A massive luxury yacht tied to a sanctioned Russian billionaire successfully navigated through heavily restricted Middle Eastern waters over the weekend, according to maritime tracking information released Monday.
The vessel Nord, measuring 465 feet in length and valued at more than $500 million, is connected to steel industry magnate Alexey Mordashov. The superyacht departed from a Dubai harbor around 10 a.m. local time Friday, successfully crossed the contested Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning, and docked in Muscat by early Sunday, maritime tracking platform MarineTraffic reported.
The circumstances surrounding how the luxury vessel obtained authorization to traverse the restricted passage remain unclear. Iran has dramatically limited shipping traffic through the strategic waterway since late February, affecting a route that normally carries approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments.
When contacted Monday, a spokesperson for Mordashov refused to provide any statement regarding the yacht’s journey.
Currently, only a handful of commercial ships manage to pass through the vital Gulf entrance daily, representing a tiny fraction of the typical 125 to 140 vessels that used the route before hostilities began on February 28. The United States has responded to Iranian actions by implementing its own blockade targeting Iranian harbors.
Russia and Iran maintain strong diplomatic ties that have strengthened in recent years, including through a 2025 agreement that enhanced intelligence sharing and security collaboration.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled to Russia for discussions with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, following weekend negotiations with intermediaries in Pakistan and Oman.
While Mordashov is not officially registered as Nord’s owner, maritime records and Russian business documents from 2025 indicate the yacht was registered to a Russian company controlled by his spouse in 2022. This company operates from Cherepovets, the same Russian city where Mordashov’s steel company Severstal maintains its headquarters.
Following Russia’s military action in Ukraine, the United States and European Union placed sanctions on Mordashov and other Russian business leaders due to their connections with Putin.
Nord ranks among the world’s largest private yachts, featuring 20 guest suites, a swimming pool, helicopter landing pad, and onboard submarine, according to industry publication Superyacht Times.
