov is not believed to be on board the yacht.

“Currently there are no U.N.-imposed sanctions on the particular individual and therefore South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by the sanctions that the U.S. and the EU have decided to impose within specific jurisdictions,” Magwenya told reporters in the South African capital, Pretoria.

Mordashov is thought to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU because of the war in Ukraine . He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company, and one of Russia’s richest men, with a net worth of over $20 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index.

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said Mordashov has benefited financially from the war in Ukraine and is “an accomplice to the unconscionable crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians.” Hill-Lewis had asked the South African government to block the Nord from docking, eliciting the response from President Ramaphosa's spokesman.

South Africa has adopted a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, frustrating Western partners who had hoped that Africa’s most developed economy would also condemn Russia’s invasion and act as a leading voice for the continent. South Africa abstained from a U.N. vote condemning Russia’s actions and called, instead, for dialogue and diplomacy.

Hill-Lewis is a member of South Africa’s main opposition party, which has been fiercely critical of the neutral stance taken by Ramaphosa's government.

“It must be said that, so far, our country’s foreign policy conduct in relation to Russia’s illegal, imperialist war has been nothing less than shameful,” Hill-Lewis said.

The Nord flies a Russian flag, is 141.6 meters (465 feet) long and has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins. It sailed out of Hong Kong after the U.S. accused that city of operating as a safe haven for sanctioned persons. It is expected to arrive in Cape Town on Nov. 9, according to the Marine Traffic shipping website.

The fate of the yacht has captured attention since it arrived in Hong Kong from Vladivostok, Russia, early this month, sparking a diplomatic row between the U.S. and Hong Kong authorities over the enforcing of sanctions.

Russian oligarchs have been looking for suitable harbors for their luxury yachts since they were targeted by American and European sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Some have also found new homes in Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia.

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South Africa to let Russian billionaire's superyacht dock

Hong kong russia yacht.

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Cape Town port is ideally suited to host a $500 million superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, a South African official said Wednesday, after the country announced its intention to let the vessel dock there despite a bid by the city's mayor to block its entry.

The South African government made the announcement Tuesday amid claims steel and mining magnate Alexey Mordashov is seeking a new harbor to shield the superyacht from seizure.

The official said Cape Town was perfect for the Nord because it has the technical means to maintain luxury yachts that many other harbors don't.

“If you’re parking a $500-million asset, you need it looked after properly,” the official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he's not permitted to speak publicly on the issue.

Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa , said Tuesday that there was “no reason” for South Africa to deny the Nord entry as Mordashov wasn't the subject of United Nations sanctions, only sanctions imposed unilaterally by the United States and the European Union.

The Nord, which left Hong Kong on a journey across the Indian Ocean to South Africa last week, would be allowed to dock in Cape Town harbor as long as those on board "abide by our immigration laws," Magwenya said.

Mordashov is not believed to be on board the yacht.

“Currently there are no U.N.-imposed sanctions on the particular individual and therefore South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by the sanctions that the U.S. and the EU have decided to impose within specific jurisdictions,” Magwenya told reporters in the South African capital, Pretoria.

Mordashov is thought to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU because of the war in Ukraine. He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company, and one of Russia’s richest men, with a net worth of over $20 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index.

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said Mordashov has benefited financially from the war in Ukraine and is “an accomplice to the unconscionable crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians.” Hill-Lewis had asked the South African government to block the Nord from docking, eliciting the response from President Ramaphosa's spokesman.

South Africa has adopted a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, frustrating Western partners who had hoped that Africa’s most developed economy would also condemn Russia’s invasion and act as a leading voice for the continent. South Africa abstained from a U.N. vote condemning Russia’s actions and called, instead, for dialogue and diplomacy.

Hill-Lewis is a member of South Africa’s main opposition party, which has been fiercely critical of the neutral stance taken by Ramaphosa's government.

“It must be said that, so far, our country’s foreign policy conduct in relation to Russia’s illegal, imperialist war has been nothing less than shameful,” Hill-Lewis said.

The Nord flies a Russian flag, is 141.6 meters (465 feet) long and has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins. It sailed out of Hong Kong after the U.S. accused that city of operating as a safe haven for sanctioned persons. It is expected to arrive in Cape Town on Nov. 9, according to the Marine Traffic shipping website.

The fate of the yacht has captured attention since it arrived in Hong Kong from Vladivostok, Russia, early this month, sparking a diplomatic row between the U.S. and Hong Kong authorities over the enforcing of sanctions.

Russian oligarchs have been looking for suitable harbors for their luxury yachts since they were targeted by American and European sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Some have also found new homes in Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia.

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The Russian billionaire is a close ally of Vladimir Putin – Photo: Supplied

Russian billionaire’s yacht arrives in SA today – what happens now?

Alexey Mordashov is just hours away from arriving in Cape Town, it is reported – so what can the Russian billionaire expect?

