The search for extravagant toys of sanctioned oligarchs has brought to the forefront what has hitherto been mostly mysterious and rarely seen by the public. The stunning Pacific is another mega yacht that seems to have evaded the authorities, and at least so far, it has just arrived in Panama.
Ten years ago, he earned the title of Russia's richest man. That's no longer the case, but his fortune is still $19 billion. Like many oligarchs, his wealth owes much to the privatization process in the gas and petrochemical industries.
But that's why Britain imposed sanctions on him. He is Leonid Mikhelson, founder and CEO of Novatec, Russia's largest gas producer. Last month, the British government announced new sanctions on "russia's key strategic sectors and state-owned enterprises," including "targeting an additional 8 oligarchs active in these industries." Mikhelson is one of them, which is why all eyes are suddenly focused on this gorgeous mega yacht that has hitherto been so independent.
More than a decade old, Pacific's aggressive silhouette and metallic surface that visibly changes color in the sun attract attention. This majestic yacht is 280 feet (85 meters) long and has a noble DNA, because some of the most famous companies in the industry participated in its construction. Built by the famous German Leshun Shipyard and delivered in 2010, the exterior was designed by the legendary German company Frers, while the mysterious interior, which was never revealed to the public, was designed by Bannenberg & Rowell.
The superyacht is 16 meters wide, has a draft of 4 meters and a gross capacity of 2959 tons, and is built of steel and aluminum structures, consisting of two MTU diesel engines. The 6 cabins can accommodate 12 guests and 28 crew members.
Like all billionaire luxury toys, the Pacific features a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gymnasium and cinema. But it is distinguished by a discolored silhouette and two large helipads. In addition, as its ship's name suggests, it is able to travel the world with ease while reaching a top speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 km/h) when needed.
These capabilities now seem to come in handy, as all the oligarchic yachts that have not yet been seized are either fleeing or reaching safe harbor. And the mighty "Pacific" has just arrived there. People are waiting and seeing if this is a wise move.