pacific superyacht owner

How the second-richest Russian’s $150 million superyacht evaded sanctions on a 7,000-mile journey to safety

After not broadcasting its location for almost two weeks , a $150 million luxury superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Leonid Mikhelson reappeared again — transmitting it was headed to the Bahamas and Barcelona — locations that would have put it at risk of seizure.

Turns out, its final destination is a safe haven sought after by many other vessels of tycoons facing  sanctions : Turkey.

After a nearly month-long journey that took it more than 7,000 miles , the  Pacific  m Thursday at the port of Marmaris in the country’s south. 

The journey of the 280-foot Pacific, sailing “dark” for nearly half of the trip without its automatic identification system turned on as required by international maritime law, shows the risky measures the crew of these multimillion dollar vessels are undertaking to get to jurisdictions deemed unlikely to arrest the floating palaces. The US, Italy and other European governments have  seized  more than a dozen yachts worth over $2.3 billion to punish Russian tycoons close to President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine. 

• Follow the Pacific’s journey  here .

Turkey has been a favored destination for superyachts connected to Russian oligarchs and tycoons facing scrutiny as countries look to step up sanctions on Russia. Steel billionaire Alexander Abramov’s $100 million  Titan  traversed the Suez Canal at the beginning of May to get there. The Eclipse, linked to former Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich, is in waters off southern Turkey, while My Solaris, another megayacht connected to him, is anchored off the country’s southwestern coast. The Clio, tied to aluminum billionaire Oleg Deripaska, stopped transmitting its location once it reached the Bosphorus Strait near Istanbul in April.

Superyacht PACIFIC in Gibraltar with her EC-135 on deck (M-PACF) #shipsinpics #ships #shipping #shipspotting #helicopter #yacht #yachts #superyacht #superyachts #aviation pic.twitter.com/xzCbPazSPe — Daniel Ferro (@Gibdan1) May 2, 2021

The seizures have sent luxury vessels scattering across oceans seeking refuge. Some have  logged  more than 5,000 nautical miles since the start of the invasion in late February. Working with Spire Global Inc., an analytics firm that uses nanosatellites to collect data, Bloomberg is tracking vessels connected to Russian tycoons on sanctions lists.

• Interact with a tracker of yachts tied to sanctioned Russians  here .

Built in 2010 by German company Luerssen Verwaltungs GmbH, the Pacific  features  an elevator, pool and smaller speedboat, and has room for 12 guests and 28 crew.                                                                

• Watch a video of the Pacific  here .

The Pacific, which can accommodate two helicopters, had been anchored at various ports and bays in Costa Rica since late January. On May 5, it departed Marina Papagayo near Culebra Bay and headed southeast, passing through the Panama Canal, according to vessel data analyzed by Bloomberg. The vessel was cruising in the Caribbean Sea northeast of Colon when it stopped broadcasting its location on May 8. It had indicated it was headed to Nassau in the Bahamas. It reappeared 12 days later near the Canary Islands, broadcast it was headed to Barcelona before changing its destination to Port Said in Egypt.

Along with economic and financial sanctions, seizing superyachts, villas and other assets of Russian tycoons close to Putin has become a visible campaign by the US and its allies in trying to deter Russia’s war in Ukraine. In Fiji, the US was granted a seizure order in early May of the $325 million Amadea that it says belongs to sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, but authorities have so far been unable to sail it out of the South Pacific island nation. The yacht’s registered owner has put up a series of  legal challenges  to fight the seizure.

“These yachts are a source of pride and prestige for the owners,” said  Benjamin Maltby , a partner at London-based Keystone Law, which specializes in superyacht law. “There’s absolutely no way they would give them away or walk away willingly.”

Mikhelson, Russia’s second-wealthiest person with a fortune of almost $25 billion, was  sanctioned  by the UK and Canada in early April. He is chief executive officer of Novatek PJSC, the largest non-state-owned natural gas provider in Russia. Novatek is also on the US sanctions  list , though Mikhelson himself doesn’t face US sanctions. The multibillionaire owns about one quarter of the publicly traded company, which produces around 10% of the country’s gas. 

It isn’t clear whether Mikhelson is on board the Pacific. His representatives at Novatek didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

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PACIFIC Yacht – Exclusive Retreat $150M Superyacht

PACIFIC yacht is one of the most impressive yachts ever made and was built by the famous ‘ Lurssen Shipyard ’ in 2010.

At 85 meters in length, she can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 cabins, with a crew of 28 ensuring that your stay onboard is as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Powered by MTU engines , this superyacht can reach speeds of up to 22 knots, making her perfect for cruising around the open seas.

