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Authorities put the “Luna” on a leash: the second mega yacht at Blohm+Voss is not allowed to leave Hamburg
115 meters frozen yacht: The “Luna” (IMO 1010222) by Farchad Achmedow is no longer allowed to leave the port of Hamburg.
© Stephan Wallocha / Imago Images
And another stumbling block for Blohm+Voss in the port of Hamburg: the authorities froze the mega yacht “Luna”, which is said to belong to the sanctioned oligarch Farchad Achmedow.
The question arises as to who is hit harder by the Federal Criminal Police Office’s latest catch: the alleged ship owner Farchad Achmedow, whose mega-yacht “Luna” is now no longer allowed to leave the port of Hamburg, or Blohm+Voss, whose docks and piers in the Hanseatic city are gradually becoming mutate into the long-term parking lot of the oligarch ships.
Because the already frozen yacht “Dilbar” is now joined by the “Luna”, said the Federal Criminal Police Office of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Its suspected owner, Akhmedov, is on the EU’s sanctions lists, as is Usmanov, the owner of “Dilbar”.
Farkhad Akhmedov is an Azerbaijani businessman who got rich from gas exploration in Siberia and is said to be close to the Russian government. The business magazine “Forbes” currently estimates his fortune at around 1.7 billion US dollars.
Even dead capital needs maintenance
The “Luna” is not confiscated – like the “Dilbar”, the ship is considered a frozen asset. A frozen item may no longer be sold, rented or encumbered – but it still belongs to its owner. The unclear future is obviously a problem for all sides when it comes to yachts – because many shipyards in EU waters do not know what to do with the floating giants.
Nevertheless, they have to pay for their care, since the current legal situation stipulates that the possessions must be returned in perfect condition once the sanctions have been lifted. In the case of yachts, this is particularly expensive and time-consuming, and any return is likely to be complicated due to the accumulated bills. It is just as unclear how long the “Luna” will shape the skyline on the south side of the Elbe, as in the case of the “Dilbar”. The fact is that the ships are a financial stress test for the shipyard, as their maintenance is not paid for by the authorities, but high costs are incurred despite the lack of use. Read here how much that costs money.
First divorce estate, now set again
Farchad Akhmedov acquired his mega yacht “Luna” from Roman Abramovich in 2014. In the course of his divorce from Tatyana Akhmedova, the ship was supposed to be hers, but Akhmedov only held it back for three years before he was able to come to an agreement with his ex-wife in July 2021 and she gave up the “Luna”. Now, less than a year later, he is still threatened with the loss of the ship.
The “Luna” is 115 meters long and is said to be worth around 400 million euros. The yacht was built in 2010 by Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, which today belongs to the Rönner-Zech Group. The ship has been in the Port of Hamburg at Blohm+Voss since January, probably due to upcoming maintenance work.
According to the Superyachtfan blog, the Luna long held the title of the world’s largest expedition ship before her former owner outdid himself by building the Solaris. The ship accommodates 18 guests and is operated by a crew of 49. There is a large swimming pool on the main deck and a small submarine for sea trips is in the giant’s belly.
