After being told to leave the Turkish port immediately, Roman Abramovich’s $600 million megayacht Solaris has once again taken to the high seas in an attempt to evade EU officials.
Russian oligarchs and their luxury yacht continue to be a source of intrigue. Just as a couple who has eloped needs to get away from their families as quickly as possible, so too has Roman Abramovich’s $600 million superyacht Solaris left a Turkish port without an extra day of privacy. A few weeks ago, in an attempt to evade capture, Solaris was discovered wandering the high seas before taking temporary asylum in the Turkish ports. Abramovich’s superyachts Solaris and Eclipse are no longer in EU jurisdiction, therefore he can breathe a sigh of relief.
Global Ports Holding (GPH), based in London, was under pressure to remove the oligarch’s boat from the terminal’s protection. Bodrum Cruise Port, which is managed by a firm with headquarters in Mayfair, eventually caved to the pressure and refused service to Solaris.
According to the New York Post, Global Ports Holding denied having the power to refuse service to the Solaris and instead stated it would refuse to collect berthing fees for the duration of the ship’s stay. As the concessionaire, GPH is bound by whatever decision the Turkish authorities make in this regard, provided that such a decision is valid under the relevant laws. However, the corporate statement noted that “GPH has not and will not receive any service fee or other payments concerning the berthing of this superyacht at Bodrum Cruise Port,” despite the fact that it is difficult for any party to correctly identify the actual ownership of such assets.
Sanctioned oligarch Alexei Mordashov is a good example for Roman Abramovich to follow. To prevent the seizure of his beloved $500 million megayacht Nord, the tycoon had it sailed back to Vladivostok, Russia. He was able to pull it off by toggling off the location transponders on occasion.
The enormous Solaris, which costs an astounding $600 million, is a once-in-a-lifetime asset with 48 cabins spread out across eight stories. The maintenance of the world’s most costly custom-made superyacht takes no less than a 60-person crew.
Is Solaris going to make it back to Russia unscathed, or will Roman Abramovich have to sell off some of his superyachts to pay for his lavish lifestyle? The floating behemoth has luxurious suites, a spa, a gym, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, and a number of stylish common areas.
In addition to the outside ‘beach club,’ the cruise also provides at least one helicopter and twenty high-speed jet skis for passengers to use at their leisure. If Abramovich had to give up this stunning woman, it would undoubtedly crush his heart.
