Discover the Pacific-X: Ratings & Maritime News

On June 2, the luxury yacht 'Pacific', associated with Russian billionaire Leonid Mikhelson, arrived at the scenic Marmaris port after a prolonged journey covering over 7,000 miles. Notably, the vessel had been silent regarding its location for nearly two weeks, violating international maritime regulations that mandate broadcasting position details. This journey underscores the lengths to which yacht crews are going to navigate their vessels to regions perceived as safe havens from potential detentions. Following the invasion of Ukraine, various governments, including the US and Italy, have impounded more than a dozen superyachts valued at over $2.3 billion belonging to Russian oligarchs aligned with President Vladimir Putin. Turkey has increasingly emerged as a preferred refuge for these lavish yachts. For instance, Alexander Abramov's yacht 'Titan' maneuvered through the Suez Canal in early May to reach Turkish waters. Meanwhile, Roman Abramovich's 'Eclipse' is currently situated in the coastal waters off southern Turkey, and the 'My Solaris', which is also linked to him, is anchored off the southwestern coast of Turkey. Additionally, the yacht 'Clio', associated with aluminum mogul Oleg Deripaska, ceased transmitting its location when it approached the Bosphorus Strait near Istanbul back in April.

The luxury vessel 'Pacific', associated with Leonid Mikhelson—Russia's second wealthiest individual after Vladimir Putin—has emerged once again after a 12-day absence from the Automatic Identification System (AIS). This stunning reappearance occurred on May 20, 2022, as the yacht was spotted navigating past the Canary Islands, and it has recently been sighted near Malta. Disabling the AIS poses a breach of international maritime regulations. The vessel's next reported destination is Port Said; however, analysts predict that it may subsequently sail towards the Maldives or Turkey—regions that offer more favorable conditions for yachts owned by Russian oligarchs. Previously, 'Pacific' indicated intentions to head to the Bahamas and also considered a stop at Barcelona's Port Vell. The unpredictable trajectory of this yacht highlights the increasing unease among oligarchs seeking to evade government scrutiny aimed at asset seizures. Leonid Mikhelson, who serves as the CEO of Novatek—Russia's largest private natural gas producer, accounting for approximately 10% of the nation’s gas supply—has been subject to sanctions imposed by the U.K. and Canada following the onset of the conflict in Ukraine. While Novatek itself faces U.S. sanctions, Mikhelson has not been personally designated by such sanctions.