When news broke that Sailing Yacht A had been arrested in Gibralta, we assumed it was either for impersonating a real sailing yacht or for being the ugliest vessel on the high seas. But apparently it's simpler than that – the builders claim the owner hasn't paid his bills (which the owner denies) as this story from Yachtharbour.com details:
The 142.8m S/Y A, largest private sailing yacht in the world which recently left Nobiskrug, the shipyard it was built at, has now been seized in Gibraltar following a €15,3 million claim filled by Nobiskrug.
The sailing yacht arrived in Gibraltar just a few days ago after having left Kiel on February 5th to undergo further fit out works and sea trials in Spain. The delivery to her owner, Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko is scheduled for late Spring 2017.
Lawyers acting for Nobiskrug have however now filed a claim against the yacht for a breach of contract. The claim indicates that the final €9,8 million installment was not paid by Valla Yachts Limited, the company that owns S/Y A, despite its January 27 deadline stated in the shipbuilding contract.
A further €2,6 million and €2,9 million are being claimed by the shipyard over liability for sub-contractor invoices and disputed orders during the build. The shipyard's total claims therefore amounts to near €15,3 million plus interest. S/Y A was yesterday anchored in the Bay of Gibraltar under the custody of admiralty marshals.
Read the full story here, including comments from a spokesman for the owner who describes it as “an astounding act for a shipbuilder of Nobiskrug's standing”.
