Indonesia police seized the 91.5-meter Equanimity near Bali as part of an ongoing multi-billion dollar asset investigation. She was allegedly purchased with funds siphoned from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Indonesian police received a request from the FBI on February 21 to search for the boat, along with evidence of money laundering linked to it. The vessel was found a few days later off the coast of Lombok. The FBI personnel remained on the ground in Bali to assist the police.
Local news source Malaysiakini reports that the yacht was first detected entering Indonesian waters last November, passing through Raja Ampat before moving toward Lombok and Bali. It was believed to be sailing towards the republic to evade U.S. authorities investigating the scandal.
Indonesian police claimed that the captain turned off the vessel’s automated identification system (AIS) to avoid detection. “While sailing, Capt. Rolf (no other name provided) had switched off the vessel’s AIS several times, so the vessel was undetectable along Philippine waters and towards the southeast of Singapore,” Indonesian police spokesperson M. Iqbal told Detiknews. “At the time, U.S. authorities had issued a seizure warrant.”
There were 34 crew on board when the boat was seized. Agung Setya, director of economic and special crimes at Indonesia’s criminal investigation bureau, told Metro TV, “We have been inspecting the crew since yesterday and now we are taking action, since we have received approval from the court.”
While Indonesian authorities and the FBI worked together on the money laundering case, it’s unclear how the investigation will proceed.
“We will see how this develops…Whether we can do a joint investigation later or whether we can hand it over later, we are in the process of collecting and investigating,” Setya told Metro TV.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) is seeking to seize approximately $1 billion worth of assets allegedly bought with the misappropriated 1MDB funds by the yacht’s owner, Jho Low. Most of the assets are in the U.S., but the vessel has spent most of her time in Thailand since late 2016, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Other assets include a private jet, a hotel and real estate in New York, and a $107-million interest in EMI Music Publishing. Model and actress Miranda Kerr returned a jewelry set given to her by Low, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio returned an Oscar once owned by actor Marlon Brando along with other items that were funded with the 1MDB money.
According to reports, the 91.5m-long vessel has a spa and beach club, a beauty salon, a gym, a sauna, a Turkish bath and a large pool. The interior has some orientally inspired themes, using materials such as wenge, bamboo and gold lead.
The boat is now anchored off Bali and officials are currently looking for Low.
With the recent loss of the 40-metre sailing superyacht My Song that has created a buzz in the media, Yacht Harbour takes a look over some of the major accidents resulting in superyachts destructions in the recent years.#1. 100-metre plus new build superyacht destroyed by fire at LürssenIn September 2018, a large fire broke out at Lürssen's Bremen shipyard in a floating dock and building unit where the over-100-metre yacht was under construction. Various social media posts pointed out the damaged new build, 3 decks of which at least have caught on fire, to be the 146-metre Project Sassi, which was reportedly due for delivery within several months.Over 110 firefighters were dispatched to the site, no one was injured during the incident but the new build reportedly took serious damage. The development was further set to hit the insurance sector with a group of marine insurers that could be facing a payment of up to €590 million over the fire.#2. Hundreds of luxury yachts destroyed by storm in Italian RappalloIn November 2018, coasts of Italy have been pounded by the waves of extreme weather, causing violent waves up to 10 metres and winds up to 180 km/h, breaking a lot of luxury yachts from their berths in Rapallo and killing at least 11 people. Local media described the landscape around the port of Rapallo as an apocalyptic. Marina's director told there were 390 yachts in the marina, with the half of them destroyed. There was storm barrier for 300 metres, rebuilt after the collapse in 2000, but it wasn't enough for such an extreme event. City of Venice is reported to be 75% submerged. Among others, the yacht of Silvio Berlusconi was also damaged in disaster.#3. 42-metre Benetti superyacht Lalibela destroyed by fireIn October 2018, a major fire broke out on board the 42 metre Benetti superyacht Lalibela built in 1972. The yacht was heavily damaged due to fire, which broke out at the night while she was docked near Cannes, France. The fire destroyed the top deck and cabins inside, reports Maritime Bulletin. Firefighters were called to the yacht, and worked for over 12 hours to extinguish the fire. The blaze was reported to have destroyed the top deck and cabins inside. Luckily, the two people on board at the time the fire broke out were safely evacuated.