Russian superyacht sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade

The 141m-long vessel, linked to a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, cleared the waterway despite an ongoing blockade. Russian superyacht Nord sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The multi-deck luxury boat valued at more than $500m (£370m) transited the Gulf waterway at the weekend The 465ft superyacht Nord - linked to the sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov - is seen docked in Hong Kong in this archive photo. Russian superyacht sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade A superyacht linked to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's key allies has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing blockade of the critical shipping channel. The 142m-long (465 ft) multi-deck luxury boat, named Nord, is linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov. It travelled from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, over the weekend - one of few private vessels to transit through the strait in recent months. Iran held high-level talks with Russia this week as its standoff with the US over the strait's re-opening continues. Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies normally pass through the waterway. With an estimated net worth of about $37bn (£27bn), Mordashov is the richest Russian national listed by the US business magazine Forbes A head and shoulders picture of Alexei Mordashov. He has dark brown hair and is wearing a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie. Photo: March 2026 Mordashov, who has close ties to Putin, is not listed as the formal owner of the Russian-flagged boat. However, Nord's records indicate it was registered to a firm owned by his wife in 2022. Nord, estimated to be worth more than $500m (£370m), left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj - a marina in Oman's capital - on Sunday morning, according to data on the Marine Traffic platform. The route shown on the tracker has been used by vessels crossing with agreement from Iran. It is not clear whether Nord gained permission from Iran to sail through the route. Mordashov made his fortune largely through his steel and mining company Severstal - the largest such firm in Russia. With an estimated net worth of about $37bn (£27bn), he is the richest Russian national listed by the US business magazine Forbes. Map of the Strait of Hormuz region showing Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. A red line marked “Russian superyacht route” runs from Dubai, through the Strait of Hormuz, to Muscat on the Gulf of Oman. Shaded areas indicate Iranian territorial waters, and a dashed line marks a “US blockade line” affecting ships travelling to or from Iran’s Gulf coast. A small inset map locates the region globally. Iran has severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes that began on 28 February. Earlier this month, Tehran warned that any vessel that approaches the strait would be targeted. Tehran warned that any vessel that approaches the strait would be targeted. The US then announced that its forces would intercept or turn back vessels travelling to or from Iran's ports. The Nord route shown by Marine Traffic does not indicate the yacht stopped in Iran. The United States Central Command (Centcom) defines the blockade starting point as further east of the vessel's last reported location. Maritime traffic through the Gulf channel is currently at a fraction of pre-war levels. The conflict has contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, with the global benchmark Brent crude rising to $109 (£80) a barrel on Monday. The conflict has contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, with the global benchmark Brent crude rising to Graphic showing the Russian superyacht Nord, with a top-down view and a side view annotated to highlight key features. The yacht is 142 metres (465 feet) long, with two helicopter pads marked on the deck, luxury lounge decks, and a 25‑metre swimming pool at the stern. Additional labels note that the yacht carries smaller craft and a submarine, includes an onboard gym, cinema and jacuzzi, and has space for 36 guests and 42 crew. The Nord has a swimming pool, submarine and helipad, according to a profile in the magazine Superyacht Times. Mordashov has been targeted by Western sanctions, including from the UK, US and European Union since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hong Kong and the Maldives have previously not seized Nord despite calls from western nations to freeze his assets. have previously not seized Nord despite calls from western nations to freeze his assets. In March 2022, one of Mordashov's smaller boats, the 65m (215ft) Lady M, was impounded by Italian police in the port of Imperia. Several Russian oligarchs' boats have been seized or denied entry to European ports under the sanctions related to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. That has prompted the movement of such boats to areas around the world considered beyond the reach of the sanctions, including ports in the Middle East and Asia. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Aragachi (left) says he welcomes "Russia's support for diplomacy" Abbas Aragachi (left) and Vladimir Putin pictured together in St Petersburg. Both are wearing dark suits and standing in a room with ornate curtains. While long-term peace negotiations stall with the US, Tehran has this week focused its diplomatic efforts on cementing its relationship with its ally Russia. , Tehran has this week focused its diplomatic efforts on cementing its relationship with its ally Russia. Putin hosted an Iranian delegation in St Petersburg on Monday, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hailed their "strategic relationship". The Russian president told Araghchi that the Iranian people were "courageously fighting" for their sovereignty in the face of American and Israeli pressure, Russian state-run news agency Tass reported. Araghchi shared photos on X showing him smiling and shaking hands with Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. He wrote: "Recent events have evidenced the depth and strength of our strategic partnership. "As our relationship continues to grow, we are grateful for solidarity and welcome Russia's support for diplomacy." A thin, grey banner promoting the News Daily newsletter. On the right, there is a graphic of an orange sphere with two concentric crescent shapes around it in a red-orange gradient, like a sound wave. The banner reads: "The latest news in your inbox first thing.” Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here. Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. BBC chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, wearing navy outfit 'A dangerous standoff' as Strait of Hormuz blockade continues An attendant at a petrol station refills a motorbike with fuel Oil prices rise as US-Iran peace talks stall The hunt for superyachts of sanctioned Russians Residents near a burning refinery in Tuapse are told to leave, and the Kremlin accuses Kyiv of destabilising global energy markets. Israel's foreign minister says it has received no evidence to support the claim that a vessel carrying grain from occupied Ukraine has reached Haifa. Ethnic Tuareg fighters say they are in control of Kidal following a weekend of nationwide attacks, alongside Islamist groups. Homecare providers say rising fuel prices have already resulted in workers leaving the sector. President Trump said the US had cancelled plans to send a team to Pakistan for negotiations. Airlines are putting up prices and cancelling flights in response to higher jet fuel prices. British families tell BBC Panorama how the Iran war is affecting their monthly budgets. The US announced three days ago that the ceasefire was extended by three weeks after talks.