The 106.1-metre Russian-owned superyacht Amadea was the last superyacht to be arrested, but is likely to be the first to actioned. The U.S. Department of Justice itself stated that the Lürssen-built superyacht “will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale.” The superyacht Amadea arrived in San Diego Bay, U.S. yesterday where it will await its fate. 
Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht TimesAmadea was arrested in Fiji and undertook the 5,000 nautical mile transpacific journey under a U.S. flag, stopping en route in Honolulu Harbour, Hawaii. It was reported last week that when she arrived in U.S. territory in Hawaii, she was manned by a newly-hired U.S. crew. It would have been the same crew that navigated her onwards to San Diego.
Read: Update on Russian yachts seized: 106m Amadea arrives in Hawaii and is now US-flagged
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Task Force KleptoCapture – the recently launched group tasked with seizing the assets of Russian oligarchs – may have successfully arrested the superyacht Amadea; however, not without overcoming many challenges. The superyacht Amadea was reported to be arrested on 14 April 2022, but it wasn’t until 4 May that Task Force KleptoCapture got the green light for arrest. 
Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht TimesThe U.S. Embassy in Fiji stated at the time, “We have imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs who are financing Putin’s war and we will continue to act with our allies and partners around the world in imposing costs on the Kremlin if it continues its war of choice. We continue to ratchet up the pressure on Putin’s oligarchs and we are working with allies and partners to go after corrupt gains from some of the individuals closest to Putin, no matter where they are held around the world.”
Read: Insight: What are the legal implications of sanctions against Russian yacht owners?Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht TimesThe following two weeks proved to be messy though, and it was unclear whether Amadea’s arrest would result in her being transported to U.S. territory. During this period a plea had been made by Millemarin Investment on the registration of the US warrant to seize the Lürssen superyacht. The Fijian Court of Appeals dismissed the plea on 27 May, opening an avenue for the U.S. Department of Justice to actualise the arrest and transport her to U.S. territory.
According to the latest statement by the U.S. Justice Department, “The successful seizure and transport of Amadeawould not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine.”
The superyacht Amadea was launched in 2017 and has an interior volume of 4,402 GT. Her exterior design was penned by Espen Øino International, while her interior was curated by Zuretti Interior Design. She has accommodation for 16 guests and 36 crew.