The lost property bins we’re used to seeing are typically filled with forgotten wallets, old hoodies and scratched-up sunglasses but in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, there’s a very large unclaimed item without an owner. Measuring a little longer than 81m (297ft), the Alfa Nero superyacht has been moored in the shallow turquoise waters for the last 18 months and after racking up close to $750,000 in unpaid fees the Antigua and Barbuda government has decided to auction the vessel off.
It’s one of the stranger superyacht stories you’re likely to read this year, but following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the global sanctions brought down on Russia’s billionaires (which has seen billions of dollars of property seized by various governments around the world), the Alfa Nero has remained docked in Antigua with no one claiming ownership. As anyone who’s ever owned a dingy will know, you’ve got to spend around 10% of the value of the vessel every year just to keep it moored and floating and for a superyacht that’s believed to have last changed hands for around US$120 million (AU$180 million), that’s a helluva lot of money.
In fact, combining the salaries of the crew, the docking fees and fuel, someone owes the government of Antigua and Barbuda around US$500,000 (AU$750,000) and with no one putting their hand up to claim ownership of the luxurious vessel, the government is tired of waiting to be paid. According to a statement published by the Antigua and Barbuda government, they believe the owner of the superyacht is Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, but his lawyers say it isn’t his and that he’s only rented the Alfa Nero over the last half-decade.
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“As we have informed the Antiguan authorities Mr. Guryev neither owns nor controls the Alfa Nero and has simply used the vessel from time to time under commercial charter since 2014,” his legal representative wrote in reply to questions from Bloomberg.
The government isn’t buying that story, however, and in the same statement at the end of last month explained unless the superyacht is moved, it will be sold.
HEREBY DECLARES that the ALFA NERO is an abandoned vessel as defined by section Section 3 of the Port Authority (Amendment) Act 2023. AND POSES an imminent threat to the environment, to the safety and security of the harbour or other vessels in the harbour and a risk to the socio-economic development of Antigua and Barbuda. AND TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that should you fail to take all necessary steps to REMOVE the ALFA NERO, I shall sell the said ALFA NERO pursuant to section 3 of the Port Authority (Amendment) Act 2023 without further notice.
– Port Manager Darwin Telemaque
If Guryev was bluffing, he’s well and truly been called and Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of the island nation, has taken steps to being the sale process of the Alfa Nero, entertaining bids from any interested parties. According to the Antigua Observer, the highest bids have been close to US$80 million (AU$120 million) and once the sale process is finalised, the government will reveal both the buyer and the final sale price.
Some of the funds raised from the sale of the Alfa Nero will go towards paying off all of the debt it has racked up over the last year and a half, while the remaining amount will be put in a consolidated government fund. With details likely to come out this week, stay tuned for the final fate of this glorious superyacht.
