US to bid on oligarch’s superyacht ‎

The Amadea Superyacht

Background

• The 348‑foot Amadea, owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, was seized by U.S. authorities.
• Valued at more than $300 million, the vessel was confiscated in Fiji in April 2022 and is now berthed in San Diego.

Specifications

The Amadea boasts a helipad, pool, jacuzzi, gym, spa, beauty salon and eight staterooms that can accommodate 16 guests.

Current Auction

• Sealed bids are accepted until September 10, with a mandatory $10 million initial bid deposit.
• The auction is conducted by National Maritime Services, a Fort Lauderdale company.

Ownership Dispute

A U.S. judge dismissed a competing ownership claim in March. Eduard Khudainatov, former head of Rosneft, asserted in a New York court that he was the rightful owner, but District Judge Dale Ho rejected the claim, labeling Khudainatov a “straw owner” while Kerimov remained the true owner.

Seizure Context

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Justice Department, under President Joe Biden, established Task Force KleptoCapture to confiscate assets of oligarchs allied with Vladimir Putin. The task force was disbanded by President Donald Trump.

Last year, Congress passed legislation allowing the sale of seized Russian assets, with proceeds earmarked for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.