alisher usmanov yacht dilbar

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10 facts about Lürssen's 156m superyacht Dilbar

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Launched by German shipyard Lürssen in 2016, Dilbar is a record-breaking superyacht. Her builder has even claimed that she “is one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology.” This standout superyacht was delivered to her owner Uzbekistani billionaire Alisher Usmanov as a replacement for Usmanov’s previous yacht of the same name, which has since been renamed Al Raya . Information about the super-secretive yacht is scarce but the figures that have been revealed are impressive. Read on to discover the 10 most incredible facts about Dilbar …

1. Dilbar is the fourth longest yacht in the world

At 156 metres, the Espen-Øino designed Dilbar is one of the longest superyachts in the world. She was a step up from Usmanov’s previous Dilbar yacht, now renamed Al Raya , which measured only 110 metres.

2. She can accommodate almost 100 crew members

Dilbar is normally run by a crew of 80 that help maintain the superyacht and wait on her guests. When necessary, this crew capacity can be increased to a maximum of 96 crew members, meaning Dilbar can carry as many as 120 people at full capacity.

3. The largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage

While the title of largest yacht in the world by length goes to the 180.61 metre Azzam , the 156 metre Dilbar has the greatest interior volume of any yacht ever delivered, boasting an impressive gross tonnage of 15,917. This translates into 3,800 square metres of living space for 24 guests styled by Winch Design with rare and exclusive luxury materials and extended by fold-out balconies.

4. Dilbar has the largest swimming pool ever installed on a superyacht

Measuring 25 metres long, the swimming pool on board Dilbar can hold an impressive amount of water – 180 cubic metres of water in fact. The swimming pool on Dilbar is reportedly the largest pool to ever be installed on board a superyacht.

5. There is a garden on board

For guests missing the shore, Dilbar is equipped with an expansive garden complete with a specially developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air. The designer of the garden, German architect and founder of Yacht-Green Axel Massmann, disclosed that plants from “Mediterranean areas” were chosen because “ Dilbar tends to be between the South of France, northern Spain and sometimes Cyprus.” By choosing plants grown within EU waters, Dilbar was also spared the headache of customs regulations that forbid the import of foreign plants.

6. The yacht is powered by a 30,000KW electric diesel power plant

Opting for an electric-diesel hybrid power source helps reduce Dilbar’s emissions while still providing a top speed of 22.5 knots. Her builder Lürssen claims that the 30,000 KW power plant on which Dilbar runs is the most powerful to ever be fitted on a superyacht.

7. Over 1,100km of cables were installed on board

Dilbar was a technical feat. A total of 1,100 kilometres of cabling (almost the same length as the total land borders of the country of Bhutan) was stretched throughout the interior to power all of the amenities and facilities on board.

8. There are two helipads

Helipads are a key asset to helping owners and guests make smooth and swift journeys from ship to shore. Dilbar however is equipped with not one but two helipads where the H175 helicopter can land to drop off or pick up. The first is located forward at the bow of the yacht, while the second is situated aft on the top deck flybridge.

9. Dilbar was built in just 52 months

From the time of signing the contract to delivering the superyacht to her owner, Lürssen and the designers working on the project managed to construct and complete Dilbar in just over four years.

10. The interiors feature over 1,000 sofa cushions

The amount of living space on board meant that Winch Design had to decorate the interiors with plentiful soft furnishings. Dilbar has been outfitted with over 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions on board, with each and every one uniquely designed to fit the interior scheme.

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Ukraine invasion — explained

The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all.

Germany seizes the world's largest yacht (at least according to volume)

Rachel Treisman

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017.

German authorities have seized the world's largest yacht by volume after determining that a Russian oligarch had transferred its ownership to his sister — who is also facing Western sanctions.

Dilbar, the yacht in question, measures some 511 feet and 15,917 tons, which shipbuilder Lurssen says makes it the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. It has two helipads and one of the biggest indoor pools ever installed on a yacht, according to the U.S. Treasury Department , which puts its estimated worth between $600 and $735 million.

Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs

The superyacht is named after the mother of its original owner: Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires and a known close associate of the Russian president. Usmanov was sanctioned by the U.S., United Kingdom., European Union and Switzerland in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany's federal police tweeted Wednesday that it found, "through extensive investigations despite offshore concealment," that the yacht currently belongs to Usmanov's sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova. Authorities impounded the yacht, which remains at the port of Hamburg , after confirming with Brussels that its owner is under sanctions.

A Russian billionaire's superyacht has been impounded in Hamburg, Germany. Harsh sanctions in response to the invasion of #Ukraine brought the estimated $600-750 million yacht Dilbar out of 'offshore concealment', and into the hands of authorities. pic.twitter.com/GYkH6SmQk2 — German Embassy (@GermanyinUSA) April 14, 2022

Ismailova was sanctioned by the U.K. on Wednesday and the EU last week. Both entities said Usmanov had indirectly transferred assets to his sister, including leaving her as Dilbar's only beneficial owner.

"The owner of the yacht 'Dilbar' is Navis Marine Ltd. (Cayman Islands), whose shareholder is Almenor Holdings Ltd. (Cyprus). All shares in that holding company are held by PomerolCapital SA (Switzerland) in trust for the benefit of 'The Sisters Trust,' " EU officials explained, adding that Usmanov has not been a shareholder of that trust company since 2017.

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A russian oligarch's $90 million yacht is seized as part of u.s. sanctions.

Ukrainian sailors tried to block a Russian oligarch's yacht from docking in Turkey

Ismailova has also been linked to luxury real estate in Italy and Latvia associated with Usmanov, the EU said, and therefore has "actively supported materially or financially Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine."

Dilbar made headlines in early March , when Hamburg officials denied conflicting reports that they had seized the superyacht and said any such move would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

According to Boat International, Dilbar is also the fourth-longest yacht in the world. It can accommodate up to 96 crew members as well as 24 guests in a large living space, which includes fold-out balconies, an onboard garden (with "a specifically developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air") and more than 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions.

This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog .

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DILBAR Yacht – Glamorous $800M Superyacht

At 156 meters (512 ft), DILBAR yacht is the fifth-longest yacht in the world.

If measured by tonnage, she actually ranks in first place as the largest yacht in the world by interior volume. DILBAR was built by Luerssen in Germany in 2016.

DILBAR yacht interior

The interior of the DILBAR yacht was designed by Andrew Winch’s studio based in London. Twelve luxury suites can accommodate 24 guests onboard the yacht.

An impressive 96-member crew finds space below deck and tends to every need the guests might have.

The crew can move through the vessel on separate crew passageways to ensure maximum privacy and a luxurious experience.

The superyacht has a gym, sauna, spa, elevator system, beauty salon, and sauna, all for the comfort and entertainment of the guests.

She also has the largest indoor pool ever installed on a yacht, measuring a total length of 25 meters.

The interior of DILBAR features a classical yacht design with beautiful wood elements and opulent furnishings.

Blue and gold accents take the interior design of the impressive superyacht to the next level and have earned her several design awards in the past.

Specifications

The DILBAR yacht has a total length of 156 meters (512 ft), a beam of 25.7 meters (84.4 ft), and a draft of 6 meters (19.8 ft).

She was built in 2016 by the Luerssen shipyard in Lemwerder, Germany and the project took more than four years to complete.

Her tonnage lies at 15,917, but she can still reach top speeds of 23 knots despite her weight. Her average cruising speed lies at 18 knots, and she is powered by twin diesel engines.

DILBAR is a multi-award-winning yacht with an array of unusual features. Her exterior was designed by the Monaco-based studio of Espen Oeino, which has worked on some of the world’s largest yachts.

The exterior of DILBAR is white with bronze and ivory accents to match Usmanov’s other luxury vessels. The yacht has two helipads that can hold Usmanov’s H175 helicopter.

Several sunbathing decks with a great selection of seating areas make this yacht the perfect place to relax and enjoy the stunning sea views.

DILBAR yacht for an estimated sales price of US $800 million, although this number could be even higher.

The yacht generates a further US $50 to 80 million in annual running costs.

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Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov's $735 million superyacht, Dilbar — the largest in the world — has been impounded in Germany

• German authorities have impounded a $750 million superyacht associated with Alisher Usmanov.
• Police said an investigation into "offshore concealment" found the owner was Usmanov's sister.
• Dilbar was speculated to have been seized last month, but officials denied it at the time.

