Oceanco motor yacht ALFA NERO has been sold. The sale was managed by Port Manager Darwin Telemaque, with Richard Higgins of Northrop & Johnson representing the buyer. According to Antigua News the yacht has been sold for $40.000.000, which includes a 4.5% broker’s fee.
In the beginning of July ALFA NERO was delayed due to legal matters. The auction resulted in her sale, resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the meantime, she was kept secure in Falmouth Harbour, and she was only refueled for emergency supplies.
This Oceanco was built in steel in 2007, after an exterior design by Nuvolari Lenard. She is powered by twin 4680Hp M.T.U. diesel engines, which allow a cruising speed of 17 knots and a maximum speed of 21 knots. ALFA NERO has a cruising range of 5500 Nautical miles. Her modern interior, after a design by Alberto Pinto Design, can accommodate up to 12 guests across 6 convenient staterooms, and another 14 staterooms can be used for crew member accommodation to simplify yacht handling or to welcome family and friends on board. All in all, ALFA NERO is a capacious superyacht that can facilitate both relaxed cruising and serious sailing in optimal comfort, luxury, safety, and style.
Initially, former businessman Eric Schmidt had won her auction, as he placed a bid of $67.6 million. However, advised by lawyers, Schmidt has refrained from paying the government until the conclusion of an ongoing court matter. Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, daughter of sanctioned Russian individual Andrey Guryev, has sought an injunction claiming an ownership interest in order to prevent the sale. However, the High Court judge rejected this application, allowing the sale to proceed.
Another attempt to block the sale was made through an emergency injunction application submitted by BVI-based firm Flying Dutchman, which also asserts ownership of ALFA NERO. Nevertheless, this application was also denied by the Court of Appeal. Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently discussed the matter with Schmidt during a Cabinet meeting, indicating that a delay in payment is expected until a final decision is reached.
In April 2023, ownership of the yacht was transferred to the Antiguan government, which has been incurring maintenance costs of $28,000 per week, excluding food and crew wages. To facilitate the sale, the Antiguan government successfully had U.S. sanctions lifted. However, this decision led to last-minute legal challenges from Flying Dutchman and Vita Felice, both claiming ownership of artwork on board.