#4. Devastating fire on-board 40-metre superyacht KangaIn September 2018, he newly delivered CCN superyacht Kanga caught devastating fire, just days before her expected debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Kanga was heavily damaged, with the extent of the damage still unknown.The 40-metre superyacht caught fire while being between the isles of Olipa and Mali Vratnik in Croatia. All thirteen people - 9 guests and 4 crew members were successfully rescued from the vessel. #5. Hurricane Irma destroys numerous yachts and causes multiple fatalitiesThe biggest superyacht disaster of 2017, a category 4 Hurricane Irma caused severe damage to the Caribbean and Florida region. Yachts based in the region and moored in local marinas were also amongst the infrastructure ravaged in the area. Barbuda and St Maarten were among the worst affected areas, with multiple fatalities and declaring a state of emergency.With strong winds slamming yachts onto decks, snapping mooring lines and simply damaging some areas of yachts by themselves. Several yachts were reported destroyed, including the 40 metre Mondomarine superyacht Sierra Romeo, Benetti Delfino 93 and the 112 Westport, Pipe Dreams, built in 1999 by the American shipyard. In the months since, the superyacht community has come together to support Caribbean welfare and rebuilding efforts but it will be many months before the damage is fully repaired.#6. 71m The One and 52m Barbie damaged by fire in MarmarisIn January 2016, a major yacht fire broke out at Marmaris marina devastating two prominent superyachts. The blaze was understood to originate on-board the 70.68-metre Lürssen yacht The One, further spreading to a neighbouring vessel, the 52-metre Al Jadaf superyacht Barbie. Other yachts stationed in the harbor have left the harbor to escape the fire. London-based insurance firm Hiscox MGA later announced that Lloyd’s insurers had paid out $20 million to the owner of Barbie. Paul Miller, director of marine underwriting, said it was the largest superyacht claim that the insurance industry had dealt with in a long time.#7. 33m superyacht Aloha sunk in MykonosIn August 2015, shocking pictures of a superyacht sinking off of Mykonos, Greece rocked the web. The clarity of the water gave an unusually up-close glimpse at this sinking yacht, showing ever detail of the 33 metre yacht Aloha's demise. The yacht represented Navetta 33 custom line. According to the Mykonos Daily, the yacht hit a reef. Fortunately, the four guests on board when the Aloha grounded were able to escape unharmed.
June 24, 2019
Sold in November 2017 at Christie's for $450.3 million, the painting Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci has become the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction. Nearly two years later, it is still unknown where the piece is located, while art market website Artnet has published an opinion piece by art dealer Kenny Schachter assuming that the painting is on-board the 134-metre superyacht Serene. Salvator Mundi, Leonardo da Vinci As it was first shared by The New York Times, the superyacht previously owned by Russian billionaire, Yuri Shefler, now supposedly belongs to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Reportedly, the oligarch sold his superyacht in July 2015 to Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince for $458 million. Built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, at the time of her delivery, Serene was the nineth largest yacht in the world. She features exterior lines drawn by Espen Oeino and series of interior innovations by British design studio Reymond Langton.Stretching over a beam of 18.5 meters, Serene is 6 decks tall and boasts a myriad of amenities that few five-star hotels have. One of her most noticeable features from the outside is her suppressed bathtub located aft of the sundeck. One of the seven pools onboard Serene, the Jacuzzi on the top deck is surrounded by lounging pad for sunbathing. Forward of the hot tub is a fully-stocked, wet bar underneath the yacht's observational deck that features an additional set of sun loungers.Inside, Serene incorporates a sophisticated mix of cream and dark colours with wooden fixtures. Offering views from any imaginable vantage point, Serene's sky lounge is equipped with a myriad of sofas, chairs and coffee tables for cocktails and tea.A more formal location designed for the entertainment of larger groups, the main lounge features white colours with dark tones. At the centre of the room is a piano with cocktail tables spread out across the room. Interestingly, this lounge sits just over the main dining room with its chandelier hanging through the two spaces and letting the music spread.Each space on Serene features a different set of colours, all coordinated across one central theme that spreads around the yacht with circles both on the floor and on the ceiling to create a sense of symmetry. Some of Serene's unique features include an indoor climbing wall as well as an underwater observation lounge.The 134-meter yacht can carry a total of 24 guests across 12 staterooms divided into one master suite with essentially an owner's deck, a VIP cabin, three twin cabins and seven double staterooms. Serene carries a crew of over 40 people onboard.Returning to the painting, it’s been long been believed that Saudi prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud who had placed the winning bid for Salvator Mundi, was acting on behalf of the crown prince, reports CNN Style. Despite an official denial from the Saudi embassy in late 2017, stating that Prince Badr had acted as an intermediary for the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism instead, bin Salman has never released a statement himself confirming or denying his role in the purchase.First supposed to go on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi last year, the painting would reportedly remain on-board Serene until the crown prince completes a new cultural hub in Al-Ula, according to Schachter. This could be not the first case of possible storage of highly expensive works of art on-board superyachts, with, for instance, British billionaire Joe Lewis keeping Francis Bacon’s $70 million ‘Triptych 1974 – 1977’, aboard the 98-metre superyacht Aviva, according to Bloomberg.