Germany's Federal Police have seized the largest megayacht in the world after determining it to be owned by the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov.

The police said they were able to find the owner after an investigation into " offshore concealment " and that the boat would remain at a shipyard in Hamburg.

—Bundeskriminalamt (@bka) April 13, 2022

The European Union's sanctions lists include Alisher Usmanov's sister Gulbakhor Ismailova and say that he "indirectly transferred assets," including Dilbar, to her.

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The 512-foot yacht was thought to be under German government control in March when it was spotted at the Blohm+Voss shipyard, where it had been undergoing a refitting since October. Officials denied those reports at the time.

Shortly afterward, the yacht's crew was fired after wages could not be paid because of sanctions, Forbes reported.

With two helipads and the largest indoor pool ever installed on a yacht, Dilbar is worth between $600 million and $735 million and costs $60 million a year to maintain, according to the US Treasury Department.

The UK government estimated Usmanov was worth $18.4 billion from interests in metals, mining, and telecoms, and the EU called him one of " Putin's favorite oligarchs ."

Dilbar is named for Usmanov's mother.

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Germany seizes $594 million 512-foot super yacht that Russia’s sixth-richest man named after his mother

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s superyacht, the world’s largest by volume, was seized by German authorities in Hamburg, according to Forbes.

The German government has frozen the Dilbar, Usmanov’s 512-foot yacht, the publication said, citing three unidentified industry sources. Built in 2016 and named after his mother, the boat is estimated to be worth $594 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The European Union adopted  sanctions  on six of Russia’s wealthiest individuals on Monday, including Usmanov, who called the decision “unfair” and “defamatory.” The Dilbar had been undergoing refitting in the northern German city.

Superyachts and other opulent displays of wealth among Russia’s elite have drawn intense scrutiny since the country’s invasion of Ukraine, even making it into U.S. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

“We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets,” Biden  said  during Tuesday’s address.

Five other individuals were named in the latest EU sanctions: Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, Alexey Mordashov, Gennady Timchenko and Alexander Ponomarenko. Mordashov owns two superyachts: the Nord, which is in the Seychelles, and Lady M, anchored in Imperia, Italy. 

Some Russian tycoons also still have superyachts docked in Europe. Roman Abramovich’s Solaris is in Barcelona; Iskandar Makhmudov’s Predator is in Genoa, Italy; and Vagit Alekperov’s Galactic Super Nova is in Montenegro, among others, according to data tracked by Bloomberg.

Usmanov, 68, owns a major stake in USM, a Russian investment group with holdings in Metalloinvest, one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, and telecommunications company MegaFon. He’s the sixth-richest Russian with a fortune of $19.5 billion, according to Bloomberg’s wealth index, though that figure includes the Dilbar. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been sanctioned by U.S., EU and U.K. authorities. He has been linked by news organizations including Business Insider to the superyacht Graceful. 

That boat left Hamburg Feb. 7, about two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s now in Kaliningrad, Russia. 

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Alisher Usmanov’s Yacht Dilbar: Everything You Want To Know

Dilbar can be translated a few ways but, in general, it means “lover” or “one with a blossoming heart” and other things along those lines. It was also the name of the yacht owner’s mother. The yacht bearing the name has become one of the most famous yachts in the world thanks to its size, its price and its stunning amenities. 

She was built by Lürssen, a German shipyard, and designed by English yacht designer Andrew Winch on the interior while Espen Øino International handled the exterior. The designers have gone on record saying it was one of the most challenging yachts they have ever built thanks to the size and all the custom elements including exclusive luxury materials. It took nearly four years for the yacht to be built. Over 680 miles of cable and wiring was used in the construction to ensure power is provided to all corners of the vessel. The yacht’s owner had it registered in the Cayman Islands.

Dilbar features a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. 

Who Owns the Dilbar Yacht

The yacht Dilbar was launched back in 2015 and is owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, president of the International Fencing Federation. A Russian oligarch, Usmanov became a billionaire after the fall of the Soviet Union in the metal and mining industries. Since then he’s gotten into communications, publishing and much more. He’s currently one of the 100 richest people in the world.

