Since Russian forces began their incursion into Ukraine, reports have chronicled movements of and impacts upon Russian-owned superyachts. Additionally, reports have surfaced about Ukrainian and Russian crewmembers. We sort fact from fiction for some of the most-cited stories.
1. Putin’s reported superyacht hacked
A marine-industry media outlet used this as a headline in its daily newsletter earlier this week. The yacht in question, Graceful (above, in 2015 in Sochi, Russia), did not get hacked. Rather, hackers from Anonleaks, affiliated with the larger group Anonymous, tell Bloomberg Business that they manipulated AIS. (On a related side note, AIS’ hacking vulnerabilities are well documented, dating back several years.) They therefore changed information related to Graceful’s call sign, destination, and vessel type. While most AIS-tracking websites quickly corrected the data, MarineTraffic.com still displays some of AnonLeaks’ work as of this writing. Specifically, the hackers changed her destination to FCKPTN (after initially changing it to Hell). Her call sign remains as “Anonymo,” which likely is a nod to Anonymous.
2. Norwegian police board Ragnar
Last week, Norwegian media indicated that police, customs officers, and Coast Guard personnel boarded Ragnar (below) on February 23 in Narvik, Norway. Social media posts, though, abound with claims that the officials ransacked her and have seized her. Neither of the social media claims is true. While officials did board the yacht, Mari Lillestø, a police representative, tells the NRK Nordland media outlet that it was a matter of procedure. Specifically, Lillestø says, they checked passports of those onboard, just as they did a Scottish soccer team that arrived in the country around the same time. “It took place without drama,” Lillestø says. “This is most routine.”
3. BOATS Act to seize yachts
On February 26, Congressman Don Young of Alaska revealed he’s drafting the Bringing Oligarch Accountability Through Seizures (BOATS) Act. This would authorize seizing Russian-owned superyachts and commercial vessels in U.S. waters, auctioning them and their contents. The funds would go to NATO humanitarian-aid efforts. As with any legislation, of course, there’s more to the story. The BOATS Act has not been introduced in the House of Representatives, the formal procedure. Even upon introduction, though, it’s a bill, not law. Bills require majority signatures to move from the House to the Senate, where they need further signatures to pass. Only then can bills go before the President to sign into law (or veto). Regardless, the White House is launching a multilateral transatlantic task force to identify and freeze Russian yachts, homes, “and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law.”
On February 28, meanwhile, Congressman Lance Gooden of Texas formally introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives. His bill would require President Biden to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal, tools authorized by the Constitution, for private citizens to seize yachts, planes, or other property belonging to a sanctioned Russian citizen.
4. Ukrainian and Russian crewmembers may need help
Certainly, seizures of Russian-owned superyachts and other assets could impact yacht crews. The seafarers trade union Nautilus International is urging crewmembers to get in touch. Also, Facebook yachting groups are striving to assist Russian and Ukrainian crew whose families are in the warring nations. These may be the only bright spots to come out of the ongoing battle.
Ton van den Burgt
A list of oligarchs yachts with actual locations and IMO nrs. is available for sabotage by special forces.