A $700m super-yacht linked to a Russian oligarch just sailed through the Strait of Hormuz
A $700 million super-yacht linked to Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov transited the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing regional tensions and a blockade restricting maritime traffic. The Nord, one of the world's largest private yachts, traveled from Dubai to Muscat via the strategic waterway, which typically handles a fifth of global oil shipments. It remains unclear how the vessel obtained permission to pass through the heavily restricted route. Mordashov, sanctioned over Russia's war in Ukraine, is not the formal owner, but the yacht is tied to his wife's company.
- ▪The 142-meter super-yacht Nord, valued at over $500 million USD, sailed through the Strait of Hormuz in late April 2026, a rare transit amid regional blockades.
- ▪Shipping data shows the yacht left Dubai on Friday, crossed the strait on Saturday, and arrived in Muscat on Sunday.
- ▪The Strait of Hormuz has seen drastically reduced traffic since February 2026 due to US-Iran tensions, with only a few merchant vessels passing daily.
- ▪Although Alexey Mordashov is not the official owner, Russian corporate records link the yacht to a firm owned by his wife, Marina Mordashova.
- ▪Mordashov, a Putin ally, has been under Western sanctions since 2022, leading to the freezing of many of his European assets.
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