Russian Luxury Yacht Passes Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions

A luxury yacht linked to a Russian billionaire has crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing restrictions and heightened tensions in the region.

The 142-metre vessel, named “Nord,” is reportedly associated with Alexei Mordashov, a wealthy Russian businessman who is under international sanctions and is known to have close ties to Vladimir Putin.

The yacht departed from Dubai and was heading toward Muscat over the weekend. It is among a small number of private vessels that have managed to pass through the strategic waterway in recent months.

The movement comes at a time when Iran is engaged in high-level discussions with Russia, while tensions remain high between Iran and the United States over access to the Strait of Hormuz.

Although Mordashov has not been officially confirmed as the owner, records indicate that the yacht was registered in 2022 under a company linked to his wife.

The vessel is estimated to be worth more than $500 million.

Tracking data from MarineTraffic shows that the Russian-flagged yacht left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj Marina, located in Muscat, on Sunday morning.

Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly declined compared to pre-conflict levels, reflecting the ongoing instability in the region.