Spanish officials have ordered the temporary arrest of three yachts across the country under the European Union's economic sanctions against Russia. Statements issued by the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda (MITMA) confirm that motor yachts Valerie, Lady Anastasia, and Crescent were “provisionally retained.”
The 85-meter M/Y Valerie was moored at the MB92 superyacht repair and maintenance shipyard in the Port of Barcelona. The statement released on March 15 says she was ready to go sailing and she was “the first to be provisionally retained in Spain since the sanctions on Russia were agreed.”
In Port Adriano in Majorca, the 48-meter M/Y Lady Anastasia, flagged by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was retained less than 24 hours after Valerie, according to the March 15 statement.
The MITMA shared in a March 16 statement they had provisionally immobilized 135-meter M/Y Crescent in the Port of Tarragona. She reportedly arrived on November 2, 2021, and had requested to depart on March 4 but did not set sail.
The Barcelona Maritime Captaincy, dependent on the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine, will be in charge of guaranteeing the three vessels’ safety, navigation, crew, and the port of Barcelona.
Information will be collected to determine the owner of each of the yachts. The statement says, “Specifically, it will be stated whether or not the property, possession or control of the ship corresponds to a natural or legal person included in the list of persons and entities sanctioned by the European Council as a result of the armed conflict caused by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.”
If it is verified that the vessel belongs to a person or entity included in the list of those sanctioned by the EU, then she will be immobilized.
These three retentions bring the total up to six, following Italy’s seizures of Lady M and Lena on March 4 and 5 respectively and France’s of Amore Vero on March 2.