June 24, 2019
Currently the 10th largest superyacht in the world and one of the most futuristic ones, the 142.8-metre sailing yacht A has been spotted in Monaco, reports The Sun. The vessel is owned by a Russian industrialist tycoon Andrey Melnichenko, whose net worth is estimated at $13.4 billion by Forbes.Photo Credit: BackGrid via The SunEstimated at about $500 million, the yacht was built by German yard Nobiskrug in 2017. Although her 142.8-metre LOA would give Melnichenko's new flagship the title of largest sailing yacht in the world, many experts rather consider her more of a hybrid between the two types due to her technical classification as a sail-assisted motor yacht.Part of the renowned A fleet, the yacht features exterior and interior designs by Philippe Starck. With masts taller than Big Ben at nearly 100 meters in height, S/Y A reaches a top speed of 20 knots without using her sails. Photo Credit: BackGrid via The SunS/Y A boasts a digital control system that has a touch-sensitive sheet of black glass, allowing the crew to raise and lower sails and the anchor with a simple swipe.The vessel offers accommodation to up to 20 guests as well as a crew of 54 across her eight floors. Shrouded in secrecy throughout her build and following her delivery, very little details are known about the amenities onboard the sailing yacht. Photo Credit: BackGrid via The SunAmong the yacht's key known features is an underwater observation pod and a large swimming pool with a retractable roof located towards the bow of the boat. She is also equipped with a helipad.Reportedly, Melnichenko also owns the $300 million motor yacht A, a custom Boeing 737 private jet as well as properties around the world, including a penthouse in New York City and a villa in the French Riviera. He lives a jet-setting lifestyle with his wife Aleksandra, former model and pop star from Serbia. The pair married in an opulent wedding in the south of France in 2005, which featured performances by Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera.
June 24, 2019
Mr. Pier Luigi Loro Piana, the owner of the 40-metre Baltic custom sailing yacht My Song, confirmed that his vessel was ‘not salvageable’. The yacht was hauled out to Palma de Mallorca earlier this month, after she had fallen from a cargo ship in the Atlantic.The incident took on May 26, when My Song fell from the 138-metre cargo ship Brattinsborg. Yacht transport company Peters & May that was responsible for the transportation, released an official statement in response, claiming that My Song might have fallen due to the collapse of her cradle. My Song was salvaged from the coast of Menorca by MCS Marine Claim Services Germany. Then, the vessel was towed into Palma's STP shipyard for assessment.Built in 2016, the 39.6-metre tall and 8.5-metre wide sailboat with sleek outline of designs by Nauta Design studio, was well-known for her racing achievements. The yacht has been owned by Pier Luigi Loro Piana (net worth $1.6 billion - Forbes), an heir to the high end clothing company Loro Piana and a host of eponymous yacht racing events.The owner’s spokesman shared with the The Times: The damage outside and to the interiors of the yacht mean it is not savable. It may have hit the side of the cargo ship as it fell.In an interview with Italian newspaper, the owner expressed: 'For anyone who loves the sea, his boat is like a second home, and it is as if my home has burnt down.'Photographs and videos taken showed extensive damage to the yacht, with several holes in the hull. in 2008, is expected to credit one of his assistants, Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, in an upcoming book.
June 21, 2019
Earlier today, Dutch builder Feadship launched its newest vessel, the 77.25-metre Project 818, at the Kaag facility. For the first time in its history, the yard fully broadcasted the ceremony.Project 818 represents design work by Finland-based Jarkko Jämsen who styled the yacht with a blend of classic and hyper-modern lines. It is known, that Project 818 features a beam of 11 metres and was built from a steel hull and aluminium superstructure.The three-deck superyacht is scheduled for delivery later this year. More information on the vessel will be revealed shortly.Photo via Dutch YachtingMeanwhile, has recently opened a brand new facility in Amsterdam during the official ceremony in the presence of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. The yard with its total volume of 425,000 cubic metres, was designed for construction and refit of Feadship superyachts of up to 160 metres in LOA.
June 21, 2019