Russian-linked superyacht Nord sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade

A Russian-linked superyacht has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing blockade of the strategic waterway, according to marine tracking data and media reports reviewed by the BBC. The vessel, Nord, is linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The 142-metre luxury yacht travelled from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, over the weekend, making it one of the few private vessels to transit the strait in recent months, according to Marine Traffic platform data reviewed by the BBC. The yacht left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj marina in Oman’s capital on Sunday morning, the tracking data showed.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint in tensions between Iran and the United States. Around one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass through the channel. Iran has continued restricting shipping through the waterway after US President Donald Trump announced American forces would impose a blockade on Iranian ports. Maritime traffic through the Gulf route is currently at a fraction of pre-conflict levels.

The disruption has driven global oil prices higher, with Brent crude rising to $109 a barrel on Monday. Despite the risks, the Russian-flagged Nord successfully crossed the strait while many private vessels have avoided the route since hostilities began.

While broader peace talks remain stalled, Iran has intensified diplomatic engagement with Russia this week. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted an Iranian delegation in St Petersburg on Monday, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised their "strategic relationship". Putin told Araghchi that the Iranian people were "courageously fighting" for their sovereignty in the face of American and Israeli pressure, Russian state-run news agency Tass reported.

Mordashov is not formally listed as the yacht’s owner. However, records show Nord was registered in 2022 to a company owned by his wife, according to the BBC review. The yacht, estimated to be worth more than $500 million, features a swimming pool, submarine and helipad, according to Superyacht Times.

Mordashov, chairman of steelmaker Severstal, has faced sanctions from the UK, US and European Union since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hong Kong and the Maldives have previously declined to seize the yacht despite calls from Western nations to freeze his assets. Alexey Mordashov has an estimated net worth of $37 billion, according to Forbes.

It remains unclear whether he was on board Nord during the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.