The authorities of Antigua and Barbuda are demanding the removal of the yacht Alfa Nero, associated with Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, from the port of Falmouth. They are going to sell the yacht and they want to use the proceeds from the sale of the ship to pay off the crew’s fuel and food debts, informed The business insider.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda issued a notice on Tuesday March 21 declaring the $81 million yacht “abandoned”. They intend to sell the ship to pay off the food and fuel debt, if the owner does not show up.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the 81-meter yacht with a gym, swimming pool and other amenities has a bid of more than $50 million. Proceeds from the sale of the vessel should be used to repay a $500,000 debt to – Antigua Yacht Club Marina for fuel, writing Daily Observer. The remaining funds will be transferred to the development of Antigua and Barbuda.
Additionally, money is needed to provide food for the yacht’s crew, Brown said. According to him, the vessel has been off Antigua and Barbuda for more than 18 months.
The yacht, according to local authorities, could pose a danger to the port of Falmouth, the main port of the island of Antigua. In particular, Brown does not know if the ship is insured, and the lack of necessary documents could create problems for the port.
“We have to plan for different scenarios. A leak may open, then the yacht will sink. In this port, there are ships worth billions of dollars. You can imagine what will happen if this ship catches fire,” quotes the Daily Observer Brown.
The US Treasury Department links Alfa Nero to Andrey Guryev, founder of fertilizer company PhosAgro. The fortune of the businessman is estimated at 10.1 billion dollars. After the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, it to hit under American, British and European sanctions. March 6 writing that the businessman himself denies the fact that he owns a yacht.
