Russian superyacht passes through blockaded Strait of Hormuz

One of the world’s largest superyachts, the 465-foot Nord, reportedly sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday despite ongoing restrictions in the strategic waterway.

The vessel, widely linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov, was among only a small number of ships to pass through the Iranian-controlled route. Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the yacht departed Dubai on Friday and reached Muscat, the capital port of Oman, early Sunday.

Valued at around £500 million, Nord is equipped with 20 guest cabins, a swimming pool, helipad, and even a submarine. According to shipping data, it traveled close to Iran’s coastline using a route designated by Tehran.

It remains unclear how the yacht was granted access to the passage or whether any fee was paid to Iranian authorities for transit.

Reports suggest the vessel would also have needed to navigate the wider US-led maritime blockade in the region. Washington has previously intercepted or seized ships linked to Iran or operating in and out of Iranian ports.

A representative for Mordashov, the main shareholder of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company, declined to comment.

Two other sanctioned vessels also reportedly crossed the strait the same day. Ocean Jet, a tanker accused of helping facilitate the sale of Iranian drones, and Lumina Ocean, a Curacao-flagged tanker sanctioned for links to Iran’s so-called shadow fleet, also passed through the area.

Since February, Iran has severely restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Before the conflict began on February 28, around 140 ships a day used the route.

Russia and Iran have strengthened ties in recent years, especially since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Tehran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones, while the two countries signed a 20-year strategic partnership last year.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg following talks with mediators in Pakistan and Oman over the Middle East crisis.

Although Mordashov is not officially listed as Nord’s owner, shipping records and Russian corporate documents from 2025 reportedly connect the yacht to a Russian company owned by his wife and registered in Cherepovets, where Severstal is based.

Mordashov was sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine due to his close links to the Kremlin. Forbes recently ranked him as Russia’s richest billionaire, estimating his fortune at £27 billion.