A superyacht owned by a Russian businessman has been detained in London as the UK government continues to impose sanctions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that on Tuesday, UK officials boarded the vessel named Phi which was situated in Canary Wharf in east London.
The superyacht, which was in London for an awards ceremony, is 58.5 metres long and features what is described as an “infinite wine cellar” and a freshwater swimming pool.
“Today we’ve detained a £38 million superyacht and turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies,” Mr Shapps said.
“Detaining the Phi proves, yet again, that we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from connections to Putin’s regime.”
The Department for Transport said it worked with the National Crime Agency and the Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to identify and detain the vessel.
The government did not reveal the name of the superyacht’s owner, but described her ownership as “deliberately well hidden”.
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Phi is registered to a company based in the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and carries a Maltese flag.
The Department for Transport added that it is “looking at a number of other vessels” and hopes its “strong stance sends an example to international partners”.
Following the detention of the vessel, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson told reporters that the UK government “will continue to take robust action against anyone benefiting from Russian links”.
“For the first time ever in UK waters, we have detained a Russian Super yacht – the £38 million, Phi,” he said.
“The Department for Transport has worked closely with the National Crime Agency and Border Force Maritime Investigation Bureau to intercept the super yacht and will continue to take robust action against anyone benefiting from Russian links”
Phi – a vibrant bright blue super-yacht – is double the size of the other boats docked around it at Canary Wharf.
Speaking after the vessel’s detention, Mr Shapps said Phi “won’t be going anywhere”.
“It was here for refit, won’t be going anywhere, and it’s just another indication that we will not stand by whilst Putin’s cronies are allowed to sail around the world in these kinds of yachts and people in Ukraine are suffering,” he said.
“When you see what he’s doing to Ukraine, when you see what he’s doing to people’s lives, it can’t be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away and that is why we’ve impounded it, and denied it ability to go anywhere right now, and it’s another indication of how seriously we take these matters.”
The government later clarified that the owner of the vessel is not currently subject to UK sanctions.
The move came as the prime minister’s official spokesman said Mr Johnson told his Cabinet that “a ceasefire alone would not be cause for UK sanctions to be removed in Russia”.
“He said the pressure on Putin must be increased both through further economic measures and providing military aid to ensure Russia changes course completely,” the spokesman told reporters.
The spokesman suggested a full withdrawal would be a good start but a ceasefire was only the first step towards that.
“But it cannot be a ceasefire alone,” he said. “That would not be the significant step we’d need to remove the pressure.”
He said: “I think as ever, we will judge Putin by his actions.”