PACIFIC yacht interior

The interior design of the yacht was completed by Bannenberg & Rowell , who has 31 other superyacht interiors in their portfolio and is known for their sleek and modern designs that stand out. 

She is built with teak decks and features earthy tones infused with splashes of blue as well as elegant furnishings in neutral colors and richly textured fabrics. 

The megayacht features an elevator that makes it easier to travel between floors and an impressive range of amenities to ensure that every guest has an enjoyable time – from being pampered in the spa to relaxing on the deck or watching a movie at sea. 

The luxurious amenities continue outdoors because guests can also enjoy outings on the water or to the nearest harbor with one of the superyacht’s tenders. 

Specifications

The PACIFIC yacht is a magnificent steel and aluminum yacht that was built with performance and opulence in mind.

Her twin diesel MTU (20V4000 M93L) 20-cylinder 5,764hp engines give her a top speed of more than 20 knots, a range of more than 4,500nm, and a cruising speed of 15 knots.

Compared to similarly-sized yachts, her top speed is 1.87 knots above the average, making her one of the most impressive vessels in the 80-90m size range.

Moreover, she was built to Germanischer Lloyd ✠ 100 A5 Motor Yacht, ✠ MC AUT classification society rules, and is MCA LY2 Compliant.

The PACIFIC yacht has a low-profile design by German Frers , a company famous for using cutting-edge technology and extensive tank-testing programs.

As stylish and sleek as can be, the megayacht’s elegant color changes in the sunlight as she sails through the ocean, reflecting on her hull and deck.

She has been spotted circumnavigating around the globe in places like the South of France, Italy, Australia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Florida. 

Accommodation

She can accommodate twelve guests in six beautifully appointed cabins and additional space for a highly professional crew of 28 members onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

The yacht also boasts two helicopter pads large enough for simultaneous landings and takeoffs.

Previously known as Project Josi, she was built by the famous Lurssen Shipyard and delivered to her owner in 2010 for US$ 150 million.

Her annual running cost is estimated to be US$ 10 – 15 million. As of now, she is not available for yacht charter nor listed for sale.

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On board with Sir Michael Hill, owner of 39m superyacht The Beast

New Zealand’s most famous jeweller Sir Michael Hill is eagerly awaiting the imminent launch of his latest superyacht – just one of several big projects planned for a busy 2019, he tells Ellie Brade...

Sir Michael Hill always has a plan. Well, most of the time. One of New Zealand ’s best-known names thanks to his successful chain of eponymous jewellery stores, Hill wears many other hats: golfer, violinist, fisherman, artist, superyacht owner and motivational speaker. In his inspirational talks Hill insists that everyone should have at least a loose plan and know where they are heading in life. And he should know – he’s the first to admit that before founding Michael Hill International his life lacked direction.

It took a devastating house fire in 1977 to shock Hill into writing the plan that changed the course of his life. Then approaching his 40s and working as the manager of his uncle’s jewellery store, Hill had just completed a four-year house build with his wife, Christine. When the house went up in flames not long after completion it ignited an epiphany.

“Losing everything was what sparked the need to make some big life changes,” he says. His first move was to offer to buy out his uncle; after being turned down, he opened his own store down the street. Aiming to provide affordable jewellery to the average New Zealander, within 18 months Michael Hill Jeweller was far outstripping his uncle’s shop. He quickly achieved his goal of seven shops in seven years, then came the next target of 70 shops in seven more years. Michael Hill International now has nearly 300 stores around the world.

Enjoying downtime on the water has always been an important part of Hill’s life and his first foray into superyacht ownership was with the award-winning 34.2 metre VvS1 (now Akiko ), designed by Gregory C Marshall and delivered by Alloy Yachts in 2007. Having previously owned a 17 metre sport fisher, Hill’s decision to upgrade to a bigger boat, never having set foot on a superyacht before, was by his own admission “a bit crazy”. On her launch, VvS1 received international praise and went on to become a popular charter yacht. In 2012 Hill sent her to Europe and made her available for charter, with a new, bigger yacht on his horizon. But after a change of heart, he brought her back home to New Zealand and shelved plans for a new build.

A passionate New Zealander, Hill insists there are no better cruising grounds anywhere in the world, and he intended to make the most of having VvS1 back home to explore the country and neighbouring South Pacific . But then one day everything changed.

“Boats are not easy to sell, and one gets few chances actually, so I had no intention of putting her on the market,” says Hill. “My captain, Andy, had cleverly left out a magazine with a boat on the cover that was very different and I said ‘Ooh, that looks nice,’ and he said ‘I thought you’d like that.’” Inspired, Hill had some designs drawn up by Kiwi naval architects LOMOcean Design to see what a new boat might look like. Two weeks later, out of the blue, a buyer called up enquiring about VvS1 . “They asked if she was for sale and I said no, but said that we should find out what they want to pay for it. To cut a long story short, we sold it.”