Usmanov previously owned a much smaller yacht called Dilbar as well but he changed the name of the smaller vessel to Al Raya when he upgraded to this particular one.

In March 2022, Dilbar was seized by German authorities. Numerous international assets owned by Russian oligarchs, most notably yachts, have been taken into custody by international authorities as a part of sanctions against Russia for their aggressions in the Ukraine War. It is unclear if the yacht will be returned once the war has ended or if something else is in store.

There is also some talk that Usmanov himself may not technically be the owner of Dilar and that ownership, on paper, may actually be linked to his sister. This is potentially related to some illegal activity and was being investigated by German authorities. 

How Big is the Dilbar Yacht?

One of the reasons Dilbar is so well known is because it’s one of the largest yachts in the world . It currently ranks as the sixth longest at a staggering 511’10” long. The yacht has a gross tonnage of 15,917 and a beam of just over 77 feet. The draft is nearly 20 feet. This makes her the third largest yacht in the world by volume.

Inside Dilbar Yacht 

There is a total of 3,800 square meters of living space inside the yacht for 24 guests. This can actually be increased by the use of a number of fold out balconies. There is additional room for the 80-person crew as well. The crew can also be increased to 96 if there is need as the space is available to accommodate so many.

The average apartment in New York is 866 square feet. Dilbar’s 3,800 square meters works out to about 40,900 square feet. That means this yacht is equal to roughly 47 average New York apartments in terms of living space.

In terms of luxury amenities, the Dilbar has some unusual ones. Aside from the giant swimming pool, there’s even a full garden. The grass is a variety designed to handle living in salt air and all of the plants are native to the regions of Europe that Dilbar travels between so it can avoid sanctions about bringing foreign plants from one country to another. 

Comfort was the order of the day for interior as exemplified by something as simple as cushions. There are over 1,000 custom made cushions on board, each designed to match the interior of the rooms they were designed for. Accents in many parts are bronze and light ivory. It’s said that many materials were rare or luxury items but the fine details of what went into the overall interior design have been mostly kept under wraps.

While many superyachts have a helipad these days, Dilbar features two of them. Oneis located near the bow while the second is closer to aft on the top deck flybridge.

There is a beach deck on board as well as a floating observation bay for guests to enjoy. As expected you can also enjoy amenities like a gym, a sauna and a spa. There are several tenders including a limo tender available to ferry passengers to and from shore.

Helicopter Tender

Many superyachts have tenders for guests and Dilbar is no different as we’ve seen. However, one major difference is that Dilbar also has an AirBus Tender. That’s a large, $20 million custom helicopter tender with room for 7 passengers. The interior is designed with a lounge seating area. There’s a forward lounge that can hold 4 passengers. It faces a gallery and the sofa-seating area where three more passengers can be seated. 

The windows of the helicopter can be electronically dimmed for privacy and there’s also mood lighting inside. In-flight entertainment system can be accessed with touch screens as well.

How Fast is the Dilbar Yacht

Dilbar can get up to a top speed of 22.5 knots and a cruising speed of about 16 knots. It’s powered by an electric-diesel hybrid power source that provides 30,000 KW of power. According to the builders, this was the largest power plant ever installed on a yacht.  She runs on 4 Wärtsilä engines each producing 8,158 HP.

What’s Special About the Dilbar Yacht Pool?

The pool on the Dilbar is the largest pool ever installed on a yacht. It measures 25 meters in length which is just over 82 feet. It holds 180 m³ of water which is 47,551 gallons. A gallon of water weighs just over 8 lbs so if that pool is filled, it increases the total weight of the yacht by 396,575 pounds or nearly 200 tons.

What Was the Price of the Yacht Dilbar?

It’s not 100% clear what Usmanov paid initially for the Dilbar but its value has been assessed at $600 million to $735 million by the US Treasury department. That makes it one of the most expensive yachts ever. With a crew of about 80, the estimated annual running cost of the yacht is as much as $50 million to $80 million.

Based on some reports the yacht has a capacity for 1,000,049 liters of fuel or about 220,000 gallons. Diesel for a yacht can cost around $3 per gallon so the cost of a full refuel would be around $660,000. Apparently refueling a beast like this requires a firetruck be on hand in case something goes wrong. 

