愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Yacht linked to sanctioned Russian tycoon leaves Hong Kong

The megayacht Nord, centre, is seen off Hong Kong Island outside  on Oct. 7, 2022. (TVB via AP, File) The megayacht Nord, centre, is seen off Hong Kong Island outside on Oct. 7, 2022. (TVB via AP, File)
Share
HONG KONG -

A superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov left Hong Kong for South Africa on Thursday, nearly two weeks after the U.S. accused the city of operating as a safe haven for sanctioned individuals.

The marine department confirmed that the US$500 million superyacht Nord left Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon but did not elaborate. The private ship-tracking site MarineTraffic said it was bound for South Africa and was expected to arrive in Cape Town on Nov. 9.

The Nord arrived in Hong Kong on Oct. 5 from Vladivostok, Russia, putting the Chinese territory in the crosshairs of U.S.-China tensions.

The U.S. State Department said the presence in Hong Kong of assets belonging to sanctioned individuals called into question the "transparency of the business environment" in the city.

Hong Kong leader John Lee later said that while Hong Kong complies with United Nations sanctions, authorities "cannot do anything that has no legal basis" when it comes to sanctions unilaterally imposed by other jurisdictions. China's Foreign Ministry called the U.S. remarks "misleading."

Mordashov, who is believed to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is one of many Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and the European Union after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February. He has tried to challenge the sanctions against him in European courts.

He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia's largest steel and mining company. Mordashov is also one of Russia's wealthiest men, with Bloomberg estimating his net worth at over US$19 billion.

U.S. and European authorities have seized more than a dozen yachts owned by sanctioned Russian tycoons to stop them from entering other ports that are unaffected by the sanctions.

Russian oligarchs have started docking their yachts at ports in places like Turkey, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia during the war.

The Nord, which flies a Russian flag, is 141.6 metres (465 feet) long and has two helipads, a swimming pool and 20 cabins.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

Canada's discount airline is suspending operations to and from Saskatoon.

A new report suggests that Canadians' exposure to a radioactive gas is increasing, putting millions of people at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Local Spotlight

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

Stay Connected