DUBAI April 27, 2026 – A superyacht linked to one of Russia’s most heavily sanctioned billionaires has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most restricted shipping lanes, using a route declared safe by Iran.
The 142-meter (465-foot) luxury vessel Nord, valued at approximately $500 million, departed a marina in Dubai on April 24 and crossed the strategic waterway on Saturday. It arrived in Muscat, Oman, early Sunday, according to real-time vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic and VesselFinder.
The yacht followed a shipping lane declared safe and mine-free by Iran, passing near Larak Island in an area under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This corridor lies closer to the Iranian coast and has allowed limited passage for select vessels while commercial shipping through the strait remains largely paralyzed amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions.
The Nord is widely associated with Alexey Mordashov, chairman of Russian steel and mining giant Severstal and one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals. Although Mordashov is not listed as the official owner, corporate records and shipping registries link the vessel to companies connected to his family. Mordashov has faced Western sanctions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The transit underscores the selective nature of maritime restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies that handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne petroleum. Iran has imposed tight controls on traffic in recent weeks, yet appears to grant exceptions to allied or friendly vessels, including Russian ones.
Iran’s ambassador to Moscow stated earlier that Tehran would allow Russian ships to pass without paying duties, highlighting deepening Russia-Iran cooperation amid regional conflict.
The incident has drawn attention online, with observers noting the contrast between the yacht’s smooth passage and the broader disruption to international shipping.
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