Russian superyacht slips through Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing blockade

Dimitris Kouimtsidis
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:06:14 +0000

A luxury Russian superyacht connected to sanctioned oligarch Alexey Mordashov has slipped through the heavily restricted Strait of Hormuz.

The Nord vessel sailed from Dubai to Muscat, the capital of Oman, despite Tehran's stringent controls on the vital shipping channel since February.

The 142-metre yacht departed a Dubai marina on Friday afternoon, navigated the strait on Saturday morning, and docked at Al Mouj marina in Muscat by Sunday, according to MarineTraffic data.

The transit makes Nord one of very few private vessels to cross the blockaded waterway in recent months.

The multi-deck pleasure craft, valued at more than £370million, ranks among the world's largest superyachts and boasts 20 staterooms, a swimming pool, helipad and even a submarine, according to Superyacht Times.

How the vessel obtained clearance to use the route remains unknown.

A spokesman for the steel magnate refused to provide comment and it is unclear whether Mr Mordashov himself was aboard during the crossing.

Since Iran began restricting passage through the Strait, daily transits have fallen dramatically from the typical 125 to 140 vessels to just a handful, predominantly commercial ships, as Washington and Tehran observe a fragile ceasefire.

The yacht's passage coincided with intensifying diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to St Petersburg on Monday for talks with President Vladimir Putin, following weekend discussions with mediators in Pakistan and Oman.

Mr Araghchi described the nations' bond as a "strategic relationship" and posted photographs on X showing him greeting Mr Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

He wrote: "Recent events have evidenced the depth and strength of our strategic partnership.

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"As our relationship continues to grow, we are grateful for solidarity and welcome Russia's support for diplomacy."

The two countries have drawn closer through a 2025 treaty enhancing intelligence and security cooperation.

Mr Mordashov faces sanctions from the UK, US and EU imposed following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, targeting individuals with close connections to Mr Putin.

Though not formally registered as Nord's owner, shipping records and Russian corporate filings from 2025 reveal the yacht was transferred to a company controlled by his wife in 2022, based in Cherepovets where his steel firm Severstal is headquartered.

The billionaire chairs Russia's largest steel and mining enterprise and holds an estimated fortune of approximately £27billion, making him the wealthiest Russian citizen according to Forbes.