Roman Abramovich’s second luxury superyacht has arrived in Turkey as the latest move by the under-fire oligarch to protect his prized assets from Western sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The 533-foot Eclipse, worth around £750 million, docked this morning in Marmaris, which is popular with British holidaymakers and in the heart of the idyllic Turkish Riviera.
The yacht arrived shortly before 6 am UK time, about 16 hours after Abramovich’s other yacht, the 460-foot Solaris, had docked in Bodrum about 40 miles away.
A group of Ukrainian demonstrators on a motorboat with a Ukrainian slogan “No to war” tried in vain to stop the docking of the Solaris by swimming in front of it, but they were stopped by the police.
The arrival of both yachts in Turkey means they are safe – at least for now – from sanctions meant to punish Putin’s inner circle for his decision to invade Ukraine.
Roman Abramovich’s £750m superyacht Eclipse (file image) has docked in the Turkish port city of Marmaris as its crew try to avoid EU takeover after Vladimir Putin’s inner circle was sanctioned over Ukraine.
Eclipse arrived in Marmaris (left) around 6am UK time today, departing from the Caribbean, where it normally spends the winter month, on February 21st. Along the way, he tried to avoid EU waters, including the Greek island of Rhodes (right).
The Eclipse’s arrival in Turkey follows another Abramovich yacht, a £430 million Solaris, which also docked in the Turkish port of Bodrum, 50 miles west of Marmaris, where it was greeted by protesters waving Ukrainian flags.
Efforts to seize oligarch-related assets have been described as a game of cat and mouse as the gangs seek to avoid their takeover.
NATO member Turkey is a safe haven for the yachts and other assets of the Chelsea Football Club owner, as the country has not joined the likes of the US, UK, France, Spain and Germany in regards to those closest to Putin.
Eclipse usually spends most of the winter in the Caribbean, where Abramovich has a 70-acre estate on the shores of St. Barts, where billionaires live.
But he left St. Maarten, about 20 miles from St. Barths, on February 21 as Putin assembled his forces to invade Ukraine. Nine days ago, it passed through the Strait of Gibraltar – just two miles from British territorial waters – and carefully avoided the waters of EU countries, continuing to sail east.
Solaris was under repair in Barcelona, but hurriedly left on March 8 as EU countries began seizing assets. Four days later, he arrived at the port of Tivat in Montenegro, which is not part of the bloc.
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Montenegro, aspiring to join the EU, agreed to repeat the sanctions against Russia, but in practice only banned the flights of the country’s airlines. Therefore, Abramovich considered the superyacht marina in Tivat to be a safer place than Spain – at least temporarily, the sources say.
Solaris hurriedly left Tivat last Monday just before the EU announced that it followed the UK’s lead and imposed sanctions on Abramovich because of his ties to the Kremlin.
Shipping tracking websites showed that the yacht’s destination was originally listed as Istanbul, allowing it to cross the Bosphorus into the Black Sea and reach Russia if necessary.
But the destination was later removed and changed to “waiting for orders” as it moved down the Adriatic and emptied into the Ionian Sea. Last week, the Solaris failed to head northeast towards Istanbul after rounding the Greek mainland, meaning Istanbul seemed like an unlikely destination.
Instead, it continued east into the waters south of Crete, slowing to a virtual halt for up to seven hours on Saturday when the crew seemed to hesitate as to where they were heading.
The Solaris could head southeast to pass through the Suez Canal and reach Dubai or the Seychelles, where other yachts owned by the oligarchs sought refuge.
At some point, the Russian tanker Vyazma, previously associated with the Russian fleet, appeared next to him, sparking rumors on social media that he might have fueled the Solaris.
But shipping tracking websites showed that Vyazma did not slow down and the ships remained a mile apart.
Previously, Vyazma was seen along with Russian warships around Norway, in the North and Mediterranean seas.
The Solaris hit over nine knots as it passed through the narrow channel between the Greek island of Symi near Rhodes and mainland Turkey yesterday morning after updating its flight description to a “scenic cruise”.
He then carefully rounded the Greek territory of Kos to reach Bodrum, where Abramovich had previously rested on his yachts, and moored at the pier around 2:30 pm UK time.
Last week, MailOnline revealed how Abramovich’s yachts brazenly flew red flags, giving them British protection on the high seas despite British sanctions.
Both yachts are registered in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, which gives them the right to fly the Bermuda version of the Red Ensign with the Union Jack in the top corner.
Abramovich faces arrest of his yachts if they enter British waters after he was sanctioned 12 days ago by the British government for his ties to President Putin.
But, oddly enough, registering the Red Ensign means it can enjoy a number of benefits from the UK, including the help of the British Consulate and the protection of the Royal Navy.
The official website of the UK Government states: “The Red Ensign is one of the most revered and well-known emblems on the high seas and is flown by every ship under the protection of the Royal Navy.”
The Solaris was moored in Barcelona for repairs but hurriedly set sail on March 8 as Spain began to struggle with the wealth of the oligarchs. First he went to Montenegro, and then to Bodrum (pictured in the port).
Abramovich is worth an estimated £12bn and owns a £150m mansion in Kensington, a £22m penthouse and over £1.2bn worth of yachts, private jets, helicopters and supercars based in the UK and around the world.
He adds that ships flying his flag can enjoy “international tax incentives” and “British consular support for ships in foreign docks.”
The rules mean that Abramovich could technically even turn to the British government for help if his yachts are threatened by “sanctions” from another country.
Ian Hodge, chairman of the Merchant Marine Association, described the use of the Red Ensign on yachts as a “disgrace” and urged the Bermuda authorities to de-register them.
The flight of the Bermudian version of the Red Ensign on Abramovich’s yachts also sparked protests in the former British colony, where the Queen is head of state.
Bermuda resident Frank Morgan said that the continued registration of yachts on the island is contrary to the territory’s support for the people of Ukraine.
Abramovich was spotted at the Tel Aviv airport on Monday last week before taking his private jet to Istanbul.
The same plane took off from Istanbul for Moscow just hours later, according to flight-tracking records, and Abramovich has not been seen since.
Solaris with a crew of 60 was built for Abramovich at the German shipyard Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven and launched just last year.
It has eight decks, cabins for 36 guests, a gym, a sauna, a hot tub and a pool that can be turned into a dance floor, a flotilla of jet skis, at least one helicopter and a rumored personal submarine.
Both Solaris and Eclipse are believed to have a number of security measures in place to protect against pirates, kidnappers, or special forces from hostile nations.
They are said to be equipped with missile detection radar systems, bulletproof windows and armored protection around the wheelhouses and main cockpits.
The owner of the Chelsea football club was spotted at the Tel Aviv airport earlier this month on his way to Istanbul as the EU decided to follow the UK’s lead and impose sanctions on him.