The U.S. government has filed a petition to auction the 106.1-metre seized Lürssen superyacht Amadea, before a dispute over her ownership is resolved. The yacht is currently costing the U.S government more than $7 million a year to maintain.
Photo: Tom van Oossanen / SuperYacht TimesAuthorities in Fiji seized Amadea in May 2022, following a U.S. warrant alleging she was owned by Suleiman Kerimov. The multi-billionaire was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014 and 2018 in response to Russia's activities in Syria and Ukraine.
According to Forbes magazine, Kerimov and his family are worth $10.7 billion and he amassed his fortune through Russian gold miner Polyus, although he is no longer a shareholder.
Read: US seeks ownership of 106m seized Russian-owned superyacht Amadea
Photo: Aurélien Herman / SuperYacht TimesLate on Friday, a court filing by federal prosecutors in Manhattan told U.S. District Judge Dale Ho that Amadea currently has an “excessive” $600,000 monthly average maintenance bill, and urged the judge to consider an auction.
According to Reuters, attempts to auction the yacht have been faced with opposition from Eduard Khudainatov, the former leader of Russian state oil and gas giant Rosneft, from 2010 to 2013. Khudainatov claims ownership of Amadea and contends that she cannot be seized as he has not been subjected to sanctions.
Read: Update on Russian yachts seized
Photo: ImperialFederal prosecutors in Manhattan also allege that talks to have Khudainatov pay for Amadea's upkeep have broken down. Prior court submissions say that Khudainatov is serving as the "straw” or nominal owner to obscure Kerimov's involvement and that maintenance payments are crucial for the upkeep of the yacht’s value.
Khudainatov is required to respond to the prosecutors' petition by February 23. In a statement, his legal representatives argued that the motion to sell Amadea was premature and urged Judge Ho to withhold approval until he assesses the constitutionality of the seizure.
Photo: Julien Hubert / SuperYacht TimesProsecutors have alleged that Kerimov breached U.S. sanctions by conducting maintenance payments exceeding $1 million for Amadea via the U.S. financial system, rendering the vessel, currently harbored in San Diego, liable to forfeiture.
If the U.S government successfully auctions Amadea, it is probable that the sale proceeds would eventually be transferred to Ukraine.
Photo: Carl GrollAll images in this article were taken of Amadea prior to any sanctions and seizures.