Official notice of seizure and possession served on the crew

The Antigua and Barbuda government is now the official owner of the Alfa Nero, considered one of the largest private motor yachts in the world, measuring 82 metres in length and which has been stranded in Antigua for more than a year.

The 267-foot long vessel has been stranded with an absentee owner believed to be Russian billionaire businessman, Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev, who is among the Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned internationally with their assets ordered seized for allegedly financing Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine or managed finances in the interests of the Putin’s regime. 

Yesterday, the Alfa Nero, with a value of US$81 million, was finally seized by the government, which is taking steps to remove the vessel, which has been moored within the Falmouth Harbour. The Antigua Observer reports that Port Authority Manager Darwin Telemaque handed the official notice of seizure and possession to the crew after meeting with the crew’s lawyers.

Steps needed to remove Alfa Nero from Antiguan and Barbudan waters

Telemaque then spoke to reporters about the next steps in the process to see the Alfa Nero leave Antiguan and Barbudan waters saying, “there are five things that we must do now, one is to resolve the issue of the crew which is our primary responsibility under international maritime law, and also because we have designated seafarers in Antigua as essential workers. When that is done, we will engage in the process of maintaining and sustaining the ship which will be done with the [officials at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina]. Third, we will engage with security personnel … to discuss the detailed plan to secure the State asset.”

Continuing, he said: “Fourth would be the flagging of the ship which will take place with Captain Raman Bala [Antigua Department of Maritime Services] … sand the final component is to discuss the issue of liability, the [protection and indemnity] insurance is very important for the vessel, marina and the crew.”

Once completed, the government will then officially begin the process of choosing its preferred bidder for the sale of the luxury superyacht.

Despite yesterday’s proceedings, the seizure of the superyacht was not without hiccups as the date for the seizure was originally set for Saturday but legal issues delayed the process over the Easter weekend, which had been fully resolved yesterday.

Officials from the Ministry of Legal Affairs were also present, where it was announced that the authorities would be looking to remove international sanctions that have been placed on the superyacht since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The abandonment of the yacht in the Harbour has cost the Antigua Yacht Club Marina and the government, by extension, in fuel, food and other fees, although the Port Manager did not know the exact figure at the time. “There are some incurred liabilities that we would have to absorb, ranging from $2-3 million that has already been incurred, but it doesn’t stop there,” Telemaque noted.

Meanwhile, conversations between the crew and their lawyers also took place yesterday where the crew was updated as to their next steps. Yesterday’s events took place after the government amended the Port Authority Act to allow the Port Manager to seize the abandoned vessel.