The Yacht Law Podcast - Superyacht Arrests Part 1: The Russians

Superyacht Arrests Part 1: The Russians

05/12/23 • 41 min

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States, the UK, and the European Union have gone after the assets of those suspected to be close to the Kremlin. Trying to sort facts from rumors when it comes to the superyacht arrests involving Russian owners, though, can be challenging.
In this episode of The Yacht Law Podcast, maritime attorney Michael Moore and yachting journalists Diane Byrne address some of the most commonly asked questions, using a few cases of superyacht arrests involving Russians as examples. They explain:

1. why the motoryacht Tango was one of the most significant
2. what led up to the arrest
3. why the owner isn't under arrest, even though he's accused of circumventing U.S. finance laws--but other people associated with him are, one of whom caught the yachting industry by surprise
4. why the arrest of the Russian-owned superyacht Amadea is equally significant, yet a completely different scenario
5. perhaps most important of all, what happens to business owners who get involved in transactions with yachts and owners under sanctions.

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Previous Episode

Yacht Salvage Explained

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When the 94-foot superyacht Nakoa ran aground on reefs and rocks in Hawaii earlier this year, a tricky salvage operation ensued. The yacht was so firmly stuck that it took three attempts before she was finally freed. But, she sank within minutes of being towed clear. Ultimately, the yacht salvage wasn't successful.
The situation raised a host of questions, besides what the owner of Nakoa was doing in the area, and what he should have done to prevent needing assistance in the first place. In this episode of The Yacht Law Podcast, maritime attorney Michael Moore and yachting journalist Diane M. Byrne review some of the most commonly asked questions about yacht salvage. For example, who's responsible for initiating a request for help, and who's responsible for the costs? As you'll learn, matters can get complicated, requiring arbitrators to decide who gets paid what, and whether they get paid certain fees at all. The one thing that all parties in a yacht salvage situation can agree upon, however, is that time is of the essence.

Next Episode

Superyacht Arrests Part 2: Why They Happen

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Superyacht arrests—which are more accurately called maritime arrests—are under an extra-strong spotlight due to the sanctions against Russian owners purported to have close ties to the Russian government. The arrests have led to a number of people, including one particular listener, to want to better understand why arrests in general occur. In this episode of The Yacht Law Podcast, maritime attorney Michael Moore and yachting journalist Diane M. Byrne walk you through the most commonly asked questions and provide answers.
Specifically, they discuss:

1. what exactly "arrest" means, and how it requires a court order (in the United States and many other nations)

2. why unpaid wages for crew is not only taken seriously by the courts, but also a leading reason why a yacht can get arrested

3. how unpaid services provided to a yacht can also lead to an arrest

4. other relatively common reasons why a maritime arrest of a yacht can occur.