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| Gibraltar seizes Russian's superyacht over German debt claim | Gibraltar seizes Russian's superyacht over German debt claim |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gibraltar has impounded a Russian billionaire's superyacht - one of the world's biggest - because the German shipbuilder says he still owes 15.3m euros (£13.3m; $16.3m) in fees. | Gibraltar has impounded a Russian billionaire's superyacht - one of the world's biggest - because the German shipbuilder says he still owes 15.3m euros (£13.3m; $16.3m) in fees. |
| The claim has kept Andrey Melnichenko's Sailing Yacht A stuck in Gibraltar, a British territory, since Wednesday. | The claim has kept Andrey Melnichenko's Sailing Yacht A stuck in Gibraltar, a British territory, since Wednesday. |
| His spokesman voiced confidence that the order would be lifted soon. | |
| The Bermuda-registered vessel, built by Nobiskrug, left the Kiel shipyard in northern Germany two weeks ago. | The Bermuda-registered vessel, built by Nobiskrug, left the Kiel shipyard in northern Germany two weeks ago. |
| It is 143m (469ft) long and has three masts, the main one 100m high. | It is 143m (469ft) long and has three masts, the main one 100m high. |
| The superyacht, boasting a gross tonnage of 12,600, is reported to have cost at least €400m. Nobiskrug says it has an underwater observation pod, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and "state-of-the-art" navigation systems. It was designed by Philippe Starck. | The superyacht, boasting a gross tonnage of 12,600, is reported to have cost at least €400m. Nobiskrug says it has an underwater observation pod, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and "state-of-the-art" navigation systems. It was designed by Philippe Starck. |
| According to documents seen by Germany's NDR news, Nobiskrug is demanding an outstanding payment of €9.8m, as well as €5.5m for subcontractors and interest charges. Valla Yachts Ltd, a Bermuda company, is the yacht's registered owner. | According to documents seen by Germany's NDR news, Nobiskrug is demanding an outstanding payment of €9.8m, as well as €5.5m for subcontractors and interest charges. Valla Yachts Ltd, a Bermuda company, is the yacht's registered owner. |
| A top Gibraltar court official, Admiralty Marshal Liam Yeats, told the BBC on Monday: "The vessel is under arrest and is currently at anchor in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters." | A top Gibraltar court official, Admiralty Marshal Liam Yeats, told the BBC on Monday: "The vessel is under arrest and is currently at anchor in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters." |
| A spokesman for Mr Melnichenko described it as "a technical problem". | |
| He told the BBC: "We are confident that the arrest will be removed within a few days and this unpleasant episode will be over. " | |
| Mr Melnichenko, an industrialist with big stakes in Russia's fertiliser, coal and energy sectors, has a $13.2bn fortune, business website Forbes reports. | |
| The Gibraltar Port Authority says "most arrested ships are sold in a sealed-bids auction within six to eight weeks, once the claim has been proved and judgment given". | The Gibraltar Port Authority says "most arrested ships are sold in a sealed-bids auction within six to eight weeks, once the claim has been proved and judgment given". |
| In a statement on its website, it says "we put 'ship keepers' on board - two security guards to protect the vessel and its contents. | In a statement on its website, it says "we put 'ship keepers' on board - two security guards to protect the vessel and its contents. |
| "We provide the crew with everything, from bunkers so they can keep the generators going, to provisions of food and water." A launch is also arranged "so that the crew, who would otherwise be stuck onboard, can have some shore leave". | "We provide the crew with everything, from bunkers so they can keep the generators going, to provisions of food and water." A launch is also arranged "so that the crew, who would otherwise be stuck onboard, can have some shore leave". |
| Mr Melnichenko also owns a 5,500-tonne superyacht called Motor Yacht A, which is reportedly up for sale. It was built by Germany's Blohm & Voss shipyard and launched in 2008. | |
| It is 119m long - smaller than Sailing Yacht A - and was also designed by Philippe Starck. In September 2016 it moored alongside the old British battleship HMS Belfast on the River Thames, in central London. | It is 119m long - smaller than Sailing Yacht A - and was also designed by Philippe Starck. In September 2016 it moored alongside the old British battleship HMS Belfast on the River Thames, in central London. |