How Much Does it Cost to Charter Superyacht Dilbar?

The yacht is currently in the custody of German authorities and no one at all besides the government has access to it. That said, even before the yacht was seized it was not made available for yacht charter and was only used by its owner as far as anyone knows. 

The Bottom Line

Dilbar hit the seas in 2016 and is owned by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, though the German government has since seized it. It is the largest motor yacht in the world by volume and the sixth longest in the world overall. The value of the yacht, according to US authorities, could be as much as $735 million. It’s unknown if the Dilbar yacht owner will be getting custody of the yacht again anytime soon.

Many of the features of the yacht are only partially known but what is known is that the yacht has the biggest swimming pool on the sea. It also has a custom made garden with plants designed to handle the salt air. There is a massive living space on board unlike any other yacht on the sea as well. Guests also have access not just to tender boats but a helicopter tender as well. 

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Russian billionaire showed he has a heart as big as his $800 million Dilbar megayacht. Alisher Usmanov outbid others and bought James Watson’s Nobel prize for $4.8 million at auction, only to return it for free to the delighted scientist who had sold it due to income constraints.

Alisher Usmanov owns the Dilbar megayacht –

It was perhaps this good karma that came back to him in the form of the lavish $800 million Dilbar yacht in 2016. The 511-foot Lurssen beauty with two helipads, a 100-feet swimming pool, a garden, a crew of 100, and 3,800 square meters of living space for 24 guests became the most prized possession of the entrepreneur.

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France seizes yacht linked to Russian oligarch at Mediterranean port

Vessel linked to Igor Sechin taken as Hamburg authorities deny confiscation of Alisher Usmanov’s $600m superyacht

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France’s finance minister has announced the country has seized a yacht linked to Rosneft boss, Igor Sechin, in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat, as German local authorities denied reports they had also seized the $600m superyacht belonging to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov .

French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, said it had seized a yacht linked to Rosneft boss Igor Sechin in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat.

The finance ministry said the yacht was owned by an entity of which Sechin had been identified as the main shareholder.

The announcement came as authorities in Hamburg denied reports that Usmanov’s yacht had been seized in a shipyard in the German port city.

“No yachts have been confiscated,” a spokesperson for Hamburg’s economic authority said. “A handover [of the yacht to its owner] is also currently not planned. No yacht is going to leave the port that is not allowed to do so.”

The Hamburg local authority said any order to seize properties subject to sanctions would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

A Forbes report citing three sources in the yacht industry had reported on Usmanov’s 156-metre (512-foot) yacht Dilbar, valued at $600m and regarded as the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage, was seized by German authorities on Wednesday.

Usmanov was on a list of billionaires to face sanctions from the European Union in response to Russia’s 24 February invasion of Ukraine .

Usmanov’s 156-metre (512-foot) yacht Dilbar, valued at $600m and regarded as the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage, was seized by German authorities on Wednesday, according to a Forbes report based on three sources in the yacht industry.

The Guardian understands that repair works on the Dilbar yet have currently been put on hold, and that the ship is not in a seaworthy state.

The yacht has been in the yards of shipbuilding firm Blohm+Voss since late October. A spokesperson declined to give a statement but said that all projects by shipbuilder Lürssen would be treated “in accordance with the law”.

Forbes reported that representatives for Usmanov did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine’s adviser to the minister of internal affairs, Anton Geraschenko, responded to the report on Telegram by saying the yacht should be sent to Ukraine and refitted as a missile cruiser.

Usmanov bought Dilbar in 2016 for a reported cost of $600m from German shipbuilder Lürssen, which custom-built it for him over 52 months.

The firm describes it as “one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology”.

At the time of its launch, Lürssen CEO, Peter Lürssen, said : “Dilbar has the most advanced security technologies of any superyacht in the world. But the things you read about it containing an anti-aircraft missile defence system are all nonsense.”

At 15,917 tonnes, it’s the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage, and is typically staffed by a crew of 96 people, with space for 24 passengers in 12 suites. It has the largest pool ever installed on a yacht as well as two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon and a gym.

