The luxury superyacht "Nord," valued at over $500 million and connected to a billionaire close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was able to sail through the Strait of Hormuz—an important global energy transit route—without hindrance amid ongoing maritime blockade tensions.
The 142-meter-long superyacht "Nord," valued at over $500 million (approximately 16.23 billion baht), departed from Dubai on the night of 24 April and docked at Al Mouj Port in Muscat, Oman, on the morning of 26 April. It is one of the few private vessels to have transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent months amid blockade orders that have sharply reduced maritime traffic compared to pre-war levels.
This vessel is linked to Alexey Mordashov, chairman of the steel producer Severstal and a powerful Russian billionaire allied closely with President Vladimir Putin. The yacht has been registered under a company owned by his wife since 2022. Onboard are luxurious amenities including a swimming pool, a submarine, and a helicopter landing pad.
This movement coincides with Iran and Russia strengthening their ties. President Putin welcomed an Iranian delegation in Saint Petersburg on Monday, where Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised the relationship as a "strategic alliance."
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—a passage for about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas—have directly impacted energy prices. Brent crude oil surged to $109 per barrel on Monday as Iran continues to restrict navigation in response to U.S. blockade declarations against Iranian ports.
Mordashov, with a net worth of approximately $37 billion (about 1.2 trillion baht), has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Nevertheless, the "Nord" yacht has evaded asset seizures in several locations such as Hong Kong and the Maldives despite Western calls for asset freezes.
This significant transit through the strategic strait highlights the deep-rooted cooperation between Russia and Iran amid political and military pressure from the U.S. and Israel seeking to block this crucial route.
/sourceBBC