Reviews & Ratings for the Nord

On the night of April 24-25, 2026, the luxury yacht 'Nord' made its way across the Strait of Hormuz, embarking from Dubai and setting its course for Muscat. The vessel is reported to be owned by Alexey Mordashov, the prominent president of Severstal, a major player in the Russian steel and mining industry, and is notable for being on the US sanctions list since 2022. This passage through the strategically important Strait occurred amidst ongoing Western sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs, which have shown increasing signs of operational ineffectiveness. Prior to the tightening of these sanctions, 'Nord' had already departed Western waters and has since been operating in regions like the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean, where the enforcement of such measures remains largely theoretical. The United Arab Emirates, serving as the vessel's departure point, has not aligned itself with the sanctions and continues to welcome vessels of this nature. The Dubai-Masqat route via the Strait of Hormuz is conveniently one of the most direct paths for large vessels, and due to 'Nord's' considerable draft and size, its options for ports of call are somewhat limited. Muscat stands out as an ideal destination, capable of accommodating such vessels and functioning under a regime that has not aligned with Western sanctions.

In a surprising announcement, South Africa's government has stated that it has no legal grounds to impose sanctions on Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, the owner of the $500 million megayacht 'Nord.' Despite being the largest shareholder in Severstal PJSC, a prominent steel manufacturing company, Mordashov has faced sanctions from the EU, UK, and US following Russia's military actions in Ukraine. The yacht, which was reported to be navigating north of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on October 25, is anticipated to arrive in the picturesque harbor of Cape Town on November 9.

The United States has raised concerns regarding Hong Kong's reputation as a key financial center following the recent docking of the luxury yacht 'Nord' in the region. The vessel is linked to Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov, who is under sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The yacht reached Hong Kong on October 11 after a week-long journey from Vladivostok. U.S. officials emphasize that any cooperation with sanctioned individuals could jeopardize Hong Kong's standing in the global financial landscape, highlighting the international scrutiny of its policies and activities.