Russian superyacht seized by US arrives in California

Department of Justice said 'Amadea' safely docked after transpacific journey of 8,047 kilometres

People look from the superyacht 'Amadea' as it arrives at San Diego Bay in California on Monday. AP

The $325 million superyacht was seized by the US from a Russian oligarch on whom sanctions were imposed. AP

The superyacht 'Amadea' seen from Coronado, California. AP

The super yacht Amadea passes San Diego as it comes into the San Diego Bay Monday, June 27, 2022, seen from Coronado, Calif. The $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. (AP Photo / Gregory Bull)

Drone video footage shows the Russian-owned superyacht 'Amadea' docked at Queen's Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, in May. Reuters

The superyacht 'Amadea' was moored in Honolulu on June 16. AP

The Russian-owned superyacht seized by the US arrived in Honolulu Harbour flying an American flag after the US won a legal battle in Fiji to take the $325 million craft. AP

The superyacht 'Amadea' moored in Honolulu. AP

The seized superyacht 'Amadea' is now in American waters. AP

Crew members look on as the yacht 'Amadea', belonging to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov and seized by the Fiji government at the request of the US, arrives at Honolulu Harbour, Hawaii. AFP

The superyacht 'Amadea'. AFP

Capt Emosi Dawai looks at the superyacht 'Amadea' when it was docked at Queen's Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, in April. Fiji Sun / AP

The US won a legal battle to seize Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji and wasted no time in taking command of the $325 million vessel. Fiji Sun / AP

A $325 million superyacht seized by the US from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay in California on Monday.

The 106-metre-long Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier the USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge.

The Department of Justice said the Amadea was safely docked after a transpacific journey of 8,047 kilometres “and will remain in the custody of the US government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale”.

Two superyachts linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich were spotted on the Turkish coast on Tuesday, 'Eclipse' and 'My Solaris'. Mr Abramovich is among several wealthy Russians added to an EU blacklist as governments act to seize their yachts and other luxury assets. AP

'My Solaris', a superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, is pictured in Bodrum, south-west Turkey. Reuters

A 68-metre luxury yacht called 'Ragnar', owned by a former KGB officer Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, is pictured at the quay in Narvik, north Norway. AFP

The 'Axioma' superyacht belonging to Russian oligarch Dmitrievich Pumpyansky at a port in Gibraltar. Reuters

'Crescent', which is believed to belong to Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, is seen docked at Marina Port Tarraco in Tarragona, Spain. Reuters

The yacht 'Tango', owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, at Palma de Mallorca Yacht Club on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Reuters

The 48m long, St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged yacht 'Lady Anastasia', owned by Alexander Mijeev, moored at a dock in Mallorca. AFP

Superyacht 'Valerie', linked to chief of Russian state aerospace and defence conglomerate Rostec Sergei Chemezov, at Barcelona Port in Spain. Reuters

The 142.81m sail-assisted motor yacht 'Sailing Yacht A', owned by Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko, in front of Monaco harbour. Reuters

'Dilbar', a luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters

'La Datcha', owned by Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, docked at the port in Ensenada, Mexico. Reuters

'Lady M', owned by Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov, docked at Imperia's harbour. AFP

Superyatch 'Amore Vero,' which French authorities have said is linked to Rosneft's CEO Igor Sechin, is seen at La Ciotat Port near Marseille in France. Reuters

'Quantum Blue', Russian billionaire Sergei Galitsky's yacht, docked in the port of Monaco. AFP

The world's largest expedition yacht, 'Luna', owned by Roman Abramovich, at the port of Sibenik in Croatia. Shutterstock

The luxury 68m superyacht 'Triple Seven,' owned by Alexander Abramov, on the River Thames in London. EPA

The FBI linked the Amadea to oligarch Suleiman Kerimov and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian citizens with the aim of pressuring Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

The US said Mr Kerimov had secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies.

Washington won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbour en route to the US mainland.

“The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce US sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the Justice Department said.