Black Alfa - Massive oligarch's yacht sold: Island state gets rid of luxury ship after over two years
It is hardly imaginable, but a bitter reality: While individuals apparently have no problem running a Mega-Yacht, small countries like Antigua and Barbuda suffer enormously when they have to pay for the expensive upkeep of such ships. The "Alfa Nero" tore a hole in the state budget – and now the ship, reportedly owned by Andrej Gurjew, the former head of Phosagro, one of the world's largest fertilizer producers, has finally been sold.
The "Alfa Nero" was supposed to be sold to recoup the large sums spent on its maintenance. However, the sale did not go through smoothly. Shortly after former Google CEO Eric Schmidt expressed his intention to buy the ship for $67.6 million US dollars, a legal dispute arose. Schmidt withdrew his offer, and so did the other bidders.
Gurjew's daughter, Yulia Gurjeva, intervened and claimed ownership of the ship. However, she was later also sanctioned, and her claims to the seized ship expired.
According to the "Antigua Observer", the island's prime minister, Gaston Browne, has announced the final settlement. A buyer, reportedly a wealthy Turk, offered $40 million US dollars for the ship. The usual well-informed YouTuber "Esysman" reported that the payment had been made and the papers had been handed over.
A small note: The buyer was reportedly promised that any financial consequences from further legal proceedings would not be his responsibility. What this ultimately means for Antigua and Barbuda remains to be seen. Gurjew's lawyer has already announced that they will continue to fight for the Mega-Yacht.
According to the "Antigua Observer", it was important for the small country to be freed from the ship's maintenance as soon as possible. The "Alfa Nero" consumes $28,000 US dollars per week just by being in the harbor – which means that the 15 months in the hands of the authorities would have imposed a tax burden of $1.7 million US dollars. The total cost for the entire time the ship spent in the island's harbor is estimated to be well over two million US dollars. With approximately 98,000 inhabitants, such a sum does not disappear without a trace into the public coffers.
"Alfa Nero" to remain as charter ship in the Caribbean
Hurricane season begins in Antigua and Barbuda this month. The harbor operators are therefore interested in getting the "Alfa Nero" off their hands as soon as possible. Otherwise, they would have to tow it around the island to avoid damage from the extreme weather conditions.
For the buyer, the price is an excellent deal, provided he is allowed to keep the yacht. The "Alfa Nero" is 81 meters long and was bought for approximately $115 million US dollars about ten years ago. Its current value is estimated to be between $80 and $120 million US dollars, depending on its condition.
The ship can accommodate 12 guests and 28 crew members. On board, there is a helicopter landing pad, a large outdoor area, a casino, a cinema, and custom tenders.
Esyman declared that the yacht will first go into maintenance, before it returns to the Caribbean to be used as a charter ship.
The sale of the "Alfa Nero," formerly associated with Phosagro's former head, was a significant relief for Antigua and Barbuda, as the maintenance of such a luxurious yacht was much too expensive for the small nation. Now, the purchased yacht will serve as a charter ship in the Caribbean, operated by a wealthy Turk.
Although the "Alfa Nero" will continue its existence in the Caribbean as a charter ship, previous legal disputes over its ownership included names like Eric Schmidt and Yulia Gurjeva, who were initially interested in purchasing the yacht.
