Russian steel tycoon Alexei Mordashovs $500 million superyacht has actually been cleared to cruise individually through the remote Chukchi Sea, extending as far as Wrangel Island, according to Arctida, a Telegram channel that keeps an eye on Arctic activity.Russias federal firm GlavSevmorput issued the authorization in July, allowing the vessel to run in the area between Aug.
1 and Sept.
30, 2025.
Mordashov, owner of steel giant Severstal whose net worth Forbes places at $28.6 billion, acquired the 142-meter luxury yacht Nord in 2020.
Developed by Germanys Lrssen shipyard, Nord ranks as the worlds 12th-largest superyacht and can accommodate approximately 36 passengers.Before Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Cayman Islands-registered vessel spent much of its time in the Caribbean.But after sanctions targeted Mordashovs properties, the yacht stopped transferring its area for eight months and was later reflagged as Russian to prevent seizure.Since then, the Nord has largely stayed within Russian territorial waters, travelling the Pacific coast and Russias Far East.Over the past three summer seasons, the luxury yacht has often visited marine reserves as well as the Kronotsky, Komandorsky, Beringia and Shantar Islands nationwide parks.After arriving in Vladivostok from the Indian Ocean in June, Nord conducted short voyages to close-by nature reserves.As of mid-July, the vessel remains anchored in the Amur Bay near Vladivostok.