Here’s a First Look at Seized Megayacht “Amadea” as Hits the Auction Block
Fairy-tale happy endings are a given in fairy tales, but not as common as we’d like them to be in real life. This is one such rare case, though not necessarily for all parties involved: megayacht Amadea, one of the world’s biggest and most accomplished, but also a huge enigma, is finally heading to auction after it was seized by the U.S.
Amadea, one of the most prestigious builds to leave the Lurssen shipyard, was seized in Fiji in early 2022, at the behest of the U.S. Since then, it’s been in U.S. custody, first in Hawaii and then in San Diego, where it still is today, and it will remain there until the planned forced auction on September 10.
The latest development comes after months of back and forths in the courts, with one Russian oligarch claiming ownership and the U.S. government fighting back to say that he was only a straw owner acting on behalf of the direct beneficiary, aka the true owner, The same government has been asking the federal court in NYC to forfeit Amadea as part on an ongoing fraud and money laundering case against the rightful owner, Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov.
Kerimov was among the first oligarchs to be placed on U.S. and international sanctions lists in the spring of 2022, as Russia invaded neighboring country Ukraine. Like other oligarchs, he too, tried to take his biggest assets to safety, including Amadea, a megayacht valued at around $325 million, or even $400 million according to some sources.
After a mad dash across the Pacific, Amadea sailed into Fiji for reasons unknown. It was seized right away and handed over to U.S. authorities. After the initial arrest, another Russian oligarch, though far poorer than Kerimov, claimed ownership. Eduard Khudainatov also claimed to be the owner of the $700 million Scheherazade megayacht, though his estimated net worth is far below what these two vessels would cost together.
But what Khudainatov had working in his favor was the fact that he wasn’t on U.S. Ultimately, it failed to help him get Amadea back for Kerimov: the court ruled in favor of the forfeiture, which means the U.S. can finally sell it.
This brings to an end almost three years of legal disputes over the megayacht, and more importantly, it stops the financial hemorrhage. With any seized asset, the seizing country is under strict obligation to cover all expenses required to maintain the asset in the same condition it was when it was seized.
For the U.S., that meant some $600,000 a month, coming out of the taxpayers’ pockets just to keep Amadea in top shape. That’s a lot of money to sink into an asset you don’t even “own” in the truest sense of the word.
Auction is a go
The National Maritime Services (NMS) and Fraser Yachts are announcing the auction for September 10. Amadea is about to find a new owner once the closed bidding wraps up, assuming everything goes according to plan and the winning bidder completes the transaction in the specified timeframe.
Bidders are expected to place a $10 million deposit in escrow in order to be considered eligible, and they’re also encouraged to tour the vessel prior to placing their bid. Tours of the Amadea are only possible by appointment, and the vessel is selling “as is, where is.”
That said, the NMS points out that Amadea remains in exceptional condition: it’s never been commercially chartered and it’s hardly been used, so it’s still up for years of global cruising. All the superlatives used for it shortly after launch still hold true, the NMS says: this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a custom yacht unlike any other.
When it was first seized, U.S. authorities said they planned to give some of the money from the sale to Ukraine as aid. The NMS doesn’t say whether that’s still the case.
Before all these billionaires treating themselves to fancy megayachts, there was Amadea. With a total length of 348 feet (106 meters), it was one of the world’s first megayachts, which makes the secrecy surrounding it all the more intriguing.
Until now, the few details known about Amadea were either from the brief description offered by Lurssen or inferred from spy photos. Today, with the announcement of the auction, we get a first look inside via photos and a complete video tour, as well as detailed features and specs. Again, whatever superlatives were thrown around when Lurssen launched Amadea still hold true.
This megayacht offers over 4,400 GT of interior volume spread across six decks in total. The exterior design is by Espen Oeino, instantly recognizable for the cascading decks, arranged in a clamshell structure. The interiors are by Francois Zuretti and are described as “lavish, high-touch.” They are just that, as well as elegant, masculine, and opulent without teetering into the obscene.
Amadea offers overnight accommodation for 16 guests across 8 staterooms, and for 22 guests in total during the daytime. It has 12 cabins for 36 crew, and two elevators: one for the crew and services, and a large glass one solely for the guests.
The owner’s suite is on a private deck “fitted with every appointment imaginable,” which is to say it lives like a separate, private haven within an already exclusive leisure craft. It includes a forward-facing cabin, walk-in wardrobes, an office, a stateroom, a gym, a living and dining area, a bar, a Jacuzzi, and a large skylounge.
Separately, guests have access to a massive spa and wellness area that includes everything from a chromotherapy dip pool to a hammam, a massage room, and a relaxation room with a sea terrace that opens directly out to the ocean.
A 10-meter (33-foot) infinity pool with a built-in bar is available, as is a full helideck (for an Eurocopter EC135 or similar), a private cinema with D-Box motion seating, a winter garden, and countless indoor and outdoor lounge and living areas.
Amadea comes with three tenders (a limo, a sports tender, and a beach landing tender). Max speed is 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph), with a range of 8,000 nautical miles (9,206 miles/14,816 km) at a cruising speed of 13 knots (15 mph/24 kph).
