Superyacht worth £38m owned by Russian seized in UK first

Ross McGuinness

A superyacht worth £38m has become the first vessel to be seized in the UK under sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The boat, Phi, is owned by a Russian businessman and was detained in Canary Wharf in east London on Tuesday.

At 58.5m long, the vessel is twice as long as the other boats docked nearby.

Officers from the National Crime Agency’s Combating Kleptocracy Cell have this morning served a detention notice on a superyacht owned by a Russian national. See SWNS story SWNNyacht. Following some fast-paced work by intelligence officers in the Cell – supported by colleagues from Border Force Maritime Intelligence Bureau – the ultimate owner of the vessel Phi was identified. This information was passed to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, who today ordered the first ever detention of a superyacht in UK waters. As a result NCA officers issued the notice of detention. Owned by a Russian businessman, Phi is the third biggest yacht built by prestigious shipbuilders Royal Huisman and includes what the builders call an “infinite wine cellar” and patented fresh-water swimming pool. The ownership of the yacht was deliberately well hidden. The company the ship is registered to is based in the islands of St Kitts and Nevis and it carried Maltese flags to hide its origins.
Officers from the National Crime Agency detain the Phi superyacht in Canary Wharf, east London, on Tuesday. (SWNS) (NCA / SWNS)

It was detained by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officials from its Combating Kleptocracy Cell served a detention notice on the master of the yacht.

Its owner is not subject to UK sanctions, but a ship owned or controlled by persons connected with Russia may be detained by the transport secretary.

Officers from the National Crime Agency’s Combating Kleptocracy Cell have this morning served a detention notice on a superyacht owned by a Russian national. See SWNS story SWNNyacht. Following some fast-paced work by intelligence officers in the Cell – supported by colleagues from Border Force Maritime Intelligence Bureau – the ultimate owner of the vessel Phi was identified. This information was passed to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, who today ordered the first ever detention of a superyacht in UK waters. As a result NCA officers issued the notice of detention. Owned by a Russian businessman, Phi is the third biggest yacht built by prestigious shipbuilders Royal Huisman and includes what the builders call an “infinite wine cellar” and patented fresh-water swimming pool. The ownership of the yacht was deliberately well hidden. The company the ship is registered to is based in the islands of St Kitts and Nevis and it carried Maltese flags to hide its origins.
The Phi superyacht is owned by a mystery Russian businessman. (SWNS) (NCA / SWNS)
Officers from the National Crime Agency’s Combating Kleptocracy Cell have this morning served a detention notice on a superyacht owned by a Russian national. See SWNS story SWNNyacht. Following some fast-paced work by intelligence officers in the Cell – supported by colleagues from Border Force Maritime Intelligence Bureau – the ultimate owner of the vessel Phi was identified. This information was passed to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP, who today ordered the first ever detention of a superyacht in UK waters. As a result NCA officers issued the notice of detention. Owned by a Russian businessman, Phi is the third biggest yacht built by prestigious shipbuilders Royal Huisman and includes what the builders call an “infinite wine cellar” and patented fresh-water swimming pool. The ownership of the yacht was deliberately well hidden. The company the ship is registered to is based in the islands of St Kitts and Nevis and it carried Maltese flags to hide its origins.
Officers from the National Crime Agency on board the Phi superyacht in Canary Wharf, east London. (SWNS) (NCA / SWNS)

Read more: The superyachts (worth £680m) seized from oligarchs as sanctions hit Russians

The NCA worked with the Border Force Maritime Intelligence Bureau to identify the owner of the vessel.

The information was passed to transport secretary Grant Shapps, who ordered the first ever detention of a superyacht in UK waters.

Phi, named after a mathematical concept, is the third biggest yacht built by prestigious shipbuilders Royal Huisman and includes what the builders call an “infinite wine cellar” and patented freshwater swimming pool.

The NCA said the ownership of the yacht was deliberately well hidden. The ship is registered to a company based in the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis, and it carried Maltese flags to hide its origins.

Andy Devine, of the NCA, said: “Today’s activity demonstrates the NCA’s ability to react at pace.

"We have surged officers to establish the Combating Kleptocracy Cell, and the results of this are already bearing fruit.

“The NCA plays a vital role in targeting suspect assets, pursuing enablers of illicit wealth and supporting government partners in the delivery of the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

Shapps said: “Today we’ve detained a £38m superyacht and turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps by the superyacht Phi owned by a Russian businessman in Canary Wharf, east London which has been detained as part of sanctions against Russia. The vessel is the first to be detained in the UK under sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine. Picture date: Tuesday March 29, 2022.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps by the detained superyacht Phi in Canary Wharf, east London. (PA) (PA)
The superyacht Phi owned by a Russian businessman in Canary Wharf, east London which has been detained as part of sanctions against Russia. The vessel is the first to be detained in the UK under sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine. Picture date: Tuesday March 29, 2022.
The superyacht Phi is the first to be detained in UK waters under its sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. (PA) (PA)

“Detaining the Phi, proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from Russian connections.”

The Department for Transport (DfT) refused to name the boat's owner, stating only that he is a "Russian businessman”.

The DfT said it is “looking at a number of other vessels” and hopes its “strong stance sends an example to international partners”.

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