The 140m (459ft) Lürssen-built superyacht Scheherazade, is increasingly being linked to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Investigations are underway and there is a growing possibility that the yacht may be seized by the Italian government. The superyacht, which was seen by an IBI correspondent late last week when she was docked in TISG’s new 147m dry dock, arrived at Marina di Carrara in September and is understood to be undergoing maintenance and repair work.
Scheherazade, according to Vesselfinder, is owned by a company registered in the Marshall Islands called Bielor Asset Ltd and flies the Cayman flag. One of the world’s largest superyachts, with a cost estimated at $700m, she features two helicopter decks, a swimming pool with a retractable cover that converts to a dance floor, a fully equipped gym, and gold-plated fixtures in the bathrooms.
According to the New York Times, which has also reported on the suspected links to Putin, TISG said in a statement earlier this month that ”based on documents it had and checks carried out by relevant authorities, Scheherazade is not attributable to the property of Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
The assertion that the superyacht is linked to the Russian leader is based on information related to several crew members. Tuscan newspaper Il Tirreno suggests the link with Putin can be made through 23 members of Scheherazade’s crew.
Investigations are ongoing and it remains to be seen if the superyacht will be detained by the Italian authorities.