At least five other superyachts owned by Russian billionaires are now anchored or cruising in Maldives, an Indian Ocean island nation that does not have an extradition treaty with the US, ship tracking data showed.

The vessels’ arrival in the archipelago off the coast of Sri Lanka follows the imposition of severe western sanctions on Russia.

The Clio superyacht, owned by Oleg Deripaska, the founder of aluminium giant Rusal, who was sanctioned by the US in 2018, was anchored off the capital Male on Wednesday, according to shipping database MarineTraffic.

The Titan, owned by Alexander Abramov, a cofounder of steel producer Evraz, arrived on 28 February.

Three more yachts owned by Russian billionaires were seen cruising in Maldives waters on Wednesday, the data showed. They include the 88-metre (288 ft) Nirvana owned by Russia’s richest man, Vladimir Potanin . Most vessels were last seen anchored in Middle Eastern ports earlier in the year.

A spokesperson for Maldives’ government did not respond to a request for comment.

The US has said it will take strict action to seize property of sanctioned Russians.

“This coming week, we will launch a multilateral transatlantic taskforce to identify, hunt down, and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs: their yachts, their mansions, and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law,” the White House said in a tweet on Sunday.

Washington imposed sanctions on Deripaska and other influential Russians in 2018 because of their ties to president Vladimir Putin after alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election, which Moscow denies.

• Alisher Usmanov
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A look inside Dilbar, Alisher Usmanov's $594M superyacht seized by Germany

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s superyacht was seized by German authorities as part of EU sanctions imposed on him in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday, February 28. The 512-foot yacht called Dilbar was named after Usmanov's mother and had been undergoing refitting in the northern city of Hamburg since October 2021. 

The seizure of the superyacht comes after European Union adopted sanctions on six of Russia’s wealthiest individuals, including Usmanov. The billionaire commenting on the sanctions said, "I believe that such decision is unfair, and the reasons employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honor, dignity, and business reputation. I will use all legal means to protect my honor and reputation."

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About Dilbar

Dilbar built as Project Omar is a super-yacht launched on 14 November 2015 at the German Lürssen shipyard after nearly four-and-a-half years in build. The stunning interiors and the exteriors of the yacht were designed by Andrew Winch and Espen Oeino respectively. According to a video of the yacht being refueled on social media, a 500,000-liter refuel would cost up to $1.1 million with an average price of $2.20 per liter. 

The yacht contains the largest swimming pool ever installed on a yacht at 180 cubic meters as well as two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym. Its plush interiors have more than 1,000 sofa cushions and it can host up to 24 people in 12 suites. For guests missing dry land, Dilbar is equipped with a huge garden with a specially developed variety of grass that tolerates salty sea air. The luxurious yacht has a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure and is powered by 30,000 KW electric diesel power plant. 

The Russian billionaire Usmanov is said to have purchased Dilbar from German shipbuilder Lürssen, in 2016 which custom-built it for him over 52 months. According to the Lürssen's website, the superyacht is the world's largest motor yacht by gross tonnage at 15,917 tons and is typically manned by a crew of 96 people. The firm calls Dilbar as "one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology." According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dilbar is estimated to be worth $594 million.

The yacht is part of Usmanov’s estimated multibillion-dollar fortune, which spans stakes in iron ore and steel giant Metalloinvest and consumer electronics firm Xiaomi, as well as smaller holdings in telecom, mining and media. Usmanov is also one of the earliest investors in Facebook along with fellow billionaire Yuri Milner. The billionaire owns extensive real estate assets in the West, including two estates in the UK valued at a combined $280 million, and luxury homes in Munich, Germany; Lausanne, Switzerland; Monaco; and Sardinia.

Sanctioned sister of billionaire Usmanov waives right to benefit from family trusts

By Ben Aris in Berlin

The sanctioned sister of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has voluntarily and irrevocably waived her right to receive benefits from two family trusts set up years ago by the Uzbek-born tycoon, her representatives told bne IntelliNews , after earlier claims about her links to the trusts resulted in her being placed under Western sanctions.

The move comes as Usmanov and his sister continue to challenge their listings in an EU court.

