Officers from the United Kingdom’s nationwide law-enforcement agency boarded the 192-foot (58.5-meter) megayacht Phi in London earlier today. As a result, the agency is detaining Phi, citing her owner as a Russian national. This marks the first detention of a superyacht in UK waters tied to the sanctions against Russian individuals and companies.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) announced the move. Its Combating Kleptocracy Cell served the detention notice at the yacht’s berth in Canary Wharf. The NCA indicates that officers of the Cell worked with the Border Force Maritime Intelligence Bureau to identify the owner. The agency in turn provided the information to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, who ordered the detention.
Despite revealing that the UK is detaining Phi, officials have not named the owner. The NCA does say, though, that the registered owning company is based in St. Kitts and Nevis. Regardless, the agency doesn’t indicate in its official statement whether the owner is a sanctioned individual. Related to this, Shapps tells the BBC that the owner is not on the sanctions list. He does add, however, that the owner has “close connections” to Vladimir Putin.
Andy Devine, head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, says, “Today’s activity demonstrates the NCA’s ability to react at pace.” He continues, “The NCA plays a vital role in targeting suspect assets, pursuing enablers of illicit wealth, and supporting government partners in the delivery of the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Shapps asserts that detaining Phi is “a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.” He further says that “we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from Russian connections.”
Phi saw delivery from Royal Huisman last year. She has head-turning styling from Cor D. Rover Design as well as surprising speeds for her size. She hit upwards of 20 knots during sea trials late last year in part due to a hull design by Van Oossanen Naval Architects.
The NCA and other UK-based agencies indicate they continue looking into other vessels for possible ties to Russia and sanctioned individuals. While this is the first superyacht detained in UK waters, American and European officials have detained or arrested several so far, all this month. Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, for example, boarded Flying Fox in the Dominican Republic last week. She reportedly cannot depart the dock until further notice from officials. Amore Vero, Anastasia, Axioma, Crescent, Lady M, Sailing Yacht A, and Valerie are among the yachts in European waters that cannot depart, either.
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