A notorious super-yacht belonging to a close ally of Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive in Cape Town later on Wednesday. Alexey Mordashov is one of the wealthiest men in Russia. But he is now desperately searching for a place to drop anchor .

Russian billionaire’s yacht set to reach Cape Town today

The Nord Yacht is a vessel worth something in the region of R10 billion. It comes with multiple stories, its own helipad, and more luxuries than you can shake a stick at. Mordashov, who made his money as a Putin-aligned oligarch in Moscow, has been heavily sanctioned by the US and the EU.

Therefore, finding a place to dock his yacht has proved troublesome in recent times. Last month, the South African Government gave Mordashov the green-light to arrive in Cape Town. That’s causing friction both domestically and internationally.

Will there be a ship arrest?

The Mother City AND the Western Cape are both run by the DA. The administrative regions are vehemently opposed to the docking. In fact, one shadow minister has suggested placing the vessel ‘under ship arrest’ the second it shores-up in Cape Town.

“The South African government’s scandalous decision to allow the superyacht of the Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov to dock in South Africa is an international embarrassment. They are on the wrong side of international law. This ship must be arrested once it enters South African waters.” | Darren Bergman

Other Russian billionaires may look to Cape Town for refuge

Although a ship arrest is highly unlikely to take place, Mordashov’s expected arrival will cause some complications. With a world increasingly ostracising Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, South Africa is in danger of making itself a ‘safe-haven’ for sanctioned oligarchs.

Mordashov could be the first of many Russian billionaires who flock towards Cape Town, safe in the knowledge that it will welcome friends of Vladimir Putin. The DA, meanwhile, is expected to continue its vehement opposition to this approach.

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Home » Russian Super Yacht Nord is Heading to Cape Town, South Africa

Russian Super Yacht Nord is Heading to Cape Town, South Africa

A super yacht worth around $521-million and owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch is heading for Cape Town, according to a CNN report and details on MarineTraffic.com. MV Nord, which is known as one of the world’s most luxurious megayachts, had been spotted in Hong Kong earlier this month (11 Oct), after sailing from Russia. […]

A super yacht worth around $521-million and owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch is heading for Cape Town, according to a CNN report and details on MarineTraffic.com.

MV Nord, which is known as one of the world’s most luxurious megayachts, had been spotted in Hong Kong earlier this month (11 Oct), after sailing from Russia. Yesterday the BBC reported that Hong Kong authorities refused to seize the vessel because the oligarch is under Western sanctions (imposed by the UK, US and EU) and not “unilateral” ones imposed by the United Nations.

According to MarineTraffic.com , Nord left Hong Kong on Thursday (20 Oct) and is expected to arrive in Cape Town on 9 November.

The owner – Alexei Mordashov – is not believed to be on board the boat. Mordashov is one of Russia’s richest oligarchs as chairman of Severstal conglomerate which has interests in metal, energy and mining companies. He is said to be close to the country’s President Vladimir Putin, and the sanctions follow Russia’s attack on the Ukraine.

Nord can accommodate more than 24 guests, and a crew of 40. (According to Yacht Harbour the boat can actually take 36 guests and has 18 cabins.) Like many super yachts, it has two helicopter platforms (as well as a hangar), swimming pool, elevators, gym, sauna and cinema.

The 142m boat was delivered to Mordashov in 2021. He also owns MV Lady M.

South Africa, which has encouraged negotiation rather than sanctions against Russia, shared a long and close relationship with the country. About 10 days ago, SA again abstained from a UN vote on Russia, this time regarding its annexation of Ukraine territories. Only five countries, including Russia, voted against it; while 143 countries voted in favour of the resolution. Speaking in the US on a recent trip, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country, and other countries in Africa, refuse to be “bullied” into choosing sides between Russia and Ukraine.

South Africa is a member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA), a group of strong emerging economies who meet at least once a year.

Several other Russian superyachts have already been seized.

WATCH Nord: The World’s Most Luxurious Megayacht

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By Devina Haripersad

3 minute read

27 Oct 2022

Russian yacht docking in Cape Town could affect SA grey listing, warns mayor

Government said sa is not bound by sanctions imposed on russia's president..

The Russian superyacht, Nord, is headed for SA. Photo: Vessel Finder

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has lashed out at national government for allowing a superyacht said to belong to Putin ally Alexei Mordashov to dock in Cape Town.

The vessel, known as Nord and worth around R9 billion, is destined for Hong Kong.

According to Vessel Finder , it is enroute to the port of Cape Town, sailing at a speed of 16.3 knots, and expected to arrive on 9 November at 8am.

But the South African government has hit back, saying that while the Russian president has been sanctioned by both the EU and the US, South Africa is not bound by those sanctions.

ALSO READ: South Africa’s superyacht stance dubious

Ekurhuleni mayor, speaker to face motion of no confidence in same council sitting  

Grey listing concerns.

Hill-Lewis feels that the welcoming of the vessel to SA shores will adversely affect the country’s efforts to avoid grey-listing.

