German authorities on Thursday denied reports that three yachts belonging to Russian oligarchs had been seized in The port of Hamburg as result of Western sanctions over Ukraine.
The daily Handelsblatt and other Germans media signaled the seizure of yachts including the “Dilbar”, the world’s largest by tonnage and owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.
Susanne Meinecke, spokesperson for from Hamburg economy and the Innovation Authority, said the reports were not true and told Agence France-Presse (AFP), “To my knowledge, no yacht has been seized”.
However, it is little probable that ships leave Hamburg at any time soon since all goods transported to Russia from the German port now require individual customs permits.
The “automatic release of goods to Russia” was stopped, Hamburg’s economics senator Michael Westhagemann said on Tuesday, meaning “not more the goods go out to Russia as of now.”
According to media reports, the “Dilbar” is currently at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg for repair work.
Blohm+Voss declined for comment when contacted by AFP.
The 156-meter (512-foot) yacht is rated at 600 millions dollars, according to Forbes, which first reported the news.
German yacht builder Luerssen, who made the “Dilbar”, describes it as “one of the most complex and challenging yachts of all time built.”
The ship includes a 25 meter swimming pool pool”the largest pool never been installed on a yacht”, as well as two helipads.
Usmanov, 68, was among dozens of Russian oligarchies hit by sanctioning western sanctions over of Russian President Vladimir Putin invasion of Ukraine.
Wednesday, the English Premier League football club Everton have suspended sponsorship deals with several companies in in which Usmanov had a stake.
The European Union statement says Usmanov “has been called a one of by Vladimir Putin favorite oligarchs.”
“He is considered as one of Russian businessmen-officials, who have been entrusted with maintenance financial flows, but their positions depend on”Putin,” he said.
