Sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich’s fleet of superyachts was revealed on Friday to be larger than previously known after two more luxury ships were discovered in Antigua – both of which are now subject to confiscation.
British authorities have established that Abramovich is the owner of the yachts Halo and Garçon, which were the subject of ongoing investigations while docked in Antigua as Western nations cracked down on the wealth of wealthy Russians during the invasion of Ukraine.
According to data from yacht appraisal company VesselsValue, Halo is valued at approximately $38 million, while Garçon is valued at approximately $20 million.
Abramovich’s ownership of the two additional superyachts came to light following a full investigation by the Financial Times.
A senior Antiguan official said the island was seeking information on Wenham Overseas Limited, an Abramovich-affiliated British Virgin Islands-based company listed as the owner of Halo and Garçon. The company is on the UK sanctions list.
Roman Abramovich’s yacht Eclipse is estimated to be worth $700 million. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Roman Abramovich’s yacht Solaris is currently docked in Turkey. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
In a letter to the Antigua government, British officials said an investigation had found that the “beneficial owner of Wenham Overseas Ltd was Roman Abramovich”.
Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the United States, said the country stands ready to detain and impound both ships if it receives a formal request from the UK government.
“The only way we can seize the ships is if the British show in their MLA request that this is a person they are looking for for a crime,” Sanders told Reuters.
Abramovich was already known as the owner of the $600 million Solaris and the $700 million Eclipse, both of which fled to sea last month after the UK sanctioned the oligarch. As is known, both yachts were last docked in Turkey.
Roman Abramovich has taken part in peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
According to FT, the Russian billionaire may still own a fifth yacht, the $11 million Sussurro, which he first bought in 1998. While Abramovich reportedly gave the yacht to his ex-wife after their divorce, the outlet said a source with knowledge of its fleet and other documents showed the oligarch was still linked to the ship through another company.
Abramovich and other oligarchs have struggled to protect the trappings of their wealth during the increasingly crackdown. British sanctions froze Abramovich’s assets and forced him to sell his stake in Premier League football club Chelsea.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Abramovich may have been poisoned along with Ukrainian officials last month while attending peace talks to end the invasion – a sign that the oligarch’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the brink.