Hill-Lewis said the South African government could likely be viewed as “sanction dodgers” for this move.

On Wednesday evening, Hill-Lewis tweeted: “The President never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. I’m sure those weighing up whether to grey list South Africa are taking note. We face grey-listing because of our lax approach to money launderers and racketeers, now we can add sanction-dodgers too.”

The President who never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. I’m sure those weighing up whether to grey list South Africa are taking note. We face grey-listing because of our lax approach to money launderers and racketeers, now we can add sanction-dodgers too. https://t.co/FBtRBEGyDx — Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) October 26, 2022

ALSO READ: WATCH: 50m of Nord Stream pipeline supplying gas to parts of Europe destroyed

Block the yacht

Hill-Lewis said he has asked Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor to block the entry of the superyacht to Cape Town’s port.

“There is no place in our city for accomplices to, and enablers of, Putin’s war.”

He met with Ukraine Ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, pledging his support by standing with the people of Ukraine.

What a pleasure to meet with the Ambassador of Ukraine, @lubovabravitova , yesterday. We stand with the people of Ukraine against imperialist expansionism 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/aT6TnUknu1 — Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) October 27, 2022

ALSO READ: Mercedes becomes the latest company to withdraw from Russia

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Cape Town-Headed Russian Oligarch Superyacht Vanishes

09 nov 2022 by jasmine stone in cape town , lifestyle , politics , russia , south africa.

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[imagesource: Lam Yik / Bloomberg]

The 141-metre Nord superyacht, which was sanctioned by the EU, the UK, and US after Russia decided to invade Ukraine, was due to dock in Cape Town Harbour today after setting sail from Hong Kong.

Despite the best efforts of Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, the South African government gave the all-clear for the R9 billion behemoth, owned by Russian Alexey Mordashov , to pull in.

You’re unlikely to see an ANC welcoming party at the harbour, however, because Nord appears to have vanished into thin air.

Business Insider SA first broke the news:

The plan was to arrive in the city on Wednesday, but it is unclear where the yacht is now. By mid-morning on Tuesday, the Transnet Port Authority told Business Insider South Africa, it had not yet received any written berthing request from the Nord. And by Monday afternoon, the Waterfront Marina had not received an application for the vessel to take up a berth there.

In order to dock, vessels are required to submit a berthing request 72 hours before the estimated time of arrival.

On October 26, Nord went ‘dark’ – meaning it turned off its location transponders – while in Indonesia.

Because of this, the yacht cannot be tracked by any of the numerous online vessel tracking services and there is no information available regarding its voyage.

Those who want to know more have had to rely on unverified scraps of information, such as a possible sighting last week off the coast of the Maldives.

The 142m long, five-deck beast might already be in South African waters, but without the AIS info we just don’t know for sure. We don’t even know if the original AIS [automatic identification systems] information that indicated that Cape Town was the destination was not fake, because it was not confirmed by anyone.

Maybe we’ve all been duped and Cape Town was thrown out as a red herring.

Either way, the fact that nobody can seem to locate a 141-metre superyacht seems more than a little odd.

[source: businsider ]

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CAPE TOWN FOR CAPETONIANS

Skipper presumed dead after vessel capsizes en route to Cape Town

The skipper of the NINA POPE sailing vessel, which sank in the Atlantic Ocean while en route from Tristan da Cunha to Cape Town on Wednesday, is presumed dead, according to the SA Maritime Safety Authority.

Also read:  NSRI rescues solo sailor from yacht near Yzerfontein

It stated that in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town received an SOS Alert from the Garmin International Rescue Coordination Centre regarding the Swiss-flagged sailing vessel.

The alert indicated that the vessel was taking on water about 2400 kilometres west-southwest of Cape Town.

In a joint operation involving MRCC Uruguay and other international partners, a motor tanker was dispatched to the location.

Speaking to News24 , Samsa spokesperson Tebogo Ramatjie said that despite challenging conditions, with winds up to 74km/h and sea swells of up to eight meters, the FRONT POLLUX [motor tanker] managed to recover two male survivors from a life raft near the reported position.

Cape {town} Etc discount:  Appreciate the beauty of Cape Town with a 60-minute cruise for R155 (valued at R310). Get it  here . if(window.isMobile != null || window.isTablet != null){ document.write(' '); document.write(' '); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('dfp-300x250-3'); }); document.write(' '); }

The skipper, a German national, was unable to be rescued and is believed to have perished with the vessel.

One survivor is Brazilian, while the other has dual citizenship in the United States and Switzerland.

Ramatjie stated that they were unharmed, did not require medical attention, and were expected to arrive in Cape Town next week.

Samsa extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

‘SAMSA extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We also express our heartfelt gratitude to all SAR partners, especially the crew of the FRONT POLLUX, for their valiant efforts in the rescue operation,’ it said. 

Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings  here .

NSRI spots vessel in distress during Cape Town Cycle Tour

Picture:  Aaron Burden /Unsplash

Article written by Murray Swart

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