Photos show a Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht docked in London with no visible security and lit up with fake stars hours after being seized

Grace DeanMar 30, 2022, 17:13 IST

The superyacht is named Phi.Grace Dean/Insider

A Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht, Phi, was seized by the UK in London on Tuesday.
Insider visited the dock hours after it was seized. The vessel was brightly lit but seemed quiet.

A Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht was seized by the UK on Tuesday in Canary Wharf, London's financial hub. The Financial Times reported that the 192-foot vessel is owned by Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, who founded Motiv Telecom.

The superyacht Phi in London's Canary Wharf on March 25, 2022.Grace Dean/Insider

A Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht was seized by the UK on Tuesday in Canary Wharf, London's financial hub. The Financial Times reported that the 192-foot vessel is owned by Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, who founded Motiv Telecom.

The UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said that by seizing the vessel, authorities had "turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies." The West has been sanctioning Russian elites and oligarchs and seizing their assets to put pressure on the country to stop its invasion of Ukraine. Shapps said in mid-March that the UK was "investigating a small number of yachts moored in this country" with suspected links to Russian oligarchs."

The superyacht Phi in London's Canary Wharf on March 30, 2022.Grace Dean/Insider

The UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said that by seizing the vessel, authorities had "turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies." The West has been sanctioning Russian elites and oligarchs and seizing their assets to put pressure on the country to stop its invasion of Ukraine. Shapps said in mid-March that the UK was "investigating a small number of yachts moored in this country" with suspected links to Russian oligarchs."

Insider visited the quay where the yacht, Phi, was docked hours after the UK announced its seizure.

Grace Dean/Insider

The vessel was brightly lit, with external blue and yellow strip lights.

Grace Dean/Insider

There were also small lights resembling stars on the covered ceiling of the deck.

Grace Dean/Insider

With its bright lights, the vessel was far from inconspicuous ...

Grace Dean/Insider

... especially compared with the other, much smaller boats docked nearby, which weren't lit up.

The superyacht Phi stood out from other vessels in London's Canary Wharf.Grace Dean/Insider

Phi seemed quiet when I visited at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night. There was nobody on the deck, and no visible security, either. This surprised me because some other yachts owned by Russian oligarchs have been targeted by activists protesting the invasion of Ukraine.

Grace Dean/Insider

Phi seemed quiet when I visited at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night. There was nobody on the deck, and no visible security, either. This surprised me because some other yachts owned by Russian oligarchs have been targeted by activists protesting the invasion of Ukraine.

Phi simply had two thin chains separating the dock from the footpath. These were in place along the whole footpath, looked easy to step over, and had been there since before the vessel was seized.

Thin chains form a barrier between the dock and the footpath.Grace Dean/Insider

Phi simply had two thin chains separating the dock from the footpath. These were in place along the whole footpath, looked easy to step over, and had been there since before the vessel was seized.

Other people walked past the boat when I was there without paying any attention. They might have been unaware that it was the first superyacht to be detained in UK waters under the government's sanctions against Russia.

Grace Dean/Insider

Other people walked past the boat when I was there without paying any attention. They might have been unaware that it was the first superyacht to be detained in UK waters under the government's sanctions against Russia.

The only other person who took an interest in Phi was a tourist who asked if I could take a picture of him with the yacht.

The superyacht is named Phi.Grace Dean/Insider

"Vessels aren't obliged to keep any lights on once moored in dock," Benjamin Maltby, a partner at Keystone Law who specializes in superyachts, told Insider. "The vessel's insurance may require crew to remain on board at all times, and having the lights on just makes moving around at night easier and safer."

Grace Dean/Insider

"Vessels aren't obliged to keep any lights on once moored in dock," Benjamin Maltby, a partner at Keystone Law who specializes in superyachts, told Insider. "The vessel's insurance may require crew to remain on board at all times, and having the lights on just makes moving around at night easier and safer."

"The lights may also be kept on as a security measure," Maltby added. "Plus, they look good — and owners and crew are rightly proud of their yachts."

Grace Dean/Insider

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Photos show a Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht docked in London with no visible security and lit up with fake stars hours after being seized

A Russian businessman's $50 million superyacht was seized by the UK on Tuesday in Canary Wharf, London's financial hub. The Financial Times reported that the 192-foot vessel is owned by Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, who founded Motiv Telecom.

Insider visited the quay where the yacht, Phi, was docked hours after the UK announced its seizure.

The vessel was brightly lit, with external blue and yellow strip lights.

There were also small lights resembling stars on the covered ceiling of the deck.

With its bright lights, the vessel was far from inconspicuous ...

... especially compared with the other, much smaller boats docked nearby, which weren't lit up.

Phi seemed quiet when I visited at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night. There was nobody on the deck, and no visible security, either. This surprised me because some other yachts owned by Russian oligarchs have been targeted by activists protesting the invasion of Ukraine.

Phi simply had two thin chains separating the dock from the footpath. These were in place along the whole footpath, looked easy to step over, and had been there since before the vessel was seized.

Other people walked past the boat when I was there without paying any attention. They might have been unaware that it was the first superyacht to be detained in UK waters under the government's sanctions against Russia.

The only other person who took an interest in Phi was a tourist who asked if I could take a picture of him with the yacht.

"The lights may also be kept on as a security measure," Maltby added. "Plus, they look good — and owners and crew are rightly proud of their yachts."