That was the green light for a new project. “I’d had it in mind to go for a slightly different vessel if I ever built again, because every time you have a boat you always think of things that might be slightly better or different, and I just thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have an expedition-style boat that could go anywhere, that was seriously stable?’” Hill says. “And then I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be even better, seeing as I love fishing, to be able to put a decent-sized game boat on the back that we could just launch off it, and then go fishing in some of the amazing spots where very few people have the privilege of going?’” With that, the journey to a new 39 metre, christened The Beast , began.

Putting the cart before the horse, Hill and his team set about building the game boat – dubbed the Baby Beast – that would sit on the back of The Beast , buying the moulds from, of all places, New Zealand’s equivalent of eBay. Hill is very proud of the resulting boat, which is simple but extremely stable, and the perfect base for fishing adventures . At the same time plans for The Beast were completed and work began, undertaken by Profab Central Engineering. “She’s at the finishing stage now and it’s all very exciting,” says Hill, his enthusiasm contagious.

The Beast’s many points of difference include the lack of faring below the bridge deck, a camo-style paint job and huge aft deck, reminiscent of a workboat, that will store the Baby Beast and a custom Sealegs tender. Of course, with Hill a “mad keen fisherman”, the yacht will also be equipped with every piece of fishing gear imaginable.

“She’s different to VvS1 but also to anything that anyone has ever done I think... I’ve always tried to be different, well not tried to, but I like taking a different path,” he says. “For starters, it’s a naval catamaran hull, and it’s not a pretty boat; it’s called T__he Beast for a reason! There’s a lot of upkeep in a glossy boat and when you’re on the vessel you never see the sides anyway so I decided I’d rather have something a bit more low-key. Though even I can’t pretend this one is low-key – it’s probably going to turn heads everywhere, regrettably.”

The Beast will be the largest boat Profab Central Engineering has ever built. So why choose to build a superyacht with a yard relatively unknown in this field? “Obviously price is important, and quality of construction is vitally important, and Profab’s work is incredible. There is no pretension,” Hill says. “Everyone works hard. You come to the yard and you make your own tea alongside the team... that’s very much the Kiwi style, and because of that we were offered a price that was competitive with anywhere else in the world.” Interior work was done by Oceania Interiors, based in Whangarei, Hill’s home town and location of the first Michael Hill Jeweller store. “It’s nice to give back when you are building a yacht, and I am glad we could do that in New Zealand as I wanted to keep things local and let the communities reap some reward from the project.”

Hill and his family are now eagerly anticipating many adventures on board The Beast , which will be under the command of his long-time captain, Andy Grocott. “As soon as she’s been handed over, we’ll head for the top of New Zealand , which is probably the most beautiful scenery in the world, and after a shake-out cruise, the boat will go to Tahiti for three months. I’m so looking forward to it!”

Hill formally retired in 2015, handing over the business reins to daughter Emma, but has been keeping himself occupied since. “I’m not the type to slow down, I think I hardly ever sit still,” he says. “Emma has been doing a great job; the business and retail are going great guns, and I have lots of projects to keep me busy.” Never one to do things by halves, Hill, who celebrated his 80th birthday at the end of 2018, has quite a year ahead of him. One passion project is The Hills golf course , which Hill had built on a farm outside Arrowtown, his home on New Zealand’s South Island , and a new addition to his golf portfolio appeared in early 2019. “I’ve just completed a par-three course on a sublime piece of land, which opened on February 22 after a two-year build, and oh my God it’s beautiful. It looks absolutely amazing.”

The Beast  hit the water in early March, shortly after our interview, and June will bring the latest edition of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, in which young musicians from around the world vie for a $100,000 (£76,500) prize. Having once had dreams of being a professional violinist, Hill says: “It’s my way of giving back. The prize money is life-changing; it sets the winner up for a career.” He also has a new book – his third – scheduled for an October release. The first two – Think Bigger and Toughen Up – were on business and motivational speaking and the latest will feature Hill’s own sketches. “We’ve whittled it down to around 500 drawings... they’re a view into my crazy mind!” Crazy perhaps, but brilliant with it.

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Motor Yacht

Pacific is a custom motor yacht launched in 2010 by Lurssen Yachts, in Germany.

Lürssen has remained a family-run German shipyard since its inception in 1875 and is now in its fourth generation of private ownership. The company was founded by Friedrich Lürssen with a desire to create a leading shipyard in both quality and performance.

