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A superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to shipping data. It is one of the few vessels to transit the blockaded shipping lane currently at the centre of the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Nord — a 142-metre yacht worth over $500 million, departed a Dubai marina at approximately 1400 GMT on Friday. It crossed the strait on Saturday morning and arrived in Muscat early on Sunday, based on data from the MarineTraffic platform.
It remains unclear how the multi-deck pleasure vessel gained permission to use the route. Since February, Iran has severely restricted traffic through the strait, which typically handles around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. In a countermeasure, the U.S. has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports.
A representative for steel magnate Mordashov declined to comment on Monday.
While Mordashov is not officially listed as the owner of Nord, shipping data and Russian corporate records from 2025 show the vessel was registered in 2022 to a Russian firm owned by his wife. This firm is based in the Russian town of Cherepovets, where Mordashov’s steelmaker, Severstal, is also registered.
Mordashov was among a number of Russians sanctioned by the United States and European Union following the invasion of Ukraine due to his links to Putin. As one of the largest yachts in the world, Nord features 20 staterooms, a swimming pool, a helipad, and a submarine.
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