The sale of the Lurssen vessel concludes one of the most closely watched yacht cases since sanctions were introduced against Russian oligarchs in 2022.
From Seizure to Sale
According to Business Insider, the U.S. government auctioned Amadea on September 10 through a sealed-bid process administered by National Maritime Services in Fort Lauderdale, with Fraser Yachts acting as promotional agent. The auction followed a forfeiture order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed the sale but withheld details on the winning bidder or the final price. The yacht was seized in Fiji in May 2022 under the Department of Justice’s KleptoCapture initiative, which targets assets linked to sanctioned individuals. Amadea was transported to the United States later that year and has since remained in San Diego, California.
The court determined that the yacht was beneficially owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, rejecting ownership claims by former Rosneft executive Eduard Khudainatov, who had been identified as a “straw owner.” Legal representatives for Khudainatov have appealed the ruling, calling the sale “improper and premature.”
Mounting Costs and Government Custody
Since her seizure, Amadea has cost the U.S. government an estimated $32 million in upkeep and transport, with monthly maintenance bills reaching nearly $1 million. Federal prosecutors had urged the court to approve an auction, describing the yacht’s carrying costs as “excessive.”
Prior to her sale, Amadea flew the U.S. flag, but recent images show her under what appears to be the Civil Ensign of the Cayman Islands, suggesting the motor yacht has now been re-registered by her new owner.
Aboard Amadea: Design and Layout
Exterior amenities include a 10-meter infinity pool with a swim-up bar, a foredeck helipad, multiple dining and lounge areas, and a firepit on the owner’s terrace. The yacht carries three custom tenders -a 10.97-meter limousine tender, a matching sports tender, and an 8.8-meter beachable tender - and accommodates a 36-person crew across 21 cabins.
Powered by twin MTU diesel engines, Amadea reaches a top speed of 20 knots, cruises comfortably at 13 knots, and delivers a range of up to 8,000 nautical miles.
Amadea stands among the world’s largest yachts, currently ranked 61st by gross tonnage in the YachtBuyer YB100, and 58th by length in the Top 100 length rankings. For context on how she compares to other massive yachts globally, see YachtBuyer’s feature on the World’s Biggest Yachts.
A Complex Legacy
Valued at approximately $230 million, Amadea’s sale represents a landmark moment in U.S. asset forfeiture and international maritime law. While the yacht’s new ownership has not been publicly confirmed, the transfer closes a high-profile chapter in the ongoing effort to seize and repurpose luxury assets tied to sanctioned individuals.
According to YachtBuyer Market Watch & Intelligence, the largest yacht database in the world, Amadea is currently in San Diego as of October 2025.
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