Representatives of Gulbakhor Ismailova told bne IntelliNews she has signed deeds of exclusion that prevent her from receiving any future benefits from the Pauillac Trust and the Sister Trust, which were created by Usmanov in 2007 and 2016 for estate planning purposes . The trusts were created before any sanctioned were imposed on Russia for the annexations of Crimea in the first case and well before the war in Ukraine started and sanctioned started to be placed on Russia’s leading businessmen in the second case.

This means Ismailova – a gynaecologist who lives in Uzbekistan – will not be able to regain her rights to receive benefits from the trusts that hold the much-publicized Dilbar yacht that has been seized by the German authorities and other assets often attributed to Usmanov, even if sanctions against her are lifted.

Ismailova made the decision to exclude herself permanently from the family trusts during the month of Ramadan, her representatives stressed, as the Usmanov family are all practising Muslims. This prompted her to first consult with a local religious leader, or imam , before signing the deeds of exclusion on 12 March.

“Ismailova and her family are devout Muslims who take the subject of family inheritance very seriously, as there are strict tenets for passing down family wealth in accordance with Islam,” her representatives said. “But after nearly two years of being unjustifiably targeted by sanctions, she decided to take this serious step in order to clear her name once and for all. While it is unfortunate that sanctions are causing individuals to give up legitimate rights to family inheritance that exist around the world, we are hopeful that this move will lead to the recognition that there is no justification for maintaining sanctions against Ismailova.”

Ismailova was placed on the EU sanctions list in April 2022, followed by UK and US sanctions later that month. The restrictions came shortly after Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (the Bundeskriminalamt, or BKA) named her as the ultimate owner of assets that Western officials believe are tied to Usmanov, including the half-billion-euro Dilbar yacht.

The BKA has since deleted its post on X in which the agency publicized its claim about Ismailova’s ownership of the yacht. Earlier, German courts struck down a number of media claims that were found to wrongfully attribute ownership of assets in Europe to Usmanov.

Legal representatives for Ismailova say they have provided documentary evidence and expert evaluations showing that the Dilbar is owned by a trust, and that Ismailova has never had ownership or control over the yacht or the trusts’ other assets. This conclusion was upheld by the German sanctions regulator and was submitted to the EU Council to no effect, Ismailova’s representatives said.

After she was hit with EU sanctions, Ismailova was automatically excluded from among the individuals who could be considered recipients of benefit from the Pauillac Trust and the Sister Trust, in line with the trusts’ internal regulations. Her move to waive future beneficiary rights effectively guarantees that she will never be able to receive economic benefits from them.

Another sister of Usmanov’s, Saodat Narzieva, also a gynaecologist, was removed from the EU sanctions list in 2022 after information emerged that claims of her being the “beneficial owner” of bank accounts linked to the billionaire were inaccurate.

The EU General Court has recently issued a number of decisions clarifying the limits to the EU Council’s power to sanction family members of prominent businessmen.

On March 20, the EU General Court overturned sanctions against Russian former F1 racing driver Nikita Mazepin, the son of businessman Dmitry Mazepin, whom the EU considers to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Court ruled that, based on its previous judicial decisions, simple family ties are not sufficient grounds for imposing sanctions on family members of wealthy Russian individuals. Sanctions on the mother of the late Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin were likewise dropped a year ago on similar grounds.

In its ruling the Court stated that “the application of restrictive measures to natural persons irrespective of their personal conduct and on the sole ground of their family connection…must be regarded as at variance with the case-law of the Court of Justice.”

Last year, the EU General Court also annulled sanctions against Alexander Pumpyansky, the son of Russian billionaire Dmitry Pumpyansky, and Olga Ayziman, the ex-wife of Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman. In both cases, the Court found that a material change in these individual’s circumstances no longer justified their ongoing sanctions designation.

Usmanov was added to the EU sanctions list in February 2022 and has since been appealing the restrictions in court. In January 2024, the District Court of Hamburg ruled that allegations made about Usmanov by Forbes (US) magazine that were used to justify sanctions against him were false. Earlier, Usmanov’s lawyers obtained several injunctions prohibiting the dissemination of inaccurate information about him by European media following litigation. Despite this, the EU General Court in February dismissed Usmanov’s sanctions appeal. A group of legal experts criticised the ruling for lowering the bar of the European legal system to just “good enough.”