Pacific measures 85.20 feet in length and has a beam of 16.00 feet.

Pacific has a steel hull with an aluminium superstructure.

German Frers is an Argentinian company responsible for naval architecture and engineering, producing designs considered to be some of the most aesthetically pleasing currently on the water.

Her interior design is by Bannenberg & Rowell Design.

Pacific also features naval architecture by Lurssen Yachts.

Performance and Capabilities

Other specifications.

Pacific has a hull NB of 13658.

Pacific flies the flag of the Cayman Islands.

• Yacht Builder Lurssen Yachts View profile
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By SuperyachtNews 26 Dec 2019

A pivotal moment for the Pacific

The 2020 new zealand millennium cup regatta will draw some of the world’s most impressive superyachts to the region….

In the lead up to the 2020 edition of the New Zealand Millennium Cup, the race committee has reported ‘unprecedented interest’ from the international superyacht market ahead of a plentiful series of superyacht events leading up to the 36th America’s Cup. The Pacific region is increasingly becoming the focus of the industry’s interest, marked by The Superyacht Group’s inaugural edition of The Pacific Superyacht Forum.

The 2020 New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta will be raced from 29 January to 1 February, drawing some of the world’s most impressive superyachts to the region, and presenting an opportunity for yachts to explore the South Pacific.

Joining Royal Huisman , which signed up to the competition last month, is Italian superyacht builder, Benetti. “Benetti is pleased to join the New Zealand Millennium Cup,” says Peter Mahony, Asia Pacific General Manager at Benetti Yachts. “Sailing is a global sport and leisure culture enjoyed by many. And as a global brand in the maritime sector we are pleased to support the yachting community in this way.”

The New Zealand Millennium Cup Committee has reported that a large American sponsor is due to join Benetti and Royal Huisman imminently, with more information to be released in January 2020.

Although this is yet to be fully divulged, the New Zealand Millennium Cup Committee has reported that a large American sponsor is due to join Benetti and Royal Huisman imminently, with more information to be released in January 2020.

“We see the addition of Benetti to the sponsorship family as a significant milestone for the event as we build towards 2021,” says organiser Stacey Cook. “It’s very rare for a motoryacht builder to be involved with an event that is built around a sailing event. It demonstrates the high level of interest we are receiving from the global superyacht industry and underpins the value we are creating for owners, guests and businesses, both on and off the water.”

The regatta will take place amongst the 144 islets of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s Northland - a sub-tropical cruising ground that has been a home to sailors since the earliest Maori voyagers arrived in New Zealand.

The Superyacht Group’s aforementioned invitation-only, VIP event which will take place in Victoria, British Columbia from 28th to 30th June 2020, in partnership with Victoria International Marina. It is set to be the first step in what is a four-year plan to make transnational structural changes and catalyse the genuine upturn in the number of superyachts cruising Pacific waters.

Bringing together around 200 of the most influential owners, regional industrialists and C-suite stakeholders, from Asia, North America, Oceania and South America, as well as Europe, for two days of debate, discussion and road-mapping highlights a new era for emerging superyacht markets across the Pacific.

New Zealand has a long-established marine industry, renowned for maintenance and refit. This is being enhanced by the development of berthing facilities in anticipation of the influx of yachts in 2020/21. Those visiting will be able to take advantage of New Zealand’s yacht friendly regulations that allow foreign-flagged vessels temporary entry for up to 24 months and the ability to charter in its waters.

New Zealand has a long-established marine industry, renowned for maintenance and refit. This is being enhanced by the development of berthing facilities in anticipation of the influx of yachts in 2020/21.

Furthermore, yachts will have access to a host of new infrastructure, including a superyacht marina in the Bay of Islands, a superyacht village for the Americas Cup, a new 320-tonne travelift in the Bay of Plenty and a new 720-tonne travelift at Orams Marine in Auckland.

During this period, DYT Yacht Transport is also putting on additional sailings to bring yachts to New Zealand for 2020/21 and take them back to Europe in time for the summer in the Mediterranean.

“We always advise refit clients to book well in advance, as the yard is invariably full through the New Zealand season of August to May,” says Platinum Sponsor Orams Marine’s Craig Park.”

“At the moment, that’s even more important than ever,” Park continues. “It’s great to see so many yachts taking the time to cruise through the Pacific and make their way to New Zealand and we’re looking forward to introducing more of our international colleagues, peers and friends to the beautiful Bay of Islands when racing begins in February.”

The Pacific Superyacht Forum is an invitation-only event. To register your interest,  please click  here.

Image credit: Ivor Wilkins - Offshore Images

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