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The
58.5 metre Dutch-built yacht, named Phi, was detained under the
government's Russian sanctions, the first time the regulations
have been used to detain a ship.
The government said Phi is owned by a Russian businessman but
that ownership was "deliberately well hidden", with the company
the ship is registered to based in the islands of St Kitts and
Nevis, and the ship carrying Maltese flags.
"Today we’ve detained a 38 million pound superyacht and turned
an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark
warning to Putin and his cronies," Transport Secretary Grant
Shapps said in a statement.
"Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take
the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit
from Russian connections."
Phi was first identified as being potentially Russian owned on
March 13, the government said, and a subsequent investigation
led to its detention. The government said it was also looking at
a number of other vessels.
The government said the ship was in Canary Wharf for the
superyacht awards and was planning to depart on Tuesday.
($1 = 0.7651 pounds)
(Reporting by Kate Holton and Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Kate
Holton and William James)
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