dailyloe.com – The Russian superyacht Nord has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite a blockade affecting the shipping channel. The 142-meter-long luxury vessel, associated with billionaire Alexey Mordashov, traveled from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, over the weekend.
Nord is one of the few private vessels to transit through the strait in recent months. The yacht, valued at over $500 million, departed Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj marina in Oman on Sunday morning, according to Marine Traffic data.
Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime traffic has significantly declined since the outbreak of hostilities, contributing to rising global oil prices, with Brent crude reaching $109 a barrel.
Mordashov, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is not the formal owner of Nord. However, records indicate that the yacht was registered to a firm owned by his wife in 2022.
Iran has been restricting shipping through the strait since the U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. The Russian-flagged Nord cleared the strait while most private vessels have avoided the area.
This week, Iran has engaged in high-level talks with Russia amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. President Putin hosted an Iranian delegation in St Petersburg, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised their strategic relationship.
Araghchi shared photos on X of his meeting with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, expressing gratitude for Russia’s support in diplomacy. He stated, “Recent events have evidenced the depth and strength of our strategic partnership.”
