My-Altair Vessel Reviews and Specifications

In a dramatic response to sanctions, the luxury superyacht 'Clio', owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska—founder of the aluminum conglomerate Rusal—was spotted anchoring off Mala, the capital of the Maldives, on March 1, 2022. This move highlights the ongoing flight of Russian billionaires attempting to evade Western restrictions. Following the U.S. government’s warning on February 26 regarding the formation of a multilateral Transatlantic task force to target assets of sanctioned Russian elites, several other mega yachts belonging to affluent Russians also headed toward the Maldives. The White House's announcement came as part of a broader initiative to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals, including yachts and luxury property. In addition, Spanish maritime authorities have been actively collecting data from marinas, requesting information about mega yachts of 24 meters and above linked to Russian interests. Notably, very few mega yachts are registered under the Russian flag, necessitating precise identification through actual ownership records. The growing apprehension that Russian-owned superyachts may face detention and confiscation is evident, with the notable yacht 'Tango' (IMO: 1010703), belonging to billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, already docked at Astilleros de Mallorca and flagged for scrutiny.