Ukrainian government officials have announced how they have lost the authority to sell 92-meter Feadship superyacht ROYAL ROMANCE. This follows a previous announcement made in May that the National Asset Recovery and Management Agency of Ukraine (ARMA) was negotiating with Boathouse Auctions to execute the sale.
ROYAL ROMANCE was seized by authorities in Croatia in 2022 under EU sanctions, after it came to light that she was allegedly owned by Viktor Medvedchuk, who is closely connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite Ukraine's intention to sell ROYAL ROMANCE at auction and use the proceeds to fund its budget for the ongoing conflict, ARMA thus cannot execute the sale of Medvedchuk's yacht, and Ukraine could lose its asset. Moreover, the Split District Court cancelled the seizure of the yacht due to the lack of an indictment in the criminal case from the Prosecutor General's Office.
Feadship motor yacht ROYAL ROMANCE was built in steel in 2015, after a custom exterior design and naval architecture by De Voogt Naval Architects. She is powered by twin 3004Hp M.T.U. diesel engines, which allow a cruising speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 15 knots, and facilitate simple handling and easy maneuvering under abundant weather conditions consecutively.
Furthermore, her interior after a design by Seymour Diamond can accommodate up to 14 guests across 7 capacious staterooms, each with convenient facilities. Additionally, ROYAL ROMANCE can accommodate up to 22 crew members across 11 crew cabins.
In spite of claims by Ukrainian authorities to attemptedly resolve the legal and regulatory complications following the Croatian court's ruling, the yacht's sale and ownership are seriously jeopardized as she may be returned to her original owner.